The Talos Principle 2

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 13,407 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Talos Principle 2 Game Cover
Solve physical puzzles while puzzling over your existence.
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"The Talos Principle 2" is a philosophical first-person puzzle game set in a city of robots. As the player, you'll explore a megastructure with advanced technologies, confronting questions about the nature of the cosmos and the purpose of civilization. With a new generation of puzzles and abilities, solve challenges with varying difficulty levels and make choices that will determine the course of events. The game does not require solving every puzzle, allowing for flexibility in completion.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 13,407 reviews
story2,359 positive mentions
grinding251 negative mentions
  • story6,352 mentions

    The story in "The Talos Principle 2" is a significant expansion from its predecessor, featuring a more intricate narrative that explores themes of humanity, society, and philosophical dilemmas through a cast of well-developed characters. While some players appreciate the deeper storytelling and character interactions, others feel it detracts from the puzzle-solving experience, with a mix of opinions on pacing and engagement. Overall, the game is praised for its thought-provoking narrative and beautiful environments, though some critiques highlight a perceived heaviness in the story compared to the more minimalist approach of the first game.

    • “Tight puzzles, gorgeous environments, and a touching story.”
    • “Interesting story, good puzzles, beautiful settings and wholesome characters.”
    • “The story picks up from the end of the first game; playing it will provide excellent context and motivation, but is not strictly necessary.”
    • “The 'story' if you can even call it that (more like preaching) starts strong then becomes tiresome and disappointing.”
    • “The story and philosophical expose sort of just gets in the way and provides some (unnecessary) padding between puzzles.”
    • “However all the world-story around and all the 'philosophy' is superficial, primitive and sometimes purely stupid.”
  • gameplay3,514 mentions

    The gameplay in "The Talos Principle 2" has been praised for its engaging puzzle mechanics, which build upon the foundation of the first game while introducing a plethora of new elements. Many players appreciate the variety of mechanics and the seamless integration of new tools, although some feel that the puzzles tend to be easier and often serve as tutorials for the new mechanics rather than challenging tests of skill. Overall, the game is seen as a worthy sequel that enhances the original's gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding the underutilization of certain mechanics and the pacing of difficulty.

    • “Spending time working out the elegant yet never unfair mechanics is extremely rewarding.”
    • “The puzzle mechanics from the first game return, some with a new take on the concepts and some newcomers that both build on the existing mechanics as well as some brand new ones.”
    • “The gameplay itself is pretty good, with the same tight puzzle design and very clean mechanics as the first game, but with expanded scope, and beautiful environments.”
    • “A good solid 20% of the puzzles are cheap bullshit using mechanics that they never tell you exist and get used once, and most of the optional puzzles are nearly impossible to figure out since it's a 2 pixel beam connector 2 miles away you can barely even see if you cheat using a YouTube video anyways.”
    • “The puzzles are well designed, but I think they suffer from having too many mechanics, not all of which return for the final sequence, which also introduces another puzzle mechanic used only for the final sequence.”
    • “The gameplay didn't experience a major overhaul, but there are still enough new elements that make solving puzzles more interesting.”
  • graphics2,054 mentions

    The graphics in "The Talos Principle 2" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and impressive detail, showcasing a significant upgrade from the first installment thanks to the transition to Unreal Engine 5. Players have noted the breathtaking landscapes, intricate environmental design, and overall aesthetic appeal, although some have experienced performance issues and graphical artifacts, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful graphics that enhance the immersive puzzle-solving experience, making it a standout in the genre.

    • “The graphics and world design are phenomenal; concrete monoliths juxtaposed with scenic landscapes is a style I vibe with.”
    • “The visuals are stunning and breathtaking; the soundtrack is on point, the puzzles are great, and in some way, even more accessible than the prequel.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stellar, and the game generally feels like it has gone through serious quality assurance.”
    • “I also dislike how the tutorial area looks so amazing, and then as the game goes on, the levels just become unnecessarily big and the graphical quality just becomes worse.”
    • “Strangely, I feel like the developers fought with the engine, as even though the graphics are pretty, they look pretty ugly at times as well.”
    • “The biggest problems with this game is the graphics optimisation.”
  • music1,357 mentions

    The music in "The Talos Principle 2" has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience of the game. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the stunning visuals and engaging puzzles, although some note that it can feel repetitive at times, particularly during extended gameplay sessions. While some fans feel the music lacks the emotional depth of the first game's soundtrack, others celebrate its dynamic range and the way it supports the game's philosophical themes.

    • “The music supports the storytelling beautifully, sometimes poignant, sometimes uplifting, it's really good.”
    • “The music is grandeur and hopeful, whilst still remaining contemplative.”
    • “The game is artistically gorgeous, a feast to the senses, with a beautiful series of spectacular environments and a downright inspired soundtrack that ties it all together in this serene, almost heavenly atmosphere.”
    • “I turned off the background music early on, because it made the overall feeling worse, not better.”
    • “The music is horribly bland and repetitive.”
    • “The one downside, was that for some reason, the music in the first 3 areas was surprisingly sub-par.”
  • optimization540 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, particularly on older hardware. While the visuals are praised for their beauty, they come at a cost, leading to stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes in some cases. Overall, the game is considered demanding on system resources, and players recommend waiting for patches to improve performance before fully engaging with it.

    • “Performance: game is optimized pretty damn well for an Unreal Engine 5 game.”
    • “Talos 1 was an optimized, very enjoyable experience.”
    • “The performance is really good for an UE5 title and I only experienced one crash in my almost 100 hours of playtime.”
    • “The only issue with it is that it's made on Unreal 5, so it's very badly optimized for old (pre-RTX series) hardware; looks beautiful otherwise.”
    • “Simply put, this game suffers from some serious optimization issues.”
    • “The result is that it just never runs particularly smoothly; performance drops dramatically while running around the game's maps, and sudden performance issues can happen at any time, even from just moving the camera.”
  • atmosphere434 mentions

    The atmosphere in "The Talos Principle 2" is a point of contention among players, with many noting a shift from the original's serene, contemplative vibe to a more populated and story-driven environment. While some appreciate the new, vibrant settings and engaging soundtracks, others feel that the inclusion of NPCs and dialogue detracts from the isolation and philosophical depth that characterized the first game. Overall, the sequel offers a visually stunning and immersive experience, but opinions vary on whether it captures the same atmospheric essence as its predecessor.

    • “The atmosphere, level design, and storytelling are just stellar.”
    • “The game is artistically gorgeous, a feast to the senses, with a beautiful series of spectacular environments and a downright inspired soundtrack that ties it all together in this serene, almost heavenly atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is now less serene, there are other robots and animals running around, being the real world, but to me it feels like this takes away the uniqueness of the game.”
    • “If the story and atmosphere were the important things to you in that game, I don't believe you will find much value here.”
    • “In some ways, my negative impressions weren't misplaced - there is a distinct atmosphere of isolation and contemplation that I feel has been completely lost in the process of making this second title more accessible.”
    • “The atmosphere is now less serene; there are other robots and animals running around, being the real world, but to me it feels like this takes away the uniqueness of the game.”
  • grinding257 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant divide in player experiences regarding grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the exploration and puzzle-solving aspects, many find the extensive backtracking and large map sizes tedious, often feeling that the journey between puzzles detracts from the overall enjoyment. The narrative and philosophical elements are also noted as repetitive, contributing to a sense of tedium, although some players still find the puzzles engaging and less grindy compared to the previous installment.

    • “Puzzles aren't as tedious as Talos 1, where each subsequent puzzle felt like it was just adding one more layer to be untangled on top of the previous puzzle until fatigue set in.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Interesting but not tedious puzzles.”
    • “The environments are beautiful, and I genuinely enjoyed exploring them, but it started to get tedious after repeatedly traveling in circles, desperately trying to find that one hidden piece I needed.”
    • “Terribly tedious game, I quit after spending at least two-thirds of my game time running around on ridiculously huge maps instead of solving puzzles.”
    • “The world is tedious, a large-scale map littered with few puzzles that result in you spending more time rushing about finding your way to the next puzzle in a maze of repetitive scenery with no landmarks to discern where you are.”
  • emotional249 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching narrative, which explores profound themes such as human nature, ethics, and grief, often leaving players feeling hopeful and reflective about humanity. Many reviewers noted that the story is capable of evoking strong emotional responses, including tears, through its well-crafted characters and philosophical dialogues, despite some criticism regarding pacing and character depth. Overall, the game is celebrated as a heartfelt and thought-provoking experience that resonates deeply with players.

    • “The story is very emotional and moving, which is an achievement worth celebrating in a game that's literally about robots solving puzzles.”
    • “This game made me feel much more positive and hopeful about humanity than I have in years, both from what's in the game, and knowing that there are people who chose to make it.”
    • “The story itself is also an emotional voyage, taking the philosophical questions of the first game and applying them to a world where the inhabitants have created a world based on those lessons, and need to find answers to big questions in order to figure out what's next.”
    • “But it all fades away because of a boring storyline.”
  • humor203 mentions

    The humor in "Talos Principle 2" is described as a blend of clever, thought-provoking dialogue and occasional absurdity, often delivered through well-voiced characters and engaging interactions. While some players appreciate the subtle and philosophical humor, others find certain jokes cringeworthy or forced, particularly when compared to the first game. Overall, the game balances humor with deeper themes, making it a unique experience that resonates differently with players.

    • “Talos Principle 2 continues with the same mix of philosophy, intense debate, and absolutely stellar humor, but most of it is now delivered through interactions with dozens of fully voiced characters around the futuristic city of New Jerusalem.”
    • “The writing is genuinely deep, the philosophical elements don't make me roll my eyes into the back of my head, the humor is natural and charming, the environments are absurdly beautiful, and the gameplay is engaging.”
    • “This game may start as a funny adventure in ruins with your funny robot friends, but while solving the mystery you end up viewing things from another perspective, thanks to the thought-provoking things you find out.”
    • “Constant, truly cringe-inducing dialogue from deeply unfunny military sidekick characters.”
    • “What Talos 2 decides to do instead is cutscenes and inundate you with constant chatter from NPC companions that make unfunny jokes and comment on stupid things about the very basic story.”
  • stability92 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback. While many players report a largely bug-free experience with smooth performance, some have encountered graphical glitches, freezing issues, and specific bugs related to gameplay progression. The game runs well on various platforms, including Linux and Steam Deck, but certain users have noted engine-related limitations and minor visual artifacts that detract from the experience.

    • “I had no glitches, no bugs, no crashes!”
    • “Pretty much bug free on launch and the vibes it gives are great.”
    • “Great sequel to Talos I, story is captivating, environments are gigantic, puzzles are fun to solve, it looks and runs great on Linux using Proton.”
    • “Good game, in my opinion overrated, and really buggy in terms of progression - if you don't do the puzzles and towers and labs in the order the game expects you to (without telling you much), then your savegame is locked.”
    • “While the game is gorgeous at times, it is let down by some serious image clarity issues and graphical glitches possibly caused by its engine (Unreal 5).”
    • “Game blue screens and hard locks my PC with a GTX 4090, and no amount of troubleshooting was able to get it working.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the game is generally considered low, with many players noting that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to replay. While some aspects, such as multiple endings and dialogue choices, offer a degree of replay value, the repetitive nature of the puzzles and lack of significant new content diminish the overall experience. A few players mention the potential for achievement hunting as a reason to revisit the game, but this is not enough to elevate its replayability significantly.

    • “Replayability: the puzzles stay the same but the story somewhat diverges by choosing different dialogue options.”
    • “There is a new story and the ability to get various outcomes in the game, so it does have replayability.”
    • “Lots of content and replay value for a 30 dollar game.”
    • “In any case, replayability is almost non-existent and it's not as fun to speedrun the game compared to the previous ones, but in some rare occasions you can still manage to break some puzzles with clever use of boxes or jumping mechanics.”
    • “As with most story-driven puzzle games, Talos 2 has low replayability.”
    • “You can do all the things that matter (the puzzles) in one playthrough, so why they locked some achievements like this doesn't make sense to me when there is little replay value.”
  • character development30 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its depth and engagement, with players appreciating the unfolding mystery and philosophical themes that drive the narrative. While some reviews highlight a lack of distinct visual character design, many found the character arcs and interactions to be surprisingly compelling, contributing significantly to the overall experience. However, opinions are mixed, with some players feeling that character development could have been more pronounced.

    • “Another philosophical puzzle masterpiece from Croteam, with lots of depth in the story and character design, and a mystery that unfolds as you continue to work your way through the game.”
    • “But now the driving force to move you forward is not puzzles themselves, but rather plot, character development, and stunning visual design.”
    • “I was vastly underestimating how much story, adventure, and character development was in this game.”
    • “The philosophical backdrop was cool in both games, but I found myself generally uninterested in the actual characters and character development that exist in this one.”
    • “Visual character design, though not known for it, was pretty much absent; all characters are virtually indistinguishable in appearance, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “The character design also really could have used some work.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is praised for its transparency and integrity, with players relieved that it avoids cash grab tactics and predatory microtransactions. Many appreciate the focus on delivering a quality experience reminiscent of the original game, rather than relying on questionable monetization practices. Overall, the game is seen as a positive example of ethical gaming.

    • “When I started, I was worried it would be a cash grab, without delivering on the ideas that made the first so special to me.”
    • “I confirm that the advertising was not lying.”
    • “This is how gaming should be, with no shady practices or predatory microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

86% average critic score

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Play time

28hMedian play time
35hAverage play time
18-45hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 68 analyzed playthroughs

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