Knights of Pen & Paper 2
A meta turn-based RPG about tabletop gamers and their Dungeon Master.
Knights of Pen & Paper 2 is a turn-based role-playing video game developed by Kyy Games and published by Paradox Interactive. It is the sequel to Knights of Pen & Paper, released initially for iOS and Android in May 2015, with later versions for Windows, OS X, and Linux in October 2015, and console releases in December 2018. The game is notable for its meta premise, where players control a group of tabletop role-playing game participants and their Dungeon Master during a Dungeons & Dragons-style session.
- Developer
- Kyy Games
- Publisher
- Paradox Interactive
- Initial release date
- May 13, 2015
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
- Genre
- turn-based role-playing game
- Metacritic rating
- average
Lore & Background
Knights of Pen & Paper 2 continues the concept of its predecessor, placing the player in control of both a group of role-playing game players and their Dungeon Master during a Dungeons & Dragons-style session. The gameplay was streamlined from the first game, requiring less grinding and being less difficult overall. The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising the art and overall improvements to gameplay and story, but criticizing it for being overly similar to the first game, using the same music, and being shorter and easier.
Development of the sequel was handled by Kyy Games after the original developers, Behold Studios, were too busy developing Chroma Squad. The game was released on multiple platforms over several years, with the console versions arriving in December 2018 under the title Knights of Pen & Paper 2: Deluxiest Edition. Reception remained consistent across platforms, with reviewers noting the improved presentation and better spelling and grammar in story sections, while also pointing out the recycled elements from the first game.
Reader's Guide
Knights of Pen & Paper 2 holds a modest place in the role-playing game landscape of the 2010s as a sequel that refined but did not radically alter its predecessor's formula. Its significance lies in its accessible, streamlined turn-based combat and its unique framing device of a tabletop RPG session, which appealed to fans of both video games and pen-and-paper role-playing. The game's legacy is tempered by critical consensus that it was too similar to the original, recycling music and being shorter and easier, which led to 'average' reviews on Metacritic. The shift in development from Behold Studios to Kyy Games marked a change in creative direction, yet the game maintained the 16-bit style graphics that were praised. For players seeking a less grindy, more polished version of the first game's meta-RPG experience, Knights of Pen & Paper 2 offered a competent but not groundbreaking entry. Its eventual release on multiple consoles as the Deluxiest Edition extended its reach, though it did not significantly alter the mixed reception that characterized its initial launch.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by Kyy Games after Behold Studios was too busy with Chroma Squad.
- Console versions were released in December 2018 under the name Knights of Pen & Paper 2: Deluxiest Edition.
- Critics noted the game used the same music as the first game.
- The iOS version was criticized for feeling less complete than its predecessor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed and published Knights of Pen & Paper 2?
Kyy Games built the title, while Paradox Interactive handled publishing and distribution across all platforms.
What is the core premise of Knights of Pen & Paper 2?
Instead of playing a single fantasy hero, you manage a whole tabletop group—steering both the player characters and the Dungeon Master through a D&D-style session. This meta framing makes the real 'adventurers' the friends gathered around the game table.
What platforms is Knights of Pen & Paper 2 available on?
The game shipped on iOS and Android at launch, then expanded to Windows, macOS, and Linux. Console players can find it on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
When was Knights of Pen & Paper 2 released?
The mobile version hit stores on May 13, 2015, PC ports followed in October 2015, and the console editions arrived in December 2018.
How did critics rate Knights of Pen & Paper 2?
Metacritic currently lists the game at an average score, indicating a generally mixed but fair reception from reviewers.
More in Role-Playing Games of the 2010s, Part 3 1-24
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