Remnant 2 PC Review: Archetypes, Anarchy, and Alien Worlds Remnant 2 arrives as a challenging Soulslike shooter, promising a potent blend of tight gunplay, intricate build customization, and procedurally generated worlds.
Remnant 2 arrives as a challenging Soulslike shooter, promising a potent blend of tight gunplay, intricate build customization, and procedurally generated worlds. Does it deliver? As a seasoned PC gamer with countless hours spent exploring everything from the meticulously crafted levels of Dark Souls to the sprawling chaos of Borderlands 3, I've come to value games that respect my time and offer meaningful depth. This Remnant 2 PC review aims to cut through the hype and offer a no-nonsense assessment of Gunfire Games' latest offering, focusing on the experience for PC gaming enthusiasts. Is Remnant 2 worth buying on PC? Let's dive in.
Gameplay & Mechanics (Archetypes and Anarchy)
The core of Remnant 2's gameplay lies in its Archetype system, a flexible class structure that allows for a surprising degree of build diversity. You start by choosing a primary Archetype, each with its own unique skills, perks, and playstyle. Later, you unlock a second Archetype, opening up even more possibilities. It is the most important decision you will make.
Archetype Customization: A Gunslinger and Handler Hybrid
For my playthrough, I gravitated towards a blend of the Handler and Gunslinger archetypes, resulting in a pet-focused ranged build that thrives in chaos. The Handler's trusty canine companion provides invaluable support, drawing enemy aggro and offering crucial buffs, while the Gunslinger unleashes a barrage of bullets with relentless efficiency. This combination allowed me to maintain a safe distance while dealing significant damage, turning the tide of battle with well-timed abilities.
Remnant 2 Archetype Guide: Diablo IV Comparison
Compared to the class systems in Diablo IV, Remnant 2 offers a more immediate sense of impact. While Diablo IV slowly doles out skill points and paragon levels, Remnant 2's Archetypes provide distinct abilities right from the start. However, Diablo IV's skill tree offers more granular control over individual abilities. Remnant 2 lands somewhere in the middle ground: offering meaningful build choices, but not quite the degree of customization you can find in Diablo IV.
The dual-Archetype system adds substantial depth. However, some combinations are clearly more potent than others, potentially leading players towards "cookie-cutter" builds. The Remnant 2 Handler build in particular is strong because of its versatility. Still, I appreciate that experimentation is rewarded, and there are plenty of viable options for those willing to stray from the beaten path.
Mods and Mutators: Customization Overload
Mutators and mods further enhance weapon and skill customization. The Merciless long gun, with its built-in bleed effect, becomes a devastating tool when paired with the Song of Eafir weapon mod for area control. This bleed-stacking build decimates enemies, especially when combined with Archetype skills that amplify damage against bleeding targets.
The upgrade system for weapons and skills feels mostly rewarding. While the grind for resources can become tedious at times, the increased power is noticeable and impactful. This constant sense of progression is an addictive hook.
Narrative (Whispers in the Ruins)
Remnant 2 doesn't spoon-feed you its story. Instead, it excels at environmental storytelling, leaving cryptic clues scattered throughout its decaying settlements and forgotten temples.
Piecing Together the Lore: The History of the Root
Deciphering the history of the Root and the other worlds requires careful observation and a willingness to piece together fragmented narratives. Each world tells its own unique story, adding to the overall tapestry of the game.
Environmental Storytelling: Dark Souls Comparison
Like the Dark Souls series, Remnant 2 uses level design and enemy placement to reveal the history of its world. A desolate battlefield littered with the corpses of ancient warriors speaks volumes about the conflicts that have shaped the land. Enemy placement isn’t random; their behaviors and locations hint at their role in the world's history. Unlike Dark Souls, Remnant 2 offers a bit more overt exposition through NPC dialogue.
Narrative Structure and Pacing
The overarching narrative keeps you invested, even if it can feel fragmented at times. Exploring multiple worlds and encountering diverse characters adds a sense of scale and wonder. The Root are the villains, but how exactly they came to be is a mystery to be solved.
Boss Encounters and Lore Expansion
Boss encounters are not just challenging tests of skill; they also contribute to the narrative. Each boss has its own backstory and motivations, adding depth to the world's lore. The fight against Annihilation, with its multiple phases reflecting the fractured state of the world, is a perfect example.
Graphics (Procedural Panoramas and Pixel Pushing)
Remnant 2 showcases impressive visuals, thanks to its procedural generation and attention to detail.
Procedural Generation: N'Erud's Surreal Landscapes
The surreal, dreamlike landscapes of N'Erud are a visual highlight. Towering, decaying structures pierce the alien sky, while bizarre, bioluminescent flora illuminates the desolate plains. It is visually stunning.
The procedural generation creates diverse and visually interesting environments. However, it can sometimes lead to repetitive level layouts or a lack of handcrafted detail in certain areas. Certain side dungeons feel a bit too similar.
Textures, Lighting, and Art Style
The textures are generally high-quality, and the implementation of lighting (especially global illumination) is impressive. Remnant 2 strikes a decent balance between achieving high visual fidelity and maintaining acceptable performance on a variety of PC hardware configurations, but it's definitely a demanding game.
Enemy Design
The enemies are visually menacing and believable, exhibiting a sense of purpose within the world. The cloth and metallic textures are well-done, and the particle effects used in combat add to the visual spectacle. Character models are detailed.
PC Performance (DLSS vs. FSR: The Resolution Revolution)
Performance is a crucial aspect for PC gamers, and Remnant 2 can be demanding.
DLSS vs. FSR: Benchmark Data
I tested Remnant 2 with DLSS and FSR enabled on various GPUs, including an Nvidia RTX 4070, an AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, and an Nvidia RTX 3060.
| GPU | Resolution | DLSS/FSR Setting | Avg FPS | 1% Lows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 | 1080p | Quality | 120 | 95 |
| RTX 4070 | 1440p | Quality | 90 | 70 |
| RTX 4070 | 4K | Quality | 60 | 45 |
| RX 6700 XT | 1080p | Quality | 90 | 70 |
| RX 6700 XT | 1440p | Quality | 65 | 50 |
| RX 6700 XT | 4K | Quality | 40 | 30 |
| RTX 3060 | 1080p | Quality | 75 | 60 |
| RTX 3060 | 1440p | Quality | 55 | 40 |
| RTX 3060 | 4K | Quality | 30 | 25 |
Enabling DLSS or FSR significantly improves performance, especially at higher resolutions. However, the image quality is slightly degraded, with some visual artifacts (ghosting, blurring) appearing at lower settings ("Performance").
DLSS vs FSR: Image Quality Comparison
At 1440p with the "Quality" setting enabled, DLSS and FSR offer comparable performance and image quality. However, DLSS generally exhibits slightly better image sharpness, while FSR sometimes introduces more noticeable shimmering artifacts. It will depend on your preference.
CPU vs GPU Bottleneck
Remnant 2 appears to be primarily GPU-bound, although CPU-intensive tasks such as enemy AI and physics calculations can also impact performance. Expect to tweak settings regardless of your PC.
Overall Experience (Co-op Carnage and Content)
Remnant 2 shines as a cooperative experience.
Co-op Gameplay
Remnant 2 strongly supports cooperative gameplay, and the game's difficulty scales appropriately with the number of players. Playing in co-op mode enhances the overall experience, fostering teamwork and camaraderie. Tackling challenging encounters with friends is a blast, and coordinating builds and strategies adds another layer of depth.
Replayability: Difficulty Levels and Alternate Storylines
Remnant 2 incentivizes replayability through various difficulty levels, alternate storylines (such as the corrupted storyline in Yaesha), and hidden secrets that can be uncovered through repeated playthroughs. Each playthrough can feel surprisingly fresh.
Remnant 2 Replayability: Borderlands 3 Comparison
Compared to Borderlands 3, Remnant 2 offers a more compelling reason to replay the game. While Borderlands 3 relies heavily on loot grinding, Remnant 2 provides meaningful narrative variations and build experimentation.
Final Verdict: Is Remnant 2 Worth It?
Remnant 2 is a must-play title for PC gamers who enjoy challenging Soulslike shooters with a focus on build customization and cooperative gameplay. Its strengths lie in its intricate Archetype system, engaging environmental storytelling, and satisfying gunplay.
However, its procedural generation can sometimes lead to repetitive environments, and its PC performance can be demanding, even with DLSS or FSR enabled. The best PC settings for high FPS are a must, even with top-tier cards.
This game is perfect for players who appreciate a challenge, enjoy experimenting with different builds, and value cooperative gameplay. It is not, however, for the faint of heart.
Final Score: 8.5/10
If you're ready to dive into a challenging and rewarding Soulslike shooter, you can buy Remnant 2 PC on Steam today. Prepare to die... a lot.
