I hadn’t played the first Minecraft Dungeons when it was released in 2020, but it’s not because I wasn’t interested. I’m a massive Diablo fan, so a dungeon crawler such as this, infused with the craftiness and vibrancy of Minecraft, seems like a great idea. In many ways, Minecraft Dungeons II is a solid, functional dungeon crawler that has all the elements we’ve come to expect from the genre.
The only real gripe is that it lacks any depth. If you’re playing with younger gamers and want to avoid the more intense subject matter and gore of the Diablo series, then there’s some fun to be had here. But if you are looking for a top-notch or even dungeon crawler that will sink its claws into you for more than a weekend, this doesn’t really spring to mind as the best example.
A Dungeon Crawling We Will Go
Minecraft Dungeons II’s story is relatively simple, but it does enough to get the ball rolling. The evil Illager High Council has used its dark powers to tear open several rifts across the Overworld, which is essentially threatening to destroy everything around them. Your nameless hero is tasked with taking down and closing these rifts, spread about the entire Overworld.
At its core, Minecraft Dungeons II is a relatively accessible hack-and-slash action romp, played from an isometric perspective. Players will have access to a standard melee attack, along with a ranged attack and a roll, which can be used to get you in or out of trouble. Being able to jump is also a huge bonus for both combat and traversal, which adds a layer of depth and variety to exploration and level design.
While the levels themselves feel like interconnected hubs more than a traditional, singular open world, there’s still a fair amount to see and do, in the form of both main and side missions. The side missions usually involve rescuing an individual, gathering resources or clearing out waves of enemies, but it’s all worth it, as these missions usually bring with them a stack of rewards like new weapons and armour, each with its own abilities, perks and levels of rarity, which can factor into their effectiveness in combat.
There are also no classes in sight here, so you’re basically defined by your gear, and any upgrades and enchantments you choose to employ, for things like weapons, gear and outfits. This also scales rather nicely, without ever feeling like an RPG-based grind where you have to chase a bunch of increasing numbers to actually have the intended effect on enemies.
It all comes together quite nicely, and while the encounters can get a little repetitive, there are plenty of Artifacts, or special abilities, which use your Soul metre, which essentially acts like Mana or Magic. Up to three of these slots can be unlocked, with which to assign up to three Artifacts to use on the go. You also have access to a rechargeable potion, which can top up your health when you’re in a pinch.
While I had fun with Minecraft Dungeons II, it’s not all that hard when playing solo. I only died a handful of times over the course of the game’s 7-10 hour runtime, and while the combat rarely overstays its welcome, you only get a real challenge when playing with friends.
Minecraft Dungeons II supports cooperative play with up to four players, and it’s in these situations that enemy numbers scale according to the number of players in a group, which can at times feel rather overwhelming, a strange departure from solo play, and a rather annoying one if you’re playing with younger gamers.
Into the Sift
Minecraft Dungeons II adds Sifts, which act as portals into procedurally generated events that do shake things up if you’re looking to take a break from the main story. What can only be described as this game’s version of optional dungeons allows you to progress through a linear path, taking on Soul-like versions of enemies, which are much tougher than their normal counterparts.
Here, you’ll collect many more Emeralds, the game’s main currency, along with Echo Shards, which let you get a jump on purchases and upgrades. The Sifts themselves offer three variants, including Thrive, Endure and Flow. Thrive allows your Soul metre and Artifacts to regenerate and cool down faster, while Endure essentially does the opposite. Finally, Flow feels like a balance between the two variants, each with its own rewards.
The Sifts appear as you progress through the story and are usually easy enough to find. While the Overworld connects a few of these different hubs for you to explore, the Sifts do point out how linear things can feel at times. There is room for exploration, but given the shorter runtime, there’s just not much else in the way of replay value after the story is complete and you’ve encountered a few of these Sifts.
Look the Part
While it’s not Minecraft in the traditional sense, Minecraft Dungeons II runs well and looks great. Environments are colourful and vibrant, complete with day and night cycles that bring out the best in lighting effects and textures alike.
I’m impressed with just how smooth it all runs, and I rarely came across any texture pop-ins or frame rate drops, even in the game’s more chaotic moments, which is a plus.
Final Thoughts
While Minecraft Dungeons II can feel a little linear and shallow at times, I had fun with it, at least over the course of a weekend. It’s an incredibly accessible dungeon crawler that is certainly better suited to younger audiences, even if the encounters can feel more chaotic.
Either way, it’s still a functional experience that acts as a great step towards the more robust dungeon crawlers like Diablo, which this draws inspiration from when it comes to both gameplay and structure.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Fun and accessible for younger audiences; Plenty of experimentation and customisation; Vibrant visuals
Lowlights: Game can feel rather linear and shallow at times; Cooperative play can lead to overwhelming combat encounters
Developer: Mojand Studis, Doble Eleven
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on Xbox Series X with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
