If you love challenging RPGs with punishing, soulslike-style combat, The Surge 2 is one of those games that can easily hook you for hours—especially if you enjoy learning enemy patterns, experimenting with builds, and earning every victory the hard way. Released on September 24, 2019 by Deck13 Interactive, this action RPG drops you into a ruthless sci-fi world where survival depends on smart strategy, careful timing, and upgrading your gear through hard-fought battles.
Right now, The Surge 2 is heavily discounted on Steam, letting players grab the full game for $2.99 instead of $29.99. The offer runs until March 4, 2026, making it an easy entry point for anyone curious about soulslike mechanics but looking for a different setting than the usual dark fantasy formula.
The story begins with a catastrophe. Your plane is hit by a violent storm and crashes near Jericho City. When you finally wake up—after weeks in a coma—you discover a city that’s no longer functioning like a normal place. Soldiers patrol the streets, robots enforce control, and danger feels baked into every corner of the environment. From there, the goal is simple in theory: stay alive. In practice, you’ll be forced to fight your way through relentless enemies and harsh encounters that demand patience and adaptation.
Combat is where The Surge 2 aims to shine. Battles are brutal, and button-mashing won’t carry you. You’ll need to approach enemies with the right strategy, choosing when to be aggressive and when to back off. The game supports a wide range of weapons and equipment, along with special abilities and gadgets that can tilt fights in your favor when used correctly. One of the biggest appeals is how progression is tied to what you earn from opponents—take down tough enemies, collect valuable equipment, and use those rewards to upgrade your loadout and come back stronger.
Character progression also leans into customization. Instead of pushing you into one narrow playstyle, The Surge 2 lets you develop your character using a variety of skills, making it easier to build around how you prefer to fight—whether that means focusing on survivability, damage, mobility, or a more balanced approach.
Reception for the game is solid, though not perfect. On Steam, The Surge 2 holds 75% positive reviews from around 9,000 user ratings. It also has a Metascore of 76 on Metacritic, alongside a 6.2 user score—reflecting a mix of praise and criticism. Many players highlight the gameplay as the biggest reason to play, particularly the variety in combat and the tools available for tackling encounters in different ways.
That said, there are notable complaints. Some players weren’t fully sold on the game’s universe and story, finding them less compelling than the combat systems. Performance is another frequent point of criticism, with reports of optimization issues affecting the experience on certain setups.
It’s also worth noting that while this 90% discount is excellent value, similar price drops have happened before. The current deal matches the game’s lowest recorded price, previously seen in late 2025. Still, at $2.99, it’s one of the easiest recommendations for anyone who wants a difficult action RPG with soulslike mechanics, a sci-fi twist, and a progression loop built around earning and upgrading powerful gear through combat.
