Minecraft Dungeons II: Xbox Series X Review

Developed by Double Fine and Mojang Studios
Published by Xbox Game Studios
Platform: Xbox Series X

It was back in July 2020 that Minecraft was given a Gauntlet-style makeover with a dungeon brawler that captured those who'd never played the Mojang mega hit and longed for some way into this world so beloved by many.

It's taken nearly six years for a sequel to emerge and to say it's been worth the wait is quite the understatement.

In the sequel, the Overworld has been at peace since the Arch-illager was defeated. But as ever, peace is somewhat fleeting in this world and a council of three Illagers have discovered a new portal to a soul-charged dimension known as the Sift and are using it for their own nefarious reasons.

As they meddle further, they unleash a series of corrupted creatures and rifts throughout the Overworld and it's upto you to take on the danger and survive the threats that are ahead.

Mojang Studios and Double Fine have crafted a much deeper and expansive experience this time around with both a depth of story and a map that's massive and opens up the further into the story you get. At its heart though, Minecraft Dungeons II takes everything that worked about the first game (Minecraft crafting, combat, blocky graphics) and ups it to 11, creating an experience that feels like it'll sap hours of your time before you've even realised.

Creating the first new Minecraft dimension in 15 years was a challenge for the studios, but they've carried it off with aplomb. It's not just combat that feels chunkier, but the level of personalisation as well.

With the options to equip gear on every part of your body, the inventory opens itself up to masses of gear that is scattered all over the Overworld. Initially it appears that there are too many red chests strewn around the world, giving you the chance to snag gems and new gear. But given how many different parts of you need clothing and equipping, it soon becomes clear that this is a minor gripe.

Combat has also had a bit of an overhaul too. With the chance to perform jump attacks, and more mobs that spawn in a seemingly never-ending array of ambushes, there's a need to be a little smarter with the fighting, rather than simply mashing buttons and hoping for the best. Enemies are more deadly than before and even though there are more weapon choices, there'll be bosses who can't be defeated until the game's allowed you to level up.

In terms of the map, it's much bigger than before and is packed with side quests throughout. But while there are plenty of side quests, most of them can be finished fairly quickly (around 10 minutes of combat and exploration) and bring some rewards. They're fruitful distractions which help to deepen the lore and enhance the world around your character. (And there are nice nods to the Minecraft world with some cliffs yielding homes to just chill in and look at.)

The dungeons are plentiful and offer challenges with various creatures to dispatch. This time around, it feels like the boss fights are harder and the skill levels are quick to traverse. Graphically the game's improved in some areas, with environments standing out a little more and explosions from the likes of TNT offering a chunkier explosion and after effect.

Fast travel also shows off the scope of a map that's more interconnected than its predecessor and one which gives a chance for endless replay. Whereas Minecraft Dungeons was a series of levels, Minecraft Dungeons II feels more like a wider world and it's a welcome touch for those looking to spend time in this game.

The entrance to the Sift dimension itself is nicely done, a kind of oily graphic that glows in the middle of a level, offering you a chance to explore a new world and a new set of combat opportunities. Visually, as opposed to the Overworld's lush greens and foliage, this is a world filled with stark colours and almost garish creations and critters. It's a vibrant contrast and one which feels like Mojang Studios have worked for a while to ensure the difference is obvious.

Crucially once again, Minecraft Dungeons II doesn't become so entrenched to the original game that it is not approachable for non-fans. You don't need to know your Illagers from your Zombies to be part of it. And along with an online team up and the chance to expand the leads out, the game really does owe a massive debt to Gauntlet.

Whether it's tackling soul-corrupted spiders or Evokers or spending time working out which gear is best to equip before a battle, Minecraft Dungeons II once again shows the blocky world is well worth exploring and with the depth and love that's been sunk in here, it'll be a long time before all of the game's secrets and thrills have been explored by gamers.