Lost Castle 2 Review – Roguelike Mayhem with a Strategic Twist

If you’re into roguelike beat-em-ups that blend chaotic combat with strategic progression, Lost Castle 2 might be your next dungeon-crawling fix. Currently in early access, this sequel builds on the original’s foundation while introducing some fresh new systems that help it stand out in a crowded genre.

Right from the start, one of the biggest improvements is character customization. Unlike the original game where your hero was randomized each run, Lost Castle 2 lets you create and keep your own character. You can choose your appearance, name your character (mine’s called Sairen), and bring them back for future runs. It’s a small change that makes a huge difference—it adds a real sense of ownership and progression to a genre that usually resets everything after every failure.

The game throws you into the boots of a treasure hunter exploring dangerous, monster-filled lands in search of magical resources. The loot you gather isn’t just for flash—it’s fuel for upgrading your camp, which serves as your base between runs. This introduces a welcome meta-strategy layer: invest gold to unlock crafting stations, gear up with potions, and build out your camp for stronger future attempts. It turns every failed run into an opportunity to come back stronger next time.

Combat-wise, there’s a solid variety of weapons—everything from muskets and swords to more magical tools like claws that spawn black holes or gauntlets that hurl fireballs. Each one feels different and encourages you to experiment with your playstyle. Some runs I went in guns blazing, others I leaned into heavy melee. The challenge ramps up when you venture into cursed zones and elite monster areas—high-risk, high-reward areas that really test your build and decision-making.

There’s also multiplayer, which is a great addition for folks who want to team up and take on dungeons co-op style. It definitely helps soften the difficulty curve and opens up new ways to strategize and share resources with friends.

Visually, the game retains the charming, slightly goofy aesthetic of the original but with cleaner animations and a little more polish. Enemy designs are varied and the environments have enough flavor to keep each run feeling distinct.

What really stood out to me was the long-term progression. Being able to retain your character, invest in permanent upgrades, and choose how you approach each run makes the whole experience more rewarding than the usual roguelike loop. There’s still plenty of difficulty and randomness, but the frustration is softened by knowing your efforts are building toward something.

Lost Castle 2 is shaping up to be a fun, chaotic, and surprisingly strategic roguelike. The addition of character retention, camp upgrades, and weapon variety makes it a step up from its predecessor. While it’s still in early access and has room to grow, the core loop is already solid and addicting.

If you enjoy challenging games with strong replay value and a dash of humor, Lost Castle 2 is worth checking out. You can find it on Steam for $14.99, and shoutout to the devs for the review key—excited to see how this game continues to evolve.