Darksiders II - GameCompass Health Rating: 41/100

Darksiders II

Gunfire Games

Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google StadiaPremium

Health Score

DECENT

About This Game

Super Review

Darksiders II is a premium action RPG offering extensive single-player combat, exploration, and customization for mature players. Its deep world and satisfying gameplay are offset by an M-rating for graphic violence, suggestive themes, and dark apocalyptic content. Parents should approach this game as a qualified fit for older teens, requiring supervision due to its intense subject matter and combat, despite the loot box mechanic being in-game currency only.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Darksiders II is a single-player action role-playing game best suited for older teens due to its mature M-rated content. The "Decent" score of 41 reflects a game with engaging combat, expansive exploration, and robust character customization, offering a significant amount of playtime. However, parents must consider the intense violence, graphic depictions, and central themes of death and apocalypse. While the game provides substantial value as a premium title with no real-money purchases, the in-game loot boxes and dark narrative require careful consideration.

What players actually do

Players engage in fast-paced hack-and-slash combat against various fantasy enemies, requiring strategic use of different weapons and abilities.
Players explore a vast open world and complex dungeons, solving environmental puzzles to uncover secrets and advance the story.
Players customize their character, Death, by collecting new armor and weapons, and by allocating skill points to tailor their combat style.

Where it shines

The game provides over 30 hours of main story and side quests, offering a substantial amount of content for players who enjoy deep single-player experiences.
Players have extensive customization options for their character's gear and skills, allowing for personalized combat strategies and character progression.

Parent watch-outs

The game is rated M for Mature due to frequent graphic violence, blood, gore, suggestive themes, and dark religious/apocalyptic subject matter, including depictions of stabbing and decapitation.
Although only purchasable with in-game currency earned through gameplay, the inclusion of loot boxes can introduce mechanics that mimic gambling to players, even without real-money transactions.

Family rules worth setting

Set a rule that gameplay is only permitted when a parent can supervise, especially given the game's M-rating and graphic content.
Agree on specific playtimes, as the extensive content can lead to long sessions, and discuss the game's dark themes and narrative as they arise.

Talk about this

Discuss the game's themes of death, apocalypse, and redemption; ask players how they feel about controlling a character like Death and the religious allegories presented.
Talk about the in-game loot boxes and how earning currency to open them can feel similar to gambling, even when no real money is involved.

Play style

This is a single-player action RPG with a strong emphasis on combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Progression is driven by the main story and side quests, with no time pressure or fear of missing out mechanics. Difficulty varies, with players needing to master combat techniques and problem-solving skills. There are no social or cooperative features, meaning players will experience the entire journey solo.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

1/5

Creativity

2/5

Pro-Social

0/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

3/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

0/5

Social Risk

0/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

1/5

Darksiders II offers minimal educational value, with its primary focus on action, combat, and puzzle-solving mechanics. While players develop strategic thinking for combat and problem-solving skills for puzzles, these are inherent to the genre and not designed for explicit learning.

Addictive Monetization

3/5

The game includes loot boxes, which, despite being purchased with in-game currency earned solely through gameplay, still introduce gambling-like mechanics. There are no real-money purchases or additional DLC beyond the initial premium purchase, but the loot box system is a concern.

Content Intensity

3/5

Darksiders II earns a high Content Intensity score of 3 due to its ESRB M rating for Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, and Violence. The game features realistic violence against human characters, including stabbing, throat-slitting, and decapitations of fantasy creatures, with significant blood spray, which is highly intense.

Creativity

2/5

The game allows for player creativity through customization of Death's armor, weapons, and skill trees, enabling varied combat styles. However, it lacks features for user-generated content, in-game level editors, or extensive modding support, limiting broader creative expression.

Negatives

•The game contains loot boxes, which, even when earned through gameplay, can introduce gambling-like mechanics.
•It features intense combat with blood, gore, and suggestive themes, rated M for Mature.
•The central theme revolves around religious and apocalyptic concepts, controlling Death, which may be inappropriate for younger players.
•There are no opportunities for social interaction or cooperative play.

Positives

•Players can customize their character with different armor, weapons, and skill trees.
•The game provides over 30 hours of main story and side quests, offering significant content.
•Features engaging combat and puzzle-solving gameplay.