Indie · September 23, 2014

DG2: Defense Grid 2 (2014)

trophy65 achievementsgroup100k–1M ownersrecommend2.5k recommendations
Defense Grid 2, DG2, is the sequel to Hidden Path Entertainment’s 2008 Defense Grid: The Awakening. Setting the bar as the definitive tower defense game, Defense Grid 2 introduces new worlds and threats to test your tower placement strategies. With a bold new look, a compelling single-player campaign, and the addition of new game modes, online player-versus-player and multiplayer co-op, every play-through brings fun new opportunities and challenges. DG2 comes with a story campaign featuring 21 stunning maps, dynamic level movement, an expanded story and cast of characters, hundreds of challenge mode experiences, new multiplayer modes, a procedurally driven audio score and the ability for players to build their own levels. DG2 also introduces players to DG Architect on the PC, a level creation tool set connected to Steam Workshop where players can create their own unique levels to share and possibly even sell if selected. The Steam Special Edition includes additional content around the DG2 in-game and behind-the-scenes stories. If you purchase or upgrade to the Special Edition you will receive: - A Matter of Endurance: a 30 minute flash-based audio play that runs on your PC featuring character voices and concept art from a new original story by Hugo award author Mary Robinette Kowal, that takes place between the events of Defense Grid: Containment and Defense Grid 2, - A 312 page PDF of the book 'The Making of Defense Grid 2: The complete story behind the game' by Russ Pitts, a reporter and author embedded with the development team during the full development cycle of the game, - A 73 page PDF of the art book: The Art of Defense Grid, showing concept art during the development of the original Defense Grid, and - a 123 page PDF of the art book: The Art of Defense Grid 2, showing concept art developed during the development of Defense Grid 2. DG2 for the PC was funded in part by Dracogen, a private investor after a 2012 Kickstarter campaign funded the original game's DLC, Defense Grid: Containment. DG2 is developed by Hidden Path Entertainment and published by 505 Games.

Indie releases from 2014

27 Indie titles launched in 2014 — top 6 by review volume.

Peer Indie titles

Comparable titles in the same genre and review-volume band — ranked by Steam positive percentage.

Position in Indie

MetricThis titleGenre position
Review volume3.2k Steam reviewsTop 69% in Indie
Positive rating86% positiveGenre average: 87% — this title sits in top 65%
Metacritic81/100Genre average 77 — top 34% of Indie titles
Engagement hours11 h averageTop 54% for session depth among Indie

Localization Coverage

Interface / Subtitles (11)

  • English volume_up
  • French volume_up
  • Italian
  • German volume_up
  • Spanish - Spain
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Portuguese - Portugal
  • Russian
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Traditional Chinese volume_up

Full audio (4)

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Traditional Chinese

Community Tag Signals

Tag weights reflect how many Steam users voted each descriptor — larger pills = stronger consensus.

  • Strategy · 223
  • Tower Defense · 214
  • Indie · 168
  • Sci-fi · 68
  • Co-op · 43
  • Space · 41
  • Multiplayer · 39
  • Singleplayer · 31
  • Adventure · 22
  • Kickstarter · 15
  • Local Co-Op · 12
  • RTS · 9
  • Aliens · 7

Features & Capabilities

Multiplayer

  • Multi-player
  • Co-op
  • Shared/Split Screen

Community

  • Steam Achievements
  • Steam Trading Cards
  • Steam Workshop
  • Steam Cloud
  • Stats
  • Steam Leaderboards

Accessibility

  • Captions available

Input & Comfort

  • Full controller support

Other

  • Single-player

Reception Metrics

Steam community

86%Very Positive · 3.2k reviews

2.7k positive · 443 negative

Metacritic

81/100 critic aggregate

Open Metacritic page

Metacritic user score

6.7/10

Curator recommendations

2.5k

Press Quotes

“Defense Grid 2 feels paradoxically foreign and familiar...Ostensibly, the meat of Defense Grid 2 is the campaign and the narrative arc it carries.” 8 – Eurogamer “9.5, Exquisite” 9.5 – Gaming Nexus “Super Addictive!” 8 – IGN

Release & Availability

Release dateSep 23, 2014
DeveloperHidden Path Entertainment
PublisherHidden Path Entertainment, 505 Games
Base price$3.74
PlatformsWindows
Estimated owners100k–1M
External linksOfficial site · Metacritic page · Support · [email protected]

Engagement Profile

All-time avg

11h

short (5–15 hours)

Median

7h

Typical completion time

Achievements

65

Steam unlocks available

Editions & Packages

  • Buy DG2: Defense Grid 2