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Torchlight II

Torchlight II, Runic Games' latest kill sandbox, is one of the best action-RPGs around.
Torchlight II Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
93% User Score Based on 23,748 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 38 reviews

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Torchlight II Game Cover

About

Torchlight II is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Runic Games and was released on September 19, 2012. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Torchlight II features randomly generated dungeons and numerous types of monsters to fight for loot. Torchlight II is an action RPG as its predecessor, but features overland areas with multiple hub towns, and a longer campaign. Players are able to customize character appearance with choice of sex, face, hair style and hair color. Additionally, several elements from the first game return, such as p…

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Torchlight II screenshot
Torchlight II screenshot
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93%
Audience ScoreBased on 23,748 reviews
story731 positive mentions
grinding386 negative mentions
  • Torchlight II features vibrant, colorful, and cartoonish graphics with a timeless art style that runs smoothly even on low-end systems, creating a charming and accessible atmosphere.
  • The gameplay is fast-paced, addictive, and fluid, with balanced classes, engaging combat mechanics, extensive loot system, and satisfying character customization.
  • The game offers high replayability through diverse character classes, procedurally generated maps, robust mod support, and cooperative multiplayer, enhancing longevity and player engagement.
  • The story is generally considered thin, forgettable, and basic, lacking depth, character development, and emotional impact, serving mostly as a backdrop to gameplay.
  • Multiplayer functionality suffers from frequent bugs, connection issues, crashes, and complicated troubleshooting, often rendering online play frustrating or impossible.
  • Grinding can become tedious, repetitive, and overwhelming, especially in the endgame, with some gameplay mechanics feeling imbalanced or lacking thoughtful design.
  • story
    2,695 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Torchlight II features a straightforward, somewhat generic story that serves primarily as a backdrop to its fast-paced, loot-driven gameplay. While the narrative connects to the first game and includes quests and side missions, it is often seen as thin, forgettable, or uninspiring, with minimal character development and limited world-building. Most players focus on the addictive combat and progression, with the story considered secondary and easily skippable.

    • “Torchlight 2 is a story-driven game. A good story gives the player a real motivation; a reason to exist. The story is divided into 3 major sections, exposing you to different environments with each, and bringing you closer to the final showdown. While being primarily story-driven, Torchlight 2 extends the replayability with new game plus, mapworks (special dungeons for your grinding needs), and LAN or online co-op. There was a substantial amount of narration, mainly for the story, but it was well done. I had initially been uninterested in the story, but listening to it being read really gave it life and energy.”
    • “The story and characters aren't particularly memorable, but that hardly hurts the strength of Runic's focused design in what's one of the finest loot-driven action-RPGs available. The game has a fairly interesting story, a great loot system, fun post-game/new game plus content, and pet companions. Torchlight II continues the story from Torchlight and the three original player classes return as NPCs. The plot is simple but engaging, memorable boss fights and references to other games. The story and atmosphere are bland, but the gameplay, combat, and loot system are excellent.”
    • “Torchlight II builds on the plot of the predecessor Torchlight. Players journey through expansive randomized outdoor areas and deep ominous caverns; random instanced and persistent dungeons, with a huge variety of new monsters and villains, endless variations of loot, and quests to complete. The story picks up where the first game ended. Along the way, you meet new characters and quest givers that help you in your quest against the alchemist. The storyline and plot of Torchlight II feels original and fresh, with a solid combat system and fast-paced gameplay that keeps things fresh and exciting.”
    • “The story is pretty bare bones and is barely fit to be called a story at that.”
    • “The story is somewhat lacking and basic, but everything else in the game easily accounts for that.”
    • “The storyline sucks even for an action-rpg: story is paperthin, generic, and forgettable.”
  • gameplay
    2,239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Torchlight II offers fast-paced, addictive gameplay reminiscent of Diablo II, with fluid combat, varied classes, and a robust loot system that keeps players engaged over many hours. Its pet mechanics and mod support enhance convenience and replayability, while the streamlined interface and cooperative multiplayer add to its appeal. Though some find the gameplay repetitive and mechanics somewhat dated, the experience remains satisfying and accessible, making it a standout in the action RPG genre despite a less compelling story.

    • “The gameplay is smooth and fast-paced, making for a great experience overall.”
    • “Torchlight II offers a very similar experience (loot and gameplay wise) to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction with a different texture style.”
    • “The gameplay is addictive, fun, and smooth, with excellent character customization, balanced classes, and engaging combat mechanics.”
    • “90% of gameplay is holding left mouse button as you wait for the enemies to die so you can progress.”
    • “There is no guided experience or idea of how the game should feel and play. This game is effectively a sandbox where they mishmashed together about 100 different mechanics and ideas, with no regard for how they should work as a whole.”
    • “Where this game loses it for me, is the incredibly imbalanced encounters based on swarming where the game mechanics are not designed to handle swarming, and most boss encounters are likely to reduce your gold to 0 even if you are good. There are movement issues in the mechanics that are either oversights or intentional for difficulty; environmentals also deal an excessive amount of damage for what they are and undermine tactics in large encounters. All in all the gameplay is terrible and the mechanics have no thought to it, yet it's a pretty game with excellent leveling development.”
  • graphics
    2,089 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Torchlight II features a bright, colorful, and cartoonish art style reminiscent of World of Warcraft, which sets it apart from darker ARPGs like Diablo. While the graphics are not cutting-edge and may not appeal to those preferring realistic or gritty visuals, the stylized, vibrant aesthetics have aged well, run smoothly on low-end systems, and contribute positively to the overall charming and accessible atmosphere of the game. Most players appreciate the polished visuals that complement fluid combat and extensive content, though the whimsical graphics may be a matter of personal taste.

    • “Torchlight 2 captivates with its vibrant and charming art style, a welcome departure from the often grim aesthetics of similar games. The graphics are colorful but still dark in feel, and are pretty high-resolution.”
    • “The graphics have a cute cartoon feel about them but are very simple at times, lacking texture and detail, yet the overall aesthetic covers up the dated visuals well and the art style is timeless, holding up many years after release.”
    • “Excellently executed traditional-style ARPG with gorgeous Blizzard-style graphics that still hold up pretty well today, featuring colourful worlds and detailed environments that make the game visually appealing and immersive.”
    • “The graphics are hard on the eyes, and the overall gameplay is repetitive and draining.”
    • “The graphics are dated.”
    • “The graphics look really dated - about a decade behind.”
  • replayability
    663 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Torchlight II is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its four distinct character classes with diverse skill trees, procedurally generated maps, and robust mod support that introduces new content, classes, and gameplay modes. The game's new game+ mode, mapworks feature, multiplayer, and active modding community further extend its longevity, offering virtually endless opportunities to replay and customize experiences. While the base campaign is relatively short, the variety of builds, randomized dungeons, and extensive user-generated content keep the gameplay fresh and engaging for both newcomers and veteran ARPG fans.

    • “Years later, Torchlight II still holds up because it knows what it is: a joyful, endlessly replayable loot chase.”
    • “Torchlight II has robust mod support, extending its replayability with fan-made content, new classes, and even total conversion mods.”
    • “Even years after its release, Torchlight II remains one of the most beloved and replayable entries in the ARPG genre, perfect for veterans and newcomers alike.”
    • “No replayability compared to other ARPGs.”
    • “Little to no replayability and dated graphics all pile up to be a shadow of the genre.”
    • “The game has low replay value and is quite 'narrow'; there's simply not much to do due to the limited amount of specialization and amount of discovery.”
  • music
    511 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music of Torchlight II, composed by Matt Uelmen (known for Diablo 1 and 2), is widely praised for its atmospheric, haunting, and evocative qualities that enhance the game's ambiance and gameplay. While some find it reminiscent or heavily influenced by the Diablo soundtracks, this familiarity often contributes positively to the experience, creating a nostalgic and fitting mood despite occasional critiques of repetitiveness or lack of innovation. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest and most memorable aspects.

    • “The soundtrack by Matt Uelmen, known for his iconic work on the Diablo series, sets the perfect mood—mysterious, atmospheric, and evocative of classic dungeon crawlers.”
    • “The insanely awesome game music score was composed by Matt Uelmen who also created the music of Diablo I and II (and Torchlight I, to be exact), so you'll get into the same way awesome atmosphere while listening to the pinnacle of game music tracks, ever, period.”
    • “Each area has its own specific music track and complements each area beautifully, cultivating the same feelings in the player as the character would be experiencing in those particular areas.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't as good as it was in the first Torchlight game, but it's still okay for background music.”
    • “The only gripes I have with this game are the music, which is bland and boring, and the fact that there were no respec potions in the game, which were present in Torchlight 1; however, a simple mod fixes that.”
    • “Torchlight II has a solid combat system and a fun graphic style; however, the overall story is weak, the music is monotonous, and the dungeon crawling quest format becomes fairly tedious quickly.”
  • grinding
    408 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in this game is a core element, offering satisfying loot hunting, character progression, and replayability, especially for fans of hack-and-slash RPGs. While many players find the grind enjoyable and integral to the experience, it can become repetitive, tedious, and overwhelming over extended play, particularly in endgame and achievement hunting. The game balances grind with fast-paced combat, quality-of-life features like pet inventory management, and mod support, but it may not appeal to those averse to lengthy or repetitive grinding.

    • “Good game, short enough to be replayable, not too grindy.”
    • “Not too grindy, you quickly level up and get decent items after some play.”
    • “And also not grindy for a Diablo-like game, which is great.”
    • “Grinding for items takes too much time because of random loot.”
    • “The worst part: grinding is painfully boring.”
    • “Only ever bought level 92 gear from vendors (that have to be farmed by rerolling them, like many things in this game, which is dumb and not fun) while already level (and fame) capped for a long time because the game still would not drop any useful item despite hours and hours of farming.”
    • “Spend your precious no-job leisure time clicking 'reroll world' in the 'make lan game' (because you can't do it otherwise, unless you spend your time teleporting everywhere to force reloads each time) and explore the same zones over and over until maybe you find an NPC and maybe said NPC is the enchanter you need and maybe it will give you the 3 pile of random enchants you need on item(s) that maybe have the 20% crit upgrade for 50% bonus maybe on a good roll with the gold you spent dozens of hours farming and if not then you can remove all 3 enchants at once (not separately) and try your luck all over again.”
    • “My problem with this game is that once you beat the game, the grinding aspects are forced on you in new game plus.”
    • “I understand why, but I would like to run through the game again without all the grinding.”
  • atmosphere
    180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant, charming, and colorful art style combined with an evocative and well-crafted soundtrack that creates a unique, inviting mood distinct from the darker, grittier tones of similar ARPGs like Diablo II. While some find it less immersive or emotionally deep compared to classic dark fantasy games, many appreciate the lighter, fun, and cartoonish atmosphere that balances accessibility and enjoyable exploration. Overall, the atmosphere complements the gameplay well, offering an engaging, visually appealing, and musically rich environment that appeals to both new players and fans of the genre.

    • “The soundtrack by Matt Uelmen, known for his iconic work on the Diablo series, sets the perfect mood—mysterious, atmospheric, and evocative of classic dungeon crawlers.”
    • “All that coated is a fantastic atmosphere created by a catchy soundtrack, timelessly stylized artwork, and a sense of identity felt throughout the entire game, meticulously crafted by passionate people with love for the genre in heart, resulting in an experience that engraves deep into the mind and lingers there for many years after completion.”
    • “But Torchlight II gives me an environment of temples, statues, abandoned wagon caravans, pirate ships in underground coves, crypts lit with piles of candles, and tons of atmosphere to go with it.”
    • “The atmosphere is completely lost: the 'evil' you happen to fight against aren't sinister enough.”
    • “Like Diablo II but without the atmosphere or heart and with worse graphics (early 3D environments just do not age well).”
    • “I don't have much in the way of harsh criticism other than the game's art direction and atmosphere are all over the place as you travel from one area into the next.”
  • humor
    133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its clever, lighthearted humor that complements its vibrant, cartoonish art style and engaging gameplay. Players enjoy the funny characters, quirky items, amusing easter eggs, and humorous dialogue, which provide a welcome contrast to more serious ARPGs like Diablo. The humor, often compared to a "funny Diablo," adds charm and replayability, especially in co-op mode, making it an entertaining experience filled with laughter and playful moments.

    • “The story is solid and the game's humor is well-done.”
    • “Extremely funny and enjoyable game to play, both single player and co-op with friends.”
    • “Torchlight's personal mix of serious storyline and world lore alongside tongue-in-cheek humor provides just the right balance of tension and laughter to make already enjoyable well-executed action RPG mechanics even more so.”
  • optimization
    89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally solid, running smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including older and low-end systems, and offering good performance even with maxed settings. However, it suffers from notable issues such as poor multi-core CPU support, occasional stuttering or FPS drops during intense combat or crowded scenes, and mixed experiences with certain GPUs and multiplayer modes. Overall, while not perfectly optimized, it remains playable and enjoyable for most users.

    • “Torchlight II offers impeccable performance on modern systems and hardware.”
    • “It runs smoothly even with the settings maxed out, thanks to its optimized graphics and timeless art style.”
    • “It's pretty well optimized and can run on medium-high settings on just about any machine you put it on.”
    • “One of the most serious problems with Torchlight II is its poor optimization.”
    • “Even on modern hardware, performance can dip below 40 or even 30 fps during busy scenes, especially toward the end of the game when the screen is filled with enemies and corpses.”
    • “From what I understand, the game only utilizes a single CPU core, which severely limits performance.”
  • stability
    88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game runs well and is stable in single-player mode, performing smoothly even on older or low-end hardware. However, multiplayer suffers from frequent bugs, including connection issues, crashes, desyncs, and complicated firewall or network workarounds, leading many players to find it frustrating or unplayable. Despite these issues, mods and community support partially mitigate some problems, but overall the experience is marred by persistent technical glitches.

    • “Remarkably stable and bug free.”
    • “Great game, well made, basically bug free for me.”
    • “It is well optimized and runs great on my potato computer.”
    • “Multiplayer doesn't work due to buggy coding... Firewall won't let you play online even with permissions through firewall.... Only solution is to go into the game's files and change values, and this only works once.. Solid no.”
    • “If you run into auth issues, there's a chance you may never get to play multiplayer period because the only troubleshooting you can go off of is Reddit forums or other forum posts that are 10 years old.”
    • “Despite trying all the troubleshooting tips and even reaching out to Reddit, the game keeps throwing up issues related to firewalls or other connection problems, making it impossible for me to join my friend’s game.”
  • character development
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews praise the game's vibrant, unique character designs and flexible development system with diverse skill trees, classes, and customization options that foster personalization and engagement. While early and mid-game progression is satisfying and well-balanced, many users find the endgame character development lacking depth and complexity compared to classics like Diablo II or Grim Dawn. Overall, the character development complements the game's fast-paced, colorful gameplay, though it may not satisfy players seeking intricate or highly detailed RPG progression.

    • “Character development, collecting kit and customizing skills makes Torchlight 2 (and its predecessor) one of the best action RPG/dungeon crawlers around.”
    • “This game is focused on gameplay and it is perfect: everything fits together: lot of items, many monsters, great character development with a lot of skills, spells, levels, few attributes and even a pet.”
    • “The four classes are all unique and the combination of skill trees make for a very personal character development.”
    • “Character development was rather boring but what really killed it is the 3rd party login.”
    • “Mods help with replayability but the game suffers from a fundamental lack of character development during the endgame which can put you off from the grind.”
    • “And that's it... no epic videos that would satisfy a person wanting to see something epic after so many hours of completing those damn levels... no drama, no character development.”
  • emotional
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional impact of the game is mixed; some players find it heartwarming, nostalgic, and compelling—especially appreciating the music, characters, and moments of personal connection—while others feel emotionally detached due to a predictable, sparse storyline and fast leveling that limits attachment to in-game progress. Overall, the game evokes warmth and enjoyment for many, but lacks the deep emotional investment and narrative depth found in other RPGs.

    • “It's one of only a handful of games I've played that made me feel this way.”
    • “I am an emotional person, experiencing different sorts of emotions from anime, songs, paintings, and other pieces of art, but this game when I play alone offers a completely unique experience of - all alone - just me and my lovely pet.”
    • “One of the best games I have ever played... addicting, stunning, heartbreaking (especially in hardcore mode...) 12/10 :D!”
    • “The grind is definitely there, but the game has a fairly boring story, if you could even call it that.”
    • “It's polished and the game mechanics are okay, but it's basically the same game with a boring storyline and graphics that aren't as good.”
    • “Boring quests go along with a boring storyline.”
  • monetization
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Torchlight 2 is widely praised for its fair and straightforward monetization, featuring no microtransactions, DLC, or pay-to-win elements, offering a complete and enjoyable ARPG experience for a one-time purchase. Players appreciate its value compared to modern games burdened with aggressive cash grabs and always-online requirements. This classic approach, combined with modding support, provides extended content without additional costs.

    • “Torchlight 2 is exactly what I've been searching for—a fun, relaxing ARPG without pay-to-win elements or microtransactions.”
    • “It's a timeless gem that offers a fun, engaging experience without the hassle of modern gaming monetization schemes.”
    • “No microtransactions, DLCs, any online requirements, timed events, dependencies on external platforms, launchers, etc.”
    • “Mmo focused trash which will be full of mobile microtransactions as the new devs are all mobile game devs. Avoid Torchlight 3.”
    • “Perhaps if the makers of the game made it free to play, but with in-game purchases, it would be more successful.”
    • “Ads time.”
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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 38 critic reviews
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39h Median play time
104h Average play time
21h Main story
76h Completionist
12-105h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 105 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Torchlight II is a hack and slash game with fantasy theme.

Torchlight II is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 21 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 76 hours to finish. On average players spend around 104 hours playing Torchlight II.

Torchlight II was released on September 19, 2012.

Torchlight II was developed by Runic Games.

Torchlight II has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Torchlight II is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Torchlight, Grim Dawn, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, Titan Quest, Victor Vran and others.