In 2017 the original EVERSPACE took me totally took me by surprise in the best of ways in what seems like an eternity ago. A lot has happened in the world since then and much has changed. One thing is constant and sure though and that is that ROCKFISH Games continues to pump out amazing, fun-to-play games. To finally get my hands on the launch version of EVERSPACE 2 and confirm just it’s all just bigger and better in every way, was something I’ve been looking forward to for a very, very long time.

Gameplay

An absolute masterclass of gameplay design, EVERSPACE 2 takes what the first game did and makes it even more polished, more smooth, and more fun to play. The endless pursuit of finding better scanners for your ship to find hidden caches of loot is extremely satisfying. Weapons are a blast to find and play including railguns, lasers, and missiles of all sorts dealing energy and kinetic damage combos that are extremely satisfying in look, feel, and sound.

While the story/mission design is similar to the first game, there are a few more open-world areas to explore and discover including derelict mining operations and old shipwrecks. This adds a bit of spice to an already fantastic mix of arcade and space shooter sim. I absolutely love it!

Audio and Visual

In regards to the audiovisual component of EVERSPACE 2, the game is stunningly gorgeous in both sights and sounds. While the first game was already impressive, the second entry in the series cranks everything up to 11. While the voice acting is decent, lasers, autocannons, explosions, and warp drive sounds are spot-on and exciting.

The visuals are even more stunning with all the screens in our gallery caught at 4K maxed out on PC without any filters or enhancements. Need I say more? Just click on the shots below to see this electronic piece of art.

Replayability

There is so much to see and do in EVERSPACE 2 that you will be busy for a very long time. Even if you blow through the story, you will find that more exploration with better ship scanners opens up so many little nuances and secrets, you can play the game for quite a while. Some may find the game just linear but if you are, stop at that undiscovered location you see flashing or, go to the edges of each system to see what you are missing.

What It Could Have Done Better

The main thing I would say could improve is taking a few more risks with gameplay variety whether it be fully open-world galaxies to explore or activities to perform. The second game is much like the first but that is hardly a bad thing, it just plays it a little too safe without taking very much risk. Also, the linear mission structure and hand-drawn cutscenes feel a bit dated but at this point, I am just nitpicking.

Verdict

EVERSPACE 2 is overall, a fantastic improvement on an already amazing game. If you enjoy space combat/exploration in the slightest, you should pick up this game ASAP. While nowhere near the complexity of some space sims, there is a near-perfect balance of arcade-style combat, fun, and controls with a good variety of weapons, gear, and skills for your ship to unlock. Not to mention, the game is a showpiece for graphics and it runs like a dream on most systems. Passionate developers like ROCKFISH Games that create quality games without nickel and diming us to death with addons and microtransactions deserve our support, let’s give it to ‘em!