I sunk dozens of hours into SteamWorld Heist when it originally came out on Nintendo 3DS in 2015, and I wound up doing it all over again a year later when console ports arrived. Filled with charm, the strategy game’s tight, skill-based gameplay that made outcomes purely dependent on skill rather than luck had me hooked. Now nine years later, I’m having the same exact experience with SteamWorld Heist II, which is Thunderful’s wonderful follow-up.
What makes the SteamWorld Heist games so great is the turn-based combat system. Players are able to place their robot pirates around environments, gaining cover and advantages. Then when it comes to shooting their weapon, it actually is up to the player to carefully aim and set up the shot. If it misses? That was on you, not a dice roll.
Bullets can ricochet off walls, as characters with laser sights show, so you can line up some pretty incredible kills if you’re good enough. Few games are as satisfying to get yourself out of a bad situation as SteamWorld Heist II. Some smart choices in how you use the environment and your skills can be real game changers, as nearly all situations have an out if you’re thoughtful about it. It’s this distinction that makes it my favorite turn-based strategy series, more than even Advance Wars or XCOM.
The biggest difference in SteamWorld Heist II from the original is that instead of flying from spaceship to spaceship, you’re landlocked and use a submarine to venture to different islands and ships that way. This leads to a really interesting overworld with lots of secrets to discover and even real-time battles. You can customize your submarine with different guns and missiles to take down the Navy’s freighters. It’s quick-paced and satisfying, adding a whole different layer of fun to the game.
While there are wonderful nods to the first game, and you play as the child of the original’s protagonist, it isn’t a prerequisite to enjoying the sequel. In fact, the new game is even more welcoming to newbies thanks to its robust difficulty selection. There are five different difficulties to select from, and there’s even a custom difficulty option if you want to tweak it more. Whether you just want to experience its well-written story or get the most out of every combat encounter, this game has it all.
There’s a ton for returning players to still master, though. On top of the new naval combat, there are more jobs for your characters to master and more ways to customize their play style. There’s also a wild amount of guns and different items to either buy or find during expeditions, so you’re always finding equipment that adds to the gameplay. It’s a fantastic gameplay loop and one that is incredibly refined.
SteamWorld Heist II Review: Final Verdict
SteamWorld Heist II is exactly what you’d want from a sequel to one of the best strategy games ever made. Well worth the wait, the sequel further refines the skill-based gameplay that made the original such a joy to play, adds further depth, and even manages to make navigating the overworld an exciting process. Thunderful has always shined in its attention to detail, and this is the studio’s best game yet in the fantastic SteamWorld franchise.
SCORE: 9.5/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9.5 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.
Disclosure: The publisher provided a PlayStation 5 copy for our SteamWorld Heist II review. Reviewed on version 1.002.002.
