Ziggurat 2

About

Ziggurat 2 is a single player role playing shooter game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Milkstone Studios and was released on October 28, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

Ziggurat 2 is a first-person shooter rogue-lite where you play as a powerful sorcerer. Fight your way through procedurally generated levels filled with deadly enemies, using a wide variety of spells and weapons. As you progress, collect loot, improve your character, and face off against fearsome bosses in this challenging and replayable sequel.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+17

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,626 reviews

gameplay156 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

Improvements over the original in nearly every way, including graphics, gameplay, and progression systems.
Fast-paced action with a variety of weapons, characters, and perks that keep the gameplay engaging.
The campaign mode adds depth and structure, allowing players to choose missions based on length and difficulty.

Can become repetitive quickly due to limited enemy and boss variety.
Some perks feel underwhelming and lack meaningful impact on gameplay.
The game may feel overwhelming for new players due to the complexity of mechanics and systems.

gameplay
420 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The gameplay of Ziggurat 2 is characterized by fast-paced, frenetic first-person shooter mechanics combined with roguelite elements, offering a satisfying core loop that encourages exploration and character progression. While many players appreciate the smooth controls and diverse weaponry, some criticize the repetitiveness and lack of meaningful upgrades or impactful perks, leading to a somewhat generic experience. Overall, the game is seen as a solid improvement over its predecessor, though it still has room for enhancement in terms of enemy variety and gameplay depth.
- “The gameplay is fun.”
- “The core gameplay is honestly just the biggest selling point - it's fast, fun, varied, and unique.”
- “Ziggurat 2 is a very fun roguelite fantasy shooter, taking the addictive, adrenaline-filled gameplay of the first game and extending on it.”
- “A couple of the boss fights are frustrating because of it being so close-quarters combat type and the bosses' abilities make it difficult to maneuver, but again it's just another 'get good' mechanic.”
- “The core gameplay loop is so simple and so bland I really doubt it'd be able to capture the interest of anyone who has played more than a handful of games of a similar concept.”
- “The gameplay does get repetitive.”
story
338 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
90%
3%
The story in Ziggurat 2 is generally considered minimal and serves primarily as a vehicle for gameplay progression rather than a focal point. While the first game's simplistic narrative is seen as a strength, the sequel's more complicated plot is criticized for being poorly integrated and less engaging. Overall, players emphasize that the gameplay mechanics and dungeon-crawling experience overshadow the narrative, making it less relevant to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “While the story for both games is probably the least important part of the game, I feel the simplistic story for the first works in its favor, while the overcomplicated story of the second game works to its detriment.”
- “You're trying to rebuild a brotherhood of wizards that got its ass kicked in a turf war, and completing these quests provides unlocks for your guild.”
- “Main quests progress the story and unlock new characters, while side quests reward you with new equipment and perks and are good for collecting experience.”
- “There is a story, kind of, told through short little cutscenes, but it's so disconnected from what you do, and they are kind of poorly written, that it doesn't matter.”
- “The story mode isn't much of a story but being able to pick your missions and knowing what you'll unlock is very nice.”
- “As dungeons are randomly generated, levels don't really have anything to do with the story, which makes the story even less relevant.”
graphics
228 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
57%
1%
The graphics of Ziggurat 2 have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant, colorful art style and significant improvements over its predecessor. Players appreciate the smooth animations, dynamic effects, and the overall aesthetic that enhances the fast-paced gameplay, likening it to a modern take on classic titles. While some note a slight cartoonish feel, the visuals are generally considered stunning and well-optimized, making for an engaging experience.
- “The graphics are bright and colorful, the weapons look great, there's a lot of fancy particles and effects, and it cuts a pretty fast pace - everything needed to wow and attract with a short trailer video.”
- “The graphics are excellent; if you max everything, the effects can be a little too flashy, but it definitely looks wonderful. Most decent midrange PCs can run this game at 100+ fps in 1080p quite easily, and it still looks wonderful with lower settings.”
- “Ziggurat 2 expands and improves upon every aspect of Ziggurat, with meaningful enhancements from goal-depth to graphical quality; from unlocks to animations; from music to map design.”
- “The only negative for me so far is the fairly limited enemy pool and the art style is so cohesive and distinctive that it gives the levels a feel of sameness even though they are quite varied.”
- “Idk if the graphics are an improvement, it looks a lot more colorful and shiny now, but also more cartoony, reminds me of World of Warcraft with extra lighting effects.”
- “Ziggurat has better graphics and........that's about it.”
music
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, describing it as epic and fitting for the game's atmosphere. However, some players feel that while the soundtrack has high production value, it lacks memorable tracks and variety compared to its predecessor, Ziggurat 1. Overall, the sound design, including sound effects and ambient sounds, is generally regarded as strong, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.
- “The boss fight's music is absolutely astounding.”
- “The soundtrack is very fitting and the characters in the game are all fairly unique in what they are good at.”
- “The atmosphere and music are engaging, properly intense and fast-paced.”
- “The music is lacking as well; it does its job, but there's not a single memorable track.”
- “Not only that, but there's no memorable soundtracks.”
- “The music, I'm gonna be honest, I mute because it's nothing special.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its roguelite elements, diverse game modes, and the ability to build unique character skills across multiple runs. Players appreciate the fast-paced gameplay and the continuous updates that enhance content and mechanics, although some note that a lack of variety in tactical elements could limit replay value. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience with significant longevity for those seeking engaging dungeon-crawling action.
- “Performs exceptionally, huge replay value with lots of variety in terms of game modes, heroes, and items.”
- “Each run is roguelite, but over multiple runs you build passive skills that buff damage, defenses, and per-character unique special abilities, giving it near-infinite replay value.”
- “With tons of replayability, great feeling gameplay with tight controls, fluid mobility, diverse weapons and characters, beautiful environments, and a nice soundtrack to boot, this game is definitely worth a play.”
- “Which is a bit of a shame, because that limits replayability for me.”
- “It took me 19 hours to finish the story campaign, and there are some alternate game modes such as endless dungeon and daily challenges which can provide additional replayability.”
- “While it is a bit of a bummer to lose that perfect setup when a mission is done after rocking damage and movement speed buffs galore, the game is not overly punishing and very quick to get into, so it's a fair call for something so replayable.”
optimization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
42%
11%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs, even on lower-end hardware. However, some players noted occasional performance dips, particularly in later levels, and acknowledged that further optimizations are needed, especially since the game is still in early access. Despite these issues, the game is considered well worth the investment for its quality and performance.
- “This game is well worth your money, it's well produced with no bugs in sight, the performance is fantastic, and it runs flawlessly out of the box on Linux (and probably the Steam Deck).”
- “The game seems to be well-optimized with no obvious performance issues; additionally, I can recall only 2 or 3 crashes total in 100+ hours.”
- “Game runs smoothly at high frames and didn't crash on me even once.”
- “All good so far, but there was one hiccup: having made it to the final level, just before I was able to fight the big bad, I noticed a serious dip in performance: my video memory was bottlenecking.”
- “Honestly, optimization is Ziggurat 2's biggest issue, and while I would say that's a common complaint nowadays, it is an early access game.”
- “There are optimizations to be made, as in most any early access game, especially a real-time FPS one, but I was having fun the moment I started it up.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious and repetitive, with many noting that significant effort is required to unlock new characters, weapons, and perks. While some appreciate the structured quests and visible rewards that help manage the grind, others feel that the recent updates have made the experience even more grind-heavy and less enjoyable. Overall, enjoying the grind seems essential for fully engaging with the game, despite its potential for fun and rewarding gameplay.
- “Incredibly tedious!”
- “It is unbelievable that a game with 200+ perks, 64 weapons, etc. could be this tedious.”
- “The entire XP system was redone and made it more grindy and tiresome.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
22%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, with many players noting the effective use of music and lighting to enhance the experience. While some feel that the atmosphere has improved from Ziggurat 1, others believe the original had a more memorable ambiance. Suggestions for more diverse environments, such as outdoor settings, indicate a desire for variety to break the current monotony.
- “Makes such a great atmosphere that keeps you sucked into the game world and not wanting to leave.”
- “The atmosphere and music are engaging, properly intense and fast-paced.”
- “The world of Ziggurat is mythical; the game's atmosphere already implies that there is more to it than what meets the eye.”
- “I'd like to see somewhere outdoors, a natural cave system, or something else to break the monotony of the current layouts and atmospheres.”
- “As I said, I was a bit reluctant in the beginning and it took me some time getting used to the new atmosphere and game mechanics, but the game is a huge improvement to Ziggurat 1.”
- “The world of Ziggurat is mythical, but the game's atmosphere already implies that there is more to it than what meets the eye.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability, with players reporting a smooth experience and minimal bugs or glitches, even after extensive playtime. Most users noted only minor graphical issues, highlighting the game's impressive performance across various systems. Frequent updates and UI improvements have contributed to its nearly bug-free status, making it a reliable choice for gamers.
- “Full release includes so much content and is nearly completely bug free (about 30 hours in as of this review and I've only experienced 2 very minor graphical bugs).”
- “Looks great, runs great, and plays great.”
- “The graphics and music are also a big improvement over the original, and it runs great, even on my toaster.”
- “When it comes to bugs and glitches, I came across exactly one, which included an obnoxious carrot running around in thin air a few meters above my head, which made it quite tricky to shoot.”
- “The amount of updates and UI changes this game has gone through in that time is amazing; it's butter smooth to play, with no noticeable or game-breaking glitches or bugs.”
- “The reality of magic in Ziggurat ultimately amounts to 'purple damage spell', 'blue damage spell that freezes', 'red damage spell that does red damage', and 'dwarf gun'.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews on character development are mixed, with some users expressing dissatisfaction with certain character designs, while others appreciate the overall character and weapon 3D models. This indicates a divide in opinions regarding the visual representation of characters in the game.
- “I think some of the character designs are really lame.”
- “Character design.”
- “Character design.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its humor, which arises from the juxtaposition of epic, tense music with absurd gameplay mechanics, such as running in circles. Additionally, the enemies are described as having a comically creepy appearance, enhancing the overall comedic tone.
- “It all contrasts hilariously with the choice of music, which is epic and tense, while the player partakes in running circles holding the left mouse button until finally they're allowed to leave the room.”
- “Enemies: everything has a very funny but creepy look.”
- “Funny game”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling so moved by their experience that it compels them to share their thoughts through reviews. This indicates that the game effectively resonates with its audience on a personal level.
- “I don't usually write reviews, however this game made me feel compelled to do so.”