Wargroove 2

Wargroove 2 is a fantastic sequel to an already great strategy game, building off of the foundation of the original to reach new heights.

77%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

69% User Score Based on 401 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

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About

Wargroove 2 is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Robotality and was released on October 5, 2023. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Wargroove 2" offers a new adventure in the world of Aurania with powerful Commanders and their unique tiered Grooves across 3 interwoven campaigns. Play with or against friends in co-op and multiplayer modes, or test your skills in the new roguelike mode, Conquest. With new units, night mode, and improved editors for maps, campaigns, and cutscenes, this turn-based strategy game promises deeper strategies and endless creative possibilities.

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 401 reviews

story62 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The core gameplay loop is solid and retains the charm of the first game.
The new roguelike mode, Conquest, adds replayability and variety to the gameplay.
The art style and sound design are improved, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable.

The story and writing have been criticized for being lackluster and filled with unnecessary dialogue.
Many features from the first game, such as Arcade and Puzzle modes, have been removed, leading to a feeling of less content.
The AI remains underwhelming, making the game feel too easy and less challenging overall.

story
378 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
75%
9%
The story of Wargroove 2 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its improvements over the first game, including better writing, character development, and a more engaging narrative structure through multiple campaigns. However, some players criticize the pacing, excessive dialogue, and a lack of depth in character backstories, leading to a feeling of disconnection from the plot. Overall, while the game offers a more complex and varied story experience, it may not satisfy all players, particularly those seeking a more streamlined gameplay experience.
- “Compared to its prequel, Wargroove 2 has done well in adding new characters, story, units as well as allowing all the characters from the old roster to return with some new mechanics thanks to the groove tiers, or I would say an 'overcharge' mechanic for the abilities.”
- “The writing of the story very much improves upon its prequel, with a good bit of jokes and funny moments, sad moments, and inclusive representation that is not overdone, so that's a plus.”
- “The campaign was surprisingly deep, with a story that really moved me and will be enjoyable for people that want to engage with it, though if you are looking for pure gameplay you may think the dialogue is standing between you and the game, but in my opinion, this is actually an important and very valuable part of it.”
- “This game is determined to make you watch a story that basically is written by hacks for the benefit of 12-year-old kids... and it's still worse than you think.”
- “The campaign is terrible, boring and I swear I spent more time reading dialogue than I did actually playing the game; half of the levels are just story and no gameplay. My favorite part of the first game was the campaign, so this was really disappointing.”
- “The story/lore felt like you play the beginning and end, literally no middle part, and felt way shorter than the first series.”
gameplay
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
4%
The gameplay in Wargroove 2 builds upon its predecessor with new characters, units, and mechanics, such as groove tiers and items, enhancing the tactical experience. However, many players feel that the game is bogged down by excessive dialogue and a lack of significant new content, leading to a slower pace and interruptions during battles. While the core mechanics remain solid and engaging, some design flaws from the first game persist, resulting in a mixed reception regarding the overall gameplay experience.
- “Compared to its prequel, Wargroove 2 has done well in adding new characters, story, and units, as well as allowing all the characters from the old roster to return with some new mechanics thanks to the groove tiers, or I would say an 'overcharge' mechanic for the abilities.”
- “The new units and other new elements are interesting and add to the tactical gameplay.”
- “But newcomers to the series will find satisfying and deep turn-based tactics gameplay here and can always catch up on the lore in the detailed codex.”
- “Wargroove with more words and less gameplay.”
- “It feels like the gameplay is constantly interrupted by the characters.”
- “Battles were too small and tedious to the point where it detracted from many of the aspects that made core Wargroove gameplay so solid.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking the distinctiveness of the original soundtrack. While some tracks are considered enjoyable, the overall consensus is that the new compositions feel generic and fail to evoke the same excitement as their predecessors. Additionally, the absence of dynamic music changes during missions and minor technical issues, like pauses in looping tracks, have further detracted from the experience.
- “The style, art, and music are all perfect.”
- “Great soundtrack too!”
- “Overall, fun game, great graphics style, music, charm, and unit design same as the first one.”
- “Another problem is with the music while playing; you're going to hear the same music for the whole mission since it doesn't change between commanders anymore.”
- “Now to the negatives; first of all, the OST is so much worse than the original game. All of the new commander themes blend together and just feel generic and lack the personality needed. I wish there was a toggle for classic themes.”
- “Wargroove 2 has replaced the old themes with songs that feel 'samey' and forgettable.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
The graphics of the game feature a charming 2D art style with custom pixel graphics and tilesets, reminiscent of the first installment. While many players appreciate the visuals and overall aesthetic, some criticize the blocky design and report bugs that affect graphical performance. Overall, the graphics are considered good, though opinions on their appeal vary among players.
- “A good Advance Wars-like game with a charming art style.”
- “Plus the art style and the maps are just fantastic.”
- “Overall, fun game, great graphics style, music, charm, and unit design, same as the first one.”
- “- Visuals are very blocky.”
- “Buggy and bad testing does not leave test assets in the editor that immediately cause graphics errors, such as an entire objective just not working.”
- “Graphics: I'm not actually going to include a score here because the graphics are genuinely quite good, but also not to my taste at all.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The game offers a variety of modes that enhance replayability, particularly through a single-player mode with upgrades and a roguelite option for quick play. However, some players feel that the shift towards a puzzle-like three-star system diminishes the challenge and overall replay value, especially for those who prefer multiplayer. While conquest mode adds some content, it is noted that the roguelike campaigns can be quickly exhausted, limiting long-term replayability.
- “Seriously increases the replay value.”
- “As a side note, the custom difficulty settings are another welcome addition that adds replayability.”
- “Little to no replay value for people who don't play multiplayer; conquest mode provides some level of additional content and replayability, although only a small amount.”
- “There's a roguelite mode now too for quick replayability with a bit of variety.”
- “It does what it's supposed to: give you a replayable game mode for single-player with upgrades and items and such.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is significantly hampered by numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, where players experience frequent desyncing, crashes, and freezes. The campaign maker is also plagued by issues, including configuration errors and non-functional objectives, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while the game has potential, its stability problems detract from the enjoyment.
- “I tried more than five times playing with a buddy of mine for a co-op map he made and we could not progress after the 2nd turn due to desyncing, random ejecting from the game, and freezes happening constantly.”
- “Buggy and bad testing does not leave test assets in the editor that immediately cause graphics errors or errors such as an entire objective just doesn't work.”
- “So far it's well kinda close to the first one, overall good just buggy nonetheless while the campaign maker is very buggy. I'd have to say with crashes and config errors, this really does just feel like a DLC, to be honest.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and detracting from the overall experience, with some noting that while the sequel has removed the need to grind for character unlocks, the battles themselves remain small and repetitive. This grindy nature has led to frustration, overshadowing the enjoyable elements of the gameplay.
- “A strategy rogue-lite... I don't mind the idea, but it is very grindy.”
- “Battles were too small and tedious to the point where it detracted from many of the aspects that made core Wargroove gameplay so solid.”
- “I really liked the first game, but this one feels tedious.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some reviewers appreciating the improved writing and inclusion of jokes alongside serious moments, while others feel the reliance on 4th-wall-breaking humor detracts from the narrative cohesion and emotional depth. Some find the humor excessive, leading to a lack of tension and engagement with the characters' struggles. Overall, the balance between humor and serious themes appears to be a point of contention among players.
- “The writing of the story very much improves its prequel, with a good bit of jokes and funny moments, sad moments, and inclusive representation that is not overdone, so that's a plus.”
- “The bouncing back and forth between silly 4th-wall-breaking humor and trying to make you feel for these traumatized characters gave me whiplash.”
- “There is maybe too much emphasis on humor and not enough on tying the narrative threads together.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a diverse cast that navigates emotionally rich story arcs and complex relationship dynamics, effectively addressing themes of trust, loss, and trauma without resorting to clichéd tropes. The balance of humor and serious moments is praised for avoiding emotional whiplash, allowing for a more impactful narrative experience. Overall, the emotional depth and representation resonate positively with players.
- “You have a very diverse cast, navigating emotionally-charged arcs and relationship dynamics.”
- “The plot is touching and epic, and it touches on themes of relationships, trust, loss, and trauma that aren't stereotypical video game tropes.”
- “It has jokes, of course, but unlike 'marvel-esque' writing, they didn't give me emotional whiplash and didn't detract from actual important scenes.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor multiplayer performance and trivial difficulty in scenarios, with a shift from performance-based to requirement-based challenges that detracts from the overall experience.
- “And an unacceptable performance in the multiplayer for me.”
- “You're faced partly with trivial scenarios that only get slightly more difficult when you aim for the optional stars, which, unlike the first game, are now requirement-based instead of performance-based.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers a substantial amount of lore and character development, particularly for the necromancer character, enhancing the player's connection to the storyline and their character's background.
- “There is a sufficient amount of lore and character development for my necromancer character.”
- “Granted, there is a sufficient amount of lore and character development for my necromancer character.”