Lost Castle 2 is a sidescrolling beat 'em up action roguelite from Hunter Studio where you go on perilous adventures in search of the ultimate treasure. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Lost Castle 2 Review Overview
What is Lost Castle 2?
Lost Castle 2 is an exciting sidescrolling action beat 'em up, enriched with roguelite elements and online multiplayer co-op capabilities. Step into the shoes of the newest member of an adventuring guild, embarking on a thrilling quest to uncover the ultimate treasure. Use the guild’s top-notch facilities and team up with fellow adventurers as you journey through diverse locales, battling hordes of enemies and collecting incredible loot. Face off against formidable bosses at the end of each dungeon, but don't worry about defeat – the quest for treasure is endless, and you can always dive back into the action stronger than before!
Lost Castle 2 features:
⚫︎ Six weapon types with unique combat mechanics
⚫︎ 100+ unique weapons, armor, and loot pieces to find and collect
⚫︎ Several unique levels with distinct mechanics and enemy types
⚫︎ Expansive upgrade tree
⚫︎ 10+ challenging bosses to encounter
⚫︎ 2 to 4-player online co-op
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Lost Castle 2's gameplay and story.
 Steam |
$14.99 |
Lost Castle 2 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Great Weapon Variety Impressive Quality-of-life Features A Challenge Worth Experiencing |
Translation and UI Errors Could Use More Stage Variety |
Lost Castle 2 Overall Score - 74/100
Although it's borderline unavoidable to compare this game to Castle Crashers, Lost Castle 2 is a far more complex and developed game than its spiritual predecessor. It boasts a plethora of synergistic features and well-incorporated roguelite elements, making it more replayable than most beat 'em ups. Though its early-access limitations are apparent in its story, visuals, and audio, the future looks promising for Lost Castle 2. We might not know it yet, but we may have another cult classic in the works.
Lost Castle 2 Story - 6/10
Lost Castle 2’s story may not be groundbreaking or deeply profound, but it’s certainly not bad. It offers a straightforward adventure, without the heavy lore or intricate character motivations typical of more complex narratives. While this might fall short for an RPG, it fits perfectly for an action-packed sidescrolling beat 'em up.
Lost Castle 2 Gameplay - 8/10
Lost Castle 2 packs a surprisingly complex combat and synergy system beneath its seemingly simple beat 'em up premise. The diverse weapon mechanics alone make it a significant upgrade over Castle Crashers, but this game goes even further with its rune, potion, and adventurer’s guild systems. While the difficulty balancing might need some adjustments and the level variety is lacking, these elements contribute to making it a worthy successor to Castle Crashers’ legacy.
Lost Castle 2 Visuals - 7/10
Lost Castle 2 features a well-crafted yet somewhat overused aesthetic, characterized by cartoonish proportions and high-contrast colors within a predominantly fantasy theme. While it may lack the Flash animation charm of Castle Crashers, it still stands strong on its own. The loading screens and boss intros, in particular, highlight the game’s visuals at their best, making them a personal favorite.
Lost Castle 2 Audio - 7/10
Lost Castle 2’s audio is quite good, featuring sound effects and music that perfectly match the mood of each level. While the soundtrack doesn't include any earworms and there’s no voice acting to speak of, that’s as far as the game’s audio goes regarding drawbacks.
Lost Castle 2 Value for Money - 9/10
Lost Castle 2 delivers plenty of content and replayability for a modest $15. It’s easy to pick up, with combat and item synergy systems that are straightforward to grasp despite their depth. While it doesn’t offer AAA levels of content, it also comes without the AAA price tag, making it a great value for the cost.
Lost Castle 2 Review: Castle Crashers’ Potential Successor
Let's just get it out of the way: comparisons between this game and Castle Crashers are inevitable. It's not that Lost Castle 2 is a copycat, but Castle Crashers has had decades to build its cult following, and people naturally compare new things to old favorites. That said, the similarities between the two games are superficial at best, with Lost Castle 2 being far more complex and fleshed out.
Now, what I’m about to express might be utter blasphemy for some—I, myself, find it hard to admit—but Lost Castle 2 might be the sequel to Castle Crashers that we’ve been waiting for all these years. Not literally, of course, and certainly not in its current early access state, but its potential is undeniable. Once we break down everything that makes this game tick, you might also agree that Lost Castle 2 has the makings of Castle Crashers’ promising successor.
We’ll begin with Lost Castle 2’s gameplay, which, as I not-so-subtly alluded to earlier, bears a strong resemblance to Castle Crashers. Players run through a sidescrolling map, using various weapons and abilities to take down enemies flooding in from the right side of the screen. Careful positioning and clever dodging are paramount to avoiding damage, and relentless attacking usually helps keep the enemies at bay. At the end of every major area, a powerful boss is waiting to test the player’s skill and award powerful bonuses upon defeat. All of this is standard fare for sidescrolling beat 'em ups, so let’s get to where Lost Castle 2 starts to deviate from the standard.
Firstly, Lost Castle 2 is a roguelite, featuring randomly generated loot and levels divided into several "rooms" that players must clear before advancing. Not every room is filled with enemies; some serve as shops or safe havens within a stage. Other rooms introduce challenge modifiers or elite enemies and bosses to increase the difficulty. This variety ensures each run is unique, adding layers of complexity that set Lost Castle 2 apart from other beat 'em ups.
Secondly, the game’s combat is remarkably complex, featuring many combat styles and not just the usual punches and kicks. Each of the six weapon types—sword and shield, dual swords, greatsword, bow, turbo lance, and staff—features unique properties and gameplay mechanics that genuinely distinguish them from each other. Unlike Castle Crashers, which only offers melee, magic, and ranged options, Lost Castle 2’s weapons shape the entire playstyle of a run. For example, a sword and shield run emphasizes a defensive approach focused on blocking, while dual blades encourage agile dodging and building up a combo meter for powerful finishers.
The turbo lance is by far the most complex among them, featuring a heat gauge that you can overload on purpose to imbue your attacks with fire damage, although doing this will put it on cooldown right after. Impressively, this only scratches the surface of the game’s complexity. The rune, potion, and loot systems add layers of depth and significantly enhance the game’s replay value.
To expand on those systems, let’s begin with the game’s rune system, which is comprised of three runes: red, green, and blue (Akhil, Parati, and Nairu). Runes of each color can be collected throughout a run, unlocking various bonuses and passives whenever a certain number of each color is met. There are basic bonuses inherent to each rune, but certain equipment also unlock new properties if the player has enough of a certain rune. This is one of the most common ways to dictate a run, as the rune bonuses often stack with the equipment bonuses they unlock, making the synergy more powerful in the process. Potions, on the other hand, offer minor buffs and debuffs, randomly chosen whenever the player chooses to drink one.
All of this introduces more complexity than Castle Crashers ever had, and it continues with the Lost Castle 2’s adventurer's guild, which serves as a hub world of sorts. Here, players can upgrade their stats, unlock new passives, enable multiplayer, and even change their appearance. The tech tree is particularly varied, offering upgrades that impact all equipment types alongside standard stat boosts. However, the coolest feature of the adventurer's guild is the option to control which weapons can drop during a run. This curation allows players to tailor their experience to a specific playstyle, a luxury not found in many of the best roguelites.
Together, these gameplay elements create a much richer experience than one might expect from a side-scroller. The game leans into its roguelite influences and isn't afraid to innovate. Even the healing system is unique, resembling Dark Souls' Estus Flask more than typical healing items in these games. It’s refreshing and, frankly, quite addictive, which is why it pains me to knock it down a peg as we move on to discuss its story, visuals, and audio.
Story-wise, Lost Castle 2 is about as simple as it can get. You just joined the adventurer’s guild and now you’re going on an adventure. Is it an adventure to save the world? Perhaps it’s a journey of self-reflection wrought with insight and nuanced character motivations. Unfortunately, no—quite the opposite, actually. You’re adventuring for treasure, that’s it. There are some touches of world-building and characterization strewn about, but it’s nothing cohesive and is easily the game’s weakest point. I wouldn’t say no to a Plain Jane adventure story, but I would certainly prefer one with more substance than a poorly-written D&D backstory.
I wouldn’t go as far as to call this game’s art style overdone, but I can almost swear that I’ve seen at least 5 mobile games that look exactly like this. The heavy lines and chibi proportions commit to the mobile game look, and the fantasy aesthetics only exacerbate this. To be clear, the game doesn't look bad. The 2.5D graphics are evocative, especially in motion, and the vibrant colors make the character designs stand out. However, I feel it could benefit from a bit more originality and inspiration, particularly in terms of genre, as straight-laced Tolkien-esque fantasy is about as vanilla as one can get for an action-adventure game.
Audio-wise, it's a similar story: standard fantasy sounds and music, accompanied by typical combat noises and sound effects. While it's not a crime to lack inspiration, I believe a game this complex and replayable could benefit from more variety in its audio. That said, the music is well-made and fits each of the game's three levels perfectly. Speaking of, we reach another of the game’s shortcomings: level variety.
The game has three main levels, each divided into a varying number of different rooms before culminating with a boss fight. What boss you’ll encounter is selected from the level’s pool of possible bosses, but everything else about each level is largely the same, from enemy types to background design. The game is in early access and could easily gain more content as the days go by, but as it is now, I find its level variety lacking.
And that’s about it for Lost Castle 2. Contrary to what most people think, it is decidedly NOT a Castle Crashers clone. It has plenty of new mechanics and complex systems that set it apart not just from its oft-compared predecessor, but also its contemporary peers. Its aesthetics, story, and audio aren’t the most inspiring, nor are they the best implemented, but they serve to tie a neat bow on an otherwise amusing game.
Pros of Lost Castle 2
| Things Lost Castle 2 Got Right |
|---|
|
Great Weapon Variety Impressive Quality-of-life Features A Challenge Worth Experiencing |
Great Weapon Variety
The weapons and loot in this game are undoubtedly its most thrilling features, driving much of the replayability and adding exciting variety to the combat. While six weapons might seem modest for an RPG, it's a generous offering compared to most beat 'em ups, which often lack such options. Each weapon comes with unique mechanics, making the gameplay even more engaging. If you love experimenting with different playstyles, you'll find a rich catalog here to explore and enjoy.
Impressive Quality-of-life Features
Beat 'em up games typically don’t prioritize quality-of-life features, focusing instead on relentless combat until the stage is complete. However, Lost Castle 2 breaks the mold with its roguelite mechanics, which demand a seamless gameplay experience. Consequently, the game boasts numerous quality-of-life enhancements that feel intuitive and essential.
One standout feature is the weapon drop selection in the hub world. This allows players to choose which weapons and gear will appear in their next run, enabling them to tailor their playstyle, master specific skills, or embark on challenge runs.
Another notable feature is the automatic salvaging system. If a player leaves a room without picking up dropped weapons and loot, they are automatically salvaged into upgrade materials. It's a small but impactful improvement, as it prevents valuable items from being left behind unintentionally—something I relied on more often than I care to admit.
A Challenge Worth Experiencing
One of the most remarkable aspects of this game is its inherent difficulty—but not in a "git gud" sense. It’s not nearly as punishing as a soulslike nor as frustrating as many early-game roguelites. However, it presents a significant challenge, especially when facing many of the bosses and even some of the regular rooms in the later levels. This satisfying level of difficulty encourages players to strategize and consider their synergies rather than just brute-forcing their way through. The best part? This difficulty is entirely optional, as players can adjust it from the adventurer’s guild, tailoring the experience to their preference.
Cons of Lost Castle 2
| Things That Lost Castle 2 Can Improve |
|---|
|
Translation and UI Errors Could Use More Stage Variety |
Translation and UI Errors
It's evident that this game is still in its early-access stage, as many dialogue boxes, UI elements, and character assets lack proper translation from the original Mandarin. The severity of these errors varies: some are obvious mistranslations, while others haven't been translated at all. I expect that this will be patched out in time, but as it is now, this is one of the game’s most glaring issues.
Could Use More Stage Variety
As mentioned earlier, this game currently offers only three stages, with no additional endgame content available. This is quite unusual for a roguelite, a genre known for its variety. While it's likely that new content will be added in the future, the game's introductory cinematic strongly suggests that the existing stages are all that's planned for now.
Is Lost Castle 2 Worth It?
Worth The Few Gold It’s Asking For
Lost Castle 2 has several issues with its presentation, including both originality and execution. However, at just $15 and still in early access, the game shows great potential for future improvements and additional content. Even now, it offers significant replayability, making it a worthwhile investment, especially if you enjoy solo play.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
|||||
| Price | $14.99 | ||||
Lost Castle 2 FAQ
Will Lost Castle 2 Support Local Co-op?
According to the game’s developers, local co-op isn’t supported for Lost Castle 2’s early-access build due to development constraints, although dedicated local co-op support has been prioritized for the game’s full release.
What Languages Are Available in Lost Castle 2?
Lost Castle 2 currently supports the following languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and English, with more language localizations on the way according to the game’s developers.
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Lost Castle 2 Product Information
 | |
| Title | LOST CASTLE 2 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 25, 2024 |
| Developer | Hunter Studio |
| Publisher | Hunter Studio |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam) |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Roguelite |
| Number of Players | Single-Player, Online Co-op (2-4) |
| Rating | N/A |
| Official Website | Lost Castle 2 Official Twitter/X |
