Torchlight II is an action role-playing dungeon crawler video game created by Runic Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows on September 20, 2012. The game is a follow-up to Torchlight and includes multiplayer support where players can connect directly with each other. It also allows players to change and customize the game's content. The game was later released for OS X on February 2, 2015, and for Linux on March 4, 2015. Versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One were released on September 3, 2019, and developed by Panic Button.

In Torchlight II, players explore a fantasy world and choose from four character classes, each with unique skills and abilities. The story begins with the destruction of the town of Torchlight, caused by the Alchemist from the first game. Players follow the Alchemist’s path of destruction as he searches for a cure to an illness that has made him mentally unstable. Originally, the game was planned as an MMORPG, but Torchlight II was released with both single-player and multiplayer options instead. This decision allowed the company to release the game faster than the planned online version. Critics gave the game mostly positive reviews. A third game in the series, Torchlight III, was released in 2020.

Gameplay

Torchlight II is similar to the first game in that it includes randomly generated dungeons for players to explore and many different types of monsters to fight for experience and treasure. The game keeps the same basic way to play as its predecessor but adds new features such as overland areas with multiple hub towns and a longer campaign. New additions include time of day cycles, weather effects, and a redesigned user interface. Unlike the first game, some weapons and armor can only be used by specific character classes. Players can create unique builds by combining spells, gear, and weapons, leading to complex battles. The game world is large and includes many different landscapes. Players can mix gear to support their class abilities or try creative strategies to defeat enemies. Character appearance can be customized with choices for sex, face, hair style, and hair color. Some elements from the first game return, such as pets (with more options and basic customization) and fishing. A retirement system was planned but replaced with New Game Plus mode.

The game has four playable character classes. Each class offers three skill trees to choose from, allowing customization within each class. The three classes from the first game are not playable but appear as NPCs in the game world.

As shown in the Torchlight II trailer, Runic Games added a cooperative multiplayer mode after listening to fan feedback about the first game’s lack of co-op. This mode supports single-player and multiplayer games, with up to six players in each session. Loot drops are separate for each player. Optional player versus player (PVP) is available. Online multiplayer requires a Runic Games account.

Plot

Years after the original Torchlight ended, The Alchemist (one of the three characters players could control in the first game) becomes corrupted by the Ember Blight, which comes from the Heart of Ordrak. Ordrak is an evil being that caused the corruption beneath the town of Torchlight. The Alchemist then destroys the town. The player character begins a quest to stop this villain, who uses Ordrak's power to upset the balance between the world's six elements.

As the game continues, the player travels through large areas that match three parts of the story and an ending. Act I, called "Wake of the Alchemist," takes place in the mountainous Estherian Steppes. Act II leads the player to the desert known as the Mana Wastes. Act III occurs in Grunnheim, a haunted forest that holds the ruins of an ancient dwarven civilization. The Imperial Camp serves as the player's base town.

Development

Before the first game was released, Runic Games shared plans to create a MMORPG set in the Torchlight game world after the single-player game came out. However, in August 2010, Runic announced they would develop Torchlight II, a sequel designed not only to add multiplayer support to the series but also to help Runic gain more experience in making a multiplayer Torchlight. Some work on Torchlight II is meant to be used for Runic Games' upcoming Torchlight MMORPG, which the company plans to focus on after the sequel is released. Runic Games first estimated the PC version would be released in 2011, but in November 2011, company president Travis Baldree said the release date would be moved to 2012 to allow more time for improvements and testing.

In late 2010, Runic Games' increased work on the Xbox Live Arcade version of the first Torchlight game caused delays in developing the sequel. However, improvements made to memory and loading times for the port were later used to enhance the PC version of Torchlight II.

Torchlight II includes cinematic sequences created by Klei Entertainment, the developer of Don't Starve, Eets, and Shank.

In May 2012, Runic Games announced a closed beta stress test from May 18 to May 24. A limited number of beta keys were given to users who had created their Runic Games account before the test began.

In April 2013, a patch for Torchlight II was released to add the GUTS editor, which lets users change the game's content and create custom modifications. This update also added support for Steam Workshop, a system that allows players to share and download modifications through the Steam client.

Release

In April 2012, Torchlight II was made available for purchase ahead of its release through Steam. Players who bought the game early received the original Torchlight game for free. On August 30, 2012, Travis Baldree, president of Runic Games, shared on the company’s official forums that the game would be released on September 20, 2012.

In 2019, Perfect World announced that Torchlight II would be released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One consoles. Panic Button was chosen to help bring the game to these platforms. The console versions are scheduled to be released on September 3, 2019.

Sequel

After releasing Torchlight II, Travis Baldree and Erich Schaefer left Runic Games to start their own studio. This caused the company to cancel the game they were working on and let go of several employees. Later, the company shifted its focus to developing Hob. In 2016, Max Schaefer also left Runic Games to create Echtra Games. In 2017, shortly after Hob was released, Runic Games was shut down by its parent company. In 2018, Max Schaefer announced that Echtra Games, which included former Runic and Blizzard North developers, was working on Torchlight Frontiers, a free-to-play Torchlight MMORPG. After a long closed alpha in 2019, Echtra Games announced in January 2020 that the game would be renamed Torchlight III, a traditional follow-up to earlier games. Torchlight III will be a premium game, like its predecessors, and all microtransactions from the free-to-play version will be removed.

Reception

Torchlight II received good reviews. On the website Metacritic, which collects reviews from experts, the game has an overall score of 88 out of 100 based on feedback from 67 professional critics.

Although the first Torchlight game was praised by many, critics and fans often pointed out that it did not include multiplayer modes, which was a common criticism.

Game Informer said, "Torchlight II is an excellent game in every way… the difference between it and Diablo III is very small, and I believe Torchlight II is slightly better." IGN praised the game, stating, "Torchlight II does not introduce anything completely new, but it does everything very well. It combines different monster behaviors, interesting items, strong skill design, and random surprises into a nearly perfect experience where action is constant and rewards are frequent." GameTrailers highlighted the game's low cost, saying, "it is a well-made adventure that is worth its fair price of $20." One criticism of the game is that it lacks innovation. GameSpot noted, "Torchlight II does not bring new ideas or surprises, and the genre might need new concepts to stay important."

At the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Torchlight II for "Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year."

The game sold more than 1 million copies in 2012. By 2015, it had sold nearly 3 million copies.