Survival games are all about making tough choices and feeling the weight of every decision. When I first heard about Endzone 2, I was excited to see how it would capture that challenge in a post-apocalyptic world. The idea of rebuilding civilization after a disaster, managing limited resources, and protecting your people from a harsh environment seemed like it could make for a gripping game. But how well was that executed? Let’s find out.
The premise of Endzone 2 is cool: humanity is on the brink of extinction after a cataclysmic disaster, and it’s up to you to lead a colony to survival in a harsh, unforgiving world. The game starts with you exploring the world in a truck, searching for a suitable location to establish your settlement. This initial phase is one of the game’s few highlights. The ability to drive around and choose your starting point adds a layer of strategy, forcing you to consider the available resources and terrain.
Once you’ve found your spot, the usual colony-building tasks begin: gathering food, water, and scrap, and setting up basic infrastructure. At first impression, this feels like a typical city-builder, with a focus on resource management and expansion. However, the cracks begin to show as you dive deeper into the game’s systems.
One of the key mechanics in Endzone 2 is the expedition system. Unlike the first game, where expeditions were text-based and required careful selection of specialists, Endzone 2 introduces a more hands-on approach. You control a single character who drives around the map, clicking on objects to collect resources or solve puzzles. In theory, this should be more engaging, but in practice, it’s a tedious and repetitive exercise. The excitement of exploration quickly fades as you realize you’re just scanning the screen for interactable objects, hoping to find the necessary tools to complete tasks.
The research system is similarly uninspired. Tech points, necessary for advancing down the tech tree, are only obtainable through these expeditions. This creates a frustrating bottleneck, as your colony’s progress is tied to a mechanic that feels more like busywork than meaningful gameplay. The result is a game that drags, even on its fastest settings, as you’re forced to endure these monotonous expeditions to unlock essential upgrades.
One of the most disappointing aspects of Endzone 2 is how much it has been simplified compared to its predecessor. The developers have removed several features that, while not perfect, added depth and complexity to the original game. Combat, for example, has been completely stripped out, leaving you with fewer options for dealing with threats. While the first game’s combat was far from stellar, it at least provided some tension and urgency. Its absence in Endzone 2 makes the game feel less dynamic and more one-dimensional.
The colony management system has also been dumbed down. Pathfinding and AI have seen improvements, but at the cost of making the game feel lifeless. Managing your colony doesn’t require much thought; it often feels like you’re just moving numbers around on a spreadsheet. The sense of immersion that should come from building a thriving community in a hostile world is sorely lacking. Instead of feeling like a leader guiding your people through adversity, you’re left with the sensation of simply reacting to the game’s mechanics.
Not everything about Endzone 2 is a miss. The introduction of multiple colonies and trade routes is a welcome addition, adding some much-needed complexity to the game. The ability to establish outposts in different biomes, each with unique resources, creates interesting strategic decisions. For example, setting up a colony in a swamp to harvest herbs, which can then be transported to your main base for pharmaceutical production, adds a layer of depth that’s otherwise missing from the rest of the game.
Endzone 2: Endzone 2 had the chance to improve on the first game and create a really engaging post-apocalyptic survival experience. Unfortunately, it falls short, with boring gameplay, simplified systems, and little sense of progress. There are some good moments, but they’re not enough to make up for the game’s flaws. If you’re a fan of the genre, Endzone 2 might still be worth trying, but don’t expect it to fully deliver on its promise. At least not in Early Access. – Tom Henry
