I’m here with a friendly dive into Spiderweb Software’s latest isometric RPG, Geneforge 2: Infestation. If you’ve ever craved a huge fantasy adventure where you “do things your way” with mutant minions, you’re in for a treat. I clocked about 50 hours before my first ending—and I’m still discovering new side zones, quests, and choices.
Overall Impressions
What grabbed me most is the game’s open-ended design. You can explore nearly 90 zones and tackle fifty-plus hours of main and side quests. Dozens of skills, spells, and creature creations are available to tinker with. Multiple endings depend on whether you negotiate, fight, or sneak your way through challenges. If you love Baldur’s Gate or Fallout but want something off-beat and raw, this one’s for you.
Gameplay Mechanics
Combat is turn-based on a grid, and exploration happens in real time. A revamped UI makes everything run smoothly on modern systems. You can allocate skill points freely—build a spell-casting Shaper who also brawls if you wish. Weapon Shaping fuses melee and ranged attacks into satisfying combos. Occasionally, pathfinding quirks pop up, but quick-saving handles them. Fast travel flags safe zones in green and risky areas in red.
Story and Characters
You start as an apprentice Shaper, partnered with your handler Shanti, sent to investigate a troubled colony in the Drypeak Mountains. Soon, you’ll juggle strict Shaper authorities, freedom-loving rebels, and shadowy factions. Your alliances shape the ending: back one group, ignore them all, or embrace full Geneforge power and risk losing yourself. Kickstarter-backed quests add polished bonus content that fits right in.
Visuals and Graphics
Graphics are charmingly retro: hand-drawn isometric tiles, simple animations, and a clean UI overhaul. Don’t expect AAA textures, but the style has its own cozy vibe once you settle into the world. Zones vary from icy peaks to biolabs and fungus-choked caverns, all with enough detail to keep you interested without overwhelming your system. It feels like stepping into an old favorite book—rough around the edges but brimming with character.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack leans into ambient, haunting tunes that suit the lonely mountains and secret labs. That main theme has a lovely eerie hum that loops nicely. Sound effects for spells, mutant screeches and weapon clashes are serviceable, if a bit repetitive over long sessions. No voiceovers here, but the text is clear, and I appreciate the option to log dialogue or books for later rereading. It helps when you’re juggling dozens of quests and NPCs.
Difficulty and Replayability
Geneforge 2 doesn’t hold your hand. Its “Torment” difficulty feels fair but firm—you’ll face some nasty bosses that force you to rethink builds or pursue better artifacts. One late-game creature wiped me out until I found a single magic band tucked away in a side quest. Money actually matters now, too, so you’ll weigh every purchase. And with five or six major factions, plus pacifist, rogue and power-hungry paths, you’ve got plenty of reasons to reload and try again. I’ve hit two completely different endings so far, and I still have dozens more quests, mutant types and challenge runs calling my name.
Trivia & Behind the Scenes
For over 25 years, indie RPG pioneer Spiderweb Software’s Jeff Vogel and his small team have been crafting deep, immersive adventures, with Geneforge 2 first launching in 2003 and completely overhauled as the Infestation version on March 27, 2024. A successful crowdfunding campaign empowered high-tier backers to add or refine quests—so your demon-infested dungeons might even be fan-designed. By removing “red vial” automatic side-stories, every choice you make truly shapes the world and its ending.
Final Thoughts
If you’re after a cozy, variable-story RPG that rewards exploration and tough choices, Geneforge 2 – Infestation is well worth its modest price. It’s not going to win awards for cinematic graphics, but it will envelop you in a living world where your every decision echoes across dozens of hours of gameplay. Personally, I’m already planning my next run as a stealthy Agent who betrays everyone—can’t wait to see how that shakes out!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
