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Knights of Pen and Paper 2

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Mac, Linux • 2015

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Quick resume

Prepare to inhabit a world of chivalry, class warfare and off-beat pop references. Knights of Pen & Paper 2 is a turn-based, retro style, pixel-art adventure full of danger, intrigue, death, and saving throws!

Global score

87/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Humorous and witty writing
    • Good character customization and party building
    • Engaging turn-based combat
    • Nostalgic d&d style fantasy setting
    • No pay-to-win or microtransactions in steam version

    Cons

    • Repetitive combat and grindy dungeons
    • Short main story length
    • Limited replayability after full completion
    • Some ui and quality of life issues
    • Dlc content locked behind paywall

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Relaxation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Cooperation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players can customize party composition, choose classes, races, and gear, and make decisions in quests and exploration, allowing significant control over gameplay."

    • Competence
      3

      "Combat involves turn-based strategy with skill investment and character builds; some players mention challenge and strategic depth, though overall combat is accessible."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Game is single-player focused with no multiplayer or ranked modes; emphasis on personal progress and self-set goals without social comparison."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report multiple playthroughs, experimenting with party builds and DLC content; some grindiness encourages habitual play, though some find it repetitive."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Entirely single-player experience focused on managing own party; no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay elements."

    • Creativity
      4

      "High customization in character creation (race, class, player type), skill builds, gear crafting, and party composition encourages creative experimentation."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are solo and cooperative dominance is not present."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players enjoy humorous, lighthearted fantasy setting with pop culture references, providing distraction and stress relief from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for fun and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or pressure to play."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Encouraged by multiple party builds, character combinations, and skill distributions; players enjoy trying new strategies and setups."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Exploration includes traveling between locations and dungeon delving with some procedural elements, though environments can be repetitive."

    • Expression
      3

      "Customization of characters and game room environment allows for player self-expression and personalization."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strongly rooted in imaginative fantasy with D&D style roleplaying, mythical creatures, and humorous fictional storytelling."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Minimal social connection; single-player experience with limited community interaction."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop characters through leveling, skill investment, and gear progression; some learning curve in strategy and party optimization."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity involved; typical sedentary gameplay."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires player attention during combat and decision making; some players mention grind but overall engagement is active."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No evidence of forming close social relationships; interactions are with game characters only."

    • Leadership
      3

      "Players manage and direct their party, making strategic decisions and guiding character development."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on leveling up, acquiring items, unlocking classes, and crafting to enhance party power."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Humorous writing and turn-based gameplay provide a balance of challenge and flow; some players find it relaxing and enjoyable."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Pixel art and music provide moderate sensory stimulation; not highly intense but pleasant and fitting the retro style."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not socially evaluated."

    • Story
      3

      "Narrative with humorous dialogue, pop culture references, and quest-driven plot; story is engaging though not deeply complex."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Combat and party building require planning, skill allocation, and tactical decision making."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some tension in combat and dungeon exploration, but overall experience is lighthearted and controlled."

    • Value
      3

      "Players report good value especially when purchased on sale; content and humor justify the cost."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat involves turn-based battles with attacks and damage; violence is cartoonish and not graphic."

    • Survival
      2

      "Players manage health and resources to avoid defeat; some challenge in overcoming threats but not extreme survival focus."

    Last update: 29/04/2026