''Into the Dead 2'' is a 2017

first person shooter First-person shooter (FPS) is a video game genre, sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a First person (video games), first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eye ...

video game developed by

PikPok PikPok is a New Zealand video game developer and publisher based in Wellington. It was founded as a subsidiary brand of the game developer Sidhe. Since 2012, PikPok has been the company's primary brand. PikPok is a developer and publisher of i ...

. It was initially released on iOS and Android, and it was ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Gameplay

Players control a character seeking to return to his family during a

zombie apocalypse Zombie apocalypse is a genre of fiction in which society collapses due to overwhelming swarms of zombies. Typically only a few individuals or small bands of survivors are left living. In some versions, the reason the dead rise and attack hum ...

. Similar to

endless runner Endless runner or infinite runner is a subgenre of platform game in which the player character runs for an infinite amount of time while avoiding obstacles. The player's objective is to reach a high score by surviving for as long as possible. The ...

games, the character automatically runs throughout most of the game and must dodge zombies. If Players are captured by a zombie on a

level Level or levels may refer to: Engineering *Level (instrument), a device used to measure true horizontal or relative heights *Spirit level, an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical *Canal pound or level *Regr ...

, they can escape by either using a knife, Companions freeing you, an Ally freeing you or using a Weapon with a

Bayonet A bayonet (from French ) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon.Brayley, Martin, ''Bayonets: An Illustr ...

. After that, they are freed, once The Player is freed, they will be given a Second Chance to continue and cannot be saved within Third Time, unless they have a Knife. Players can unlock and upgrade a variety weapons, including pistols, rifles, shotguns, crossbows, and grenades. Indestructible animal companions and

power-up In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that can be used at any time chosen ...

s are also available.

Development

Prior to ''Into the Dead 2''s worldwide launch, PikPok

soft launch A soft launch, also known as a soft opening, is a preview release of a product or service to a limited audience prior to the general public. Soft-launching a product is sometimes used to gather data or customer feedback, prior to making it widely ...

ed it in Australia for iOS on August 9, 2017, and for Android on August 29, 2017. It was launched worldwide for both platforms on October 13, 2017.

Versus Evil Versus Evil, LLC is an American video game publisher founded by former ZeniMax Online Studios marketing director Steve Escalante to focus on the independent video game market. Versus Evil's staff is located in California, Texas, and Maryland. His ...

released it for the Switch on October 25, 2019. The original iOS and Android versions are

free-to-play Free-to-play (F2P or FtP) video games are games that give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying or do not require paying to continue playing. Free-to-play is distinct from traditional commercial software, which ...

and have

microtransactions Microtransactions, often abbreviated as mtx, are a business model where users can purchase virtual goods with micropayments. Microtransactions are often used in free-to-play games to provide a revenue source for the developers. While microtransact ...

; these were removed from the Switch version.

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

released ''Into the Dead 2: Unleashed'' in March 2022 for their subscribers; this version also removes the microtransactions.

Reception

The Switch version received negative reviews on

Metacritic Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...

. ''

Pocket Gamer ''Pocket Gamer'' is a video game website that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. The site launched in 2005 and is published and owned by UK company Steel Media Ltd. The site covers all major portable and mobile gaming formats, incl ...

'' said the mobile version "offers pretty much everything you could want in a zombie shooter". Although ''148 Apps'' said it has "a smooth framerate" and "nicely polished visuals", they called it an unambitious and unoriginal game designed to draw players into spending money on microtransactions to upgrade their weapons. Reviewing the Switch version, ''

Nintendo Life Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British mass media company based in Brighton. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and other ...

'' called the gameplay "pretty simple and repetitive" and said it "becomes a pretty mindless grind very, very quickly". While recognizing the mobile game's popularity, ''

TouchArcade ''TouchArcade'' is a mobile video game website that launched in 2008. Arnold Kim of ''MacRumors'' worked on the site and its editor-in-chief was Eli Hodapp from 2009 to 2019. ''TouchArcade'' has been recognized as one of the best mobile game ...

'' criticized what they felt were limited and repetitive gameplay and a high price on the Switch. ''Pocket Gamer'' named ''Into the Dead 2: Unleashed'' the best Netflix game at the 2022 Pocket Gamer Awards.

References

External links

Notes

:1.{{note, aAllies are only available on several Side Stories. 2017 video games iOS games Android (operating system) games Nintendo Switch games Single-player video games Indie games Video games about zombies First-person shooters Netflix games PikPok games Versus Evil games