Rogue Legacy 2 is a platform video game created and released by Cellar Door Games. It is the follow-up game to Rogue Legacy, which was released in 2013. The game was first made available for Windows through early access in August 2020. The full version was released in April 2022 for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A version for Nintendo Switch was released in November. Later, the game was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in June 2023.

Gameplay

Rogue Legacy 2 is a video game that combines elements of platforming, roguelite, and Metroidvania styles. Players control a knight who explores dungeons that are randomly created each time. The goal is to collect treasures and defeat enemies. The knight uses swords and shields, while other characters, such as mages, can use magic. The game also includes other classes, like the Ranger, who can summon platforms and use a bow and arrow, and the Barbarian, who wields an axe. Because it is a roguelike game, players must restart from the beginning if their character dies. However, gold collected during each playthrough can be used to buy permanent upgrades, such as new weapons, armor, and runes. Each new game begins with a randomly chosen character who has unique traits that may help or challenge the player in combat. While exploring dungeons, players can find Heirlooms, which are hidden upgrades that improve abilities permanently.

Development

Cellar Door Games introduced Rogue Legacy 2 in April 2020. The studio originally intended to release the game through early access in July 2020, but the release date was changed to August 18, 2020. The first version available in early access included one and a half dungeons, four gameplay classes, and one enemy boss. The studio planned to add major updates every two months and expected the game to remain in early access for about one year. The game's development took approximately four years. It exited early access and was fully released on April 28, 2022, for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Reception

Rogue Legacy 2 received "universal acclaim" for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, according to Metacritic, a review platform. The Windows and Nintendo Switch versions received "generally favorable" reviews.

Mitchell Saltzman of IGN gave the game a 9 out of 10, saying it is "a major improvement that updates the 2013 original into a modern roguelite game that is among the best in the genre."

PC Gamer awarded the game an 88 out of 100, describing it as "a cheerful and challenging dungeon crawler where death is a good thing" and "a great follow-up that brings new ideas while improving on what made the original game enjoyable."

Jordan Devore of Destructoid compared Rogue Legacy 2 favorably to other roguelites in a 9.5 out of 10 review:

— Jordan Devore, Destructoid

John Carson of Game Informer gave the game a 9 out of 10, noting that "there are improvements needed in the progression systems to make the game’s difficulty more balanced, but I enjoyed playing through many generations of my character’s family."

In a positive review, Ryan Gilliam of Polygon wrote that "Rogue Legacy 2 keeps players engaged and avoids boredom, making it stand out among other roguelite games inspired by the original."