Reus 2

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,112 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
Reus 2 Game Cover
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In Reus 2, play as a god controlling mighty giants to shape worlds and create ecosystems for human civilizations to thrive. With 6 unique giants, each with their own abilities, terraform various biomes and gain inspiration to unlock more skills. Your choices will significantly impact the fates of these human beings, whose autonomy can lead them to great heights or failures.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,112 reviews
gameplay62 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • Reus 2 improves upon its predecessor in every way, offering a more relaxing and strategic gameplay experience without the time pressure of the original.
  • The game features a charming art style and engaging mechanics that allow for deep synergies between biotica, making each playthrough unique and rewarding.
  • The removal of the greed and war mechanics from the first game allows players to focus on building and optimizing their planets without the stress of managing hostile interactions.
  • Some players find the tutorial lacking in detail, making it difficult to grasp all the mechanics and systems at play.
  • The game can feel repetitive after unlocking all content, leading to a lack of long-term replayability for some players.
  • There are minor UI/UX issues that can make navigation and understanding certain mechanics cumbersome.
  • gameplay262 mentions

    The gameplay of Reus 2 has been widely praised for its significant improvements over the original, featuring a more relaxed turn-based system that replaces the stressful real-time mechanics and the "greed" penalty. Players appreciate the depth and variety of new mechanics, which enhance strategic planning and resource management while maintaining a cozy atmosphere. However, some users noted that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, and certain mechanics may feel opaque or poorly explained, but overall, the game offers a satisfying and engaging experience.

    • “The core gameplay has been refined and expanded upon, the visuals blow those of the original Reus out of the water, and the time limit has been removed in favor of a set number of points to be spent on filling the planet with resources, resulting in a much cozier, more relaxed game.”
    • “The gameplay is addictive and rewarding, constantly giving the player new tools to experiment and strategize.”
    • “Reus 2 is a fantastic little engine-builder/puzzle game that nails the feel of the original while expanding and developing the gameplay for the better!”
    • “The absence of challenges and obstacles makes the gameplay monotonous and devoid of excitement.”
    • “The initial excitement fades as you realize that new content and mechanics are sparse, making the experience somewhat monotonous.”
    • “This game is okay, but once you beat the few scenarios that there are and unlock all of the animals/plants/minerals, it becomes entirely a game of trying to get a high score against yourself rather than having a gameplay loop.”
  • graphics97 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful and charming art style, featuring vibrant colors and adorable character designs that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers noted the significant improvement over its predecessor, with visuals that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional, contributing to a relaxing gameplay atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are described as a delightful blend of cuteness and depth, making the game visually engaging and enjoyable.

    • “The game's art style is charming, with a vibrant color palette and whimsical character designs that bring the world to life.”
    • “From a presentation perspective, the game looks beautiful, with a vibrant, colorful art style and adorable character designs for the giants, as well as the many species of animals you can use to populate your worlds.”
    • “Reus 2 is a noticeable upgrade from its predecessor in terms of both graphics and gameplay.”
    • “For how graphically undemanding this is, it makes no sense I can't crack 60 fps on a 3080, even if I'm playing on a 5440x1440p monitor.”
    • “Terminology is all over the place, weird lootbox visuals appear to have no point, music that is just slightly annoying with a tinge of agitation instead of peaceful, and the tutorial feels like it has been done to check a box for a sprint goal.”
    • “For $25, I found the game to be just there in terms of value, although I did encounter one crash to desktop and one graphical bug during my time.”
  • replayability48 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players praising its relaxing gameplay, diverse biomes, and strategic depth that encourages experimentation with different combinations and unlocks. While many find the variety and roguelike elements enhance replay value, some express concerns about potential repetitiveness after completing the main content. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience that invites players to return for new challenges and strategies.

    • “If you want a cozy game with loads of replay value, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.”
    • “Overall it's a nice and relaxing puzzling/drafting/strategy experience with tons of replayability between different combinations of biomes and biotics where you always feel rewarded for whatever extra thought you put into placing things and squeezing out the couple extra score.”
    • “There is so much to unlock, and it really is infinitely replayable.”
    • “Once you've actually unlocked everything and done the non-grindy achievements, it doesn't feel like there's a lot of replay value directly; maybe if the daily/weekly challenges were a bit more seeded and gave you a leaderboard or something, that would help?”
    • “It is a great game and they have expanded on it, but I reached max level in 12 hours according to my playtime, and I have finished 50% of the collection in another 12 hours. I will have 100% that is if I don't get bored before I do. As far as replayability goes, this does not have a lot of it in the end. Great game but quite empty in the long run; maybe they will add in more stuff in the future.”
    • “While Reus 2 lacks the endless replayability of some games (there is some sameness), it will take ~20-30 hours to complete the bulk of the content.”
  • music38 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and enchanting qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with a tranquil atmosphere. Many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's visuals and mechanics, although some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's positive vibe and immersive feel.

    • “The soundtrack complements the visual aesthetic perfectly, with soothing melodies that enhance the game's tranquil yet cerebral atmosphere.”
    • “The game also provides a lovely layered soundtrack which naturally evolves as you reach the third era to match the direction your planet takes; it's all very lovely.”
    • “I love the concept, I love the art and animation, and the music; everything blends so well together.”
    • “Don't remember what the music was like in that one, but this music is downright tortuous.”
    • “Terminology is all over the place, weird lootbox visuals appear to have no point, music that is just slightly annoying with a tinge of agitation instead of peaceful, and the tutorial feels like it has been done to check a box for sprint goal.”
    • “The music, while not very impactful, continues in the background without being annoying, as required for such a game.”
  • story32 mentions

    The game's story revolves around completing quests to develop settlements, with each era presenting unique challenges and objectives that contribute to the overall narrative. Players engage in resource management and strategic planning to grow their cities while unlocking new storylines and gameplay mechanics. However, some players found the introductory story lacking and noted that certain quest instructions could be unclear, requiring additional research to fully understand.

    • “You can get hooked easily trying to make your little settlements grow from a tiny blip to a massive city with a number of 'wonders' you can strive for, whilst completing quests.”
    • “Lots of new storylines to go through!”
    • “The main challenge of the game is presented by eras which give you a set of quests to achieve.”
    • “The intro story was a bit disappointing; it’s not really what this game is about.”
    • “A lot of quests are 'have x of y within your border,' but I haven't seen a tooltip that lets me see those numbers, and counting manually is a bit silly.”
    • “Due to resources not being instant, you can fail a quest, but then if you wait, you succeed instead (don't click the button!).”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The game offers a rich optimization experience with engaging mechanics and beautiful graphics, appealing to fans of strategy and puzzle genres. However, it suffers from notable performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios where stuttering and freezing can disrupt gameplay. While some players have reported improvements in performance over time, others still encounter bugs and memory leaks that hinder the overall experience.

    • “An excellent optimization strategy game of finding synergies between the environment and the life that makes it its home.”
    • “Structured around multiple simple systems that mix together into a complex web of pre-planning and optimization.”
    • “It's all about positioning different organisms in just the right places and managing your limited actions to help your planets grow and thrive, and in traditional fashion for this developer, the depth of optimization is both insane and daunting.”
    • “Late game, it'll start stuttering so bad and eventually freeze.”
    • “However, it has performance issues, sometimes hangs for entire minutes, the audio is lost other times, and worst of all, after playing for a while it slows down to a crawl.”
    • “That said, the game has some quirks - I've come across some bugs and the game does seem to have a memory leak that makes it quite performance intensive.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While many appreciate the quick progression and enjoyable gameplay that minimizes tedious grinding, some express frustration with certain achievements that require repetitive tasks, leading to a lack of replay value and occasional tedium. The game successfully reduces the grind found in its predecessor, offering a more engaging experience, but some players still feel that certain late-game achievements can become overly grindy.

    • “Cons: short, too easy at times, last achievements just grinding without anything fun left to do.”
    • “The remaining ones can thankfully be done in sandbox where some wacky combos can be found but unfortunately the last two achievements are really grindy, tedious rinse and repeat.”
    • “The only minor gripe I have is with some of the achievements; Reus and Reus 2 are pretty much achievement-centric, but the real grindy ones like getting a great number of cities or prosperity across all runs tend to be the only ones you're left with after you've already done everything else.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its cozy, relaxing, and visually appealing qualities, enhanced by soft, colorful graphics and a soothing soundtrack. Players appreciate the depth and thought-provoking nature of the gameplay, which is complemented by charming art and a tranquil ambiance that encourages prolonged engagement. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a significant draw for fans of puzzle-solving and simulation genres.

    • “Fun puzzle-esque tile game with a lot of depth and an incredibly cute atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the visual aesthetic perfectly, with soothing melodies that enhance the game's tranquil yet cerebral atmosphere.”
    • “In many developers' hands, that would fall flat pretty fast, but not so here: Abbey Games' signature relaxed atmosphere and pleasant gameplay catch your attention from the start.”
    • “Everything I liked in Reus 1 is here: the giants, the atmosphere, the feel.”
    • “I love the new gameplay mechanics, the storylines, the atmosphere, everything.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a strong sense of wholesomeness and positivity, even in the context of darker themes like a zombie apocalypse. Players find joy in the game's aesthetic and mechanics, which foster a nurturing environment where they can create and watch their world thrive, leading to an addictive and heartwarming experience. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke feelings of happiness and satisfaction through its charming elements and engaging gameplay.

    • “Wholesome too somehow, even when you arrange a zombie apocalypse or an ecocide.”
    • “Its aesthetic and turn-based approach meant it was a very wholesome experience to watch my world fill with life, until I started really crunching the numbers.”
    • “Figuring out working more symbiosis combos for your giants as well as watching how happy it made your little people is surprisingly so wholesome.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by unexpected and amusing scenarios, such as mackerels attacking villages in desert areas and quirky civilization projects that provide genuine surprises. While some moments are particularly funny, others may not resonate as well, leading to a mixed comedic experience overall.

    • “Some genuinely humorous surprises further along in the game as you unlock some curious civilization projects.”
    • “Also, I miss the danger factor of some animals, because it was hilarious seeing your mackerels flopping around desert areas just to attack that one village.”
    • “Follow us for more amazing reviews... some funny... and some... not so much.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game's stability is solid, with only minor cosmetic glitches such as tooltip misalignment and occasional background issues during the tutorial. These problems appear infrequent and can be resolved by saving and reloading, indicating a significant improvement over the previous title, Reus 1, and good performance on platforms like the Steam Deck.

    • “A huge improvement over REUS1 (which I already loved!), runs great on Steam Deck, let's go.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I've had no issues with stability; it runs perfectly on my system.”
    • “There are several cosmetic glitches, such as tooltips not displaying in the correct position and the upgrade screen background sticking after making a choice. I only experienced this once during the tutorial quest, so it may be related to that specific instance. However, saving and reloading fixed the issue, so it wasn't a major problem.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress. I lost my progress multiple times due to unexpected shutdowns.”
    • “I encountered numerous stability issues, including lag spikes and random freezes that disrupt gameplay. It's hard to enjoy the game when it constantly feels unstable.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game's character development is enhanced by its charming art style, featuring vibrant colors and whimsical designs that effectively bring the characters and their world to life. Players appreciate the adorable character designs, particularly for the giants and various animal species, which contribute to the overall aesthetic appeal of the game.

    • “The game's art style is charming, with a vibrant color palette and whimsical character designs that bring the world to life.”
    • “From a presentation perspective, the game looks beautiful, with a vibrant, colorful art style and adorable character designs for the giants, as well as the many species of animals you can use to populate your worlds.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

20hMedian play time
22hAverage play time
8-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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