Out of all the genres a game can be built around, none speaks to me quite like post-apocalypse. Of course, I love fantasy, sci-fi, and many others — but it’s the act of wandering through fallen worlds and experiencing the stories born from their collapse that gives me the most joy.
So it’s no surprise that when I first heard about the great return of the Wasteland series, my curiosity was instantly sparked.
I read countless articles about Brian Fargo — one of the creators of the original Fallout games and the first Wasteland — and I already knew this project would be at least good. The crowdfunding campaign succeeded quickly, and his small studio, inXile, was given a chance to carve its name into the history of the genre.
Long story short… they nailed it.
Pros:
✅ The game feels perfectly crafted — built from a series of elements that fit together flawlessly, all executed with astonishing care and attention to detail.
✅ I’ve never felt such a strong sense of world openness in any other game. Yes, there is a main story divided into two acts and a narrative thread to follow — but it is OUR journey. The decisions are ours alone. We choose where to go and when.
✅ The story isn’t overly complex and is built around a simple mystery — yet it works exceptionally well. It pulls you in, surprises you, and fits seamlessly with both the world and the series’ lore. Narrative perfection. Every location offers memorable experiences and adventures that stay with you long after you leave them.
✅ The characters are flawless — fantastic, diverse, interesting, and full of color. From companions, through antagonists, to regular NPCs. The sheer number of unique and original factions — unlike anything seen in other games — is staggering. A constant mix of fascination and dread about who you might encounter next accompanies you throughout the entire journey.
✅ From a gameplay perspective, this is hands down the most enjoyable game I’ve ever played. A turn-based, squad-based shooter that, despite simple rules, offers enormous depth thanks to unique abilities and well-designed equipment categories. Add to that a subtle, well-balanced luck and randomness system, and you get the most engaging gameplay experience I’ve ever had.
✅ Character creation is pure pleasure. You can upload portraits (plenty available online), write a backstory (which may not affect much mechanically, but is perfect for role-playing), choose talents, quirks, flaws — and even pick your character’s favorite cigarettes. Come on… is there a more immersive game than this? I don’t know one.
✅ Visually and audibly, the game is out of this world. The environments are beautiful, distinctive, and perfectly designed for both combat and exploration. The music is absurdly good — the way it builds and reinforces the atmosphere while remaining utterly unique is simply unmatched.
✅ The choice system deserves its own essay. This is one of those rare games where you can truly do anything. There are always multiple ways to avoid, talk through, persuade, bribe, or simply kill your opponents. The endings are relatively similar, but the final area brilliantly reflects your decisions throughout the game, making the replay value absolutely massive. I finished the game six times, and never once felt bored.
✅ Hidden mechanics and storylines are more immersive than anything I had experienced before. Believe it or not — during one playthrough, I permanently lost a Ranger I created because he got sick… and died. I had no save from before the illness, so he was gone forever. If that’s not immersion, I don’t know what is.
✅ Difficulty levels are perfectly tuned. Higher difficulties are genuinely more challenging, and the game offers New Game Plus with characters you’ve already finished the game with. Yes — my fifth playthrough was done on the highest difficulty using four veteran Rangers, each from a different previous run. Absolute masterpiece.
✅ The humor and hidden details are perfectly dark — exactly my taste. Even if it won’t click with everyone, I still believe most players will appreciate it.
Cons:
❌ The Director’s Cut is clearly superior to the original release — I just wish it had arrived sooner. By the time it launched, I had already finished the game five times, so I only experienced the improved version once. The game is fantastic, but nobody wants to repeat the exact same journey endlessly… well, almost nobody..
❌ Either I was misled, or I did something wrong. Early in the game, you learn about a squad tasked with hunting down Rangers who oppose General Vargas. For fun, I deliberately made the worst possible moral choices toward innocent wastelanders, becoming a full renegade Desert Ranger. And yet… the execution squad never came after me. Bug? Or did I miss something? I genuinely don’t know.
I won’t beat around the bush — Wasteland 2 is my favorite game of all time.
It is perfectly tailored to my tastes. It gave me countless hours of enjoyment without a single moment of boredom. Interestingly enough, it’s also the last game I ever bought in a physical box, and honestly — the manual and extras were fantastic. Had I known how much I would love this game, I would’ve gone for the collector’s edition without hesitation.
I absolutely recommend it to everyone.
In my opinion, everyone will find something here for themselves.
