What REMNANT II is
REMNANT II is a third-person shooter with RPG and souls-like elements, the sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. You play as one of the survivors of humanity, moving through strange worlds overrun by mythical creatures and god-like bosses. Combat mixes methodical and frenetic ranged and melee fighting against cunning enemies, with large-scale boss battles as the main set pieces. Between fights you pick gear and weapons suited to the biome you are heading into, and you upgrade the items you find so you can take on tougher challenges. Dungeons and areas are dynamically generated, so runs come out varied, and branching quest lines, augments, crafting and loot rewards sit alongside the fighting. The worlds hold different creatures, weapons and items, and their stories are woven together in a way that rewards going back to areas you have already cleared.
Playing it with friends
You can go through the game alone or with two other friends as a team, up to three players in online co-op. Success leans on both your own skill and your team's, since the bosses are built to push players toward grouping up to bring them down. Everyone travels the same strange worlds together, so the group shares the exploration, the loot and the boss attempts rather than each person running their own route. Co-op is listed as an online Steam feature, so the group plays over the internet rather than on one screen.
Things to know before starting
Expect a hard game. The design leans dark and atmospheric with horror overtones, and the boss fights are meant to challenge even high-level players. The Archetype system gives each character unique passive bonuses and powers, and you can unlock several Archetypes during play, level them up and equip more than one at a time to shape your build. Loot and augments reward repeated runs through the generated dungeons, so revisiting worlds is part of the loop rather than a sign you missed something. Bring a build that fits the enemies ahead, and be ready to change it as you unlock new Archetypes.