Risk of Rain 2
A 3D roguelike shooter where survivors fight escalating alien threats.
Risk of Rain 2 is a cooperative third-person shooter roguelike developed by Hopoo Games and published by Gearbox Publishing. Released in 2020, it is the sequel to 2013's Risk of Rain and transitions the series from 2D to a 3D environment. Players control a survivor stranded on an alien planet, navigating environments, killing monsters, and collecting items that boost abilities while the game's difficulty increases over time. The game supports up to four players in online multiplayer and received generally positive reviews upon release.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Risk of Rain 2
- Developer
- Hopoo Games / Gearbox Software
- Publisher
- Gearbox Publishing
- Producer
- Dominic Laurenti
- Designer
- Duncan Drummond · Jeffrey Hunt · Paul Morse
- Artist
- Duncan Drummond
- Writer
- Duncan Drummond · Jeffrey Hunt
- Composer
- Chris Christodoulou / Stavros Markonis
- Series
- Risk of Rain
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Windows · Stadia · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- Windows · August 11, 2020 · Stadia · September 29, 2020 · Switch, PS4, Xbox One · October 20, 2020 · PS5, Xbox Series X/S · August 27, 2024
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Risk of Rain 2 follows a similar approach to the first title, featuring several of the same playable characters, creatures, and items, but adds new survivors and transitions from 2D to a 3D environment. Players choose from survivors such as Commando, Huntress, Bandit, MUL-T, Engineer, Artificer, Mercenary, REX, Loader, Captain, and Acrid, with additional characters unlockable through gameplay or downloadable content. The Heretic can only be used by acquiring a specific set of items during a run. Expansions added Railgunner, Void Fiend, Seeker, CHEF, The False Son, Drifter, and Operator.
Reader's Guide
Risk of Rain 2 is notable for its successful transition from 2D to 3D, a shift inspired by fan art and driven by Hopoo Games' desire for deeper design spaces and more artistic expression. The game was first announced in May 2017 after six months of development, using the Unity engine. It entered early access on Windows in March 2019, with Hopoo signing with Gearbox Publishing for console releases. The full release occurred in August 2020, with a Stadia version following in September. The game sold over a million copies within a month of early access and over four million on PC by March 2021. In November 2022, Gearbox Entertainment acquired the Risk of Rain IP. Hopoo Games later went on hiatus in September 2024, with lead developers and most of the team moving to Valve Corporation. The game received multiple paid expansions: Survivors of the Void (March 2022), Seekers of the Storm (August 2024), and Alloyed Collective (November 2025).
Did You Know?
- Risk of Rain 2 sold over a million copies within a month of its early access release.
- The transition to 3D was partly inspired by fan art showing collected objects on the character.
- The game's full release was delayed from Q2 2020 to expand the scope of its 1.0 update.
- Hopoo Games' lead developers and most of the team moved to Valve Corporation after the studio went on hiatus.
More in Roguelikes of the 2020s, Part 1 1-24
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