The SteamWorld series has made quite a name for itself in recent memory. The franchise has no set genre, so you can play a platformer, deck-builder, RTS, or even a building sim. I have some experience with Dig and Heist back in college and having a great time. The series is known for its vibrant steampunk world and characters. No matter the game, endless charm awaits you in the SteamWorld universe, and that’s no different for the latest title: SteamWorld Heist II.
SteamWorld Heist II is a turn-based strategy action game developed by Thunderful. This sequel swaps the space setting of the first game for a pirate adventure at sea. Set sail with Captain Leeway and crew as you uncover secrets plaguing this world. Deep crew customization, naval battles, and strategy await you here. Get ready to sink or swim in this journey of friendship, regret, and legacy.
A Pirate’s Life for Me in SteamWorld Heist II
SteamWorld Heist II follows Captain Leeway, a novice who is following in the footsteps of his famous mother. Your first mission is to reclaim your submarine from the Navy, which has commandeered it. From there, you set off to help others in need and discover what’s happening to the world’s water. Something is causing it to corrode and rust bots, so you must get to the bottom. All while combating the Navy, which has long stopped helping others and only helps themselves.
The highlight of the game is your crew. As you play the game, more bots join you, filling up the submarine. At the heart of that is Captain Leeway, someone just trying to live up to their mother’s legacy. Leeway’s mother is a hero to all on the sea. She helped anyone in need and even led a crew that destroyed the Kraken, which threatened to end them all. He has big shoes to fill and hasn’t come close to any of his mother’s accomplishments. Leeway gets thrown into the plan to save the world because many assume he is like his mother. You get moments of self-reflection from Leeway that give a lot of heart to the game. All he has is his crew, and that’s all he needs.
Command Your Crew
As much as I like Captain Leeway, you don’t play as him often. Most of your time is spent on missions he doesn’t go on. He stays behind but gives commands, so he’s kind of there. Each mission has a primary objective, a bonus one, and you get stars based on performance and loot. When you finish a mission, you’ll also get bounty points that can be turned in for different loot at the end of the day. Depending on the type, 1 to 5 party members can go on a mission. After you finish a mission, your party members get tired and can’t be used anymore. When you’re out of ready party members, you must rest for the day before you can go on more.
No matter the objective, each mission is played the same. You enter a turn-based battle and get two action points each turn. Before each mission, you’ll equip your party with the weapon and gear you see fit. The weapon decides what job each party member has, with five jobs available for all members. Each party member will have one weapon that can aim. Strategy becomes critical as you find the right spot for certain party members to be. Bullets can also ricochet off walls, so be careful because you can and will miss them. No move is based on percentages, so you must be careful with placement and aiming. One wrong move can get you scrapped, but don’t worry about failure, as it’s part of the journey.
If you are stuck on a mission, don’t be afraid to load a checkpoint or leave it. There is no penalty for restarting a mission, so if you want to change something, go ahead. Party synergy is key so don’t be afraid to leave a mission to change it. The job system encourages customization, so don’t be scared to try different weapons. Each job has a max level of five, and the learned moves can be transferred. If you change jobs, you can still equip moves from others, so level up as much as possible. I often used moves from the sniper, brawler, and bomber jobs. Finding what works for you won’t take long, but be careful so you don’t sink.
Come Sail Away
You’ll sail the world in your submarine when you’re not doing missions. You’ll need to traverse different obstacles while enemies try to sink you. You can upgrade your submarine to deal with these as you engage in naval battles. Unlike the missions, you can free-roam and shoot attacks on a timer. Be careful because if you sink, the day will end, and you’ll lose all bounty points you’ve gotten that day. You’ll find different places to dock your submarine while traveling. You must end the day at an inn, but you’ll find shops and spots with treasure to loot. Redeem your mission bounty points for many items when you end the day. You can trade them for upgrade points, gear, or water, your currency.
You’ll be spending a lot of time in the submarine as well. As the crew expands, you’ll also be upgrading the submarine. You also use different rooms in the submarine to upgrade your party and abilities as well. The crew is also talkative, so prepare to learn more about them while walking around the submarine. As much an extension of Leeway as it is a base of operations, fully upgrading the submarine feels very rewarding as you know it’s what Leeway wants to do.
The world is also brimming with charm and characters. Your crew and Leeway are the heart of the game, but each environment and NPC also has love. Unlocking a new location means being greeted with a new cast of charming bots. The visual style on display is adorable, and I found myself talking to every NPC I could. A pirate’s life is very appealing when it’s this charming.
The Sun Sets
SteamWorld Heist II is a very charming game. The characters are full of heart, and at the center, Captain Leeway is someone I can’t help but root for. The combat system is very accessible and can be pretty deep. The game offers a healthy amount of customization and encourages it as well. There is no penalty for losing or restarting, so try every combination you want. Sail through this charming world and fill the big shoes of your mother. An experience all can enjoy and tailor to their specific playstyle. One thing I think all can agree on is rooting for our Captain Leeway.
SteamWorld Heist II releases on August 8 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: Thunderful provided a PC (Steam) copy of SteamWorld Heist II for review purposes.
