Summary
- Minecraft Dungeons II builds on the original game with an all-new story, an emerging threat, an Overworld map, new gear slots, among many other tweaks and enhancements.
- With added mechanical depth and all of the approachable gameplay from the first title, it will be an excellent and accessible co-op game for a wide variety of players.
- Minecraft Dungeons II arrives on September 29, and will be available for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and included with Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Also available on Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
I’ve enjoyed ARPGs (action role-playing games) ever since discovering the original Diablo as a preteen, but they really clicked a few years later when Diablo II became the first game I played online with friends. The ecstatic flashing colors of exploding demon hordes combined with the drip feed of incrementally better loot cast a soothing spell that I find is best enjoyed with company. Later on, when I finally played Diablo III in couch co-op on a console instead of with mouse and keyboard, I understood: ARPGs are for chilling.
Having played a demo after its XBOX Games Showcase appearance, Minecraft Dungeons II understands this, and has clearly been built from the ground up to allow as wide a range of players as possible to jump in and have fun, from casual ARPG dabblers, up through more hardcore genre devotees.
The contemporary mainstream ARPGs out there tend to embrace complexity, particularly in their endgames, adding a profusion of new systems to tweak, customize, and enhance your character and extend the interest of their most dedicated players. That’s great when I want a puzzle to min-max, but when I’m not in the mood to spend an hour re-speccing my whole build around a new item, it can be too much friction between me and the actual gameplay.
Minecraft Dungeons II strikes a really smart middle ground between the first game and its genre peers by increasing gameplay and build expressivity, while keeping things decidedly friendly and streamlined. I can very easily imagine a younger Minecraft fan and an older relative that loves ARPGs finding common ground here and having a great time, which is a rare offering for a game. It’s the ARPG for everyone.
A Greater Sense of Place
Where the original Minecraft Dungeons had a more old-school structure of selecting discrete missions, the sequel dials up the RPG by setting the action in a contiguous, fixed and interconnected world, dotted with dungeons. This is one of many touches that really enhances the foundation of the original and makes it feel more alive. The newly added ability to jump is another, making your presence in the world feel much more tactile and enhancing the possibilities for exploration.
You’ll want to explore in no small part because Minecraft Dungeons II looks and sounds fantastic. Going back and comparing to the original game, the difference feels like going from out-of-the-box Minecraft to adding some great texture and shader mods that maintain the spirit of the base game, but are enhanced to take advantage of your GPU and look much more alive.
The most obvious enhancement may be the lighting engine, which is vibrant and dynamic. Going from dappled sunlight through trees that shifted as the sun moved to a dark cave lit by torchlight and the eerie, bioluminescent glow of sculk was a great contrast, and demonstrated how much light ties it all together with a strong sense of place.
Into the Depths
The demo comprised a cave delve in which I spiraled deeper and deeper into the earth, being jumped by slimes, skeletons, spiders, and illagers from out of the darkness. It climaxed with an exciting boss fight against the Twisted Warden, which is like a supersized and extra powerful version of the already-scary Warden enemy from Minecraft. It was a fun capstone to the dungeon that showed off a bit of spectacle.
Like in the first game, you don’t choose a class but rather build out your own through the gear that you curate. You have a melee and a ranged weapon, three artifact slots (serving as active abilities or spells), and – new to the sequel – you now have four armor slots for deeper customization and three slots for talismans that provide passive bonuses to further sculpt your build.
My favorite talisman that I found was a bone that summoned a dog companion to fight alongside me. In addition to attacking, they also draw aggro and take damage, respawning on a short timer after going down (or, in maybe the most harrowing moment of my demo, when a section of cave floor collapsed under us and I rolled to safety while they tumbled into the void, not yet knowing if or how they would respawn).
I was able to build around them by enchanting my weapon such that it had a chance to create regen spots on the ground when I killed enemies, keeping both of our health topped off and allowing us to tear through the horde even more quickly. It was a nice little taste of the buildcraft options that will be available, making me wonder whether I could eventually lean into a full minion-based style of play.
Friends Encouraged
This range between casual approachability and crunchy depth really pays off in how much Minecraft Dungeons II is built with co-op play in mind. You can play local multiplayer, online with friends, matchmaking with strangers, or various combinations thereof. It’s chill enough to be inviting to casual players, while offering genre sickos something to sink their teeth into – the people’s ARPG.
I had a lovely time with Minecraft Dungeons II, and can see it being a great hangout game for a wide range of players when it releases on September 29 for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and included with Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Also available on Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Minecraft Dungeons II Deluxe Edition
Xbox Game Studios
Includes the Minecraft Dungeons II base game and the Deluxe Edition, featuring 4 hero skins, the Soul cape cosmetic item, the Blub pet companion, and DLC 1 & 2 (available as released)
Minecraft Dungeons II
Xbox Game Studios
The challenges will be tougher than ever, so face them either solo or with up to 4 players in online or couch co-op. Pre-order today to get 2 hero skins, the Twisted cape, and the Twisted chicken pet! With a crisis upon us, will you and your friends rise to meet it?
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