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How to Survive 2

How to Survive 2

Eko Software · released Sep 8, 2016

ActionAdventureRPGPCPlayStation 4Xbox One

Dead or Alive? Make up your mind, stranger. We don’t like that undead business here in Louisiana…Survive solo or with friends as you look to fulfill your basic needs of food, water and shelter, crafting your own tools and weapons while you secure your camp and face flesh hungry zombies.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗Metacritic 67 · users 5.9 ↗
67
VGC Score
▼Decliningmedium confidence
70%
At launch
69%
Steam all-time
66%
Press
40%
Player sentiment
53%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

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)–665
All-time Steam reviews69%661000
Metacritic user ratings–603
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)53%543
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 8 reviews sampled · 4 total reviews in window · weighted 2.4 up / 2.1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (20)

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.

  • 60
    Cubed3Cubed3
    trust 70Feb 23, 2017

    “How to Survive 2's base building is a smart addition to the survival and zombie-slaying action of the original, however, beyond that, it feels, looks and plays very much like the original title. As such it feels like more of an expansion than a fully-fledged sequel, and whilst the simple but satisfying combat and co-op option makes it fun, it's not the most innovative or gripping survival game on the market.”

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    Sick CriticSick Critic
    trust 62Oct 7, 2018

    “While it's nice to have more of the same, How to Survive 2 is in desperate need of a change sooner rather than later.”

    read full review ↗
  • 77
    IGNIGN
    trust 61Feb 9, 2017

    “How To Survive 2 is an enjoyable experience in its mix of genres and aspirations, but if you're not used to co-op experiences do not expect great emotions.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    GameSpewGameSpew
    trust 60Feb 15, 2017

    “If you're willing to put in the time to fight your way past its flaws, then you'll get some enjoyment out of How to Survive 2, but there are better zombie shooters and survival games out there.”

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    NEOsiteNEOsite
    trust 60Feb 10, 2017

    “Previous entry did not teach the developer how to tackle this form of gameplay. It’s just an unfinished port from PC which turned out worse than the original.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Games XtremeGames Xtreme
    trust 57Mar 6, 2017

    “The atmosphere in this game is dialled up from the previous, the graphics and design are better and the music has a neat way of tracking the peril you're in. It changes based on the on screen action and provides subtle (or not so subtle) clues to the situation. The same can be said of the sound effects, though they sound mostly recycled from the first game.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    KeenGamerKeenGamer
    trust 57Feb 11, 2017

    “How to Survive 2 is a quality zombie survival game, and the fact that you can enjoy with a bunch of friends is even better. It improves many things in comparison to the first one but could have used a little bit more in order to make it all even better. The maps feel a little repetitive in the sense that, for example, one small section such as a parking lot is almost completely copied and pasted just down the street. If you look at your world map, everything feels like a strictly structured environment, which is understandable in the city, but not in the swamps. The other struggles are from a lack of explanations you get in regards to what you can craft and when. There's a lot of menus and items, so you'll have to invest a little time in perfecting your inventory searching. Those are the negatives, however, and if those sound bearable to you, then there's a lot to love. The camp building and defending is incredibly fun (and chaotic at times), and even better, there's always something to do regardless of where you're at in your overall progress. Day and night cycles, along with weather, make for a world living on its own, and the possibilities of crafting items and structures are wide open for you to sink hours of your life into exploring. The game isn't perfect, but it has a pretty good idea how to be enjoyable (but consider bringing a friend, or a couple of them, to get the most enjoyment).”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    CD-ActionCD-Action
    trust 56Apr 26, 2017

    “A low-budget game with mediocre visuals and audio, laughable story and very basic gameplay which somehow turns out to be addictive as hell. [05/2017, p.42]”

  • 67
    Hobby ConsolasHobby Consolas
    trust 56Feb 9, 2017

    “How to Survive 2 is a game that delivers on its promise. Without too much technical bragging, it manages to entertain and provides us with hours of zombie attacks. In cooperative much better than alone.”

    read full review ↗
  • 50
    The Digital FixThe Digital Fix
    trust 52Feb 22, 2017

    “It tries to ride the coattails of the previous title, but stands wobbly on its own two feet.”

    read full review ↗
  • 65
    Everyeye.itEveryeye.it
    trust 52Feb 24, 2017

    “Quotation forthcoming.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    TheXboxHubTheXboxHub
    trust 51Feb 28, 2017

    “How to Survive 2 is definitely a much improved sequel, the added player count is a neat addition giving you the option to enjoy the cool parts of the game with more people, including the interesting community building mechanics that you could literally get lost in, or the upgrade and survival-able systems. Nevertheless a culmination of small, but meaningful issues, leaves me with a sweet but bitter taste in my mouth. Things such as the janky animation can be frustrating, and the lack of environment and quest variety leaves a lot to be desired. In the end How to Survive 2, even though being a better sequel, is still very hard to recommend.”

    read full review ↗

…and 8 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Another Stability Update!
    May 18, 2017
  2. Another Stability Update!
    May 18, 2017
  3. [LIVE] April 10 - Everybunny Needs Somebunny!
    Apr 10, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  4. [LIVE] March 9 - Hot Fixes!
    Mar 9, 2017
  5. [LIVE] March 9 - Hot Fixes!
    Mar 9, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  6. H2S Games On Sale! & Console Update
    Feb 7, 2017
  7. H2S Games On Sale! & Console Update
    Feb 7, 2017
  8. [LIVE] January 23 - Chinese New Year FREE DLC & Fixes
    Jan 23, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  9. [LIVE] January 23 - Chinese New Year FREE DLC & Fixes
    Jan 23, 2017significant · resets scoring window
  10. [LIVE] December 19 Update - Holiday Update
    Dec 19, 2016
  11. [LIVE] December 19 Update - Holiday Update
    Dec 19, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  12. [LIVE] November 23 Update - Bug Fixes & Changes
    Nov 23, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  13. [LIVE] November 23 Update - Bug Fixes & Changes
    Nov 23, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  14. [LIVE] Dead Dynamite DLC + Update
    Nov 17, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  15. [LIVE] Dead Dynamite DLC + Update
    Nov 17, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  16. [LIVE] Halloween Update - Themed Items, Vanity Slots & Themed DLC
    Oct 27, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  17. [LIVE] Halloween Update - Themed Items, Vanity Slots & Themed DLC
    Oct 27, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  18. NOW [LIVE] September 19 - Lots of Fixes, Go Kill Zombies!
    Sep 16, 2016
  19. NOW [LIVE] September 19 - Lots of Fixes, Go Kill Zombies!
    Sep 16, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  20. Welcome to the Launch of How to Survive 2! On Sale!
    Sep 8, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  21. [LIVE] August 22 - More Language Support & Release Date
    Aug 22, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  22. [LIVE] July 19 Update - Level Cap 50, Bug Fixes and...
    Jul 19, 2016
  23. [LIVE] July 19 Update - Level Cap 50, Bug Fixes and...
    Jul 19, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  24. SWAT FORCES UPDATE
    Jun 16, 2016
  25. SWAT FORCES UPDATE
    Jun 16, 2016
  26. [LIVE] June 13 - SWAT FORCES Update & Future Development
    Jun 13, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  27. [LIVE] June 13 - SWAT FORCES Update & Future Development
    Jun 13, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  28. [BETA] June 02, May 27 Update - SWAT Zeds!
    May 27, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  29. [BETA] June 02, May 27 Update - SWAT Zeds!
    May 27, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  30. [LIVE] May 9 Update - Twitch Integration, New Stuff, Intel HD 3000 Optimization
    Apr 29, 2016
  31. [LIVE] May 9 Update - Twitch Integration, New Stuff, Intel HD 3000 Optimization
    Apr 29, 2016significant · resets scoring window
  32. New Beta Patch Streaming Live
    Apr 28, 2016
  33. New Beta Patch Streaming Live
    Apr 28, 2016
  34. [LIVE] Quick Update - Fullscreen, Fixes & Fun!
    Apr 26, 2016
  35. [LIVE] Quick Update - Fullscreen, Fixes & Fun!
    Apr 26, 2016
  36. NOW LIVE - New Language Support, Finishing Moves AND Nightcrawlers!
    Apr 7, 2016significant · resets scoring window