Sheltered 2

49%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,332 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • stability
Sheltered 2 Game Cover
Sheltered 2 is a game about survival by any means necessary; explore, hunt and craft across the destroyed world, all the while engaging the various factions that inhabit the land.
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In Sheltered 2, survival is key 20 years after the world's end, as you build up your faction, manage resources, and face various threats. The Factions system lets you explore, forge relationships, trade, or confront other camps, with expanded combat options shaping your growth in the wasteland. Your choices will determine if you unite or conquer.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

49%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,332 reviews
gameplay54 positive mentions
stability150 negative mentions
  • Improved graphics and gameplay mechanics compared to the first game.
  • Engaging resource management and crafting systems that keep players invested.
  • Active developer support with regular updates addressing bugs and gameplay issues.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.
  • Steep learning curve with unclear mechanics and UI that can overwhelm new players.
  • Balancing issues, particularly with resource scarcity and character management, leading to tedious micromanagement.
  • gameplay301 mentions

    Gameplay in Sheltered 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant number of bugs and clunky mechanics that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the new features like faction mechanics and improved graphics, others feel that the game is overly complicated and lacks the charm of its predecessor, Sheltered 1. Overall, the core gameplay loop is seen as addictive and engaging, but it suffers from balancing issues and a frustrating user interface that can hinder enjoyment.

    • “The core gameplay loop is actually really addictive, and feels extremely good.”
    • “The new mechanics for crafting, exploring, encounters, factions, and quests are huge upgrades from the original and give the game much more depth.”
    • “Sheltered 2 offers players an interesting mix of resourcing, crafting, and combat mechanics.”
    • “Literally abandoned the game, 2 years since even a bug fix, gameplay is clunky and boring as hell, they had so much hype to ride on then just took the money and ditched us 1/10.”
    • “So many fundamental mechanics are just terrible.”
    • “Unfortunately, I don't think these mechanics are an enhancement of gameplay but rather an over-complication of gameplay.”
  • graphics216 mentions

    The graphics in "Sheltered 2" represent a significant upgrade from its predecessor, transitioning from pixel art to detailed 3D visuals, which some players find appealing while others feel it lacks the charm of the original. However, many reviews highlight issues with optimization, causing high GPU usage and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. While the enhanced graphics are a selling point, they are not the primary focus of the game, which emphasizes micromanagement and gameplay mechanics.

    • “Upgraded graphics: 'Sheltered 2' brings a graphical overhaul, offering a more detailed and visually appealing experience compared to its predecessor.”
    • “The graphics have greatly improved compared to the first part.”
    • “The new graphics are appealing and freshen up the game more in comparison to the first 'Sheltered', whilst mechanics such as easier recycling, better trading, and better salvaging give you more freedom as a player.”
    • “The con side of this is the game looks rather drab in its shades of red and brown compared to the more colorful & charming art style of Sheltered 1, and is also way more GPU demanding than its predecessor.”
    • “Graphics are sad, the interface is not intuitive, and the physics are garbage.”
    • “The graphics are terribly optimized, the settings are abysmal and don't work, controls are sluggish and clunky; sadly, I could go on.”
  • stability150 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its significant stability issues, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and game-breaking problems that detract from the overall experience. While some users find enjoyment despite these issues, many express frustration over the lack of timely updates and the game's unfinished state, suggesting it may still be better suited for early access. Overall, the consensus is that the game's stability is a major concern, making it a risky purchase for those sensitive to technical problems.

    • “Now it's in a broken state, with some quests not working, plus, when you get to the endgame, it becomes unplayable due to lags and freezes.”
    • “Nearly 9 months later, and the game is still a buggy mess.”
    • “The game is buggy, and often downright unstable.”
  • story112 mentions

    The story in "Sheltered 2" attempts to expand on its predecessor by introducing faction mechanics and quests, but many players find the execution lacking, with repetitive fetch quests and minimal character interactions. While the game features six factions with distinct backstories, the quests often feel generic and buggy, detracting from the overall narrative experience. Players express a desire for more engaging storylines and character development, alongside improvements to the game's mechanics and quest functionality.

    • “Sheltered 2 also tries to offer more story than Sheltered 1 by introducing faction mechanics (you can expand your control zone by storming outposts, or - and this is more rewarding - do various quests for every faction for an eventual alliance with them, while in the 1st game you just encountered them as variously clothed enemies).”
    • “There are 6 factions, all of which have their own backstory, style, and objectives.”
    • “The new mechanics for crafting, exploring, encounters, factions, and quests are huge upgrades from the original and give the game much more depth.”
    • “The quests for factions are literally just fetch quests for already scarce resources.”
    • “You barely interact with the factions outside of a very basic job system with repeating quests (acquire x materials for us, rescue a prisoner for us, etc.) which offers very few unique quests per faction.”
    • “Items disappearing, quests not working properly, etc. Maybe wait 6 months; currently, the game is incomplete.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with players noting that resource gathering, base building, and micromanagement can quickly become a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. While some players appreciated the initial gameplay loop, many felt that the game's mechanics and user interface amplified the tediousness, turning what could have been a fun experience into a prolonged grind. Overall, the game is seen as having potential, but the overwhelming grind detracts significantly from its enjoyment.

    • “It's extremely grindy to an absurd point.”
    • “This game has all the hallmarks of an incredible game, but there are two very serious issues with the game that make it both unnecessarily tedious and also quite frustrating at the same time.”
    • “So far it is a mind-numbingly tedious journey of micromanagement hell.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as repetitive, generic, and lacking the charm of the original title. Complaints also include technical issues that cause the music to stutter or cut out entirely, further detracting from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack fails to impress, leaving players disappointed given the game's price point.

    • “Some music parts reminded me of 'This War of Mine'; I get the feeling it's trying to get the same vibe going on.”
    • “There is some new music.”
    • “The OST be banging tho.”
    • “The music is repetitive and generic, when it's there at all.”
    • “Even the music sounds pretty dull.”
    • “I feel like this is just a voxel version of the first Sheltered game; I mean they didn't even create new music for the fights, which is disappointing.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively conveying a sense of urgency and desolation in a post-apocalyptic setting. While the audio can be repetitive, it contributes to the overall feeling of desperation and gloom, enhancing the player's experience of trying to protect their family. However, some reviewers feel that the sequel lacks the same atmospheric depth and intuitiveness as the original.

    • “The game excels in creating an atmosphere of constant tension and urgency.”
    • “Its immersive atmosphere and strategic depth provide a compelling post-apocalyptic experience.”
    • “The best aspect of Sheltered was the desperation and gloomy feeling you get about the atmosphere and trying to keep your family safe at all costs.”
    • “The first game had the exact right atmosphere, especially because of the sound.”
    • “The game is perfect, only the audio is a bit repetitive, but it also gives the game an atmosphere of desolation.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting severe performance issues, high GPU usage, and numerous bugs that hinder gameplay. Many players experience lag and graphical glitches, indicating that the current optimization is inadequate and requires significant improvements. While some believe these issues are fixable, the overall sentiment suggests a lack of confidence in the game's future optimization prospects.

    • “I admit it needs a lot of bug fixes and some time figuring out quality of life and optimizations, but for me, it ticks a lot of the boxes I look for in a game.”
    • “These are not irreparable problems, but in my experience, games with optimization issues tend to remain unoptimized.”
    • “I've started seeing some performance lag in the past few (18-21ish) game days, and one of my characters appears to levitate wherever he goes.”
    • “The graphics for this game are so heavily lacking optimized coding that it runs the GPU at 99%.”
    • “The game is so badly optimized I can't even run it with a 1070 and a Ryzen 1700X.”
    • “The graphics are terribly optimized, the settings are abysmal and don't work, controls are sluggish and clunky; sadly, I could go on.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of dark and absurd elements, with players finding amusement in the chaotic consequences of survival, such as characters becoming a "poo and puke stained mess" when water runs out. While some comedic aspects, like the pyromaniac affliction and quirky character behaviors, are initially entertaining, they can become frustrating over time. Overall, the humor is often described as both hilarious and unsettling, contributing to a unique but sometimes inconsistent experience.

    • “So even if you have enough food, if you run out of water, your survivors will be reduced to a poo and puke-stained mess within days, which is hilarious and sad at the same time.”
    • “Watching one of my guys go crazy and start lighting things on fire was hilarious and upsetting at the same time.”
    • “Family was way more fun, and having the kids as repair goblins was infinitely hilarious to me.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the deeper character development that fosters investment in the bunker’s progress. However, frustrations arise from the emotional management mechanics, particularly the shelter leader's emotional weaknesses, which can lead to a frustrating gameplay experience. Additionally, the removal of features like family and pets from the previous installment has left some players feeling that the emotional depth is lacking.

    • “The game introduces deeper character development, which adds a layer of emotional investment.”
    • “Overall, I think Sheltered 2 is quite well-paced; not too slow or fast, it has various levels of difficulty for different players, and I'd say it's pretty easy to become emotionally invested in your bunker's progress.”
    • “Good parts from Sheltered 1: family, pets, and journal were stripped off, making the experience less emotional and flat.”
  • character development8 mentions

    The game features enhanced character development that fosters emotional investment, successfully building on the survival themes of its predecessor. However, some players criticize the character designs and customization options, feeling they fall short of expectations. Overall, while the depth of character development is praised, the visual representation leaves room for improvement.

    • “First off, the character designs look poor and I was expecting much better with customization, but somehow it's worse than the first one.”
    • “Character development: the game introduces deeper character development, which adds a layer of emotional investment.”
    • “In summary, 'Sheltered 2' successfully carries forward the survival spirit of its predecessor with enhanced graphics and deeper character development.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game boasts significant replayability due to its randomized maps and enhanced customization options, addressing the limitations of its predecessor. Players can expect a fresh experience with each playthrough, making it a compelling choice for those seeking variety.

    • “The original Sheltered failed at unlimited replayability, but this sequel offers much more customization and different playthrough avenues.”
    • “This will be short and sweet: all the fun of the first game with better graphics and replayability.”
    • “There's definitely a lot of replay value here as it's a randomized map every new game.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users feeling that it lacks value and has been neglected by the developers.

    • “Clearly a cash grab.”
    • “Garbage cash grab that's been abandoned.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

Buy Sheltered 2

Play time

46hMedian play time
58hAverage play time
20-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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