A horde shooter set in Europe
KILLING FLOOR 2 drops you into continental Europe a month after the first game, where a failed Horzine Biotech experiment has spread and knocked out communications, governments and military forces. Civilians and mercenaries have set up privately funded bases and now drop into infected hot zones to clear out the specimen clones known as Zeds. You pick a character, pick a perk, and work through waves of enemies with guns, improvised weapons, historical firearms, "Mad Scientist" oddities and melee attacks you control yourself. The gore system is persistent, so blood, limbs and entrails stay on the field as you fight. Zed Time slows everything down for a few seconds at a time, which is where you get to watch your weapons work at high framerate while the horde crawls.
Playing with your group
The main way to play together is six-player online co-op: everyone picks a perk, covers a direction, and holds out through the waves until the boss shows up. Perks level up with talent choices that push you toward different play styles, so a squad can spread across roles instead of everyone doing the same job. Communication matters because the Zeds have smarter AI than the original game, group up to weaken the party, and can tear apart anyone who gets caught alone. There is also solo play if you want to learn the maps and enemy behavior first.
For something more competitive, Versus Survival puts twelve players into two teams that take turns playing Humans and Zeds across a pair of short matches. One match a team defends as Humans until they die in a single round or beat the boss, then the sides switch. Both teams get scored on performance and the higher score wins. It is a good option when your group wants to fight each other rather than the AI.
Before you start
KILLING FLOOR 2 has full controller support and Steam Achievements, and it runs with Valve Anti-Cheat enabled. The Steam Workshop and the included level editor mean there is a steady stream of community maps and mods to pull in, so your group can keep the map rotation fresh. Steam Trading Cards and In-App Purchases are also present. Remote Play on Tablet and Remote Play on TV are available, along with Family Sharing. The Digital Deluxe Edition bundles extra characters, cosmetics, the soundtrack, the artbook and a copy of the first Killing Floor, which is worth knowing if someone in the group wants the whole package.