Titan Quest II Review – A Gorgeous Mythic ARPG with Early-Access Growing Pains
I dove back into a reimagined Ancient Greece: great visuals, satisfying boss fights and deep dual‑mastery builds — but Early Access shows in rough performance, loot balance and some pacing issues. A must‑watch for classic ARPG fans.
Titan Quest II tries to recapture the soul of the original while modernizing combat and class systems. From Grimlore Games it’s a handcrafted action RPG set in mythic Greece that’s already gorgeous — but Early Access means some rough edges remain.
Core gameplay is classic top‑down hack‑and‑slash with a heavier RPG lean: you combine two masteries to craft hybrid classes, slot charms and relics, and tweak skill modifiers to shape your build. Combat rewards timing and dodging — bosses are standout encounters that force positioning and respect for mechanics. Levels are handcrafted rather than procedurally generated, so exploration gives real vistas, secrets and cinematic moments. Loot is meaningful in intention, but several players note current balance problems: some builds steamroll while others feel underpowered, and the drop/rarity system still needs work. Rituals let you tune difficulty and the game leans slower and more deliberate than bombastic modern ARPGs. Voice work and a cinematic soundtrack help sell the mythic tone, and the world design has verticality and hidden nooks that made me stop and stare. On the flipside, optimization, occasional crashes and UI/UX roughness (inventory comparisons, unclear stat tooltips) remind you this is an Early Access build on Windows only. If you loved Titan Quest, Grim Dawn or want a less frantic alternative to Diablo/PoE, TQ2 already scratches that itch — just expect tweaks and more content to arrive after release.
Titan Quest II is already a visually stunning and mechanically promising ARPG that will likely grow into something great — but buy it knowing you’re signing up for unfinished systems, balance work and optimization fixes. Great pick for TQ fans and ARPG lovers willing to follow an Early Access project.
Pros
- Stunning handcrafted world and top‑tier visual presentation.
- Deep dual‑mastery character system with lots of build potential.
- Boss design and combat feel satisfying and mechanically rewarding.
Cons
- Early Access performance issues, stutters and occasional crashes.
- Loot balance and some masteries need tuning; pacing can feel uneven.
Player Opinion
Players praise the visuals, handcrafted levels and boss encounters — many call the art direction one of the best in recent ARPGs. Fans of the original enjoy the familiar feel and deeper mastery combos, while others miss the emergent looting vibe of TQ1. The main gripes are optimization (stutters, crashes, FPS caps), inconsistent loot drops and balance that makes some builds trivial and others frustrating. Several reviews recommend waiting for full release or buying on sale, but many already find 20–50 hours of fun in the Early Access.