Endzone 2 Review: Building a Future in a Wasteland

Okay, fellow gamers, if you’re looking to scratch that city-building itch with a side of post-apocalyptic chaos, Endzone 2 might just be your next obsession. I played it and wanna tell you more about it. This game isn’t just another run-of-the-mill city-builder. Nah, it’s got that extra edge of survival and strategy that keeps you on your toes. So, let’s get an Endzone 2 review and find out if it’s worth your time.

The Setting: A World in Ruins

First off, the setting in Endzone 2 is straight-up wild. Imagine a world where most of the land is uninhabitable, and you’re left to fend for yourself with a truck, a few survivors, and a bunch of ruined buildings. It’s not just about building pretty cities with parks and tourism; it’s about surviving in a world that’s trying to kill you at every turn. The game throws you into multiple settlements across a massive map, each with its own challenges and opportunities.

Gameplay: Survival Meets Strategy

Now, let’s talk gameplay. Endzone 2 combines the best of survival and city-building elements. Water and food aren’t just important—they’re your lifeline. You’ll find yourself constantly juggling resources, managing settlements, and trying not to run out of space. And trust me, space is a premium here.

Every building you place could cost you valuable land for farming or water sources, so you need to think ahead. But don’t worry, the game gives you plenty of options to tweak the difficulty to your liking. Whether you want a brutal survival experience or something more forgiving, Endzone 2 has got you covered.

Progression: Knowledge Points and Tech Trees

One of the coolest things about Endzone 2 is its progression system. Instead of just grinding for resources, you’ll earn Knowledge Points by completing expeditions and surviving random events. These points let you unlock new building tiers in three main categories: Society, Ecology, and Economy.

This system adds another layer of strategy to the game, as you’ll need to decide whether to focus on housing, farming, or industry. The expeditions themselves are like mini-adventures within the game, where you control a single character to explore ruins and solve puzzles. It’s a nice break from the usual city-building grind.

Random Events: Rain, Drought, and Sickness

In this Endzone 2 review, let me tell you that the game is gonna throw random events at you, like rain, drought, and sickness, to keep you on your toes. Rain and drought affect your food and water supplies, while sickness can decimate your population if you’re not prepared.

You can mitigate these events by being well-prepared—stocking up on food and water before a drought, or building healthcare facilities to combat disease. These events add a sense of urgency and keep the gameplay dynamic, preventing you from getting too comfortable.

Visuals: Gritty but Sometimes Confusing

Visually, Endzone 2 goes for a realistic, gritty look, which totally fits the post-apocalyptic vibe. The graphics are solid, but here’s the thing: sometimes the dark and gritty aesthetic makes it hard to distinguish between buildings. You’ll find yourself clicking around to figure out what’s what, which can get a bit annoying, especially on smaller screens like the Steam Deck. And speaking of the Steam Deck, the game does support it, but we’ll get into that later.

Performance on Steam Deck: A Mixed Bag

If you’re thinking about playing Endzone 2 on the Steam Deck, let me give you a heads-up. The game’s performance on the Steam Deck is a bit of a mixed bag. It runs at around 30 FPS most of the time, but you’ll experience some dips, especially in areas with a lot of grass or scrap. Loading times are also pretty long—like, two minutes to load a save game long. It’s not unplayable by any means, but if you’ve got access to a more powerful rig, you might want to stick to that for a smoother experience.

Accessibility: Decent, But Could Be Better

In terms of accessibility, Endzone 2 does a decent job. You can scale the UI, disable screen shake, and rebind controls, which is cool. The game also has written dialogue, so if you’re hard of hearing, you won’t miss out on important info. But there’s room for improvement, especially when it comes to making buildings more distinguishable and tweaking the UI for smaller screens.

Summary

So, is Endzone 2 worth your time? I’d say yes, but with some caveats. The game has a ton of potential, especially if you’re into city-builders with a survival twist. The random events, resource management, and progression system all add layers of strategy that keep the gameplay engaging.

I really hope you liked my Endzone 2 review. Catch the latest updates on top games right here, including honest reviews, in-depth gameplay guides, and more!