Sanctum 2

About

Sanctum 2 is a Tower Defense/FPS hybrid game where you protect oxygen-producing Cores from hordes of aliens. Choose from four character classes, customize your loadouts, and utilize elements from multiple gameplay genres to succeed in this intense and strategic game. Build defenses and then jump into the action to take out enemies in the FPS mode.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,228 reviews

gameplay195 positive mentions

grinding48 negative mentions

Great combination of tower defense and FPS mechanics, providing a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
Well-designed levels with a variety of enemies and strategies, making each playthrough feel fresh and challenging.
Fun to play with friends, enhancing the cooperative experience and allowing for strategic teamwork.

Single-player mode can be frustratingly difficult, often requiring multiplayer to progress effectively.
Limited tower placement and upgrades can feel restrictive, reducing the strategic depth of tower defense elements.
Some technical issues and bugs, particularly on certain systems, can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
488 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay of "Sanctum 2" is praised for its innovative blend of tower defense and first-person shooter mechanics, offering a unique and engaging experience that supports cooperative play. While the game features a variety of towers, weapons, and character perks, some players feel that the shooting mechanics are underwhelming and the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, it is considered a solid and enjoyable game, particularly for fans of both genres, despite some criticisms regarding depth and variety.
- “Sanctum 2 is an innovative blend of tower defense and first-person shooter genres that stands out for its engaging gameplay and strategic depth.”
- “The gameplay itself is very addictive, with a wide variety of opponents, all challenging and always forcing you to switch up your tactics.”
- “It combines unique tower defense gameplay with an action-packed first-person shooter.”
- “While the gameplay itself is fine, it lacks variety.”
- “It is unfortunate that the gameplay harshly punishes co-op (enemies' health is exponentially increased with more players), making the game so difficult that it is actually not fun.”
- “The shooting mechanics are also pretty mundane.”
story
445 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
7%
The story in "Sanctum 2" is presented primarily through comic book-style panels before each mission, providing a basic context for the gameplay. While some players appreciate the effort to include a narrative, many find it to be thin and lacking depth, often feeling disconnected from the action. The game is more focused on gameplay mechanics than storytelling, with the DLCs adding additional content and context to the overall plot, but the core narrative remains simplistic and sometimes forgettable.
- “While not the main focus, the storyline provides enough context to give meaning to the missions, adding a layer of immersion to the experience.”
- “The game's plot is well thought out: it's simple and enthralling.”
- “The story is good enough, and won't take you more than a day or two of playing to get through it.”
- “All that said, the story in this game is threadbare.”
- “There are random and meaningless plot threads involving some anti-government revolution, the cores affecting the planet, and past character relationships, but the story has no growth, no depth, and nothing of any genuine value.”
- “The storyline is horrendous and it's not even worth reading or watching.”
graphics
371 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
35%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the clean, colorful aesthetic and beautiful environments, while others note that the visuals can feel dated or inconsistent, particularly when compared to modern standards. Some players appreciate the unique art style reminiscent of comic books, while others criticize certain character models and textures as lacking detail. Overall, the game is considered visually appealing for its release period, but there is a consensus that improvements could still be made.
- “Graphically, the game presents a clean and colorful aesthetic that is both visually appealing and functional, with clear indications of enemy paths and tower effectiveness.”
- “The graphics are incredible, and do a fantastic job of pulling you into the beautiful (albeit troubled) world the developers created; nothing instills a sense of urgency like seeing a massive alien creature in the distant city skyline, tossing buildings aside like Legos.”
- “The graphics, sounds, and music are brilliant for what is supposedly an indie game, and the gameplay is more intense than ever before with aliens that fight back, and bosses that will ruin your whole day if you aren't focused on the job.”
- “It's still using Unreal Engine 3, and they seemed to have gotten worse at using the engine in this version. It's an overall graphical downgrade from the first game; they locked the menus to 30fps and the main game to 60fps. You can fix the latter but not the menus via the config INI files.”
- “I came to this after playing Orcs Must Die 2, and it was like night and day - clunky controls, gloomy, ugly visuals, bland-looking effects, and an extremely punishing difficulty and grind.”
- “The game seems to be poorly optimized; the UI is not great, and it's not easy to see what you're doing in an MP lobby. There's a huge disconnect between the neat 2D art style and the mundane look of the 3D models and world.”
music
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities, particularly the energetic and sci-fi-inspired compositions by Leonard Hummer. While some players found the soundtrack to be repetitive or unmemorable, others highlighted its ability to enhance gameplay and create a fitting ambiance. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The music is vivid, intense, upbeat, and energetic, which accentuates the plot of the game.”
- “The soundtrack is gorgeous, the environments equally so, and there are plenty of interesting gear/ability/tower combinations to keep you trying new things.”
- “I can (and have) listened to the songs for hours on loop, both in and out of the game; the music is absolutely stellar!”
- “The music is forgettable even while you're listening to it.”
- “The characters don't come alive, music doesn't engage the player, and levels feel so empty that they're borderline depressing in singleplayer.”
- “The music while ambient and futuristic doesn't deliver the same thumping encouragement as games such as Borderlands or Painkiller; this is definitely a game you should bring your own playlist to.”
replayability
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the variety of characters, weapons, and strategies available, which keep the gameplay fresh across multiple sessions. However, some users express disappointment over the limited content and lack of custom maps, which can lead to repetitiveness after extended play. Overall, while the game offers significant replay value through various modes and challenges, its longevity may depend on the player's engagement with its mechanics and available DLC.
- “This variability extends the game's replayability and keeps the gameplay fresh across multiple sessions.”
- “The plentiful amount of weapons, turrets, and skills gives you a lot of options when planning your strategy, paired with the added difficulty multipliers on each level adds a ton of replayability and keeps things interesting.”
- “The solo campaign, multiplayer games, and the challenging feats of strength system give the game great replay value, which when combined with the hidden zones to discover, the out-of-map glitch-exploring, and the funny challenges you can set yourself and friends about completing a certain map with a particular loadout makes it varied and fun in a great many ways.”
- “I got to play it for 12 hours only until it just ran out of content and replayability...”
- “On a serious note, there's 32 maps total including the DLCs, which is enough to justify the game price but the lack of custom maps or a modding scene is disappointing for long-term replayability.”
- “If you want to buy it, buy it only when it's on sale, the game is pretty much nice, and got some hidden easter eggs, but it gets boring after a while, even the DLCs aren't worth buying but overall it is a nice game to try... I give it thumbs up for creativity and its theme, but when it comes to replayability the creators of this game are so inexperienced.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the hilarious text-to-speech feature, funny character dialogue, and amusing easter eggs throughout the gameplay. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create funny moments, especially in multiplayer settings, where interactions and glitches can lead to unexpected laughter. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay, making it more enjoyable, particularly when played with friends.
- “Make sure you grab the free DLC maps that give the game a little injection of humor.”
- “The multiplayer is populated and you can even solo if you wish, the communication system is excellent, the game reads your messages through Microsoft Sam which is funny.”
- “Game is stupidly fun, has a great sense of humor, and has pretty great longevity for a tower defense.”
grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in single-player mode. While some appreciate the social aspect of grinding with friends to alleviate the monotony, others criticize the slow progression and forced grinding that detracts from the overall experience. However, a few players enjoy the well-structured grinding mechanics that reward risk-taking and strategic play, suggesting that the experience can vary significantly based on playstyle and mode.
- “You really need other people to help you and obviously, there aren't that many people playing to help you, so good luck farming.”
- “The incomplete story, limited maps, low turret variety, grindy leveling system; all are at their worst in the base game.”
- “A tower defense game that isn't actually about tower defense, but rather about grinding (because all the good stuff is locked behind 50 hours of grinding).”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
34%
47%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant performance issues, including stuttering and lag, particularly in multiplayer settings. While a few users report that the game runs smoothly on low-end systems with proper tweaks, many others criticize its overall optimization, stating it feels poorly executed compared to its predecessor. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, its optimization leaves much to be desired, impacting the gameplay experience negatively.
- “The game is relatively well optimized and would run smoothly even on low-end systems (it's good to have 0.5-1 GB VRAM, 4+ GB system RAM, and a 2-3 GHz quad-core CPU).”
- “The game dynamics feel polished, it's optimized well, and it's fun to play with your friends.”
- “Nicely optimized.”
- “The game is old and a bit poorly optimized, but it's more than playable, and when tweaked properly, runs smooth as butter.”
- “It's also very poorly optimized.”
- “Performance issues on the Unreal 3 engine is where I draw the line; if a developer can't get that much right, then they aren't even trying.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting occasional bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly on Linux, where some have experienced significant issues like freezing at the splash screen. While many players find the game runs well on modest hardware and enjoy its gameplay, the presence of glitches and the need for a respawn button in certain areas detracts from the overall experience for some. Overall, while stability issues exist, they are often considered minor compared to the game's strengths.
- “Super fun game and runs great on Linux!”
- “It runs great even on very modest hardware yet still manages to not look hideous.”
- “The game runs great, looks great, sounds great, and plays very smoothly.”
- “Game freezes at splash screen every time.”
- “The game claims to have Linux support; however, it is really buggy and abandoned.”
- “But the real matter that makes me hesitate and recommend this game is the often game crashes, or actually freezes.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive music, exceptional level design, and unique art style, creating a calming yet engaging environment. Players appreciate the atmospheric electronic soundtrack and sound design, which enhance the overall experience. While some comparisons are made to other games, the distinct atmosphere and varied levels contribute to its appeal, making it a well-crafted experience for both solo and multiplayer play.
- “The game's music is atmospheric; it surrounds us and immerses us at all times.”
- “The game has an exceptional level design and a unique, calming atmosphere.”
- “In a near genre, Orcs Must Die! 1 & 2 are vastly superior games in all fields: controls, strategy, visual, story, atmosphere, polishing.”
- “The sound design is excellent, with great weapon sounds and music that sets the science-fiction atmosphere incredibly well.”
- “The designs of the weapons and the atmosphere are original and suit the game's theme without alienating the past game designs.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Character development in the game is generally viewed positively, with some players appreciating its depth compared to other titles like Dungeon Defenders, which offer more skill and creativity. However, opinions on character design vary, with some praising the artwork while others find it lacking. Overall, Sanctum 2 is seen as an improvement over its predecessor in terms of character development.
- “Character development is also a pretty nice feature in the game.”
- “The comic strip artwork and character designs are bad.”
- “Sanctum 2 may be a fun game for players who are playing with people they know, who can organize a well thought out tower defense layout in a relatively short amount of time, but other games such as Dungeon Defenders offer more potential for skill, creativity, and character development.”
- “I would recommend Sanctum 2 for anyone who felt like the original lacked in FPS and character development.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
While the game may lack deep emotional layers compared to titles like "Life is Strange" and "The Last of Us," players still find moments of joy and nostalgia, particularly when unlocking fun perks. The emotional impact is evident, as some players express disappointment over changes in the series, leading to tears, yet they still recommend the experience for its entertaining gameplay. Overall, the emotional resonance is mixed, with a focus on fun rather than a profound narrative.
- “I cried when they made Satisfactory instead of Sanctum 3.”
- “Although the story doesn't have many deep, emotional layers like other games such as Life is Strange and The Last of Us, I pray that new players don't go into Sanctum 2 looking for that type of experience.”
- “10/10 would cry again.”
- “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the narrative to be dull, lacking the depth needed to connect with the characters.”
- “The emotional impact was nonexistent; I couldn't care less about what happened to the characters.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is well-integrated, combining advertising with a rewarding leveling system that enhances gameplay without excessive grinding. Players appreciate the improvements in controls and ad placements, which contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “Even the advertising.”
- “Vast improvements to controls and ads.”