Shelter 2

Cuter than before, Shelter 2 both melts and disintegrates hearts.

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"Shelter 2" is a single-player, open-world game where you play as a lynx raising cubs in a beautiful but brutal tundra. The game features stunning visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and unique gameplay mechanics such as hunting, calling cubs, and surviving as both predator and prey. Despite some bugs and grinding, the masterful atmosphere and emotional weight make it a compelling experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,847 reviews

graphics278 positive mentions

stability28 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and art style that create an immersive experience.
Emotional gameplay that allows players to form attachments to their cubs.
Challenging yet rewarding mechanics that keep players engaged.

Repetitive gameplay that can become boring after a few playthroughs.
Lack of clear instructions and guidance for new players.
Short overall game length, making it feel less worth the full price.

graphics
477 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and beautiful art style, often described as stunning, charming, and emotionally resonant. Many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere created by the visuals and soundtrack, which enhance the overall experience of exploring the game's world. However, some critiques mention that the art style can occasionally make it difficult to distinguish objects and navigate effectively, leading to mixed feelings about its impact on gameplay.
- “The graphics are stunning and the cubs are adorable.”
- “The art style is unique and its not laggy at all 11/10.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the colors are stunning.”
- “This game has crap graphics.”
- “The transition between model animations was misaligned causing a jagged effect, which only had the effect of making the graphics seem more like... just shitty, rather than being artsy or a style.”
- “The graphics are very bad for the eyes, (although I play with very high settings).”
music
317 mentions
60 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience and atmosphere. Many players noted how the soundtrack effectively captures the game's themes, from serene moments to heart-wrenching scenes, often evoking strong emotional responses. However, some users mentioned instances where the music abruptly stops, which can disrupt immersion, but overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the stunning visuals and gameplay.
- “The music really brings the whole game together.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful and the little babies are so cute, and I love the fact that you can play as your babies and make a huge family tree.”
- “The music captures the emotions in each moment, and the landscape is like a giant tapestry.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't help, because they do everything to destroy whatever atmosphere the game might have had before this occurred.”
- “Not that there's anything wrong with the soundtrack, but the one at the end is just too sad for me to listen to; I actually have to turn the volume off when that song starts.”
- “Whenever I was being emotionally dragged in (when my first young one died and the music changed...pffft, the feels), it made me curious about new ways to explore this beautiful cel-shaded world.”
story
306 mentions
28 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of Shelter 2 is characterized by its simplistic yet heartwarming narrative centered around a mother lynx raising her cubs in a beautifully rendered open world. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and the ability to create their own family legacy, others find the lack of a structured plot and repetitive gameplay detracts from the overall experience. The game excels in visual storytelling, with stunning graphics and a touching soundtrack, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or action-driven narrative.
- “The story is very loose and basic in construct, but it is a beautiful story of a mother lynx raising her cubs, and the ending gave me goosebumps!”
- “Everything about this game is so carefully considered, and it all comes together to create one of the most beautiful worlds I've ever experienced in any video game, with a story to match.”
- “The art and storyline are absolutely beautiful, and I will never recover from the emotional impact it had on me.”
- “But even worse than that, whether the cubs live or die has next to no impact on the story or gameplay, and once you realize this, you'll quickly come to wonder what the point of doing anything in this game is.”
- “The story is very loose and basic in construct (you raise kits and try to keep them fed and safe).”
- “There is no real 'story'.”
gameplay
292 mentions
27 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Shelter 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its beautiful art style and emotional depth but criticizing its repetitive and simplistic mechanics. While some find the easy-to-grasp controls and serene atmosphere enjoyable, others feel the lack of meaningful objectives and depth leads to a shallow experience that can become tedious quickly. Overall, the game is seen as visually stunning but lacking in engaging gameplay, making it more suitable for those who prioritize aesthetics over complexity.
- “The gameplay is wonderful, the world is beautiful, and the story, despite being short and simple, was moving.”
- “The art style is stunning and unique, the characters are easy to fall in love with, and the gameplay provides nearly endless hours of fun.”
- “Beautiful graphics and music, lovely sound effects and simple but charming mechanics.”
- “There was absolutely no effort made to integrate the gathering of collectibles with the main gameplay loop of feeding and protecting your cubs; instead, they are placed seemingly at random and far apart across every inch of the initially beautiful but barren world.”
- “Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much gameplay and can become rather tedious when played for a long time.”
- “The gameplay is extraordinarily simple: you move, hunt, and feed either your cubs or yourself.”
emotional
284 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with many players expressing deep attachment to their virtual cubs, leading to tears during moments of loss or separation. The combination of beautiful graphics, a touching narrative, and the inherent challenges of motherhood in the wild creates a heartwarming yet heartbreaking experience that resonates strongly with players. While some found the emotional connection less compelling, the majority agree that the game effectively evokes a range of feelings, making it a memorable and moving journey.
- “Losing cubs is heart-wrenching, and it makes it feel sadder when you hear them calling out to you before it suddenly goes completely quiet aside from the music and you can't find them through scent view.”
- “A beautiful and emotional game, it really makes you feel like these are your actual cubs and the ending is just beautiful.”
- “This game is incredibly beautiful and heartwarming, capturing the hardship of motherhood and the fulfillment of nature's law.”
replayability
66 mentions
30 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly enjoyable with opportunities for exploration and family generation mechanics, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking substantial content. Many appreciate the emotional investment and unique aspects of gameplay, but several reviews highlight that the game can feel linear and short, leading to limited replay value overall. Overall, the game offers a range of experiences, with replayability largely dependent on individual player preferences.
- “Incredibly replayable, with so much to explore and collect.”
- “The endless amounts of replayability with family generations is quite unique.”
- “A beautiful game; refreshingly different graphics, addicting gameplay that really messes with your emotions, and plenty of replay value.”
- “Annoyingly, Shelter 2 has next to zero replay value.”
- “The only thing the game can offer in terms of replay value is a select number of achievements and an absurd amount of collectibles.”
- “You can then choose to continue playing and raise another litter of cubs as one of your offspring from the previous litter, but the game plays exactly the same way every time (even down to the number and coloration of the cubs) so little replayability is gained.”
atmosphere
57 mentions
68 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art style, immersive soundtracks, and emotional depth, creating a captivating and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the unique visuals and the tranquil yet occasionally challenging environment, which enhances the overall gameplay. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the game's atmosphere remains a significant highlight, drawing players into its beautifully crafted world.
- “The art style is so unique and gorgeous, the atmosphere is stunning and really pulls you in, and the open world factor makes me just overjoyed.”
- “I love it with all my heart, and I really want to play it again and again, to see such native spaces, to immerse myself in this atmosphere... find details like bones or interesting constellations, wander around the world, admiring how beautiful everything is.”
- “The stunning soundtrack and unique scenery create a very beautiful atmosphere and the simple but at the same time 'not too easy' gameplay complete the game perfectly.”
- “Very sad atmosphere, tries to show the useless sadness of life.”
- “I got this for under 3 euros on sale, but in the end, while there is atmosphere in the game, it is just not enough, given the barely existing gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't help, because they do everything to destroy whatever atmosphere the game might have had before this occurred.”
stability
29 mentions
10 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting a range of glitches and bugs, including issues with controls, graphics, and autosaves. While some users have experienced minimal problems and found the game enjoyable, others have noted significant frustrations with falling through the map and buggy animations. Overall, the game is described as having a charming experience despite its technical shortcomings, suggesting that players may encounter both entertaining and irritating glitches.
- “I enjoyed the graphics, and the game was, in my experience, bug-free.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never interrupted my experience.”
- “So full of glitches.”
- “+buggy graphics where you can fall through the map into dark voids and then the menus fail to work (jumped into several rock platforms instead of on them as well when wolves were giving buggeration).”
- “For a game out of early access I keep getting the weirdest glitches like falling through the ground, or doing a headstand in spot or one amusing time I recorded with the video - on my back flipping back and forth back and forth back and forth.”
grinding
15 mentions
0 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring a significant time investment to progress. While some players appreciate the initial enjoyment and occasional "gotcha" moments that break the monotony, many feel that the lack of varied gameplay and the lengthy cinematics contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding can feel overwhelming and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unfortunately, it doesn't offer much gameplay and can become rather tedious when played for a long time.”
- “They are separated into categories so tracking how many collectibles you have is easy, but actually acquiring them is a repetitive, tedious, almost insurmountable task.”
optimization
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance even on lower-end systems and no significant glitches, others experience stuttering, FPS drops, and control issues, particularly in specific areas. Overall, the game performs well for many, but there are notable optimization challenges that can detract from the experience.
- “It still runs smoothly; I have played this game for years and finally got it back, and I say it's worth the little money you have to pay.”
- “I should also mention that in all my hours of this game, I never experienced a single glitch; much like the first game, the performance has been amazing.”
- “The core game is solid, and while there are some performance issues here and there, I haven't encountered any game-breaking bugs.”
- “The open world format doesn't work well here; game performance has issues on a high-end system, the camera feels janky and uncooperative, and the gameplay is a repetitive slog.”
- “Only an hour into the game and I suffered multiple performance issues: stuttering and seemingly random FPS drops.”
- “My only complaints are that in some places you can have major glitching and performance lag, or you can just lose control of the character's functions altogether.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky characters, such as the amusing lynx woman and comical cubs, which add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay. Players enjoy the funny glitches, like rabbits sliding away and cubs running in place, although some find these moments can become a bit annoying. Overall, the game combines heartwarming elements with comedic commentary, making it an enjoyable experience.
- “I love it! It's sad, it's happy, I love it! It's very fun to play, and I think the cubs are very funny. Sometimes my first cubs are Sun, Moon, PJ, and MJ. I just love this game.”
- “On my travels, I encountered one adolescent cub that wouldn't stop running on the spot, and most hilariously of all, rabbits that just slid away instead of running.”
- “This game is so beautiful and can be funny with comedic commentary.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, with users appreciating its focus on gameplay and narrative over aggressive advertising and hype commonly seen in AAA titles. However, there is a sense of disappointment that it may not achieve the same level of visibility or success due to these factors.
- “It is sad that I cannot enjoy the game due to the overwhelming presence of ads and the misguided hype surrounding AAA titles these days.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads.”
- “I was disappointed to find that the game prioritizes monetization over gameplay, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine experience.”