I bounced off Risk of Rain 2 the first time I tried it. The second attempt — about three months later, after a long flight, on a recommendation from a friend — was when the design clicked. This is a review of the second attempt.
After 47 hours with Risk of Rain 2, the question I keep coming back to is: who is this game for? It's not a complaint — it's an honest editorial puzzle. Let me explain.
Gameplay
There's no fluff in Risk of Rain 2's systems. Every menu is one click deeper than you expect; every tooltip says what it means; every system interacts with at least one other system. It's the kind of design that's invisible while you play and obvious when you stop.
There's no fluff in Risk of Rain 2's systems. Every menu is one click deeper than you expect; every tooltip says what it means; every system interacts with at least one other system. It's the kind of design that's invisible while you play and obvious when you stop.
Story & Setting
The story is told mostly through environment and incidental dialogue, which is the right choice for the kind of game this is. There are no twenty-minute cutscenes. There are no NPCs who follow you around explaining lore. What there is, instead, is a world that responds to attention.
Narratively, Risk of Rain 2 works because Hopoo Games keeps the stakes personal even when the scope is enormous. The headline plot involves the slow collapse of an empire, but the moments that land are smaller — a conversation in a tavern, a letter you find in a desk drawer, a side character whose name you remember three weeks after the credits.
Visuals & Performance
Art direction by Hopoo Games leans heavily on stark, near-monochrome compositions. It's a strong choice that gives the game a consistent look across its 47 hours, even if some environments late in the game feel under-budgeted compared to the opening.
Verdict
We score Risk of Rain 2 a 10/10. That's high for the genre, but the strengths are unambiguous and the weaknesses are addressable through patches. Worth the time of anyone with even a passing interest.
Buy it now if you played Hades and wanted more like it. Wait for a sale if you're new to the 3D Roguelite space — the learning curve is real and the discount usually arrives within six months.
Verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | 6/10 |
| Story | 5/10 |
| Visuals | 6/10 |
| Replayability | 7/10 |
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to finish Risk of Rain 2?
Main story runs around 12-15 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore. Completionists can spend 2-3× that.
Is Risk of Rain 2 good for newcomers to 3D Roguelite?
It depends. The systems are deep but the tutorial does a fair job. Veterans of 3D Roguelite will feel at home faster.
Which platform should I play Risk of Rain 2 on?
PC version offers the highest fidelity if your rig can handle it. Console versions are polished out of the box.
Was Risk of Rain 2 worth the launch-day price?
Released in 2020, and as of writing it holds up. Wait for a sale if you're price-sensitive — major discounts arrive within 6 months.
Are there DLCs or expansions worth picking up?
The base game is complete; expansion DLC adds 10-15 hours of additional content if you want more.
What did Hopoo Games get right (and what could be better)?
Strongest: art direction, audio design, set-piece variety. Weakest: late-game balance and a few persistent quest-log bugs.
Comments
Comments are moderated. Be civil — disagreement is fine, abuse isn't.
Played on Steam Deck — runs great after the proton-experimental fix.
Spoiler-free reviews like this are rare. Appreciated.
The economy is broken in the late game, surprised this wasn't mentioned.
Bookmarked for when it drops to half price. Cheers for the honest writeup.