Nidhogg
Nidhogg
Game
Game2017
Nidhogg 2
Developer Messhof
Nidhogg 2 is a 2017 fighting game developed and published by Messhof. It is the sequel to Nidhogg (2014), and was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS and PlayStation 4 in 2017, Xbox One in July 2018, and Nintendo Switch in November 2018. It expands on the original duelling gameplay introduced in its predecessor and features new weapons, actions and characters. The game received generally positive reviews from… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
178 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 4, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
69
Fresh
105 positive · 48 negative
95% range 61–75%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 105 | 48 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 7 | 2 | 10 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
683 of 877 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
70% recommend · 111 yes, 47 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 158 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,083 of 1,339 positive).
Players are divided on the art style, with some finding it grotesque and others appreciating its charm. [1][2][3] Many feel the gameplay improves on the original with more depth and chaos, though some miss the simplicity. [4][5][6] The game is praised as a fun party game but criticized for weapon balance and sluggish controls. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [3]
A disgraceful insult to the first game. The art style is hideous and cluttered, the bow and dagger should never have been in this game, you cant use d-pad AND analog controls at the same time, the physics are all sorts of wrong, the devs stooped to pathetic toilet humor, and the soundtrack has seen a major downgrade. Play Nidhogg 1, the art was understated and stylistic, the music was an absolute delight and it had …
- [1]
I was all ready to give this game zero stars as soon as I saw the character creation. Absolutely hideous game, disgusting to look at, and that’s especially offensive as Nidhogg 1 was one of the most BEAUTIFUL games I had ever played. ……and then I started playing. This game added to and perfected the original Nidhogg gameplay. It’s smoother, faster, cleaner, smarter, more challenging, simply better in everyway. Is …
- [6]
i don't really know how to feel about Nidhogg 2. i feel like i would have a better time with it if i had played it before the first one, because a lot of the interesting nuance of the first one is gone in favor of it being more like a chaotic party game (weapon variety and faster, more responsive movement replace more methodical swordfighting and every fight feeling like a somewhat even match). i recommend it, but …
- [2]
The wonderfully monstrous character and setting designs blend together with the banging soundtrack to create one of my favorite games of all time. Worked flawlessly for me on the Steam Deck. Great single player mode and even better versus a friend or online. If you like the intentionally charming aesthetic, you'll love this game.
- [4]
It's really not bad per se, and unlike most I quite like its art style, it's just... Why Nidhogg? Nidhogg's beauty was in its simplicity, this just feels lke a strange fanmade reskin with some new bells and whistles, yet it's licensed as THE official sequel to that silly lil game. I just don't get it. But hey, it's more Nidhogg, so I can't complain.
Summarised from 34 of the 182 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Nidhogg 2 talk about gameplay is smoother, faster, and more challenging than the original; those who didn't talk about art style is hideous and divisive compared to the first game. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The art style received a mixed reaction from fans following the game's announcement, which persisted after the game's release, with some being resentful of the art style while others embraced it. Nevertheless, the game received generally favorable reviews, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 178 · most liked firstinternet is down, but Morsels, a funky creature collecting roguelite from Toby Dixon (Nidhogg 2 and Atomicrops artist) plus friends is out now. pretty cool game. I hear Northernlion is playing it at noon today. wow!
neutral · AI labelView post →IT'S SO FUCKED HOW THERE'S LIKE GENERALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH NIDHOGG 2 AS A GAME BUT IT'S SO UGLY THAT IT IS DEAD TO BASICALLY EVERYONE
negative · AI labelView post →A disgraceful insult to the first game. The art style is hideous and cluttered, the bow and dagger should never have been in this game, you cant use d-pad AND analog controls at the same time, the physics are all sorts of wrong, the devs stooped to pathetic toilet humor, and the soundtrack has seen a major downgrade. Play Nidhogg 1, the art was understated and stylistic, the music was an absolute delight and it had much more delicate mechanics with better controls
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Feels too slow compared to the original and the art style change is just too much of a jump.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →(Completed) Some leftover steam keys. I have some keys leftover from bundles again. Comment with the name of the game you want, and I'll dm the key. - ~~Book of Hours~~ - ~~Knights in Tight Spaces (there's a free demo if you're not sure you'd like it)~~ - Occlude - ~~Nidhogg 2~~ - ~~Bright Memory: Infinite~~ - ~~Pocket Bravery~~ Optional: recommend me something interesting. Games, video channels, places to visit, whatever.
neutral · AI labelView post →Strips away the fun combat of the original to cram in new pointless weapons that strip away the importance of playing well. the artstyle for the characters is also really rough. overall its a pointless sequel that fails to understand what made the original so enjoyable and suffers as a result
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't know if there's ever been a worse sequel. I held off on buying this for quite a while and my hesitation feels validated after finally playing for a bit. It feels awful compared to how tight the original controlled and all the new weapons are kind of a mess. I found myself ditching the bow whenever I spawned with it and preferring hand-to-hand. The one place that feels like an improvement is the soundtrack, but it can't make up for everything else. I couldn't even bring myself to keep…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's really not bad per se, and unlike most I quite like its art style, it's just... Why Nidhogg? Nidhogg's beauty was in its simplicity, this just feels lke a strange fanmade reskin with some new bells and whistles, yet it's licensed as THE official sequel to that silly lil game. I just don't get it. But hey, it's more Nidhogg, so I can't complain.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Best sequel since jarhead 2. This game misses all the charm that the first game has to offer with poorly balanced and implemented weapons and a hideous art style.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →That's TOO MANY I'm gonna do, like, generations?? And I'm using underrated and overlooked interchangeably. PS1/N64 - TOMBA! PS2/Xbox/GC - Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks 360/PS3/Wii - Driver: San Francisco PS4/Switch - Nidhogg 2 PS5 - Potionomics
neutral · AI labelView post →F this first one is better.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just buy Nidhogg 1, its a classic
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →They wanna charge $15 for that!?!?! Was entertaining a grand total of 20 mins. Which is great, because this is how long the game lasts.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Visual art style is whack, combat is whack. I was really hoping for a better version of the first nidhogg, but if you enjoyed the first game its hard to image you will like this one.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not Enough Content For Price
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Games leaving PS+ in September 2023. > Chicory: A Colorful Tale > Death end re;Quest 2 > Deathloop > Nidhogg 2 > Steep (August 31) > Through the Darkest of Times > Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands > Watch Dogs > Watch Dogs 2 Leaving on September 19. I am going to play Chicory: A Colorful Tale, and Deathloop. Also wanted to play Watch Dogs and Watch Dogs 2, but can't finish all these in a month, so going to leave those two. What about you guys? Any game you want to play before it leaves?
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is bad. It takes the fun pacing of the original and takes a fat ♥♥♥♥ all over it. while playing a 10 minute match in the original feels intense and gratifying, in this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ excuse for a sequel it feels pitiful. as if your fumbling around like a fool. The maps are too long and the movement is too clunky for the long ass maps. Divekicking sucks now, rolling is unresponsive, hand to hand combat feels like ass. the concept of Nidhogg but more is a really good idea but this game fails…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really dislike giving a thumb down for games, but this game is one you should not buy except you want a frustrating experience. We bought this game in a group to play together but at the end everyone was just pissed. The game feels sluggish, is clunky to play and has some weird and questionable design decisions. Movement in this game feels like when you have these dreams in which you are running but dont actually move forward. Its painfully slow and unresponsive. When you go down a ledge,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Felky Fun Meter |----|------| [4/10] Some fun! Breaks my heart to leave a negative review for this game with a banger soundtrack and really fun and exciting concept.. But after watching hundreds hours of the first game I can't stand how this one looks.. I just hate to look at it I have no other words. :(
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →completly misses the point of the original
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Stardew Valley will probably be the game that looms largest in my kid’s nostalgia. They have both played the life out of that thing. Other things that come to mind: Minecraft, phasmaphobia, fnaf, Skyrim, duck game, BOTW, and Nidhogg 2. There is no guiding aesthetic driven by the technology, just whatever is available and cool. Re: loot boxes, there is no denying that fortnight is(was?) a huge deal in this gen of kids. I’m sure at least some kids are going to have fond memories of getting v…
neutral · AI labelView post →4/10 its got nothing on EGGNOGG+ or even the 1st Nidhogg
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's enticing to argue that a good deal of the original Nidhogg's appeal lay in its utter simplicity - the objectives and mechanics were as basic as could be, the art style lent itself well to potato machines. So adding a roster of weapons and revamping the aesthetic to something more cartoon-like seems like it would be breaking that formula, yet Nidhogg 2 manages to retain its identity as a no-frills dueling game. It might seem like some weapons (the two-handed sword) have an obvious advantage…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was all ready to give this game zero stars as soon as I saw the character creation. Absolutely hideous game, disgusting to look at, and that’s especially offensive as Nidhogg 1 was one of the most BEAUTIFUL games I had ever played. ……and then I started playing. This game added to and perfected the original Nidhogg gameplay. It’s smoother, faster, cleaner, smarter, more challenging, simply better in everyway. Is the game still a hideous abomination in terms of the art? Yes. Is it mechanically…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →worse than the original in every way
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gonna preface this by saying that I removed this game from my account and then regretted that decision, so my playtime is not reflective of my actual playtime. I wanted to like this game. I really did. Nevermind the weird character designs, the artstyle is generally pretty good. Sure, I prefer the artstyle of the first game, but the gameplay is more important. So what's different about the gameplay? Well, movement feels more slugish this time around. Recovery animations feel too long, and the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I won't refund. But the original is better.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nidhogg is a refined blend of elegant swordplay and utter chaos. Duels begin with precision and end in desperate, hilarious flailing as both players forget all honor in pursuit of victory. The final reward? A giant worm devouring you. A uniquely rewarding experience—highly recommended.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →when i want to physically abuse someone, but i only know them on the internet. I buy them a steam key for this game and i drag their ass through every level and brutalize them.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just get the 1st game
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My sisters ex-husband was allegedly good at this game, but after 5 minutes of practice I creamed him. I bought the game to experience that same thrill, but since they divorced I have no one to humiliate anymore and the thrill is just gone. 10/10 game to torture your enemies with
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finished that Nidhogg 2 in 60 minutes and that character design in that Nidhogg 2 game their horrible. Nidhogg 2 is not worth playing. The first Nidhogg is better than this sequal of a game!
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was okay, as a single player experience. I didn't play the first Nidhogg, but I hear this one lacks that same charm. I'd say avg review would be best.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pretty easy mechanics which you'll get the hang off pretty quickly. On the other hand the skill ceiling is pretty low and once both players hit it games become pretty long.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The wonderfully monstrous character and setting designs blend together with the banging soundtrack to create one of my favorite games of all time. Worked flawlessly for me on the Steam Deck. Great single player mode and even better versus a friend or online. If you like the intentionally charming aesthetic, you'll love this game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i wish you could eat the worm instead of it eating you
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nidhogg 2 - I love the first game and the second game is fun, but I honestly hate the art.
neutral · AI labelView post →This week's recommended game is Dunk Dunk, a sort of cross between Nidhogg 2 and NBA Jam you really oughta try. Me and my kids play it and love it! It's a fun couch co-op game that's easy to learn and absolutely a blast once you master the unique control scheme. And hey! It's 30% off right now!
neutral · AI labelView post →i don't really know how to feel about Nidhogg 2. i feel like i would have a better time with it if i had played it before the first one, because a lot of the interesting nuance of the first one is gone in favor of it being more like a chaotic party game (weapon variety and faster, more responsive movement replace more methodical swordfighting and every fight feeling like a somewhat even match). i recommend it, but definitely don't skip out on the first one
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well, I got the glitchless world record in the single player mode, so I guess it was pretty good! An excellent platforming/fencing duelling game. The graphics are... controversial, compared to Nidhogg 1, but it has more depth to the combat. Play it with your friends!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →8 year old daughter keeps CRUSHING ME
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →perfect for destroying friendships and relationships
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A crowd pleaser that even casual video game fans can pick up. The art style is apparently divisive, but I like it -- it's very colorful and detailed and looks like some mix of 90's gross out cartoons and the Muppets. Banger soundtrack, too.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A touch of grotesque, ridiculous fun. Like a half-remembered dream of a schoolyard game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm all for short and replayable games but this is too simple to warrant a replay.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎮 2026 Game #62: Nidhogg 2 Doesn't feel quite as good to play as the first, but still a very enjoyable fighting game with fast and fun gameplay, fluid controls, and a truly unique art style. I've had a lot of fun playing the arcade cabinet version in particular! 7.5/10 #IndieGames
positive · AI labelView post →Both Nidhogg 1 & 2 are great games with different styles and offer duels that will both make you laugh and yell. There was a show I helped set up that involved people facing off against each other using apples, a DDR pad, Rock Band guitars and more - the controls are simple enough that any controller should work. :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →But hey I mean Nidhogg 2 handily beats the first game in terms of customization and options, it's a better product by far. If they could meet in the middle somewhere, I wouldn't mind.
positive · AI labelView post →1. Buy Nidhogg 2, play campaign while you're wife sets up isopod enclosure per her suggestion. Beat relatively short campaign and learn game mechanics. 2. Wife is done setting up enclosure, its fightin' time. 3. Wife now mad at me, but game good. (Where my Rapier users at)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Vastly improved over Nidhogg 1 I love this game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Horrible game, worst purchase I made on steam. It's too simplistic, there is no depth to it. I had 2 minutes of fun where I tried figuring it out only to realize how simple and boring it is.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun fencing game. very gross weird aesthetic which i dig
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I personally really like the aesthetics of everything the artist from Nidhogg 2 has done, except Nidhogg 2 Nidhogg just really is the type of game that style becomes really jarring in) and not in the good way)
negative · AI labelView post →Awful by all aspects BUT especially music and art. Really after the first one which had nice vibes, this one is terrible
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a extremely well made and fun multiplayer game. good for parties!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nidhogg 2 – A Brilliantly Chaotic Duel with Endless Fun Nidhogg 2, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Nidhogg, is an exhilarating and uniquely entertaining fencing game that successfully builds upon its predecessor’s solid foundation. With its distinctive art style, refined gameplay mechanics, and engaging multiplayer mode, Nidhogg 2 delivers a fun and frenetic experience that stands out in the realm of competitive games. What Works Well: - Distinctive Art Style and Visuals: Nidhogg 2…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's really fun. But if you aren't planning to play it with a friend i wouldn't buy it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a fun party game to play with friends, it's fine, though nothing special. As a sequel, not very good. Nothing in it matches the simplicity of its crazed dueling, and the art/soundtrack are nowhere near as stylish. Buy on a sale or to inject some novelty in your friend group game sessions, but not much else.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nidhogg 2: Grotesquely Engaging Sword-Fighting Mayhem Okay, let's talk about Nidhogg 2. Now, I gotta be honest right off the bat – the art style is not everyone's cup of tea. It's a bit grotesque, to say the least. The clay-like characters mixed with some weirdly gross visuals might not be your thing, but you know what? It's oddly memorable. The gameplay hasn't changed much from the first game, and that's a good thing. It's still that "easy to learn, difficult to master" deal. With just two…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is so much fun. A great party game. You cant really get mad because the game is so goofy. I dont know why they say that its not Steam Deck, I play it exclusively on my Steam Deck and it runs natively.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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