Party Hard 2

Overall Party Hard 2 is a good game. It rewards creative problem solving and generally makes you feel pretty awesome.

70%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

stability, grinding

68% User Score Based on 864 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Party Hard 2 is a single player and multiplayer tactical simulation game with a violence theme. It was developed by Pinokl Games and was released on October 25, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

It's the Holiday Season, and you don't get your Christmas Bonus. The only logical solution is to start a killing spree at a corporate party. Welcome to Party Hard 2, the sequel to 2015's stealth strategy hit.

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68%Audience ScoreBased on 864 reviews

gameplay46 positive mentions

stability54 negative mentions

The game features improved graphics and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience.
Party Hard 2 introduces new mechanics, such as crafting and multiple objectives, adding depth and replayability.
The soundtrack is catchy and fits the game's chaotic atmosphere, contributing to the fun.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
The AI can be unpredictable, with NPCs sometimes spotting the player through walls or calling the police for no apparent reason.
The difficulty spikes significantly, making it challenging for players to progress without feeling overwhelmed.

gameplay
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The gameplay of Party Hard 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it introduces new mechanics and improved graphics, it often sacrifices smoothness and clarity for complexity. Critics highlight issues such as clunky controls, poorly explained mechanics, and frustrating AI behavior, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, some players appreciate the strategic elements and replayability, suggesting that the game may appeal to those who enjoyed the original but caution that it may not be as accessible or enjoyable for everyone.
- “Party Hard 2 is a unique blend of stealth, strategy, and dark humor that takes the frantic and chaotic premise of its predecessor and expands it with new mechanics, environments, and challenges.”
- “The game thrives on its ability to combine tense stealth gameplay with inventive kill methods and a satirical tone, offering an experience that’s as thrilling as it is morbidly amusing.”
- “The core gameplay loop of Party Hard 2 revolves around sneaking through crowded party environments, avoiding detection, and strategically eliminating partygoers without drawing too much attention.”
- “Someone else said, "traded gameplay for graphics," and they're completely right.”
- “I think this was a bad idea; so many times I wanted to stab a target but forgot I'm holding something else, so my character does nothing. In a game where timing is everything, there are so many small clunky mechanics and design elements that hinder the player from executing their masterful plan.”
- “Objectives are often poorly explained, item spawning is random, so you often cannot find what you need to accomplish some objectives to begin with, and the mechanics behind the police and guards feel quite buggy and inconsistent, leading to some frustrating deaths midway through levels.”
story
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it weak and convoluted compared to its predecessor. While some appreciate the attempt to add depth and humor, others criticize it for being cliché, poorly executed, and lacking coherence, often feeling like an unnecessary addition to the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is seen as a distraction rather than a compelling element, with many players preferring to focus on the gameplay mechanics instead.
- “The story is told through brief cutscenes and dialogue that maintain the series’ sardonic humor while providing context for the increasingly bizarre and dangerous party scenarios.”
- “Party Hard 2 delves much more into the story than the first one, and I found the story quite interesting, keeping my attention until the final cutscene.”
- “The storyline in Party Hard 2 is definitely better, and the writing in it is really, really good.”
- “The story feels all over the place and is really confusing, nothing like the first game which was very clear in its story and goals.”
- “The story is simply badly told and without tangible continuity; many levels have puzzles that are simply lame and rely on trial and error in an un-fun way.”
- “The story is weak compared to its predecessor.”
graphics
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved pixel art and the blend of 2D and 3D elements that enhance the visual experience. However, some players feel that the focus on graphics has come at the expense of gameplay clarity and overall enjoyment, citing issues with visibility and readability in the new art style. While the visuals are generally considered a step up from the original, opinions vary on whether they successfully complement the gameplay or detract from it.
- “Visually, Party Hard 2 retains a stylized pixel art aesthetic that complements its chaotic gameplay perfectly.”
- “The graphics are beautiful for a 2D game.”
- “The polished pixel art style seems to fit just fine in a game like Party Hard 2, and it is also a huge step up from its predecessor's graphics.”
- “They traded gameplay for graphics.”
- “The graphics make it impossible to tell what is what.”
- “The new 3D graphics are really the biggest problem.”
music
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the energetic and catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some appreciate the new tracks and their fit with the game's themes, others feel the music can become repetitive and lacks the uniqueness of the original game's soundtrack. Overall, the sound design is considered a strong point, contributing to the game's fun and engaging experience, despite some criticisms regarding specific tracks and audio issues.
- “The soundtrack features energetic, party-themed tunes that contrast amusingly with the player’s violent agenda.”
- “The music is full-on eargasm, and the gameplay never gets old.”
- “The soundtrack of Party Hard 2 is really catchy and gets easily stuck in my head.”
- “For some baffling reason, there is a car brake screeching in the audio, meaning every now and then you'll be listening to the music when suddenly you hear a 'screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' grating on your eardrums.”
- “Party Hard 2 has only a very few music tracks to listen to on each map, making the music also very repetitive.”
- “Third and I’m really sorry to say it, but there are only a handful of music tracks and they really start getting repetitive after a while.”
stability
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of persistent bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, including soft locks, broken interactions, and crashes. Many players express frustration over the lack of patches to address these issues, making the game feel unpolished and difficult to enjoy. While some users note it runs well on specific platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by technical problems that detract from the experience.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck OLED!”
- “Mostly bug-free.”
- “Nothing like the original, full of glitches, soft locking in some levels and lots of technical problems.”
- “The bugs and glitches are just infuriating and made it difficult to appreciate the positive aspects of this game without something going awry.”
- “This game is a buggy mess; depending on the level's start state, some tasks may be impossible, it crashes every time I try to exit the game, but it's still fun enough to be worth your time.”
humor
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The humor in "Party Hard 2" is characterized by its dark and twisted charm, blending stealth and strategy with irreverent comedic elements that often elicit laughter through bizarre scenarios and quirky character interactions. While many players appreciate the game's idiosyncratic sense of humor and the amusing cutscenes, some feel that it lacks the straightforward comedic appeal of its predecessor, leading to mixed reactions regarding its effectiveness. Overall, the humor adds a unique layer to the gameplay, though its niche appeal may not resonate with everyone.
- “Party Hard 2 is a unique blend of stealth, strategy, and dark humor that takes the frantic and chaotic premise of its predecessor and expands it with new mechanics, environments, and challenges.”
- “The dark humor embedded in these kill methods adds a layer of twisted charm that softens the macabre subject matter and keeps the tone engaging and often hilariously irreverent.”
- “The story is told through brief cutscenes and dialogue that maintain the series’ sardonic humor while providing context for the increasingly bizarre and dangerous party scenarios.”
- “Sorry, but this is a buggy and unfunny mess.”
- “This is a pretty big improvement... pun intended... I am not funny.”
- “Also, the gameplay is not funny like Party Hard 1.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse character abilities, varied level designs, and multiple objectives, encouraging players to explore different strategies and playstyles. Additionally, the inclusion of multiplayer modes and randomly generated elements enhances the experience, making it enjoyable for both solo and group play. While some players find certain aspects tedious, the overall consensus is that the game provides ample opportunities for exploration and mastery, ensuring a rewarding replay experience.
- “Lots to unlock and replay value is fairly high as there are different ways to tackle each level and each character, or killer, plays differently.”
- “Players get to experience the perspective of different characters, each with unique skills and backstories, adding variety to gameplay and encouraging replayability.”
- “And the levels are not only varied, but they have a large amount of replay value thanks to targets and interactive objects being rearranged each time you play.”
- “However, the story is quite short but has a lot of replayability.”
- “The game seems like it has a decent amount of replay value if you can handle the unpredictable nature of the AI and you want to complete all the objectives.”
- “Only 10 levels, but boy does this game take time and has replay value to it.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often detracting from the enjoyment of gameplay. Many reviews highlight that the need for grinding, particularly for achievements and certain levels, leads to a lack of strategic depth and a sense of repetitiveness, making missions feel poorly designed and unengaging. While some acknowledge the challenge, the consensus leans towards the grinding being a significant drawback that hampers the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tldr: way too grindy and the story is still cringy, too unforgiving and not in a way that makes you want to retry the level to get a little further.”
- “There is a warehouse level late in the game that is especially tedious because you only have a few craftable options and there are 2-3 of these terminators that will kill you in one hit.”
- “Aside from the graphics and story being vastly improved, the overall gameplay is just frustrating with many tedious factors added on to it.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report significant performance issues, including stuttering even on powerful PCs, others note improvements in smoothness and playability, particularly on the Steam Deck. The transition from a 2D pixel aesthetic to a 3D environment has affected readability and performance for some users, but recent updates have enhanced the overall experience.
- “This game is perfect for the Steam Deck; controls are great and performance is excellent.”
- “It has improved a lot: 3D environment, smooth performance, good levels, and even boss fights now!”
- “It runs smoothly.”
- “The 2D pixel aesthetic was shoved into three-dimensional space, greatly reducing readability and somehow tanking the game's performance.”
- “Performance is bad; even with a powerful enough PC, it stutters a lot.”
- “Performance is also an issue.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impactful sound design and music, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the smooth animations and effective use of shadows, contributing to a vibrant and immersive environment. The art style and aesthetic elements further complement the atmospheric quality, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “I loved the art style, and the nice atmosphere.”
- “The sound design and music play a significant role in building the game’s atmosphere.”
- “Necessary animations are all included, and an atmosphere really feels created level to level.”
- “The animations are very smooth, and the use of shadows makes the atmosphere feel alive.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling misled by advertisements claiming the availability of "4 playable characters."
- “But this just feels like a cash grab.”
- “Also, as mentioned above, the advertisement for '4 playable characters' is extremely misleading.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Party Hard 2 enhances its narrative and character development significantly over its predecessor, offering a deeper exploration of characters and their motivations.
- “Party Hard 2 also expands its narrative and character development compared to the original.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is mixed, with some players finding it engaging while others feel it lacks depth, leading to boredom.