TL;DR
Minecraft Dungeons II is an action RPG set in an interconnected open world and the new dimension The Sift. It shines in cooperative multiplayer with up to three friends, offering simple controls and steady 60 FPS performance on Xbox Series X. However, solo play quickly becomes repetitive, character level scaling causes balance issues, and the camera cannot be adjusted. It is ideal for action RPG enthusiasts and Minecraft fans, while solo players and those who dislike the blocky aesthetic should skip it.
Minecraft Dungeons II is an action RPG (Dungeon Crawler) in the same vein as the Diablo games where you explore a large, interconnected world and travel through portals to the new dimension The Sift. There, you fight the Illager High Council, which threatens the entire Overworld with self-corrupted powers. So pick up your pixelated sword, draw your bow, and explore a vast open world in true Minecraft style.
Background
Markus Persson, also known as Notch, created Minecraft in 2009, and it has since become immensely popular. It is now everywhere: games, toys, and last year A Minecraft Movie was released and became a huge success. The subject of today’s review is not a standard Minecraft game where you build and create your own worlds; instead, the world is already in place, and you, along with up to three friends, can explore it together or play solo.
Personal Experience
I personally have no connection to Minecraft whatsoever, which is actually strange considering what a Lego fan I am. Building my own worlds would suit me perfectly. The problem for me has always been that I find the blocky aesthetic incredibly unattractive, and thus it has never appealed to me. Playing this game without knowing the world—aside from the little I picked up from the movie—meant that I found playing solo became tedious very quickly.
The Multiplayer Experience
So, I and two others here at senses took the opportunity to test the multiplayer mode, and the three of us explored the world together. I can say right away that the game immediately became much more fun; facing a horde of enemies together and being able to cooperate and use our resources effectively clearly opened up a new dimension.
Gameplay and Mechanics
The setup is familiar with its bird’s-eye view and how enemies get a clear outline if they are behind something opaque. It is not possible to change the camera position, which can sometimes be a bit frustrating. You collect items to upgrade your weapons and gear. The controls are simple, and as the game progresses, you unlock more skills and ways to fight.
Differences from the First Game
So what is the difference between the first Minecraft Dungeons and the second game? Those I played with had both played the first one, and there are two major differences. Firstly, this is an open world that you can explore as you wish and take on missions at your own pace and order. Secondly, you can now jump, which was not possible in the original. Then there are new enemies and a fairly advanced story that goes a bit more in-depth.
Performance and Technology
I tested the game on Xbox Series X and never experienced any issues with dropped frames or other glitches. The FPS stays steady at 60, even during more intense battles. On the Xbox Series S, I have read that it is instead 30 FPS. One of us who tested the game played on PC, and he experienced some trouble with excessive aliasing between structures when running at resolutions above 1080p. No settings resolved that problem. This was not something I experienced on the Xbox.
In summary, Minecraft Dungeons II is a worthy sequel that introduces new features and worlds, but at its core, it is the same kind of game. Personally, and others agree, I feel that this type of game eventually becomes quite repetitive, and I ultimately lose interest. Furthermore, the way difficulty levels work is a bit odd. It suddenly became almost impossible to survive because one of us was at a significantly higher level. Creating a balanced gameplay experience with characters of different levels worked only moderately well.
If you are a die-hard Minecraft fan, you will like this game, as the world is well-developed, massive, and fun, and it is also a well-made action RPG. Those of you who enjoy such games will also like this one. But for those who are lukewarm toward both of these, you will likely quickly become bored and annoyed by the blocky graphics—people like me, in other words. So, paradoxically, I still want to recommend the game, even if it’s not for everyone; but for those who are fans, it is a must.
Mojang Studios provided a review code for this test. The provider of the material has no editorial influence on our reviews.
Review Highlights: Q&A
How does Minecraft Dungeons II differ from the first game?
Minecraft Dungeons II introduces a fully open world you can explore at your own pace, adds a jumping mechanic, includes new enemies, and features a deeper, more advanced storyline compared to the original.
Can Minecraft Dungeons II be played with friends?
The game supports solo play as well as cooperative multiplayer with up to three friends. Playing together makes combat significantly more engaging, though playing with characters of differing levels can cause difficulty balance issues.
How does Minecraft Dungeons II perform across different platforms?
On Xbox Series X, the game maintains a steady 60 FPS without frame drops, while Xbox Series S runs at 30 FPS. On PC, excessive aliasing between structures occurs at resolutions higher than 1080p, which cannot be fixed in settings.
Can you change the camera angle in Minecraft Dungeons II?
The game uses a fixed bird's-eye view, and it is not possible to change the camera position, which can occasionally be frustrating during gameplay.
