Have you ever longed for the creative and destructive powers of a god—or even three? Welcome to Reus 2, a planet-building game that combines various elements and tasks. Nurture humanity and unlock a wide range of possibilities as you fill the universe with life. Alternatively, you can embrace the role of a vengeful god and obliterate everything that has been created.
Reus 2 is an interesting title; I might like it after playing other similar titles. I have enjoyed my time with the game and have now created a few different worlds, trying not only the base game but also the DLCs. The DLC adds significantly to the game’s repertoire and builds on the game’s fundamentals.
Reus 2 started with a tutorial to build and develop the World. Once the World was built, settlers would arrive and build their tribes and ask the Gods to provide them with the means of prosperity. Each community had borders and included fauna and flora that matched their civilisation, which helped them grow and develop further. Each tribe has requests from the Gods, and if left unanswered, would fuel rebellion against the Gods. Most requests were simple, like including a type of animal in their borders, to more complicated requests that were harder to fulfil.
The game’s simple appearance let me get into the gameplay quickly, and even though I only tried the harder modes once, I got a good feel for how challenging they could be. I liked playing on the easy setting or in sandbox mode. I enjoyed the Zen vibe of just building without needing to focus on high scores. The puzzle strategy is there even at the lower levels, but the pressure to succeed is lessened, and that, for me, is worth it.
The game does run on the Steam Deck, and I was hoping to play more of it on the go. However, I did run into the issue that the game wouldn’t recognise the controller. I was unable to go back once I selected the menus, and the mouse clicks with the trackpad failed to register. I solved this by using an external mouse, which helped, but wasn’t optimal. Other than this, the game itself ran like a dream.
The game is visually stunning, and I often found it enjoyable to leave it running in the background while I attended to other tasks, checking in regularly. The soundscape, filled with the sounds of creatures, people, and nature, created a relaxing atmosphere, whether I was actively playing or not. The universe’s designs are impressive and inspiring; the vibrant range and blend of colours catch the eye, while the intricate designs hold one’s attention. The Gods are depicted in a commanding manner, while the people, flora, and fauna are designed more simply, creating a harmonious blend throughout the World.
It has been a delight to be a God supporting the lives of the mortals who are living in my universe. I might even look into playing the more competitive modes in the future, but for now, I will enjoy the game’s relaxing, calming nature at its basic levels.
