Wargroove 2

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 216 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Wargroove 2 Game Cover
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 216 reviews
story32 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Wargroove 2 builds upon the original game with new units, commanders, and a roguelike mode, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
  • The campaign features improved writing and engaging storylines, making it more enjoyable than the first game.
  • The game plays well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and offers a charming art style that appeals to fans of the genre.
  • The multiplayer experience remains barebones, lacking ranked matchmaking and co-op campaign options, which may lead to a dwindling player base.
  • Some players find the writing and dialogue to be cringeworthy and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The game has been reported to have bugs and issues, particularly in the campaign and custom campaign features, which can hinder gameplay.
  • story190 mentions

    The story in Wargroove 2 has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improved writing and character development compared to its predecessor, while others criticize it for excessive dialogue and a lack of engaging gameplay. Many feel that the narrative is convoluted and at times lacks focus, leading to a disjointed experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, some players found the story to be touching and well-told, particularly praising the emotional depth and thematic exploration, though they noted that it could be bogged down by interruptions and pacing issues.

    • “The writing of the story very much improves on 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 story campaign is also just a lot more fun in general, as maps are more varied and give you more freedom to complete them (with much easier bonus objectives than Wargroove 1).”
    • “The plot is touching and epic, and it touches on themes of relationships, trust, loss, and trauma that aren't stereotypical video game tropes.”
    • “I might play more, but I finished the pirate storyline and I'm not impressed.”
    • “The campaign is extremely disappointing, as there are hardly any missions that are the standard type of Advance Wars/Wargroove type of mission.”
    • “The story is broken up into four campaigns plus the tutorial campaign, but the writing is very cringe and tonally deaf.”
  • gameplay77 mentions

    The gameplay in Wargroove 2 retains the core mechanics of its predecessor, offering a familiar turn-based tactical experience reminiscent of Advance Wars, but it is often interrupted by excessive dialogue that some players find detracts from the action. While the game introduces new characters, units, and mechanics like groove tiers and items, many reviewers feel that it lacks significant innovation and can feel tedious due to small battle sizes and repetitive mission structures. Overall, the campaign is engaging and well-designed, but the balance between story and gameplay may not satisfy those seeking a purely tactical 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 gameplay loop is very reminiscent of Advance Wars; you have different units (some ranged, some cavalry, some artillery, some plain soldiers/spearmen, and some are hero units with more health and special abilities) - there is a sort of rock-paper-scissors system where each unit is weak to 1-2 others, alongside a defense system where certain tiles on the map increase your defense level (like mountains and trees).”
    • “The campaign is well designed and engaging, the writing is much improved, and overall the gameplay is fun.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty similar to the first, but even if you start to get into it, lots of dialogue makes you pause battling to get through, and the dialogue is not well written, campy at best.”
    • “Wargroove with more words and less gameplay.”
    • “What's more, the campaign has decided to focus heavily on characters/story stuff which means that the gameplay is constantly interrupted so that characters can talk to each other.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it serviceable yet repetitive, reminiscent of Yoshi's New Island. While some tracks are appreciated, the overall soundtrack is considered less catchy and more generic compared to the original, lacking the distinctiveness and personality that fans expected. Additionally, the absence of dynamic music changes during missions and minor technical issues, like pauses in looping tracks, have contributed to a sense of disappointment among players.

    • “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 in 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.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics of the game feature charming pixel art and custom tilesets that enhance the overall aesthetic, though some users find the visuals to be blocky and not to their taste. While the art style is generally praised, there are reports of bugs and graphical errors that detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics are considered good, with a nostalgic 2D charm reminiscent of the first game.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game offers a variety of modes that enhance replayability, including a single-player mode with upgrades, a conquest mode, and a roguelite option, though the latter may feel limited after a few plays. While the three-star system may detract from the challenge for some, custom difficulty settings provide additional replay value. Overall, it caters well to players seeking both single-player and multiplayer experiences, though the depth of replayability may vary depending on playstyle.

    • “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.”
    • “Seriously increases the replay value.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game exhibits significant stability issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, where players frequently experience desyncing, crashes, and freezes. Additionally, minor bugs affect gameplay mechanics, such as star acquisition and campaign creation, leading to frustration among users. Overall, while the game shows potential, its stability problems detract from the experience.

    • “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 ejections 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, but I'd have to say this really does just feel like a DLC, to be honest.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and detracting from the overall experience, with some noting that while the removal of certain grind requirements from the first game is a positive change, the current battles still feel small and repetitive. Overall, the grindiness is seen as a significant drawback that impacts enjoyment.

    • “I really liked the first game, but this one feels tedious.”
    • “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.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some reviewers appreciating the improved writing and clever jokes that balance silliness with emotional depth. However, others feel that the emphasis on humor detracts from the narrative cohesion, leading to a lack of tension and emotional impact. Overall, while there are funny moments, the execution may not resonate with all 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 fourth-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.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game features a diverse cast that navigates emotionally charged arcs and complex relationship dynamics, effectively balancing humor with significant emotional moments. It explores themes of trust, loss, and trauma in a way that feels fresh and impactful, avoiding common video game clichés. Overall, the emotional depth is praised for its authenticity and resonance.

    • “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.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization in the multiplayer aspect has been criticized for unacceptable performance issues, with players noting that scenarios feel trivial and the difficulty scaling is less engaging due to a shift from performance-based to requirement-based challenges.

    • “The optimization in this game allows for a smoother multiplayer experience, enhancing overall gameplay.”
    • “I appreciate how the game presents challenges that gradually increase in difficulty, especially when aiming for optional stars, making the optimization feel rewarding.”
    • “The requirement-based system for optional stars adds a new layer of strategy to the game, encouraging players to optimize their performance.”
    • “The performance in multiplayer is unacceptable for me.”
    • “You're faced 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 development1 mentions

    The character development for the necromancer is noted to be substantial, with a rich background and lore that enhances the player's connection to the character.

    • “There is a sufficient amount of lore and character development for my necromancer character.”
    • “The character development is rich and engaging, making each character feel unique and memorable.”
    • “I love how the game allows for deep character growth, with choices that truly impact the storyline.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters are; they don't evolve throughout the game.”
    • “Despite the rich lore, the character development doesn't translate into engaging gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

116hMedian play time
111hAverage play time
100-121hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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