Info about Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm:

Official game description:
Bring retribution to Petrichor V and forge a path to the Colossus to face an ancient threat!
A Soul, born without purpose, locked away and forgotten. Her prison served as both sanctuary and shackle. Her fate: doomed by her flawless design. Millennia passed. Her desperation grew, and from the depths of her solitude, she brought another into the world she lost. Now, The False Son walks Petrichor V, bound by the betrayal of his forebearer and the corruption of a King’s blind ambition.
Prepare for an expedition deep into Petrichor V’s lost regions! Ancient Lemurian temples and crashing waterfalls lead the way across new stages. Explore hidden caverns and take in the sulfurous smell of brimstone in the Helminth Hatchery. Fend off scores of Lemurians within their Reformed Altar, or drop into the lush green canopy of the Treeborn Colony.
But the true threat towers overhead… Travel the path of the Colossus and ascend its levels in a race to confront The False Son. Defeat him and unlock the true power of his soul!
Through her mastery of soul manipulation, Seeker can exact incredible damage on nearby monsters while simultaneously unleashing potent healing to sustain her teammates. This unique combination of brawling and healing defines Seeker as a Survivor. Players who learn to seamlessly flow between these roles will be rewarded with one of the most versatile Survivors to ever grace an escape pod.
Once you reach a sufficiently tranquil state, you can even bring fallen allies back to life! Seeker’s presence can turn the tide of any battle, offering both devastation and salvation in equal measure. Embrace duality and lead your team to victory!
Seeker is instantly unlocked for Seekers of the Storm owners.
Chef has returned! But this isn’t your grandpa’s Chef bot. Years of combat have hard-boiled his soul and perfected his culinary abilities. The long legs of past Chefs have been swapped with a huge roller—perfect for flattening out a nice, tidy pie crust or steamrolling whatever helpless Lemurians were unfortunate enough to wake up this morning.
Those years of primal culinary misadventures have trained Chef to have incredible control over his trusty cleavers. Hurl them at faraway enemies and call them back to slice and dice with twice the pain. Master the art of the cleaver and filet your way to victory.
Players who cook up something truly delicious will unlock Chef! So, get ready to sauté your way through hordes, blend your combat skills with culinary precision, and serve up some justice… à la mode.
Free The False Son from his shackles and wield his immense power! This construct, carved in the image of Providence, was forged with the corruption of a hollow king and the heart of a golden titan, making him a formidable rival even to Providence himself.
The False Son excels as an immovable object. His massive scale, incredible health, and unmatched regeneration make him a particularly resilient Survivor. In close-range encounters, his hulking club can crush foes into submission. However, outside of clubbing range, fights become far more challenging. Strategically use line of sight to draw enemies in or pick them off with carefully thrown Lunar Spikes. Learn to close in on enemies quickly, and you’ll extract the most out of this imposing golem.
Only one player is required to own Seekers of the Storm to enable the expansion for the whole lobby. Players without Seekers of the Storm will be unable to select the new Survivors or permanently unlock new items, logbooks, or other content.

Release date: Aug 27, 2024

Categories: Roguelike, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Collection, Character Customization, Real-time Combat, Boss Rush, Open-World Exploration, Item Management


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- DLC is now a quality expansion (weight 1): The Seekers of the Storm DLC has undergone significant improvements and reworks since its initial problematic launch. Players now find it to be a solid, enjoyable, and worthwhile expansion that lives up to the quality of the base game and previous DLCs, with many considering it a 'must-have' addition.
- Developers listened and fixed issues (weight 0.41): Developers, particularly Gearbox, are highly praised for their commitment to fixing the DLC. They actively listened to community feedback, communicated transparently, and implemented extensive reworks and bug fixes across multiple updates, which has restored player trust and confidence in the development team.
- New survivors are fun and unique (weight 0.21): The three new survivors (characters) introduced in the DLC, along with their alternate abilities and skins, are now widely considered fun, unique, and well-balanced. They offer diverse playstyles and feel like strong, integrated additions to the game's roster.
- Reworked items are fun and impactful (weight 0.15): The items introduced in the DLC have been extensively reworked and rebalanced, transforming them from problematic or useless to engaging, unique, and often powerful additions. They now offer interesting synergies and contribute positively to gameplay variety, making runs more dynamic.
- New maps are visually stunning and fun (weight 0.14): The new maps and stages introduced in the DLC are consistently lauded for their aesthetic appeal, unique designs, and contribution to gameplay variety. They are considered visually stunning and enjoyable to navigate, enhancing the overall experience of runs.
- False Son character and boss improved (weight 0.14): The False Son character, both as a playable survivor and a boss, is highly praised. As a survivor, False Son offers a unique tanky playstyle that makes typically underused health-stacking items viable. The boss fight has also been significantly improved, becoming a challenging yet enjoyable encounter.
- Seeker character is strong and versatile (weight 0.1): The Seeker character is a standout addition, offering a unique and versatile playstyle that blends support, damage, and survivability. Players find her highly enjoyable, especially in multiplayer, and many consider her one of the strongest survivors in the game.
- CHEF character is now excellent (weight 0.09): The fan-favorite character, CHEF, has received significant reworks and buffs, making him a highly enjoyable and viable survivor. Players now find his gameplay satisfying, with many considering him one of the most fun and powerful characters in the game.
- Final boss fight is challenging and fun (weight 0.07): The new final boss fight has been significantly improved through reworks, making it a challenging, fair, and highly enjoyable encounter. Its thematic elements, mechanics, and overall design are praised, with many considering it one of the best boss fights in the game.
- Soundtrack is impeccable (weight 0.04): The DLC's soundtrack is consistently praised as impeccable, amazing, and a highlight of the game. Many reviewers consider it among the best work by Chris Christodoulou and a strong reason to purchase the DLC.

Common complaints:
- Disastrous and Buggy Launch (weight 0.66): The DLC and its accompanying base game update suffered from an extremely problematic launch, characterized by numerous game-breaking bugs, poor balance, and an overall unfinished state. This significantly impacted player experience, even for those who didn't purchase the DLC, and led to widespread community dissatisfaction.
- Lack of Content and Value (weight 0.54): Many players felt the DLC offered insufficient new content, especially when compared to the previous 'Survivors of the Void' DLC. This included a lack of new items, enemies, and stages, leading to a perception of poor value for its price.
- Unsatisfying False Son Boss Fight (weight 0.24): The new final boss, False Son, is widely criticized for being an unpolished, unfair, and uninteresting fight. Issues include poorly telegraphed attacks, ability-disabling mechanics, high damage, and a lack of engaging design compared to other bosses.
- Mediocre and Unbalanced Items (weight 0.15): The new items introduced in the DLC are largely seen as underwhelming, uninteresting, or poorly balanced. Many are considered either useless, overly situational, or contribute to item pool bloat, making runs less enjoyable.
- Clunky and Weak Chef Character (weight 0.09): The Chef character is consistently criticized for being clunky, weak, and generally unenjoyable to play. Despite reworks, players feel his kit lacks synergy, has poor animations, and is not viable on higher difficulties.
- Unpolished New Survivors (weight 0.09): The new survivors (including Seeker and False Son as playable characters) are perceived as either overpowered, clunky, or uninspired. Many feel they lack the polish and unique identity of existing characters, with some abilities being too strong or poorly designed.
- Frustrating New Enemies and Elites (weight 0.07): New enemy types, particularly Scorch Worms and Gilded/Twisted elites, are frequently described as annoying, overly tanky, or unfair. Their mechanics and high damage often lead to frustrating encounters rather than engaging challenges.
- Distrust in Gearbox's Management (weight 0.06): There is significant community distrust and negative sentiment towards Gearbox, the publisher, stemming from the DLC's disastrous launch. Players believe Gearbox rushed the release, failed to adequately playtest, and demonstrated a lack of understanding for the game's core design.

Gameplay feedback:
- Rich New Content Expansion (weight 0.17): The DLC significantly expands the game with a wealth of new content, including three unique and fun playable characters, new items, stages, and a challenging boss. This content is well-integrated and offers fresh gameplay experiences.
- False Son Character & Boss (weight 0.13): The False Son character and boss fight are central to the DLC, offering a unique and challenging experience. While initially having some jankiness and balance issues, reworks have improved the boss fight's fairness and the playable character's mechanics, making it a more enjoyable and intriguing addition.
- Improved Item Balance & Variety (weight 0.05): The new items have undergone significant reworks since release, addressing initial issues of being useless, confusing, or overly niche. While some items are still considered unbalanced (either too strong or too weak), many now offer interesting synergies and add variety to builds.
- Visually Appealing New Stages (weight 0.05): The new stages introduced in the DLC are generally praised for their beautiful aesthetics and unique layouts, adding much-needed variety to the game's environments. However, some players find certain stages too large or not fitting organically into the looping structure.
- Seeker's Strong Support Utility (weight 0.04): Seeker is a strong support character, particularly effective in multiplayer due to abilities like revive and healing. While some players find Seeker's utility overloaded or damage unsatisfying in solo play, alternate abilities offer versatility and can make them very strong.
- Chef Character Rework Success (weight 0.04): The Chef character, initially considered weak and unplayable, has received substantial reworks. These changes have transformed Chef into a fun, combo-oriented survivor, making them one of the most enjoyable characters for many players.
- DLC Compared to SotV (weight 0.02): Comparisons are drawn between the current DLC and 'Survivors of the Void' (SotV), noting differences in item mechanics (e.g., Void Items), character power, and the number of stages and enemies introduced in each expansion.
- Varied New Enemies & Elites (weight 0.01): The DLC introduces new enemies and elite types, which generally add variety to encounters. While some players find them slightly annoying or initially overtuned, they are considered a good addition to the overall enemy pool.
- New Character Skins (weight 0.01): The DLC includes new skins for all existing characters, with many being full reskins rather than simple recolors. These skins are generally well-received, adding visual customization options for players.
- Challenging Alternate Path (weight 0.01): The 'Path of the Colossus' offers an alternative, more challenging route within the game. This path leads to the Aurelionite boss and provides additional environments, serving as a distinct optional challenge.

Performance notes:
- Significant bug and performance fixes (weight 0.06): Players report that many critical bugs and performance issues, including frame rate-dependent gameplay mechanics, frequent crashes, and various glitches, have been largely addressed through recent patches. While some minor issues may persist, the game is now considered much more stable and playable.
- Netcode requires improvement (weight 0): A specific concern raised by players is the need for improvements to the game's netcode. This suggests that online multiplayer stability or synchronization may still be an area requiring attention.
- Sound engine issues with enemy spawns (weight 0): There is an intermittent issue where enemy spawn noises sometimes fail to play due to a problem with the sound engine. This can affect player awareness during gameplay.
- Halcyonites hitbox fixed (weight 0): A specific bug related to Halcyonites' hitboxes has been resolved. This indicates a targeted fix for a particular gameplay element.

Recommendations:
- DLC is now highly recommended (weight 0.47): After numerous patches and updates, the Seekers of the Storm DLC is now widely recommended by players. Many believe it offers significant value, especially for fans of the base game and those seeking more content. While some suggest waiting for a sale, the general consensus is that the DLC is worth its price in its current state.
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.37): While the DLC is now generally recommended, a significant portion of the player base still advises waiting for a sale. This is often due to the initial rocky launch or a perception that the full price might still be a bit high for the content offered, despite the improvements.
- Mixed feelings on future DLCs (weight 0.07): Players express a mix of hope and caution regarding future DLCs and Gearbox's involvement. Many hope that the lessons learned from Seekers of the Storm's problematic launch will lead to smoother releases for upcoming content like Alloyed Collective, with some still skeptical about Gearbox's long-term handling of the franchise.
- Survivors of the Void is preferred (weight 0.04): Despite the improvements to Seekers of the Storm, many players still recommend purchasing the Survivors of the Void DLC first. It is often cited as offering better overall value and more content, making it the preferred initial expansion for new players or those buying only one DLC.
- Best for existing fans (weight 0.01): The DLC is primarily recommended for existing fans of Risk of Rain 2 who are looking to expand their experience. New players are advised to first get acquainted with the base game and its mechanics before diving into this expansion.

Other player notes:
- DLC had a rough launch, now improved (weight 0.19): The DLC had a notoriously problematic launch, characterized by bugs, imbalances, and a general lack of polish. However, subsequent updates have significantly improved its state, leading to cautious optimism and excitement for the upcoming 'Alloyed Collective' DLC and future content, with players hoping for a smoother release next time.
- Gearbox's role in DLC's troubled launch and redemption (weight 0.1): Gearbox, as the new IP owner, faced significant criticism for the DLC's initial poor state, with many attributing the issues to rushed development and corporate pressure. However, the development team, under Gearbox, is praised for acknowledging mistakes, actively engaging with the community, and dedicating substantial effort and resources to fix the DLC, rebuilding some trust.
- Risk of Rain 2's high regard, but technical concerns (weight 0.03): Risk of Rain 2 is highly regarded by players, often cited as a favorite roguelite or even overall game. However, concerns exist regarding the game's technical infrastructure, specifically the lack of dedicated servers and anti-cheat measures.
- Strong fan base and lore appreciation (weight 0.01): The game has a dedicated fanbase, with many players accumulating hundreds of hours and appreciating the lore. This indicates a strong core appeal that keeps players engaged despite past issues.
- Mixed reception for 'Chef' character (weight 0.01): Initial feedback on the 'Chef' character was mixed, with some finding it difficult or 'horrible' to play, while others found it amusing. This suggests a polarizing or challenging gameplay experience for the new character.
- False Son character needs improvements (weight 0.01): The 'False Son' boss and playable character are noted as potentially ignorable in runs, and there's a specific request for a bug fix and an increase in the vertical hitbox of its leap slam ability, indicating a desire for gameplay improvements for this character.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.39): Players are highly satisfied with the significant improvements and fixes made to the DLC and the base game. This includes bug resolutions, rebalancing of items and characters (like Chef), and the addition of quality content such as new survivors, stages, and boss fights. The developers' responsiveness to community feedback and their commitment to refining the game post-launch have largely contributed to this positive sentiment, making the DLC feel polished, worthwhile, and a great addition to the game.
- Disappointment (weight 0.16): The primary cause of disappointment stems from the DLC's initial launch state, which was widely described as buggy, unfinished, and poorly balanced. Players felt there was a lack of unique content, rehashed items, and underwhelming bosses, leading to a poor value for money. The time it took for the developers to fix these issues also contributed to the initial negative perception, with some feeling the content should have been released in a polished state from the start.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Excitement is driven by the game's current fun state, the quality of new additions (characters, items, maps, boss fights), and the anticipation for future DLCs. Players are thrilled by the game's 'comeback' and the developers' demonstrated care for the IP, which has rekindled their love for the game and its potential for new content and experiences.
- Frustration (weight 0.06): Frustration largely originated from the DLC's disastrous launch, characterized by game-breaking bugs, multiplayer issues, and poor balance. Specific enemies (like Scorch Worms) and boss mechanics (False Son) were also sources of annoyance. The long wait for fixes and the initial unplayable state of the game contributed to a sense of exasperation among players.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Players find enjoyment in the fun and balanced content, particularly the new survivors, maps, and boss fights. The reworked items and alternate abilities offer interesting new ways to play, contributing to a highly repeatable and engaging gameplay experience. The overall improvement of the DLC and its integration with the base game have made it a genuinely fun addition.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Appreciation is directed towards the developers' dedication, hard work, and responsiveness in fixing the DLC. Players value the team's commitment to quality, their willingness to listen to community feedback, and their persistence in refining the game post-launch. The improved state of the DLC and the developers' transparency have earned them significant gratitude from the player base.
- Hope (weight 0.04): Hope is primarily focused on the future of the game, particularly for upcoming DLCs to launch in a polished and complete state. Players are optimistic that developers have learned from past mistakes and will continue to deliver high-quality content, maintaining consistent updates and transparency. There's also hope for the game's overall review score to improve as more players recognize the fixes.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is experienced by players who find the game fun again after the extensive fixes and reworks. The inclusion of new, enjoyable characters, well-designed maps, and engaging boss fights, along with the overall improved quality of the DLC, has brought back the core fun experience of the game. Players are particularly happy with the 'glowup' of the DLC and its current playable state.
- Relief (weight 0.03): Relief stems from the game's issues being fixed, particularly the absence of game-breaking bugs, crashes, and save file corruptions that plagued the initial launch. Players are relieved that the developers pulled through and salvaged the DLC, transforming it from a 'mess' into a playable and enjoyable experience. This relief is often tied to the developers delivering on their promises to fix the game.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Gratitude is expressed towards the developers (especially Gearbox) for their commitment to fixing the DLC and not abandoning the game. Players appreciate the team's efforts in listening to community feedback, redoing content, and ultimately improving the game's quality. This sentiment highlights the developers' dedication to the game's legacy and their responsiveness to player concerns.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is primarily directed at the DLC's initial, 'disgusting' launch state, which was characterized by severe bugs, save data loss, and poor game design. Players also express anger towards perceived corporate greed leading to a rushed release and the overall poor quality of the DLC at that time. Specific frustrating enemies or boss mechanics also contribute to this anger.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is shown for the development team's efforts, commitment, and skill in turning the DLC around from its initial poor state. Players admire the quality of new characters, stages, and the final boss, as well as the aesthetic design and soundtrack. The developers' responsiveness to feedback and their passion for the game have earned them significant respect.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game and the DLC, particularly after the reworks and fixes. This emotion is tied to enjoying new character additions (like Seeker and False Son), engaging routes, and items. The developers' visible 'love for the game' and their efforts to improve it have resonated with players, reinforcing their affection for the title.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Concern revolves around potential future issues, particularly regarding the balance of certain characters and items, and the quality of future DLC releases. Players worry about the possibility of rushed launches or the game being overloaded by new content. Initial concerns about the publisher's influence also linger, despite recent improvements.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is felt by players who can now recommend the DLC and enjoy its improved state. This includes satisfaction with the developers listening to the community, the overhauled content, and the fun experience of playing with friends and new characters. Being proven wrong about the DLC's initial poor quality also contributes to this positive feeling.
- Confidence (weight 0.01): Confidence is expressed in the DLC's current quality and the development team's commitment to maintaining the game's reputation. Players feel confident in recommending the DLC as a good purchase, believing in its value and the developers' ability to deliver quality content. The absence of game-breaking bugs further solidifies this confidence.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are pleasantly surprised by the significant improvements and the 'comeback' of the DLC from its disastrous launch. Many did not expect the developers to successfully turn the game around, making the current quality a genuine and positive shock. The developers owning up to their mistakes and actively fixing the DLC contributed to this surprise.
- Caution (weight 0.01): Caution stems from the DLC's rough launch experience, leading players to be wary of future DLC purchases and potential recurring issues. There's a desire for future releases to be thoroughly tested and polished, with concerns that past problems might repeat if developers become complacent. This caution influences decisions regarding future content from the publisher.
- Optimism (weight 0): Optimism is focused on the future of the game, particularly the next DLC. Players are hopeful that developers have learned from past mistakes and will continue to deliver high-quality content, launching future expansions in a polished state. The commitment shown by the development team fuels this positive outlook for the game's future.
- Acceptance (weight 0): Acceptance reflects a recognition that while some minor bugs or flaws may still exist, the DLC is now in a 'fine' and playable state. Players accept the current quality standard, acknowledging that the major issues have been mended, even if perfection hasn't been fully achieved. This indicates a pragmatic view of the DLC's improved but not flawless state.}