Risk of Rain 2 is a third-person action roguelike shooter that places players on a hostile alien planet filled with escalating threats. Survivors must battle waves of monsters while gathering powerful items to grow stronger and eventually escape or push runs as far as possible. The core loop revolves around exploration, combat, and item synergies that create unpredictable builds across randomized yet handcrafted stages.
Gameplay
Each run begins with a crash landing, after which players navigate stages to locate and activate a teleporter. Defeating enemies grants experience for leveling up stats like health and damage, plus currency to open chests for new items. More than 110 items appear throughout runs, and their effects stack when multiples are collected, often leading to surprising combinations that alter playstyles dramatically. A unique scaling system increases both player and enemy power over time and with each stage completed, turning early manageable fights into intense late-game challenges. Over a dozen handcrafted locales provide varied environments packed with monsters and large bosses. Combat emphasizes positioning and ability use, as each survivor brings distinct primary attacks, cooldown skills, and movement options that reward mastery.
Game Modes
Standard runs allow players to fight through stages indefinitely or aim for the final boss to escape the planet. The experience supports solo play or online co-op with up to three friends, where teamwork helps manage larger enemy groups and share item benefits. Prismatic Trials serve as a competitive solo mode featuring two fixed stages under a time limit, with a new global seed generated every 72 hours that places all players on identical layouts. In these trials, participants destroy specific Time Crystals instead of relying on standard teleporter events. Artifacts function as optional gameplay modifiers unlocked through challenges, enabling changes such as friendly fire, random survivor selection, or restricted item choices to alter difficulty and strategy for repeated playthroughs.
Survivors and Progression
Players unlock a crew of ten playable survivors, each featuring a unique combat style along with alternate skills that can be swapped for different approaches. Examples include the Commando for reliable ranged fire, the Huntress with agile movement and targeted attacks, the Engineer focused on turrets and positioning, MUL-T with versatile weapon options, and the Captain offering command-based support. Progression involves mastering these characters through repeated runs while discovering item logs that add lore and strategic insights. Randomized enemy placements, stage layouts, and item drops ensure no two sessions feel identical, encouraging experimentation with builds and loadouts.
Is It Worth Playing?
Risk of Rain 2 maintains strong player support with regular updates that refine balance and add content years after launch. Reception highlights its satisfying item synergies, escalating tension from the difficulty scaling, and replayability through varied survivors and modifiers. The PS5 version delivers the full experience with smooth performance and includes access to the PS4 edition on the same account at no extra cost. This title suits fans of roguelike shooters who enjoy solo challenges or co-op sessions focused on building powerful characters against overwhelming odds. Those seeking deep customization and long-term engagement will find consistent reasons to return, particularly when experimenting with artifacts or competing in timed trials.
