Reus 2 Review: A Deep, Addictive, and Chill God-Game Puzzle I Can't Stop Playing
Abbey Games did it again. Reus 2 takes the charm of the original and turns it into a masterpiece.
I'm going to be honest: I loved the first Reus back in the day. It was this simple, charming, and totally unique god game. I'll also admit that Reus 2 has been out on PC for a while now, but life, work, and a million other games just got in the way, and I totally forgot about it. The folks at Abbey Games (who I've always admired) sent over a key to celebrate the new Xbox and Switch releases, and... well, there goes my free time for the next month.
Not a "God Game," a Puzzle Box
Let's get this out of the way first. If you're expecting a Black & White or Populous "god game," you're in the wrong place. Some people get pissy about this, calling it "just a tile placement game". They're not technically wrong, but that's the whole point. This is a "chill thinking game", a "puzzle roguelike" that uses the theme of a god game to create a brilliant, low-stress, high-ceiling strategy experience.
You're not smiting mortals (well, not usually). You're an architect. You control a set of massive elemental giants all with unique new options they bring to the table. Your job is to terraform a barren grid-based planet, placing "Biotica" (plants, animals, minerals) to create a perfect, symbiotic ecosystem for your tiny, demanding humans.
The Art of Synergy
The real meat of the game is the puzzle of placement. Every single thing you put down has "Tags" and craves synergy. A plant might get a resource bonus for being next to a specific tree. A mineral might only thrive next to water. An animal might need three different kinds of plants nearby to be happy.
This is the core loop: min-maxing your placement to stack these bonuses. You're constantly juggling factors. The Swamp Giant creates a Rainforest, which focuses on Science. The Ocean Giant handles animals. You're trying to find the perfect combinations of giants, biomes, and Biotica to make your little villages prosper.
And just when you think you've got it, the game adds "Micros" items you can add to your Biotica to change their tags and effects, opening up even more insane, brain-burning combos. It's surprisingly deep.
Eras, Quests, and Endless Replayability
This isn't just a sandbox either (even though the option is there) the game gives you structure through its "Era" system. As your humans evolve, you hit milestones and get to pick from a few options for the next Era, each with unique Quests and Benefits. This is where the replayability goes through the roof.
Each playthrough tells a new story. Your humans, led by different "Spirits" have different goals. One wants cash, another wants food, another wants tech. The Era Quests force you to adapt. You can't just use your one perfect build every time, you have to engage with different Biotica and strategies on their terms.
The game is also great at not overwhelming you. The meta-progression (your Profile Level) unlocks new giants, Biotica, and Eras at a really comfortable pace. You can hit an "unlock everything" button if you're impatient, but I didn't regret letting the game feed me new toys one at a time.
A Tense, "Chill" Game
This game is "chill", but not "easy." It's challenging without being stressful. There's no timer like in the first Reus. You can play at your own pace, with sessions lasting a couple of hours.
But that doesn't mean there are no consequences. Your little civilizations have minds of their own. They'll go to war with each other. And if you ignore them or piss them off (say, by dropping a blizzard on them), they might just decide to attack your giants. This transforms the game from a quiet puzzle to a frantic defense, and it's awesome.
The balance is just tight. Even when you think you're about to steamroll a final Era, you'll look up and realize you only just scraped by. Every little choice mattered. It's "absolute cinema".
Abbey Games Does It Again
I have to gush about the presentation. Abbey Games has an unmistakable art style, and I felt right at home. The giants plod around, the little people chatter, the art is vibrant, and the music is atmospheric. It's a "classic Abbey Games game" in all the best ways.
I'm just so glad to see them succeed with this. After Godhood, I was worried. But this is a true return to form. It improves on the original in every way. It's clear the devs are still passionate, with frequent updates and DLC on PC, and now a solid, bug-free launch on Xbox and Switch.
The Verdict
Reus 2 is a goddamn delight. It's a perfect "I have 2 hours before bed" game that scratches the itch for a deep, complex strategy-puzzle game without the stress of a 4X or RTS. It’s "easy to learn, hard to master" in the truest sense.
I wasn't sure what to expect after so long, but Reus 2 is a massive improvement on an already beloved game. It’s cozy, it's smart, and it's incredibly addictive. If you like chill puzzle or strategy games, this is a must-buy.
Score: 9.0/10 - A perfect, cozy, and surprisingly brutal puzzle box disguised as a god game.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way.