The Evil Within 2 represents one of the starkest and most astounding turnarounds from a debut title to its sequel that I’ve ever witnessed. It’s a brilliant horror game, one that understands when to ratchet up tension and when to pull back and let you collect yourself. If the first game was a failed attempt to capture the spirit of Shinji Mikami’s classic Resident Evil 4, the sequel is a successful attempt at something much better: finding a chilling, exhilarating voice of its own.

Don’t let minor transgressions get in the way of the stronger praise, here, as The Evil Within 2 answers criticisms of the first game with a resplendent title worthy of your time. From the moment you set foot in the unnerving, unsettling city of Union, you are in for a hellacious hailstorm of demonic doom.

The Evil Within 2 is an excellent game and a wonderful survival horror, perfectly mixing Silent Hill and Resident Evil 4 while correcting all the flaws of the original. The story’s better, the locations flow together well, the more open areas are fun to explore, and the ability to choose between action and stealth is very welcome. It’s also incredibly creepy with truly wonderful monster designs. The combat can be a little frustrating, especially early on, and occasionally the stiff Resident Evil 4/Gears of War-esque controls make things a little tougher than they need to be, but in general The Evil Within 2 hits the mark. If you’re looking for that ideal horror game to play on Halloween, this is the one to go for.

The Evil Within 2 improves on the sequel in every way, while retaining the core of what made the first one special. Better gameplay, better story, and more options make this an all around excellent survival horror experience.

Excellently playable survival horror that skillfully combines its fascinating (linear) plot with an open world.

The Evil Within 2 consciously focuses on the entertainment factor, leaving behind the heavy gothic dread of it’s predecessor. The resulting game is a surprisingly addictive horror fan playground, expertly expanding on every single mechanic encountered in the first game and providing a thrilling “haunted house” ride for genre fans.

The Evil Within 2 improves on its predecessor, with great TPS combat, solid stealth mechanics and better crafting and exploring zones. And, more importantly, the game answers all the questions from first game.

The Evil Within 2 get so much right that it's predecessor got wrong, and it's actually a great game on top of that. The initial chapters of the game start off slow, but then once things get rolling, this game is really hard to put down.

The Evil Within 2 is a sequel that hooks the player from the first minute. Even though the AI has some issues and some basic enemies, the gameplay quality, its amazing visual style and a great story make this game one of the best horror experiences of this era.

I did not want to stop playing, because even if the story of The Evil Within 2 was a bit confused, I wanted to experience the end anyway. And it's worth it, believe me.

In time you’ll get a whole network of professionals ranging from a demolitions expert to a hacker, with Sebastian as the leader and the designated point man. Yes, now you’re a predator, not prey. [Issue#224, p.30]

The Evil Within 2 succeeds by adding good content above and beyond the first game.

Mikami’s new game may not compare to the horrific Resident Evil 7, but it doesn’t have to either. The Evil Within 2 is a memorable and compelling game all on its own, and one that deserves to be played by horror fans and action game fans alike. The frustrations of the first game (which have been documented by others) are non-existent here and instead, this sequel outshines its predecessor in almost every aspect. Next time, just give us a bit better story and dialog, and a more interesting protagonist.

The Evil Within 2 is entirely its own horror experience - part open-world survival game, part psychological horror. It is a bold, bloody evolution of the survival horror genre. Moreover, like its centipedal monstrosities, this is a game that excels at defying expectations. Scenery, gameplay, and pacing shift gears constantly, keeping me guessing nearly every minute of the 20 hours it took to reach the end of its story.

Innovating within the bounds of horror's familiar tropes and rules is a difficult task, but one that The Evil Within 2 handles with grace. Developer Tango Gameworks cleverly introduces old-school horror design within the confines of a semi-open world that ultimately makes for a refreshing trip into a world of nightmares.

They saying is that the third time is the charm, but for Tango Gameworks they seemed to have gotten it right on round 2. The Evil Within 2 rises far above its predecessor, drenched in blood and laughing in a twisted madness. It’s still far from the perfect horror game, but for those looking for a blend of stealth, action, and scares this is probably the best option with Halloween just around the corner.

An intense and thrilling psychological survival horror sequel that improves on its forerunner in almost every way.

While in the open world there is hardly any horror atmosphere, let alone tension or suspense, in the linear levels of the second half the story comes to life - and so does the horror that you miss in the beginning.

The Evil Within 2 is a grand follow up from a studio who has set out to fix the pacing issues with the first game, while offering a bigger, more coherent title that looks better and plays better with the reworked stealth and upgrade mechanics, but without forgetting the parts that made most of the original a solid action horror title. The Evil Within 2 throws players into its disturbing, more personal world for Sebastian, offering some great horror scenarios and thrilling, tense action to back up its amazing monster and environment design. Even though this year has been amazing for games, it’s not been the most active for action horror fans, making The Evil Within 2 highly recommended for people who enjoy throwing themselves into disturbing adventures to get their thrills.

This time devs cleaned up their act. The Evil Within 2 fights with immortals in a richer, better-designed and well-crafted action. It is not just a thoughtless brutality, as it may seem. Good ideas are rewarded by a pleasantly long game time.

The Evil Within 2 is definitively better than the original. An already great horror game has been refined and expanded, offering just the right balance between overwhelming oppressiveness and a satisfying fight for survival. It’s another love letter to fans of Resident Evil 4.

Tense, terrifying, and a significant improvement on its predecessor, The Evil Within 2 capitalises on the potential the franchise clearly shows.

If you’re a horror buff, you’ll likely be disappointed because there aren’t that many unique monsters in the game. It’s not even scary, to be honest; most of the tension and fear comes from the lack of ammo. All in all, it’s not a bad game, but it’s not a great game either. You’ll probably have fun shooting the zombies and checking out the occasionally cool surreal locales, but that’s it.

Fans of Silent Hill and Resident Evil should definitely try The Evil Within 2. Even with all its annoying flaws, the sequel is better than the original game. Slowly but surely, Tango Gameworks is working its way towards a perfect formula for a modern horror game.

A definite step above the original but still not without its problems. [Issue#268, p.60]

The Evil Within 2 is a worthy sequel that makes a number of bold decisions. For those solely looking for the survival horror thrills of the first game, its spotlight upon combat will likely be a disappointment, as will its introduction of a dull open world. However, there's plenty tucked away in The Evil Within 2 that will both appeal to both fans of the original and new players, with it presenting a mix of Mikami's best ideas and John Johanas' new direction. It's certainly not what I was expecting, but in a good way.

In a lot of ways, it’s a game made for a specific audience. I’m part of that audience, and while there’s a bunch of stuff I wish was different, or better tuned, or more coherent (and maybe was a few chapters shorter, as the real climax of the game takes place a little way before the end) I had a bloody good time. It’s not for everyone – certainly not for those expecting a deep horror experience – but it scratches my Resident Evil 4 itch in a stylish and pleasing way.

The Evil Within 2 is a better game than the original. While I feel that no part of the game close to the excellent opening moments of the chainsaw man chase that opened the first game, the sum of those parts makes for a better overall experience. That said, I did not really fancy any of it. My aforementioned gripes and PC port issues leave me feeling indifferent towards the scattered high points. In classic horror fashion, the game ends with a hint towards another sequel. Hopefully it will try breaking new ground in gameplay systems and offer a more compelling story.