Eleven Years On, Blackguards 2’s Dice-Rolling Still Beats Its Script

Blackguards 2 sends a party of criminals through a grim fantasy setting and asks players to think like thieves rather than heroes. The sequel carries over the dice-rolling combat system from the first game, but the city of Dunwall stands as a new home for its schemes.

Trailer, via Daedalic Entertainment.

Dunwall Takes Over

Dunwall, the capital from the Dishonored games, returns here as a living, crowded setting. Its streets, markets and docks give the party a real sense of place rather than a flat map. The game draws on familiar lore without repeating it beat for beat.

Parties and Their Orders

Players build a party of five characters, each with a distinct set of abilities tied to theft, stealth and violence. Combat uses a turn-based system where actions depend on dice rolls, meaning a plan can fall apart in seconds. This creates moments of tension that feel earned rather than handed down from above.

The game rewards patience. Rushing into a fight rarely pays off, since luck plays a bigger role than skill in determining who lives and who dies.

The Case That Holds It Together

The main plot follows a case that pulls the party into a web of political intrigue. It moves at a steady pace, though it sometimes gets buried under side quests and character threads that drag the story out. Some missions feel like filler rather than essential pieces of the whole.

The city itself is the real star here.

Where It Falls Short

Not everything lands. Side content often repeats ideas already covered in earlier chapters, which makes the total length of the game feel padded rather than full. The pacing suffers as a result, especially in the middle stretch where the main story slows to a crawl.

1. The main case holds up best.
2. The city of Dunwall sells the setting.
3. Character threads occasionally drift.
4. Side content repeats itself.
5. Pacing suffers in the middle chapters.

Sound and Look

The game looks solid, with detailed character models and lighting that fits its grim tone. Sound design adds to the atmosphere, though it rarely reaches the heights of other games in the genre.

Final Word

Blackguards 2 succeeds most when it lets the dice do the talking. The combat system remains the strongest part of the package, even if the story around it stumbles. Players looking for a deep tactical experience will find plenty to enjoy, while those wanting a tight narrative may come away disappointed.

Blackguards 2 scores 7.4 out of 10.

Blackguards 2 · Dishonored · game review · tactical combat · turn-based RPG