Hammerwatch II: Everything We Know

CrackShell’s hack-and-slash action-adventure RPG Hammerwatch is on the verge of receiving a sequel for consoles and PC, aptly titled *cough* Hammerwatch II. Unlike the first game, which was set entirely in the grounds of the Castle of Hammerwatch, the second instalment will take players outside, into an open world known as, well, Hammer Island. Inventive, right?

So, other than the fact it’s being based elsewhere and on a much grander scale, what more do we actually know about it? Well, here’s what we’ve been able to gather since first hearing of it earlier this month. Hammerwatch II: what is it, and when can we expect to see it hit the shelves?

What Is Hammerwatch II?

Hammerwatch II is an upcoming hack-and-slash action game by CrackShell. A sequel at heart, the proposed venture will take you away from the confines of the Castle of Hammerwatch and towards the sewers, a network in which you and the overthrown King’s resistance will rebel against Blight the Horrible and the infamous dragon army.

Set with an open world in mind, Hammerwatch II will open the floodgates for additional side quests, dungeons, and boss battles. What’s more, it’ll feature both a single-player campaign, as well as a four-player co-op mode that will let you and three other heroes immerse in the same journey from beginning to end. So, evidently bigger, bolder, and far more ambitious than the 2013 original. Furthermore, it will let you “explore a pixelated world like never before.”

Story

The once-loved Kingdom of Herian has been overthrown by the evil tyrant known as Blight the Horrible, forcing King Roland and his loyal followers to retreat to the underground sewer system. In a bid to take back what belongs to its rightful ruler, you will form a movement from beneath the city walls and turn the tide. To do this, you will need to set out and recruit the city’s last heroes, and in turn embark on an epic quest to the reclaim surface and banish the infamous dragon army.

“Adventure alone or gather your party to aid King Roland’s resistance, all while helping villagers along the way. Battle beasts, finish off hordes of the undead, and face the forces of evil in this epic ode to classic ARPG,” the blurb adds.

Gameplay

Hammerwatch II will reportedly bring an open world setting to the table—a location that consists of “Hammer Island, the Fallowfields, and the dark mountainous regions of Blackbarrow.” Either alone, or with up to three heroes in its co-op mode, players will voyage through the fallen Kingdom of Herian and fight to restore its biomes, piece by piece. What’s more you’ll also have to tackle “a world complete with day/night and weather systems that will help shape your adventure.”

Going by the blurb, Hammerwatch II will feature five distinct classes to play as: Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Wizard, and Warlock, all of which will come equipped with unique skills and abilities. As any of the aforementioned heroes, you will partake in an “epic number of quests” that will allow you to become the hero the Kingdom of Herian needs and deserves.

In addition to all of this, Hammerwatch II will also launch with full modding support, which will therefore allow PC users to edit levels and build their own adventures out of the tools available on day one. This will be available to do either alone, or with others in the four-player co-op mode.

Development

It’s been just shy of a decade since CrackShell first brought the original Hammerwatch to consoles and PC, which means the sequel is long overdue by this point. Fortunately for fans of the ARPG, both CrackShell and publisher Modus Games announced its plans to develop a sequel earlier this year, which in turn led to a preview trailer being released at the beginning of April.

At the time of writing, neither CrackShell nor its publishing partner have mentioned a release date outside of its loose “summer 2023” window. It has been said, though, that the game will be heading to all major platforms on day one. So at least that’s, you know, something.

Trailer

So, are you ready to embark on a quest to the sewers and return the kingdom to its rightful ruler? If so, then you’ll no doubt be wanting to catch a glimpse of the game in motion? Good news there, as CrackShell has already taken the liberty of releasing a sneak preview trailer of the game ahead of its launch. Need we say more? You can see it for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Hammerwatch II will be coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam in “summer 2023.” So, is an Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus induction in the cards? It’s too early to say at this point. If it does come to pass, though, then it’s sure to get an announcement in the two or three months ahead of its launch.

There’ll be two editions of Hammerwatch II: the standard digital one, which will retail for $24.99, and The Chronicles Edition, which will go for $39.99. The latter will include the base game in a physical format, a remastered copy of Hammerwatch: Anniversary Edition, and the “Anniversary Pack”—a collection of cosmetics that includes additional heroes, voice packs, and skins.

For more information on the Hammerwatch II launch, you can follow the official social feed here. If anything changes ahead of its summer release, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Hammerwatch II when it drops? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.