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Skullgirls 2nd Encore

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2013

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Quick resume

--Main Stage Game at Evo 2022!-- The ultimate Skullgirls experience: Featuring 14 hand-animated characters, fully voiced story mode, countless palettes, and unparalleled GGPO-based multiplayer netcode.

Global score

88/100

Genres

Action, Indie

Similar games

    Pros

    • Excellent tutorial and training modes
    • Beautiful hand-drawn animations and art style
    • Diverse and unique characters with distinct playstyles
    • Smooth online play with rollback netcode
    • Affordable price with frequent sales and free dlc periods

    Cons

    • Small character roster compared to other fighting games
    • Steep learning curve can be intimidating for beginners
    • Online community is smaller and can be challenging
    • Short story mode
    • Some players report finicky controls on keyboard

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Violence, 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 choose characters freely, customize teams and assists, and have control over combos and playstyle."

    • Competence
      5

      "The game features a steep learning curve, detailed tutorials, and requires skillful execution and strategy to master combos and resets."

    • Competition
      4

      "Strong online multiplayer focus with ranked and casual matches, though the community is smaller and competitive play is challenging."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report long play sessions, high replay value, and addictive gameplay with ongoing updates and DLC."

    • Cooperation
      1

      "Team-based fighting mechanics with assists encourage some cooperation, but mostly competitive 1v1 or team vs team combat."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players can customize assists and build teams, and the game encourages creative combo strategies and resets."

    • Domination
      -2

      "While competitive, the community is described as friendly and balanced interactions are emphasized; no strong evidence of domination."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Many players use the game for stress relief and immersion in its unique world and characters."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "The game encourages trying new combos, team compositions, and exploring mechanics through extensive tutorials and training modes."

    • Exploration
      1

      "Some exploration of story modes and character lore, but mostly familiar fighting game environments."

    • Expression
      3

      "Customization of assists and team setups allows for player expression within combat."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "The game features imaginative characters, fantasy storylines, and stylized anime-inspired visuals."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "There is a community aspect with online play and groups, though many play solo or casually."

    • Growth
      5

      "Strong emphasis on learning mechanics, improving skills, and mastering combos and strategies."

    • Health
      -5

      "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during matches."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly competitive and surface-level; no evidence of close relationships forming in-game."

    • Leadership
      -2

      "No strong leadership roles; players mostly engage as equals in competitive or cooperative team play."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players unlock characters, DLC, and upgrades; progression through story and multiplayer modes."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Some players find the game fun and relaxing, but the gameplay can be intense and demanding."

    • Sensation
      4

      "High-quality hand-drawn animations, vibrant visuals, and dynamic sound design provide strong sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      2

      "Competitive play and leaderboards offer recognition, though the community is niche."

    • Story
      3

      "Story mode with voiced characters and lore is present but relatively short; adds narrative immersion."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Requires deep mental challenge, planning, and problem solving in combos, resets, and team composition."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Fast-paced combat and tense online matches provide excitement and suspense."

    • Value
      4

      "Affordable price with frequent sales, free DLC periods, and high replay value."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat-focused gameplay with fighting and destruction, though stylized and cartoonish."

    • Survival
      2

      "Players must avoid defeat and manage resources like health and meter during fights."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026