Is Risk of Rain 2 free?

No, Risk of Rain 2 is a paid game, not free-to-play.

What platforms is Risk of Rain 2 on?

Risk of Rain 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Is Risk of Rain 2 on Nintendo Switch?

Yes, Risk of Rain 2 is available on Nintendo Switch.

Risk of Rain 2

12Full Release

What this is

A randomized survival shooter where item combinations reshape each run.

What you actually do

You shoot through randomized stages, collect and combine items, unlock new loot, and search for ways forward while fighting increasingly dangerous enemies. Each run rewards experimentation, but time pressure and escalating difficulty punish slow exploration or uneven team play.

Verdict

Item Synergies Under Pressure

Risk of Rain 2 turns frantic shooting and randomized loot into a compelling loop where every run can produce a wildly different build. Its main drawbacks are opaque systems, punishing difficulty, and recurring multiplayer concerns.

User reviews first

Steam recent first

Is it for you?

What shines

Deep item and build synergies
Distinct playable characters
Highly replayable randomized runs
Fluid, satisfying shooting
Excellent soundtrack
Strong one-more-run appeal

What to know

Unreliable multiplayer connections
Weak onboarding and tooltips
Item effects poorly explained
Difficulty escalates during exploration
Runs can feel repetitive
Occasional crashes lose run progress

Quick facts

Genre

Action RoguelikeLooter Shooter

View

Third person

Solo

Co-op

up to 4

PvP

optional

Length

Endless

Entry

Can start here

Pricing

Paid

MTX

Account required

Active Support

Crossplay

+Best if

You enjoy turning ordinary loot into absurdly powerful combinations while adapting to each run.

!Skip it if

The steep learning curve and escalating difficulty will frustrate you if you want clear progression or low-pressure combat.

Developer

Hopoo Games

Publisher

Gearbox Publishing

Release

Aug 11, 2020

Game DNA

Rhythm

Fast pace

Depth

Some depth

Mood

IntenseChallengingSocial

Look & sound

Great Soundtrack

Also tagged

LootSurvivalBullet Hell

topic

Your role and how it develops

Your role

You control a survivor, fight through hostile environments, choose routes, gather items, and shape a build capable of handling escalating threats.

Learning and mastery

The basics are immediate, but item effects, routes, and build decisions take time to understand.

Replay and variation

Very high, driven by randomized runs, build combinations, unlocks, and cooperative experimentation.

Systems you interact with

What you actually engage with

Third-person shooting

Aim, move, and use character abilities during fast encounters.

Randomized runs

Navigate changing stages, enemies, items, and encounters each time.

Item builds

Combine loot effects to create increasingly specialized or chaotic synergies.

Character abilities

Choose distinct survivors with different combat roles and play patterns.

Unlocks and secrets

Discover additional characters, items, and hidden objectives across repeated runs.

Cooperative play

Coordinate with teammates while sharing the pressure and rewards of a run.

Difficulty settings

Adjust the challenge to make the escalating survival loop more approachable.

topic

Time investment

How long it takes

HowLongToBeat

Invested time

engaged players

40h

Session fit

What the time commitment feels like

When it clicks

The shooting feels immediate, while the broader item system takes several runs to become legible.

Session constraints

Deaths erase the current run, and escalating difficulty can make exploration feel rushed.

Best session rhythm

Runs support both short bursts and longer focused sessions, with a natural one-more-run pull.

DLC timing

Additional content is best considered after the base run, and-build loop has clicked.

topic

Review interpretation

Current mood

Recent players are upbeat about the addictive runs, build-making, music, and visual style.

Why it works

Stacking items into wild builds, fast combat, secrets, and replayable runs create a compelling loop that works solo or especially with friends.

Critic gap

Players and critics agree on the satisfying core loop, but player feedback more clearly flags expansion-related frustration and multiplayer performance concerns than critic coverage does.

What players value

Build variety and item stacking

high

Players enjoy stacking items into increasingly powerful and chaotic builds.

Co-op with friends

high

Players repeatedly describe the game as especially fun with friends while still enjoying solo play.

Music and visual style

medium

Players praise the soundtrack, colorful presentation, and distinctive cel-shaded look.

Replayability and ongoing discovery

medium

Players value the addictive rhythm and the ability to keep exploring different runs and builds.

Evidence-backed risks

Expansion and update quality concerns

highreviews

Some recent and overall players say later expansions or updates made the experience worse or introduced instability.

Roguelike difficulty and learning curve

mediumreviews and critics

Players describe harsh deaths, demanding mechanics, and a solo experience that may feel overwhelming.

EULA and privacy concerns

highreviews

Several players object to the newer EULA and raise concerns about privacy and mandatory arbitration.

topic

Minimum PC

Playable baseline

CPUIntel Core i3-6100 / AMD FX-8350

RAM4 GB RAM

GPUGTX 580 / AMD HD 7870

Recommended PC

Better target

CPUIntel Core i5-4670K / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X

RAM4 GB RAM

GPUGTX 680 / AMD HD 7970

Storage and usability

Disk, language and input

Free space4 GB

Languages11 listed

ControllerFull

Accessibility

Verified Steam support

Adjustable text sizeSteam

Camera comfort optionsSteam

Custom volume controlsSteam

Adjustable difficultySteam

topic

Support status

Developer activity

Events, not updates

Last game updateFeb 19, 2026 · 5 months ago

Last official postJun 25, 2026 · 26 days ago

Updates (12 mo)2

Posts (12 mo)15

CadenceFrequent

SourceSteam

Official Steam news

Latest from the developer

topic

Questions people search

answered from verified data

: No, Risk of Rain 2 is a paid game, not free-to-play.
: Risk of Rain 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
: Yes, Risk of Rain 2 is available on Nintendo Switch.