Q.U.B.E. 2

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 541 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Q.U.B.E. 2 Game Cover
With an increase in scope and improvements in every area, Q.U.B.E. 2 shows that Toxic Games have learnt from their experience and are doing a great job. This is an excellent title that is even better than the great game that it follows on from.
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Q.U.B.E. 2's Season Pass includes four DLCs, with the first being Lost Orbit. This puzzle pack offers 10 new rooms, a master puzzle, and 32 collectibles that alter gameplay. It provides a challenging experience for players, with optional collectible-related challenges and the freedom to explore puzzle rooms in any order.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 541 reviews
story87 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The graphics are phenomenal, showcasing beautiful environments and impressive visual effects.
  • The puzzle mechanics are engaging and well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
  • The game introduces new elements gradually, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting throughout.
  • The story is weak and often feels disconnected from the gameplay, lacking depth and coherence.
  • Many puzzles are too easy, especially in the early game, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-6 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • story386 mentions

    The story in Q.U.B.E. 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it mediocre, predictable, and at times convoluted. While some appreciate the attempt to add narrative depth and character development, others feel it detracts from the puzzle-solving experience, often describing it as bland or forgettable. Overall, the game is primarily praised for its puzzles, with the story serving more as a backdrop rather than a compelling driving force.

    • “The story keeps the intrigue during the game and closes the spectacle with elegance.”
    • “The story line is intriguing and helps pull you into the game.”
    • “Great game for when you want to play something without having to pay attention to a story, watch cutscenes and 'immerse in a movie-like experience', although there kinda is a story and characters if that's your thing.”
    • “The game's world also feels very bland and sterile, and the lifeless story certainly doesn't help.”
    • “The story is also rather derivative and the surprise twist at the end is entirely predictable.”
    • “The writing and story were dull.”
  • gameplay213 mentions

    The gameplay in Q.U.B.E. 2 is characterized by its engaging puzzle mechanics and visually appealing graphics, offering a satisfying experience for players who enjoy problem-solving. While the game introduces new mechanics and maintains a steady difficulty progression, some players feel it lacks depth and variety, leading to a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit not overly challenging, puzzle experience that may leave some seeking more complexity.

    • “The mechanics are focused, and the puzzles are interesting, never too hard.”
    • “The game eases the player perfectly into each new mechanic, giving you time to learn how to use it before delving into challenging puzzles but keeping things interesting and fun.”
    • “Each element is simple to use and easy to understand, and the ingenious ways they are used to solve levels often left me with a huge grin on my face, exclaiming out loud 'that’s so clever!'”
    • “Limited advanced mechanics: the game lacks the depth of advanced mechanics that could have made it even more compelling.”
    • “The game lacks variation in its gameplay loops and is overall slow moving without a run feature.”
    • “The puzzles are thoughtfully set up so you get taught the mechanic then have to put a spin on it to get it to do something entirely different.”
  • graphics121 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals and significant improvements over the original. The use of Unreal Engine 4 has resulted in beautiful environments and smooth animations that enhance the overall experience, although some players noted occasional issues with texture quality and performance on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are described as captivating and integral to the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature.

    • “The graphics are mind-blowing - easily the best I have ever seen in a first-person puzzle game.”
    • “Qube 2 has taken every element of the original and maxed it out: the graphics and sound are simply gorgeous, and the puzzles are plentiful, original, deftly creative, and very satisfying.”
    • “The visuals, both technically and artistically, are so significantly improved that it almost becomes hard to pretend that both games take place in the same universe.”
    • “The graphics finally changed up a bit, but I'm already bored of the new textures and the level design is an abstract mess in terms of feeling like a coherent place that had some kind of purpose, although it's functional and readable in terms of the puzzles themselves.”
    • “I am giving this game a thumbs down because of its poor coding etc. ie: why on earth does this game max out my GTX 1070 graphics card's fans to 2900rpm and why does it max out my i7 6700k CPU's water cooler Corsair Hydro H80i v2 fans again to max approx 2800rpm? My quiet and balanced cooling settings are overridden as this game feels the need to run everything at max. I have tried everything, vsync the lot, no luck.”
    • “May be the visuals improved significantly, but they now somehow obscure the idea of an abstract puzzle game.”
  • music38 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the immersive experience, while others find it forgettable or lacking compared to previous installments. Many appreciate the calming and ambient nature of the soundtrack, although some note that it often plays only outside of puzzles, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, opinions vary on its memorability and effectiveness.

    • “The visuals and music create a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “What truly helps this game rise above mediocrity is the audio design, with voice acting and immersive music to draw the player into the atmosphere.”
    • “The music is also straight out of the top drawer and isn't overdone, fading in and out as the occasion demands.”
    • “Except the dialogue is boring, predictable, and so useless that I turned off the audio and just read the subtitles so I could listen to music instead while I played.”
    • “2's soundtrack is currently one of my favorites.”
    • “It’s competent and serves its purpose serviceably, but it’s not the kind of soundtrack that merits repeated listening outside of the game itself.”
  • atmosphere30 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating visuals, immersive audio design, and effective use of music and voice acting, which together create a rich and engaging experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of loneliness and mystery, enhanced by its artistic direction and ambient soundscapes. However, some note that technical issues, such as loading times, can disrupt immersion, but overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature of the game.

    • “The visuals and music create a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “Whether it's the voice acting or the music, the audio used throughout the game is immersive and works to build a very atmospheric experience.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, the lighting in particular adds excellent atmosphere to often sparse locales.”
    • “I can compliment the voice acting, the story set pieces, and the atmosphere, but all of that work is essentially wasted on a story that essentially does nothing.”
    • “Just like the first, the story has a lonely, foreboding atmosphere; even though two characters are talking to you, you truly do feel alone.”
    • “There is a lot of autosaving and loading (presumably because they made this game console friendly) of new areas which can hurt the immersion and the atmosphere, as the game pauses briefly to load new areas after most puzzles, causing the music to halt temporarily.”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing the experience as mundane and lacking excitement. The necessity of excessive walking and the reliance on unoriginal puzzle mechanics contribute to a sense of frustration, making the gameplay feel padded and drawn out. While some appreciate the variety in puzzles, many agree that the overall pacing and predictability detract from the enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “At best, it's a tedious time-killer, and that's after turning off the dialogue.”
    • “Seemed to lack confidence in its core mechanics, eventually resorting to padding its length with tedious obstacles, like solving puzzles in the dark, or unoriginal puzzle mechanics, like redirecting lasers.”
    • “They can however, get tedious and might start to feel repetitive after a while.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report excellent performance even on mid-range hardware, others experience significant performance drops when enabling ray tracing and note a lack of options to adjust graphical settings. Despite these issues, many recommend the game for high-end devices, praising its optimization and smooth gameplay.

    • “Puzzles are fun and interesting, and the game is optimized.”
    • “Optimization of this game is flawless; I'm sure you can run this on a potato PC.”
    • “My computer easily reached the 120 fps cap in 1440p maxed out (with a GTX 1070), and I therefore get the impression that this is heavily optimized.”
    • “Turning on ray tracing has a huge performance hit.”
    • “The only thing I have to complain about is the lack of optimization and the fact that there's no option to turn off the fancy lighting. Other than that, I recommend this game to anyone with a high-end device!”
    • “[Thin, lacking narrative, not optimized for Joy-Cons]”
  • stability9 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly with platforming mechanics and the final level. While some players have experienced smooth performance on mid-tier PCs, others have encountered significant issues that can make the game unplayable. Overall, the developers have made some fixes, but persistent problems remain, affecting the overall experience.

    • “Runs great on my mid-tier PC.”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
    • “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, which is impressive for a game of this scale.”
    • “Many users have experienced Unreal Engine crashes, and the developers haven't gone beyond the most basic troubleshooting, which has not worked for most.”
    • “There are a few bugs that literally make the game unplayable, but they seem to have already fixed it; some of the hidden achievements are a bit buggy too.”
    • “Not helped by technical glitches and cumbersome controls.”
  • humor6 mentions

    Overall, the humor in the game is perceived as lacking compared to titles like Portal, with many reviewers expressing a desire for more comedic elements and witty dialogue. While there are occasional moments of unintentional humor due to odd phrasing and mismatched subtitles, the overall tone is described as overly dramatic rather than funny. The absence of dark humor and a more engaging guide detracts from the comedic experience.

    • “Even more hilarious, I couldn't understand half of what the AI was saying due to the filters they put on the voice.”
    • “There are occasional moments of odd phrasing, the subtitles frequently differ from the audible dialogue, and some lines are even unintentionally funny, such as Amelia’s awestruck reaction to the advanced futuristic technology of a giant electric fan.”
    • “I won't say it is like Portal without portals because it has none of the pitch black humor in it nor does the AI-like entity seem malicious at all.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is rated very low, with many reviewers noting a lack of content creation tools and limited alternative paths or secrets. While some players find enjoyment in speed-running or exploring different endings, the consensus is that the structured nature of puzzles and the absence of meaningful choices significantly diminish replay value.

    • “The replay value comes from whether or not you can speed run through it to explore different paths, which adds an interesting layer to the gameplay.”
    • “The game offers multiple endings, encouraging players to make different choices and experience the story from various perspectives.”
    • “The puzzles are designed in a way that challenges players to think creatively, making each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “Sadly there’s also no replayability due to the total lack of any content creation tools.”
    • “Like almost every other game that has an actual end, the game is not replayable.”
    • “Technically more complex than the first QUBE, the issue is that like Portal 2, every puzzle is a specific way (unless you find some cheesy bug or such). This causes the game to have zero replayability; additionally, there are no secrets or anything optional.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, particularly appreciating the heartfelt storytelling conveyed through the main character's dialogue between puzzles. The combination of challenging yet rewarding puzzles enhances the emotional experience, making the journey through the game both gripping and satisfying.

    • “Without spoiling the story – the main character only speaks between chambers, and does so in a quite emotional way.”
    • “You move from room to room solving puzzles with some fun twists, all while experiencing a heartfelt and gripping story.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is generally seen as compelling, but some users feel it progresses too quickly, particularly in the early stages of the story.

    • “The story is compelling, although I felt that the character development happens a little fast, especially in the beginning.”
    • “The story is compelling, although I had the feeling the character development happens a little fast, especially in the beginning.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
17hAverage play time
6-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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