Risk of Rain 2

Risk of Rain 2's early access hooked me with its fluid 3D action and distinct classes, and held my attention long after I'd seen everything it had to offer with its berserk roguelike progression, and the ability to squad up with friends.

Risk of Rain 2 is an exciting roguelike with an adrenaline-pumping pace, fantastically varied perks, and intriguing secrets to spare.

The quest for outrageous items makes Risk of Rain 2 a strong action roguelike, but its unlockable secrets give it that little something extra.

Has Risk of Rain 2 had as much of an impact as Mario 64? Of course not. Its scope is decidedly narrow and its ambitions are confined to a small world focused on frantic combat in a straightforward, never-ending gameplay loop. But did Risk of Rain 2 reframe a game that I still consider close to perfection? Absolutely. Should Hopoo ever make a Risk of Rain 3, I’m hard-pressed to imagine what it will look like — my imagination swims at the thought of universes the studio hasn’t shown me yet.

This shooty roguelike is delightfully weird, but its best characters are locked behind hours of gruel

Despite my qualms with certain challenges and the last boss, I cannot get enough of Risk of Rain 2. I love the characters and discovering secrets while setting new goals for myself. As someone who mostly bounced off the first game, the sequel sucked me in like a Primordial Cube (an in-joke, hah!).

Risk of Rain 2 is a lonely experience when played solo, and while ability cool downs never feel too prohibitive, being able to exchange which of your squad is unleashing all manner of hell on an enemy is a big part of the fun and strategy.

Even in its relatively unfinished state, Risk of Rain 2 proves to be an exceptionally well-designed take on the gameplay that made its predecessor popular.

Risk of Rain 2 is a top-of-the-line roguelike.

This adrenaline-fueled third-person shooter will keep you hooked for hours on end, and every time you fire it up, you’ll have a different experience. The game boasts truly entertaining gameplay and has almost no downsides. The graphics might not appeal to traditional gamers, but if you enjoy the roguelike genre, you’ll be hooked on Risk of Rain 2 like crazy.