DreadOut 2

DreadOut 2 does not offer much replay value. It is a very rough and sloppy horror game, but it is an endearing one with some culture behind it that makes it memorable and kind of admirable. At the very least, Linda is quite sexy and the developers capitalise on this with longing and low camera angles of her. It is as if the developers were proud of her character model and to their credit, she is the best-looking asset in the game. It is unfortunate the same level of care was not put into the rest of DreadOut 2, because with a bit more time and some refinement, this could have been a cult classic. Unfortunately, it fails as a guilty pleasure and is more frustrating than anything.

This is a barren horror game that feels like it is barely clinging to its life and is held together with cheap tape. It’s utterly lacking in features and the gameplay is simplistic… when it works. When you’re not bored or desperately scraping for something to do, expect to be frustrated by the ill-conceived photography and melee systems.

While it definitely exudes a creepy vibe, somewhat muddy “combat” and a lack of direction make it tough to enjoy

DreadOut 2 is short and can be completed in one short afternoon. It is great as its own thing, but in its current state, there is no way it can compete with more mainstream horror titles. Certain sections are frustrating, others are simply odd, and some can be downright scary. Many ‘nuh-uh’ moments can be found while playing. But as short as the game is, I am unsure if the content justifies the price.

DreadOut 2 draws inspiration from consolidated franchises and titles, but it ends up delivering a clumsy, tedious and monotonous experience. Unfortunately, the promising premise of exploring legends from such a different culture is undervalued in a low quality horror game. Even if we consider the average works in the genre, there are more compelling options available.

The bottom line is even at only $19.99, DreadOut 2 is not worth your money, at least when it comes to this version of the game. From frequent frame rate dips to muddied graphics, If you are going to play DreadOut 2, you are better off buying this for any other device. If you are a fan of the survival horror genre and you only own a Switch, I recommend waiting for DreadOut 2 to go on sale, as there is a semblance of a fun time to be had if the game ever receives an update to improve the player experience. Only time will tell if that will be the case. It is a shame, too, because overall, DreadOut 2 could be a horror classic if the game had a higher level of polish and budget to work with.

DreadOut 2 marks the return of the talents of Digital Happiness to the world of survival horror. Compared to the past, the formula has been expanded: however, technical ugliness and a game design that is at times darker than the story being told persist. Linda's adventure is full of interesting and mournful insights, but it labors and stumbles with an ambition that is out of parameter with respect to its means and achievements. In a landscape, such as the independent scene, where sometimes sublime results can be achieved that can combine resources and aspirations, the Indonesian production remains an encouraging experiment but still far from the right balance to be remembered by the general public.

Less is more

Dreadout 2 is a horror adventure title with some open-world elements. Its limited budget impacts its grand ideas and this was frustrating. With such potential, it could have been great. However, its many flaws will leave you wanting.

DreadOut 2 isn’t necessarily a good game, but it’s got its charms. The combat is clunky and slow, explorations can be needlessly vague, and it’s not graphically impressive to say the least. That being said, it does still have some good ideas that make it somewhat entertaining. If you want to play a low budget horror title, I would highly recommend checking out the original DreadOut first and if you like that give the second one a shot. Otherwise DreadOut 2 doesn’t offer anything terribly interesting.