SteamWorld Heist
SteamWorld Heist
Game
Game2024
SteamWorld Heist II
Developer Thunderful Development
SteamWorld Heist II is a 2024 turn-based tactics shooter video game developed and published by Thunderful. As the seventh installment in the SteamWorld series and the sequel to SteamWorld Heist (2015), the game was released for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S in August 2024. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
301 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 4, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
84
LovedLoved
160 positive · 30 negative
95% range 78–89%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 160 | 30 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 20 | 1 | 38 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 39 |
| Lemmy * | 2 | 0 | 10 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,451 of 1,560 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
84% recommend · 156 yes, 30 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 186 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (2,340 of 2,508 positive).
Several players criticize the rest mechanic and endless enemy waves for making the game feel grindy. [1][2][3]
Liked
Representative posts
- [2]
I initially wrote a longer review, but steam deleted it, so I guess I'll keep it brief. I liked steamworld heist 1 a lot, and was excited to pick this one up and play it. Initially, it felt good. I was having a good time. But as things went on, the game just started to feel tedious. You have to go back to base to sleep constantly, after every 1-3 missions. The game heavily encourages you to switch things up and …
- [4]
TLDR Brilliant, challenging game that is both simple and complex. Custom difficulty, missions, skill trees, upgrades, weapons and deep tactics fittingly do justice to this charming, lovingly-crafted gem. Intro Second in the Steamworld Heist franchise, Thunderful – the new studio that took over development for Steamworld Heist II (SHII) does a masterful job of creating a game that is fun, challenging, and funny. I’ve …
- [18]
At the start of the game i felt it was a bit overly complex compared to 1 but by the end I came around and you get absolutely overpowered by mastering multiple classes, almost to a fault. Hopefully the next game cuts the sub combat, wasnt big on it but it was pretty harmless. Absolutely worth a buy if you liked 1 and want some more complexity, and super fun even if you dont get 1 first. Often goes on sale insanely …
- [19]
An excellent sequel! If you've played the first Heist, here are the key differences you should know: - The core of the tactical gameplay is untouched. If you loved the mission variety and tactical depth of the original, you're find more of it here. The developers clearly went with the if it ain't broke, don't fix it approach on this front. - The overworld is no longer just a map of mission to travel between. You now …
- [1]
The rest mechanic is a massive turn-off. Some people have tried defending this, but I fall within the group that sees this as an arbitrary time-wasting mechanic with the unsuccessful attempt at forcing you to diversify your party and utilize each character. Again, I understand the intention fine, but I think this is just a poor way to execute that intention. I like the convenience of the first game by comparison as …
Summarised from 34 of the 301 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
SteamWorld Heist II sits at 84% positive across 190 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The game received "generally favourable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. Steve Watts from GameSpot praised the game's unique gameplay and liked the flexible job system for experimenting players to experiment with different tactics and character builds. While he noted that many of the game's systems are complex, they "synergize incredibly well without feeling overwhelming". Dan Stapleton wrote that SteamWorld Heist II "takes place on a surprisingly large overworld map that’s packed with so many tough and tactically deep turn-based missions", and added that the experience took him about 40 hours to finish. He praised the refinement to the game's control scheme, and the…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 301 · most liked firstMany thanks again to Thunderful for a super fun sponsorship! This time I got to talk about SteamWorld Heist II. youtu.be/s-eofJv3rms
positive · AI labelView post →There's a flash sale on Steamworld Heist II right now on Fanatical's Spring Sale event, I know a few folks were eyeballing this one: www.fanatical.com/en/game/stea...
neutral · AI labelView post →We're delighted to share that SteamWorld Heist II has been nominated for BEST TACTICAL GAME at the DIGY Awards! Congratulations to the whole team - and to all the other nominees! 💖 #digyawards #indiegames #steamworldheistII
neutral · AI labelView post →I initially wrote a longer review, but steam deleted it, so I guess I'll keep it brief. I liked steamworld heist 1 a lot, and was excited to pick this one up and play it. Initially, it felt good. I was having a good time. But as things went on, the game just started to feel tedious. You have to go back to base to sleep constantly, after every 1-3 missions. The game heavily encourages you to switch things up and multiclass characters, but gives a piddling amount of XP for each mission that…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →More of what made the first game so good but also more of other mechanics which depending on your slant you might enjoy even more or not so much since it can get in the way of the tactical turn based gameplay in ways you might find annoying especially over time. The game also doesn't let you zoom out and the default zoom in the battle tactics mode is basically tuned for handheld gaming for like the switch or steam deck. Aiming can get pretty annoying due to having to scroll all over the place…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SteamWorld Heist II – Reveal Trailer – Nintendo Switch. Coming August 8th. One of my favourite announcement from the show!
positive · AI labelView post →Honestly, more of the same would have been better. I appreciate the attempt to innovate but the first game was perfect. All they had to do was make more of that. Unfortunately, encounters are often designed around those Helldivers style neverending waves of enemies. I don't mind an endless ambush once in a while, but it feels like every other mission pushes you into braindead smash-and-grab tactics. The game has lots of cool gear that I'll never try because it hasn't been balanced against the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As many other negative reviews mention, the levels often just aren't that fun due to the never ending waves of enemies pushing you to move faster and faster to grab some loot or flip a switch or whatever. The majority of levels are like this and it just isn't fun. Not much more to it than that.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve played every Steam World game, including the first Steam World Heist. I enjoyed the first one, but I found the sequel to be tedious and incredibly frustrating as you reach the mid-late game. The initial hours are fine, though they have too many sub-mechanics rather than focusing on core ideas, but starting with the mid-game, Heist II forces the player to continually move while spawning hordes of enemies after every turn. It’s not fun and gets very tedious.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SteamWorld Heist II | Story Deep Dive.
neutral · AI labelView post →[GOG] SteamWorld Heist II ($11.99 / 60% off).
neutral · AI labelView post →SteamWorld Heist II | Gameplay Deep Dive.
neutral · AI labelView post →It's really hard for me to put my finger on it, but I feel like a lot of the magic is gone with this sequel. Now, I may be misremembering, but the original was far simpler and, in that simplicity, much stronger. The somewhat forced progression in SteamWorld Heist 2 just doesn't feel good to me, honestly; you're just forced to buy a bunch of stuff to slap onto your character instead of each character being nicely designed. You get a feeling that, when you're struggling, it's not due to tactics…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TLDR Brilliant, challenging game that is both simple and complex. Custom difficulty, missions, skill trees, upgrades, weapons and deep tactics fittingly do justice to this charming, lovingly-crafted gem. Intro Second in the Steamworld Heist franchise, Thunderful – the new studio that took over development for Steamworld Heist II (SHII) does a masterful job of creating a game that is fun, challenging, and funny. I’ve racked up about 22 hours so far, and I imagine returning to it at some…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What could have been an epic turn-based masterpiece becomes an absolute slog due to timed missions and a lame open-world sub combat minigame. The writing and characterizations also leave much to be desired. First title is still an absolute banger, one of my favorite games of all time, so I went into this one with an extra-critical eye.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Here's my #NintendoSwitch #indiegame highlight for today! 🎮👍🏼 Game - SteamWorld Heist II Developer - @thunderfulgames.bsky.social Publisher - Thunderful Release date - August 8, 2024
positive · AI labelView post →SteamWorld Heist II – Reveal Trailer – Nintendo Switch. Also coming to Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2396240/SteamWorld_Heist_II/
neutral · AI labelView post →SteamWorld Heist II | Extended Gameplay Trailer.
neutral · AI labelView post →Steamworld Heist I is absolutely incredible. It has great strategy, characters with personality, an incredible art style, and terrific music. This game feels like a step back in literally every single way. The ship aspect is annoying and having to return to docks to rest kills any momentum the game should have. Also the actual mechanics of playing the game just simply do not hit like the first in the series. The artstyle just doesn't have the grit, charm, and unique feel of the first. This is a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Schedule up! Ravenswatch with @jitio.bsky.social and @scarypastry.com, on JItio's channel today! And since we finished Steamworld Heist II, we're doing a new game... West of Loathing with ShinHadokenman! And of course more Chrono Cross and Elden Ring 😊
neutral · AI labelView post →The rest mechanic is a massive turn-off. Some people have tried defending this, but I fall within the group that sees this as an arbitrary time-wasting mechanic with the unsuccessful attempt at forcing you to diversify your party and utilize each character. Again, I understand the intention fine, but I think this is just a poor way to execute that intention. I like the convenience of the first game by comparison as I can simply start up the game and get going on a mission without dealing with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Having played numerous Tactical strategy games before (and games of all sorts) since forever, I said confidently that Steamworld Heist was one of the top 5 games of all time. Playing this game on a couch with friends was a complete blast and everything. This is the only strategy game that's really worth it playing with other people, since the human behind the controller is doing the aiming and the shooting. Anyways, they somehow made that game better. Now there's a job system and stuff (the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A beautiful and very engaging fairy tale. This game transported a jaded, aging gamer back to his childhood, allowing him to spend many hours in carefree enjoyment. In this day and age, such works can be counted on one’s fingers. Masterpiece. [5/5]
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →At the start of the game i felt it was a bit overly complex compared to 1 but by the end I came around and you get absolutely overpowered by mastering multiple classes, almost to a fault. Hopefully the next game cuts the sub combat, wasnt big on it but it was pretty harmless. Absolutely worth a buy if you liked 1 and want some more complexity, and super fun even if you dont get 1 first. Often goes on sale insanely cheap!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New show! We've got THINGS to SAY about the #Borderlands movie this week, along with the Top 5 videogame-based films that bombed the hardest in theaters. Plus The Crush House, SteamWorld Heist II, and much more! vidjagameapocalypse.libsyn.com/game-movies-...
neutral · AI labelView post →Programming Schedule: Week of August 12th, 2024. Please note that these broadcasts are only scheduled for the times listed below. ## The Re-Slayer’s Take Follow the escapades of the second-coolest monster hunters this side of Exandria: The Re-Slayer’s Take! After six misfit mercenaries are rejected from the elite monster hunting group, The Slayer’s Take, they band together, battling supernatural creatures across the rugged continent of Issylra. - Episode 11 releases Monday, August 12th on…
neutral · AI labelView post →[OpenCritic] SteamWorld Heist II Reviews (82 Top Critic Average 84% Critics Recommend). -Eurogamer 3 / 5 -IGN 8 / 10 -GamesRadar+ 3.5 / 5 -TheSixthAxis 9 / 10 -God is a Geek 9 / 10 -Game Rant 4 / 5 -Push Square 8 / 10 -COGconnected 83 / 100
neutral · AI labelView post →I thought the first game was great. The sequel is more like ... a never ending annoyance lol. Constantly fighting against the clock to defeat enemy wave after enemy wave while you are trying to complete objectives on the map. Once map tiles with environmental dangers started to show up alongside enemies frozen in blocks you use as cover, I was done. The gameplay loop was not for me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s more of what made SteamWorld Heist - and the SteamWorld series as a whole - great: approachable gameplay, consistent progression, and a fun sense of personality throughout. It’s good, like all the games in this series. My main issues with this sequel all stem from the fact that it came out nearly a decade after the first game, yet it barely feels innovative at all. Sure, it adds a totally new overworld exploration/combat system (which I actually liked, unlike some players). But the core…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SteamWorld Heist II is a great sequel. The first game was perfect for me, and I didn't see how they could add something new without ruining it. Turns out they nailed it: pirates on the high seas, plus more characters, weapons, and objects #indiegame #indiedev
positive · AI labelView post →Schedule up!! Starting a new game RavensWatch with @jitio.bsky.social and @scarypastry.com ! And then continuing Chrono Cross, Steamworld Heist II (very end game now!) and Elden Ring! My first schedule posting on BluSky!
neutral · AI labelView post →Not as good as the first one... the new gameplay mechanics are irritating and there are so many different design choices, such as lack of manual save, that just make the whole experience unenjoyable. Any game that lacks manual save and has chapters that blocks return the previous areas will automatically get a Not Recommended stamp.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very mixed compared to the first iteration of this. Similar formula, some new ideas around skill trees and weapons, but will be fimilar enough to players of the first. One thing I found is that many missions are designed to be tight to the point of not having leeway for mistakes if you want to nail them first time. There are also some that are just player unfriendly - decided to use your boomer for the first time? Here's a mission where every 2 spots is something that will hurt you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed the previous game, but this one is so frustrating that I can't dedicate any more hours to it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →100% in ~50 hours (1-2 playthroughs) Hidden gem that I bought randomly during the last sale for $10. I had more fun playing this than the last two AAA games I played. Easy recommendation.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You get pretty excited about interesting new build possibilities only to dread opening the game due to an extremely painful overworld traversal system. Pretty unfortunate.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →37 hours, played through. I uninstalled twice during but I kept at it for the original's sake. That one is wonderful, enjoyable and balanced. This however, is not. Others have already wrote very good reviews, so let me just add: - whoever thought the countdowns on every mission is a great enjoyable gameplay addition should be hanged - whoever thought going back to "sleep" after the missions is a good idea to nudge the player to hire more crew and level everyone should be hanged a bit - the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →'SteamWorld Heist II' launches August 8th on Xbox One/Series, PS4/5, Switch and PC. Also Game Pass Day One. youtu.be/QfGfBMxhtT4?...
neutral · AI labelView post →Twice as long as it should be. I was in the final area at 24hrs in and just stopped playing because the last 10hrs had been a slog and the idea of another ~10 missions was just too damn much. I quite liked the first game. It was ~12hrs. That was right. This one, is very much not. It simply does not have the depth to sustain itself for that long. If they make a 3rd game in this series I will probably skip it. PS: running around the map in the sub is not fun. It is a chore. EDIT:…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's nice that, while each character already comes with a specialized job, any single character can take any, or indeed all jobs. However, this is not an excuse not to balance your final boss, making it a particular chore unless a player built their character with the Reaper job's Harvest skill, and the skill that makes you immune to status ailments from the floor. I played with pairs of jobs, each character with a different pair. This worked nicely, until I got to the final boss and only had…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Fanatical] SteamWorld Heist II ($5.99 / 80% off).
neutral · AI labelView post →# SteamWorld Heist II (Steam, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch) Like its predecessor, it's basically "2D XCOM with skill shots instead of randomness". Highly recommended, perfect for gaming on the go with a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch.
positive · AI labelView post →SteamWorld Heist II – Pre-Order Trailer – Nintendo Switch. Releasing August 8.
neutral · AI labelView post →Those were some wild rides, huh? Denshattack is a game that also starts at full speed. Can't wait to see how much crazier it gets :o Next stream is SteamWorld Heist II on Friday :) #VTuber #ENVTuber
neutral · AI labelView post →As a leftie from Germany I have to unfortunately give this one a thumbs down: - Some buttons are from what I've seen not rebindable - Keys that aren't on the international keyboard layout. like Ä, Ö or Ü, are not supported
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It very much feels like a direct improvement on Steamworld Heist 1. It's still a turn-based platformer with ricochet gunfighting, small annoyances were dealt with, clarity was added (abilities will directly spell out whether it just takes an action or ends your turn, now), and the whole thing is quite a bit shinier than before. The music had about the same ratio of hits and misses to my ear (and still by the same band), although it no longer felt like I was struggling to concentrate on…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The stream is over. We actually managed to beat Strider thanks to the power of save states, and dropping the game to easy difficulty. We'll be back on Saturday with more SteamWorld Heist II. We raided @popecorkyix.bsky.social who's playing Resident Evil 4. Check him out: www.twitch.tv/popecorkyix
neutral · AI labelView post →It's a good game, totally worth buying. And it's often on sale. You don't need to have played the first game, although it does add a little bit of lore. The gameplay is turn-based, with side-scrolling. On each turn, you can choose one of these options: 1) Shoot, or 2) move and then shoot, or 3) move twice the distance. Each character on your team has special abilities. A major new feature is the general skill tree, which unlocks abilities depending on which area you want to specialize in, and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An excellent sequel! If you've played the first Heist, here are the key differences you should know: - The core of the tactical gameplay is untouched. If you loved the mission variety and tactical depth of the original, you're find more of it here. The developers clearly went with the if it ain't broke, don't fix it approach on this front. - The overworld is no longer just a map of mission to travel between. You now have submarine to pilot around in, and you use it to explore the world, fight…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game! Love it I think it is just better version of the first game with same good tactical battles and additional action on the map with the submarine. I also like the balance, finished the game on the hardest difficulty and it was challenging, however not frustrating.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not what I expect or want from a sequel. Feels like sidegrade with more padding.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The SteamWorld games usually don't disappoint, and this one is no exception. Pros: Pure tactical fun, great multiclassing system, tons of upgrades and items, it's actually quite challenging! Cons: Some grind necessary Recommended on Steam Deck.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Staggeringly generous and deeply accurate review of SteamWorld Heist II that does justice to the ground-breaking, envelope-pushing triumph of creativity and craft that this game truly is: thebesties.substack.com/p/a-heist-ga... The Besties nailed it!
positive · AI labelView post →what's funny RE: vidya game radicalization and dead evil guy is that I just started playing Steamworld Heist II, where you fight an oppressive regime that thinks themselves just better people than everyone else while relentlessly stealing/hoarding everything it can while ignoring climate catastrophe
neutral · AI labelView post →Tl.dr. Mobile garbage from different studio than SteamWorld Heist I. SteamWorld Heist had tremendous visual and sound design. But this game feels like cheap copy from wannabe studio that creates mostly trash mobile copycat games. And in reality it is because the first installment was created by different studio that clear and precise vision. This game on the contrary is a soulless BS, they even changed colors of eyes for playable because they think that buyers are morons and will be confused…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →📆Schedule for week of 8/31 Welcome in fall with some hot and cool games ☀🍃 🍉 Tues: Playing a bunch of Suika-Game-like games! 🏝 Wed: Late night in The Crew Motorfest! 🤖 Fri: More icecap battles in SteamWorld Heist II! 🤿 Sun: Opening doors in Dave the Diver! #VTuber #ENVTuber
neutral · AI labelView post →SteamWorld Heist 2 is a sequel that maintains the spirit of its predecessor while keeping things interesting with several new mechanics. As with the first game, there's a great variety of playable characters, items, enemies, and procedurally generated levels to enjoy. I have no complaints in this department and was genuinely having a blast the whole way through. I recommend watching the gameplay deep-dive trailer on the Steam store page if you haven't already, but I'll summarise the two biggest…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'll start by saying that I prefer the simplicity and streamlined gameplay of Heist 1. There is a certain amount of time wasting in Heist 2 going between missions, crew lockouts, career switching, however it ultimately comes together in the end, even if it never quite reaches the same highs as Heist 1.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A bit too long, but Steam World Heist 2 is a great game that feels even better than the 1st part. However, I can't say I've enjoyed the overworld sections with the submarine which just padded out time. Getting at least one level in every job would be better because leveling up feels slow and painful. Otherwise, great game and hoping there will be a third!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Right game at the right time. I was on my paternity leave and had a baby Velcro'd to me. This was the perfect game to pick up, put down and never feeling I was messing up how the game was meant to be played. Super fun tactics, very forgiving yet offering the player a challenge on their terms. 9/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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