Developer Thunderful’s SteamWorld Heist 2 releases on August 8, introducing itself as the sequel to the beloved first entry. Almost a decade later since the original’s launch in 2015, SteamWorld Heist 2 goes all in on the pirate theme, inviting you to maintain a crew and prepare them for real-time naval combat and the classic turn-based action of its predecessor.
As the crew’s captain, you’re tasked with customizing a band of characters with different abilities and weapons to survive all sorts of challenges. Outside of turn-based encounters, you set sail from a top-down perspective to raid enemy outposts and seize loot from hostile ships.
Reviewer Steve Watts wrote in his GameSpot’s SteamWorld Heist 2 review that “like the first game, SteamWorld Heist 2 defies easy categorization, as it really only plays like itself.”
Watts was also impressed by the way the sequel’s systems synergize with each other, while also remaining easily understandable without overwhelming the player. “Like a well-crafted Steambot, each part and gear of SteamWorld Heist 2 attaches just-so to another, with every piece of the device contributing and feeding into the function of two or three other parts. The result is a game that plays with clockwork precision from start to finish,” Watts added.
Check out more reviews for the game below:
IGN — 8/10
“SteamWorld Heist 2’s charming adventure refines the original game’s clever turn-based combat with a flexible mix-and-match class system and handmade maps that are built around using teamwork to accomplish their objectives and escape unscathed.” — Dan Stapleton [ Full review]
Eurogamer — 3/5
“The core of what I loved about the original is still very much present and correct, and in those moments, Heist 2 wipes that near-decade absence clean again. But there’s no denying you can see the machinery straining beneath the surface this time.” — Katharine Castle [ Full review]
TheGamer — 3.5/5
“While it’s true that there are new systems in place that address the prior shortcomings, those new systems also add flaws of their own. Heist 2 introduces a job system that allows you to assign your characters to any class based on their equipped weapon and over time develop them into completely customizable cross-class fighters. It’s a cool way to approach skill trees that gives you a lot of freedom to build your characters with the exact skills you want – but only if you’re willing to grind for it.” — Eric Switzer [ Full review]
PCGamer — 81/100
“If there’s one concept that’s infinitely more exciting in a videogame than it is in real life, it’s taking on multiple jobs at once. That’s SteamWorld Heist 2’s biggest new innovation—its industrious robot protagonists can now switch freely between different battlefield roles, and combine abilities unlocked in each together. Though there are only six jobs in total, there’s an impressive depth to the amount of different possible combinations, especially compared to the fixed classes of the first game. That’s emblematic of a sequel that expands on its predecessor in almost every way—and stands out as easily the most ambitious SteamWorld game yet.” — Robin Valentine [ Full review]
GamesRadar+ — 3.5/5
“SteamWorld Heist 2 is a great sequel. While retaining the aiming system and side-on perspective that made the original a joy, it features a generously redesigned class system and new overworld to explore. However, old problems with mission repetition and stingy XP rewards deter you from experimenting with classes, pulling the game down from excellence.” — Julian Benson [ Full review]
