Welcome to the Game II

About

Welcome to the Game II is a single player strategy game with a horror theme. It was developed by Reflect Studios and was released on April 2, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

"Welcome to the Game II" is a horror/strategy game where you step into the role of investigative reporter Clint Edwards, searching for a woman named Amalea who's being hunted on the dark web. Guide Clint through the shadowy depths of the internet, solve puzzles, and evade hidden dangers to save Amalea before it's too late. Tread carefully, as the deep web holds many secrets and even more perils.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,675 reviews

gameplay41 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

Incredibly scary atmosphere that keeps players on edge.
Challenging gameplay that requires strategy and attention to detail.
Unique concept of exploring the dark web while avoiding various threats.

Unforgiving permadeath system that resets all progress upon death.
Steep learning curve with minimal guidance, making it frustrating for new players.
Developer's controversial behavior and potential privacy concerns regarding game mechanics.

gameplay
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by a steep learning curve, requiring players to navigate numerous complex mechanics and puzzles, often relying on external guides to progress. While some players appreciate the challenge and depth, many criticize the lack of clear instructions and the presence of frustrating, unexplained mechanics that can lead to frequent, punishing deaths. Overall, the gameplay is a mix of intriguing concepts and frustrating execution, making it appealing primarily to those who enjoy difficult, knowledge-based challenges.
- “Each step feels like a strategic move in a high-stakes chess game, adding depth and complexity to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay and the challenge are good.”
- “Great graphics, and scary gameplay.”
- “Unintuitive gameplay, impossible to play without guides.”
- “Skill has marginal impact on gameplay and the difference between progressing or dying is largely based on RNG.”
- “The mechanics of each enemy are well thought out, but the game fails to tell you basic and important game mechanics.”
story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its intriguing elements and character motivations, while others criticize it as weak, predictable, or lacking depth. Many highlight the engaging horror atmosphere and the connection to previous titles, but some feel that the gameplay mechanics overshadow the narrative. Overall, the story is seen as a blend of interesting concepts and frustrating execution, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
- “With creative game mechanics, attractive, gritty graphics, and a great storyline, this game somehow manages to be even better than the original.”
- “The plot in the game is so interesting that I would like someone to make a film about it.”
- “Not only is there the threat of jumpscare kills, but also the game has an unsettling (and actually pretty believable) storyline, keeping the player constantly paranoid due to the possibility of dying and losing everything.”
- “There's a lot more I could drone on about - such as how the game's acting and story is stale and predictable, but I feel that those pale in comparison to the actual flaws of the game's mechanics themselves.”
- “Not even worth 1 Ethiopian birr, just a bunch of cheap jump scares with a lackluster story to force them onto you, kinda like getting beaten over the head with a Big Mac.”
- “It's understandable that a game based around mystery would be reluctant with information, however it seems that it's the wrong kind of information the game is stingy with, such as 'who exactly are we?' and 'how come we are the only ones caring about the serial killers lurking around?'”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising their quality and aesthetic appeal, particularly in creating a tense atmosphere. However, some players noted that the graphics options are limited and that performance issues can arise on certain hardware configurations. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience, especially in the horror genre.
- “The combination of ambient sound, minimalistic visuals, and the ever-present threat of danger from the dark web keeps the tension palpable throughout your virtual exploration.”
- “Seriously, the atmosphere, the jumpscares, the visuals, it's all done so perfectly.”
- “I will say some good things about the game; for one, the graphics are very nice, especially considering the size of the dev team and the time it was made in. Seriously, very pretty game.”
- “Graphics could be better, I think.”
- “But there is almost no graphics option except 'low-medium-high'.”
- “Also, the lower you put the graphics, the brighter it becomes, but it will look really muddy.”
atmosphere
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its intense and immersive horror elements, creating a constant sense of unease and paranoia that keeps players on edge. Reviewers highlight the effective sound design, ambient details, and creative threats that contribute to a terrifying experience, making it a standout title for fans of atmospheric horror. However, some players feel that the overall gameplay can detract from the atmosphere, leading to frustration despite its strong initial impact.
- “The atmosphere and sound design is some of the best I've ever seen.”
- “The atmosphere is tense and creepy throughout.”
- “The atmosphere while playing, the many different killers, the game mechanics... this game is so awesome!”
- “The atmosphere is so effective that it's really hard to make progress solely because you're too scared to proceed.”
grinding
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
4%
93%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and challenging, often detracting from the overall enjoyment. Many reviewers express frustration with repetitive tasks and complex mechanics that feel more like chores than engaging gameplay, leading to a desire for shortcuts or streamlined processes. While some appreciate the game's atmosphere and strategy, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding becomes a significant barrier to enjoyment, especially after multiple playthroughs.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This game is incredibly tedious and unforgiving, and I just don't have the patience to suffer through it.”
- “Yes, it's challenging, yes it's tedious, and honestly the 'satisfaction' of beating the game probably isn't worth it.”
- “Really interesting premise and atmosphere, but it's ruined by tedious chores and a hacking mechanic that takes up most of the game and is simply not fun.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, including random deaths and issues with the pause menu. While some players acknowledge that the developers are responsive to fixing these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains quite buggy, detracting from the enjoyment for many. Despite these problems, a few players still find value in the game, appreciating its potential for improvement and enjoyment despite the technical shortcomings.
- “If you want to spend hours buying stuff to prevent being killed and/or looking for codes, and also lose your mind from random instant-death glitches, then play it.”
- “The amount of glitches in-game has been, quite honestly, damn near game-breaking.”
- “A buggy mess with motion-blur forcefully enabled.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding both hilarious moments and frustrating glitches that detract from the experience. Many users appreciate the comedic elements, such as funny character interactions and absurd scenarios, while others highlight the game's broken mechanics as unintentionally amusing. Overall, the humor adds a unique layer to the gameplay, making it entertaining despite its challenges.
- “Honestly, it's a very fun and hard game; some of the websites are absolutely disgusting and vile, while others are hilarious.”
- “Took me a while to beat, but I have to thank Markiplier's hilarious let's plays of the game, which made me want to beat it myself.”
- “He also tells you that when he needs your help again, 'you'll know.' Apparently, our way of knowing is him coming to our room and banging on our door while laughing, which any sane person would think is actually a taunt before he kills them.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
59%
29%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting severe performance issues such as low frame rates, jitteriness, and crashes, even on decent hardware. While some users noted improvements after initial struggles, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and requires significant fixes to enhance playability.
- “Aside from a few bugs and optimization errors, this game is recommended by me on many aspects.”
- “When I first booted it up, it ran like absolute garbage before culminating in a crash, but after that it ran crystal clear, so if you're having optimization issues, just be patient and let your computer settle down with the game.”
- “Also, as a sidenote, the game is the most jittery, unstable, frame-dropping, microstuttering pile of a game I have played in ages.”
- “All in all, as much as I would like to give this one a fair shot, it appears to struggle with performance on certain systems.”
- “This game is horribly optimized though.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music aspect of the game is described as a mix of engaging and unsettling elements, with users enjoying the ability to play their own music while also experiencing creepy audio that enhances the atmosphere. Some players noted issues with volume control and the presence of jarring "earrape" music, while others appreciated the lack of music, which heightened tension and fear. Overall, the soundtrack and audio design contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, with some players expressing interest in purchasing the soundtrack.
- “Good game from what I've played so far, I wouldn't mind paying for the soundtrack.”
- “Music loads fine, and the animation for the creepy background, but nothing to click on.”
- “Wait, what’s that music coming from the hall?”
- “Earrape music on loud, which would be fine if there were options for volume.”
- “It started a bit when the developer began to take over people's games that were streaming, and just making a joke by playing a song through the computer.”
- “- Lack of any music is again a major plus; you are afraid of almost every little noise made by a door, window, sirens, even your character.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players reporting experiences of crying and deep immersion. The narrative of a lost girl finding support online resonates with many, showcasing a heartfelt and unique design that effectively addresses themes of anxiety and connection. Overall, players feel a strong emotional engagement that enhances their gaming experience.
- “A heartwarming tale about a little lost girl and the friends she meets on the internet that help her overcome her anxiety problems.”
- “I think as an indie studio they deserve proper leniency for their unique and heartfelt game design that can only exist with the success of their products.”
- “I don't buy many games on Steam, but this one is something unique, something special that made me feel immersed, so I do not regret my purchase at all.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, players find the game enjoyable and recognize its replayability, largely due to its unique concept and RNG elements that add challenge. However, some feel that a lack of depth and features detracts from its long-term appeal, with one reviewer rating its replayability as average at 5/10.
- “I really enjoy the unique concept; it is a lot of fun and very replayable.”
- “The RNG in this game does make it more difficult, but I think it's what also gives this game replayability.”
- “I found it pretty fun, but the lack of depth and maybe even some cooler features or a front desk clerk took away from the replayability.”
- “Longevity/replayability: 5/10.”