State of Decay 2
- May 22, 2018
- Undead Labs
- 29h median play time
Get on Xbox Games Store
Get on Epic Games StoreState of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition is a horror open-world game that offers both single-player and multiplayer/co-op modes for up to 2 players. The game features remastered content, including a full-size open world version of Trumbull Valley, and is packed with new and remastered content for an ultimate zombie survival experience. With grinding, hilarious moments, and a buggy but atmospheric gameplay, this game is highly replayable and offers a wholesome story in a post-apocalyptic world.
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Reviews
- story2,658 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "State of Decay 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the narrative depth of its predecessor. While the game allows for emergent storytelling through player choices and community management, it lacks a cohesive main storyline, relying instead on repetitive fetch quests and side missions that can feel tedious over time. The "Heartland" DLC offers a more structured narrative experience, but overall, players express a desire for a richer, more engaging story throughout the main game.
“The post-apocalyptic world, the constant struggle for survival, and the dynamic storytelling make it an unforgettable gaming experience.”
“The story, dialogue, and voice acting were amazing, which allowed me to feel more attached to the survivors within my community, especially the first set of duo that you first pick that has a unique dynamic story with each other.”
“The heartland DLC is a story-driven mode that takes you back to Trumbull Valley, where you deal with even more threats and experience what happened to Trumbull following the events of the original State of Decay.”
“The only real complaint I have is that the story feels disconnected and barely part of the game.”
“SOD2 is narratively very weak, with basically no plot in the main game whatsoever, and having to go to the DLC to experience some sort of actual storyline feels... weird.”
“The main story doesn't focus on a narrative campaign, just many little side missions to do along the way.”
- gameplay1,747 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "State of Decay 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the engaging core loop of scavenging, base building, and managing a community of survivors. While the game introduces new mechanics and improved graphics compared to its predecessor, some players find the gameplay repetitive and marred by bugs and clunky controls. Overall, it offers a solid experience for fans of the zombie survival genre, especially in cooperative play, but may feel lacking in depth and variety for others.
“While the solo experience is gripping, the cooperative gameplay adds another layer of enjoyment.”
“Its immersive gameplay, strategic depth, and the weight of consequential decisions make it a standout title in the genre, offering a gripping solo or cooperative experience.”
“The mechanics of scavenging for resources, fortifying your base, and developing your characters' skills add layers of depth to the gameplay.”
“That said, there are a few issues with the gameplay that don't seem like features but instead make getting places in the game feel infuriating and slow.”
“The gameplay itself is okay, but leaves a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to limited base/community building.”
“The gameplay loop gets repetitive and grindy and does not offer an 'authentic' zombie survival experience if that's what you're going for.”
- graphics717 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in "State of Decay 2" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over the original game, particularly in lighting, textures, and overall visual fidelity. While some praise the beautiful environments and immersive atmosphere, others criticize the graphics as feeling dated or inconsistent, with occasional glitches and performance issues. Overall, the game is seen as visually appealing but not groundbreaking, with a solid graphical upgrade that enhances the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are stunning, bringing the world to life with vivid colors and realistic animations.”
“The game has improved a lot since its original release, with better graphics, more content, and fewer bugs.”
“The graphics make the world look endearing and the five (!!) different maps, together with the progressively more challenging difficulty settings, are enough to keep you coming back.”
“The graphics, while serviceable, can feel dated, and the animations occasionally lack polish.”
“The graphics are barely better than the first one.”
- stability513 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has seen some improvements since its initial launch, but it remains plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including frequent crashes and freezes, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players report a relatively stable experience with minor issues, many others highlight significant technical problems that detract from the overall enjoyment, making it a mixed bag for potential players. Overall, while the game is fun and engaging, its stability issues continue to be a major concern for many users.
“There are so many character options (specific skills, play styles, outfits, etc.) really refined (no glitches), great controls on melee weapon swinging, grenade usage, sights and guns, cars and handling, just wow.”
“I really enjoyed the game; smooth mechanics, almost entirely bug free, and some really gratifying character development and variety.”
“Runs way better than expected, no glitches so far for me.”
“The player must log in, but the box that appears for the log-in freezes all controls on the main menu.”
“There have been about 10 crashes and total freezes in my 38 hours of playing the game.”
“This game is a buggy mess.”
- replayability298 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with players noting the variety of maps, random character generation, and community management elements that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. Many reviews highlight the continuous updates and mod support that further enhance the gameplay experience, making it a favorite among zombie survival fans. While some players mention potential repetitiveness after extensive play, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant replay value, encouraging players to return for new challenges and experiences.
“Tons of replayability as your community of survivors will almost never be the same on any two playthroughs.”
“Amazing replayability with constant updates through the years, allowing you to enjoy the game even after many years after release.”
“The persistent legacy bonuses and survivors make for a ton of cool replayability where you're making permanent gains across every playthrough.”
“The only thing that bothered me is that the replayability value is very low.”
“Super fun with friends, some things are done very right, otherwise once you beat the game a few times on solo, each map, then there is no replayability for the game; suggest waiting for State of Decay 3 to come out.”
“With that being said, the game will get boring though after you finish it or just put in a lot of time as there really is no replay value to it.”
- grinding286 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as both tedious and essential to progression. While some enjoy the repetitive nature of resource gathering and base management, others find it overwhelming and monotonous, often leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and grind, appealing primarily to those who appreciate the zombie survival genre and are willing to invest time into its mechanics.
“Grinding isn't necessary to progress.”
“Fortunately, base building and micromanaging resources isn't tedious, as upgrading your base is simple, and you have a global stash where you can just throw all your stuff in.”
“The management isn't tedious and there is enough variety in the survivors to keep it interesting.”
“The constant grinding of resource gathering takes away from the fun.”
“Players should not be frustrated that one mis-click on a poorly-designed menu will lock them into a map where their only options are to abandon their save, or slog through a few dozen hours of grinding gameplay.”
“The game asks an enormous amount of grinding for you so that you can support characters it will kill randomly--there are so many other great games on Steam with similar gameplay ideas that do them better top to bottom.”
- optimization138 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has seen some improvements since its launch, but many players still report inconsistent performance, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and bugs. While some users find it well-optimized for their systems, others experience significant issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game remains enjoyable but requires further optimization to fully realize its potential.
“It's enjoyable to play, regularly given content updates, and is very well optimized.”
“Good graphics with excellent performance optimization.”
“The game seems pretty well optimized for me.”
“This game is probably one of the greatest of zombie games; however, it doesn't play nice with newer hardware (I have a 7800 XT, 7800X3D, and 32 GB DDR5, and I had a massive stuttering problem).”
“Even now, the game has bad optimization for an Unreal Engine 4 game; it has been out for a long time and has not been improved.”
“You have to get used to its poor performance and random crashes every now and then, and there's no definitive solution to its problems.”
- music115 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many players praising the soundtrack as "gorgeous" and "phenomenal." Composed by Jesper Kyd, the music effectively enhances gameplay, complementing both serene exploration and intense action. However, some players noted that while the soundtrack is enjoyable, it may not be particularly memorable after extended play.
“The best: first and foremost, the soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous.”
“The music is phenomenal, the sound design is great.”
“The music complements the scenery well, be it quiet gentle lilting tones as you serenely scavenge, or more tempered beats as the action around you reaches a crescendo.”
“My tip: play without music.”
“No music can be heard.”
“Music and sound effects are so simple and boring.”
- humor106 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its amusing glitches and bugs, which often lead to hilarious moments during gameplay, such as cars flying unexpectedly or characters experiencing comical mishaps. Players appreciate the sardonic humor woven into the dialogue and character interactions, enhancing the overall fun, especially in multiplayer settings. While some find the humor to be a highlight, others note that it can sometimes detract from the experience due to the frequency of glitches.
“The game is also even more fun with friends and is just glitchy enough to be hilarious but not game-breaking.”
“There are some bugs, nothing game-breaking, some of them are hilarious to experience.”
“Strangest (and actually quite hilarious) bug I've encountered was going to ram a horde of zombies in a car, and my car did a spinning breakdance in the air, something that might make Tony Hawk get a run for his money.”
“The quips and jokes are obviously not funny, and the personal drama exposition is delivered in such a forced, wholehearted way that it just makes you cringe over and over again.”
“The humor feels stale and relies too heavily on clichés, making it more awkward than amusing.”
“Attempts at humor often fall flat, leaving moments that should be funny feeling painfully awkward instead.”
- atmosphere76 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "State of Decay 2" is widely praised for its immersive and tense post-apocalyptic setting, characterized by detailed environments, haunting sound design, and a sense of danger that enhances the survival experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and urgency, although some note that the frequent in-game requests can detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the combination of graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics creates a compelling and engaging atmosphere that keeps players invested in the zombie survival experience.
“The attention to detail is remarkable, from the decaying buildings to the hauntingly beautiful landscapes, creating an atmosphere that truly feels post-apocalyptic.”
“The sound design is also fantastic, with a haunting soundtrack that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the game.”
“From the run-down buildings to the gruesome zombies, the game's aesthetics capture the grim atmosphere of a world devastated by the undead.”
“No sense of truly 'helping the community' out type of atmosphere.”
“You are constantly bombarded with stupid requests, and infestations... so let's say you go out, kill 5 infestations, help 3 groups, grab 3 rucksacks, drive home, and switch into the infirmary... while you've done that, 3 more calls for help have come in, your base is being attacked... it's the one part that totally kills the atmosphere of the game, totally kills it... who is the game designer on State of Decay who thought it'd be a good idea to have new problems pop up every in-game minute?”
“A lot to like about this game, but the amount of zombies everywhere you go make this such a slog... and it kills the atmosphere.”
- emotional34 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' deep attachments to their characters, with many expressing heartbreak over the permadeath feature and the loss of beloved survivors. While some appreciate the character development and the weight of tough choices, others feel that the emotional range of the characters could be improved. Overall, the game successfully evokes strong feelings of investment and loss, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy emotional storytelling in a survival context.
“The depth of character development is nothing short of remarkable, and it adds a layer of emotional investment that many other survival games lack.”
“It's heartbreaking when a character succumbs to the zombie plague just seconds before they can reach the cure.”
“I find myself getting attached to my survivors, and it's quite heartbreaking once they get munched on by the zombies resulting in permadeath.”
“The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The NPC dialogue feels forced and juvenile, which detracts from any emotional impact the game could have.”
“The overall experience feels hollow, leaving me emotionally unengaged despite the game's attempts at storytelling.”
- character development32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its emotional depth and skill progression, while others find it limited and rudimentary. Many appreciate the unique traits and abilities of characters, which enhance gameplay, but some feel that the overall customization options are lacking. Overall, the character development adds a layer of engagement, but it may not satisfy those seeking extensive depth and variety.
“The depth of character development is nothing short of remarkable, and it adds a layer of emotional investment that many other survival games lack.”
“Great character development to the point where if someone dies, you feel like 'you' die inside.”
“As you use your characters, they’ll develop their skills: running a lot will build up their endurance, fighting will unlock stat boosts and upgrades to melee and shooting, and a variety of other skills like gardening, chemistry, and computers will give you access to an upgrade tree of mutually exclusive character development choices that can lead to new crafting or support ability options.”
“Limited character development: while each character has unique traits and abilities, the depth of character development and customization is somewhat limited.”
“Character development is slightly improved but still mostly everyone feels largely the same.”
“If it's your first time playing the game, the lack of character development and depth isn't going to help maintain your interest; you'll feel that the characters are just random with some sort of randomly programmed dialogue lines, and that's all.”
- monetization25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 52 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and a commitment to free updates, providing a player-friendly experience without the typical cash grab tactics seen in many modern titles. While some players express frustration over certain gameplay mechanics and the absence of specific features, the overall sentiment highlights appreciation for the developers' dedication to maintaining and improving the game without resorting to monetization strategies.
“This game still gets updates, years after release, despite having no live service monetization model.”
“They have a system in place that would be ripe for monetization but they turned it down in favor of a better player experience and I am very thankful for that.”
“It's not without glitches and bugs, but it's also still receiving active patches and free content updates 4 years after release, has no microtransactions, and no nickel-and-diming DLCs.”
“Edition, this is misleading advertising and marketing. I feel like I was scammed, cheated, and misled because I was promised on the store page that all the content was already in the Juggernaut Edition. The only DLC/packs/content is Heartland, Daybreak, and Independence, and of course along with the base game, that's all in the Juggernaut Edition.”
“No, just no... a cash grab with a subpar graphical upgrade at the price of a full-priced indie game. Do yourself a favor, buy State of Decay (the first game) or Dead State instead of this sad piece of manure.”
“And finally, they have thrown in some political ads that do not fit in a game.”
