Blackguards 2

Blackguards 2 (German: *Das Schwarze Auge: Blackguards 2*) is a tactical role-playing game from Daedalic Entertainment, who both developed and published it. It launched for Microsoft Windows and OS X in January 2015, and later arrived on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2017, with a Nintendo Switch port following in June 2022. The game is a sequel to 2014's *The Dark Eye: Blackguards*.

In combat, the game uses turn-based battles on a hexagonal grid. Players can knock over stacked boxes, trigger traps, cast spells, or drop chandeliers on enemies. As the story progresses, the player recruits allies, each with their own skill trees and the ability to equip weapons and gear.

The story takes place three years after Count Uria’s schemes. The Vanquishers of the Nine Hordes have gone their separate ways, but life in Aventuria continues. Cassia, a young noblewoman, is determined to claim the Shark Throne—even if only for a single day. Two problems stand in her way: she is imprisoned in a dungeon, and the throne is already occupied by Marwan. Unskilled in diplomacy or politics, she opts for a more direct approach. She plans to escape prison, recruit an army of sellswords, and rally the Vanquishers of the Nine Hordes to overthrow Marwan. The question remains whether she can outwit the dungeon’s guards and command the worst scum of the realms.

Upon release, *Blackguards 2* received average reviews. On Metacritic, the PC version scored 74 out of 100 based on 48 reviews. IGN gave it a 7.8 out of 10, noting that it improved on its predecessor by letting players “spend less time confused about the details, and more time fighting.”