videogamescritic
← all games
Torchlight II

Torchlight II

Runic Games · released Sep 20, 2012

ActionAdventureIndieRPGPCPlayStation 4Xbox OneNintendo Switch

The adventure continues in Torchlight II! An Action RPG filled with epic battles, bountiful treasure, and a fully randomized world. Bring your friends along for the journey with online and LAN multiplayer.

86
VGC Score
Stablehigh confidence 8 since launch

scored 94 at launch, has slipped to 86

94%
At launch
93%
Steam all-time
83%
Press
74%
Player sentiment
96%
Recent sentiment

PC 86 · Xbox 61

Screenshots & trailers

What players say

Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 300 sampled Steam reviews (244 positive / 56 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.

What positive reviews talk about

  • Progression & loot12% mention it
  • Story & writing11% mention it
  • Visuals & art10% mention it
  • Multiplayer & servers7% mention it
  • Controls & UI5% mention it

What negative reviews complain about

  • Multiplayer & servers25% mention it
  • Bugs & crashes18% mention it
  • Progression & loot16% mention it
  • Story & writing13% mention it
  • Visuals & art9% mention it

Satisfaction by hours played

Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.

Under 5h

56%

55 reviews

5-15h

87%

62 reviews

15-40h

84%

67 reviews

40-100h

83%

59 reviews

100h+

95%

57 reviews

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)8318
Creator reviews (1 tracked)850
All-time Steam reviews93%871000
Metacritic user ratings8838
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)96%9123
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 65 reviews sampled · 48 total reviews in window · weighted 47.9 up / 2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (100)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 80
    trust 80Oct 18, 2019

    When compared with the plentiful amount of action-RPGs already on the Nintendo Switch Torchlight II can seem like a bit of an afterthought. But while its story has a poor endgame, it offers a cute aesthetic with plenty of charm. Panic Button has done a great job once again with porting, and those new to the genre will find plenty to entertain at a fair price.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 76Sep 5, 2019

    Genre veterans may want to pause and think before buying, as there isn’t a whole lot here you haven’t seen before, but it’s tough to argue that you won’t enjoy the time you spend with this one.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 75Sep 30, 2012

    Torchlight II is a meaty chunk of a great hack'n'slash that appeals to all gamers disappointed with new mechanics introduced in Diablo III. The developers have added some new, interesting ideas and the game's future looks bright. Of course, there are some minor flaws, but they won't prevent you from having lots of fun. I personally think that Diablo III is an overall better production, but the most important thing in any game is to enjoy playing it, and both of them provide that.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 74Sep 21, 2012

    For me Torchlight II was an immensely enjoyable experience from start to finish. The game is more than welcoming for both fans of the original and newcomers to the series and is high amongst the better gaming experiences I've had this year. It might not bring anything particularly new to the genre, but those who choose to pick it up will be provided with superb value for their money.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 71Sep 20, 2012

    I'm giving Torchlight 2 a half-star less. The game makes some minor missteps in design, and I don't think the pacing or the scope matches up to that of Diablo 3...Those complaints aside, Runic has made a phenomenal game here, and fans of the original will be overjoyed to find that most of what they loved is still here, with lots more of it.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 71Sep 2, 2019

    A leader in the genre, its non-stop action loop hits all the right notes.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 69Sep 6, 2019

    Torchlight II is an older title that feels its age at times. Nevertheless, it remains a solid example of its genre and will keep you occupied for hours on end. Multiplayer, an expansive upgrade system, and a sea of worthwhile loot make up for the repetitive gameplay.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 69Sep 8, 2019

    It just doesn't go above and beyond, feeling more generic overall. This is a Diablo-like game that feels a whole lot like Diablo, but doesn't carve out enough of an identity on its own to leave a lasting impression. Still, the only games of this genre that do the raw gameplay better are the ones that snuck their way into this review as a modifier to explain the style of game this is.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 69Sep 24, 2012

    Torchlight II is addictive, imagination-fuelled goodness. It never gets boring and its "just five more minutes" value is second to none. It may not have an engaging story but I don't think anyone twatting a zombie pirate called 'One-Eyed Willy' with a giant wrench will miss it.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 68Sep 24, 2019

    Outside of Diablo III this is probably the best action-RPG currently available anywhere. Do not miss out on this exemplary title. It is a shame that the new Torchlight is not a continuation of the formula, but considering the quality of the first two games I will give anything bearing the namesake a shot.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 67Dec 9, 2019

    If you can brush aside the lack of single console multiplayer, Torchlight II remains an addictive action-RPG experience.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 66Sep 27, 2012

    Torchlight II is a joy to experience, with vibrant landscapes packed full of interesting monsters, items, and lore just begging to be explored.

    read full review ↗

…and 88 more tracked reviews.

Patch history