Torchlight II
A dungeon crawler sequel with multiplayer and modding support.
Torchlight II is an action role-playing dungeon crawler from Runic Games, released for Windows on September 20, 2012. A follow-up to the original Torchlight, it adds peer-to-peer multiplayer and extensive modding tools. The game later came to OS X on February 2, 2015, and Linux on March 4, 2015, with console versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One arriving on September 3, 2019, handled by Panic Button. Critics gave it largely positive reviews.
Set in a fantasy world, the story begins when the Alchemist—a playable character from the first game—destroys the town of Torchlight after being corrupted by the Ember Blight from the Heart of Ordrak. Players choose from four classes, each with unique skills and three skill trees for customization. They pursue the Alchemist across three acts and an epilogue, traveling through the mountainous Estherian Steppes, the desert Mana Wastes, and the haunted forest of Grunnheim, which holds ancient dwarven ruins. The original game’s three classes appear only as non-player characters.
Gameplay retains randomly generated dungeons, monster fights for loot and experience, and a pet system with expanded options and basic customization. New features include overland areas with multiple hub towns, a longer campaign, day-night cycles, weather effects, and a redesigned interface. Some weapons and armor are class-restricted, unlike the first game. Players can customize their character’s sex, face, hairstyle, and hair color. Fishing returns, and a planned retirement system was replaced by New Game Plus.
Multiplayer supports up to six players over the internet or LAN, with separate loot drops for each player. Optional player-versus-player combat is included, and an online Runic Games account is required for internet play. The developers added co-op after fan feedback that the first game felt lonely without it.
Development originally aimed for an MMORPG, but Runic pivoted to a sequel to gain multiplayer experience and release faster. Work on Torchlight II was intended to feed into the later MMO. The PC version was delayed from 2011 to 2012 for polishing and beta testing. Work on an Xbox Live Arcade port of the first game caused delays but led to memory and loading optimizations for the sequel. Cinematic sequences were produced by Klei Entertainment.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Torchlight II
- Developer
- Runic GamesPorted to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One by Panic Button
- Publisher
- Runic GamesPublished for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One by Perfect World Entertainment
- Designer
- Travis Baldree
- Series
- Torchlight
- Composer
- Matt Uelmen
- Engine
- OGRE
- Genre
- Action role-playing, hack and slash
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Windows, OS X, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Torchlight II takes place in a fantasy world where the player character can be any of four classes, each with different skills and abilities. The plot begins with the destruction of the town of Torchlight at the hands of the Alchemist from the first game, who has become corrupted by the Ember Blight from the Heart of Ordrak. The player follows the trail of destruction left in the Alchemist's wake as he searches for a cure to his illness, which has driven him insane. The game features three acts and an epilogue, taking the player through the mountainous Estherian Steppes, the desert Mana Wastes, and the haunted forest of Grunnheim containing ancient dwarven ruins.
Originally, Runic Games planned to develop an MMORPG set in the Torchlight world, but instead released Torchlight II with both single-player and multiplayer support, as the company felt they could release this much faster. The game maintains the randomly generated dungeons and monster combat of its predecessor, but adds overland areas, multiple hub towns, a longer campaign, time of day cycles, weather effects, and a redesigned user interface. Some weapons and armor are class-specific, and players can customize character appearance with choice of sex, face, hair style, and hair color. Pets return with expanded options and basic customization, and fishing is also present. A retirement system was originally planned but replaced with a New Game Plus mode.
Reader's Guide
Torchlight II is notable for addressing the primary criticism of its predecessor—the lack of multiplayer—by introducing cooperative play supporting up to six players via internet or LAN, with separate loot drops and optional PVP. The game also features the GUTS editor, added in April 2013, which allows users to alter game content and create modifications, alongside Steam Workshop support for automated mod distribution. These features extended the game's longevity and community engagement.
The game's critical reception was favorable, with reviewers praising its polished execution and value at a $20 price point. Game Informer noted that the margin between Torchlight II and Diablo III was razor-thin, while IGN highlighted its near-perfect formula of varied monster behavior, interesting items, and excellent skill design. Some critics, however, pointed to a lack of innovation, with GameSpot stating the genre may need new ideas to stay vital. The game was nominated for Role-Playing Game of the Year at the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Following Torchlight II, key developers left Runic Games, leading to the cancellation of their next project and eventual studio closure in 2017. A sequel, Torchlight III, was released in 2020 after being rebranded from a planned free-to-play MMORPG called Torchlight Frontiers.
Did You Know?
- Torchlight II was originally going to be an MMORPG, but Runic Games released it with single-player and multiplayer support instead.
- The game's cinematic sequences were produced by Klei Entertainment, the developer of Don't Starve.
- Players who pre-purchased Torchlight II on Steam received the original Torchlight for free.
- The GUTS editor, added in April 2013, allows users to create modifications and supports Steam Workshop.
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