If Stardew Valley and Minecraft adopted a child and later found out they were related, the therapist would be Crashlands 2. This game draws heavily from other projects in the genre and manages to combine the best aspects of most worlds.
Developed and published by Butterscotch Shenanigans, Crashlands 2 is an Isometric open-world RPG Survival Crafter that heavily relies on NPC interactions as its main hook.
You would think that everything that can be done is done in the isometric survival part of the gaming world, and you are probably right, but that does not make it any less of a fun style of game. That is exactly how I view Crashlands 2… It is an entertaining style of game.
A Crashing Start
You play as Flux Dabes, a galactic delivery superstar who’s had enough of the corporate grind. Between fame, tight deadlines, and absolutely no ‘me-time,’ she quits, with her snarky floating companion Juicebox in tow, and sets course for a long-overdue visit to old friends.
But peace is a myth in the world of games. The ship malfunctions. They crash. And just like that, the cosy reunion becomes a journey of rediscovery, crafting, and survival on a familiar planet that feels brand new.
Chop Trees, Build Dreams
The survival-crafting loop here feels like second nature. Chop trees, collect herbs, scavenge scrap, and craft everything from boots to beds. You don’t carry crafting stations; they live in villages, tucked inside homes, giving each area its own utility.
The build mode lets you place structures, remove walls, or sell clutter, all through a Stardew-like interface that keeps things intuitive. You also research objects, either through quests or experimentation, to unlock new blueprints. It’s a gentle drip of progress that makes every resource haul feel meaningful.
Combat That Keeps It Simple
Combat in Crashlands 2 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and that’s fine.
You equip a weapon, swing, and dodge when the game telegraphs enemy attacks. You start with a default traversal skill that lets you hop over water or barriers, and later unlock gear-based boosts that let you handle more powerful foes.
What matters is how that combat feels in the context of the world. It’s there to punctuate exploration, not dominate it. And in that role, it works perfectly.
Each encounter feels like a test of rhythm and timing rather than brute force, adding tension without ever slowing down the joy of discovery and crafting.
A World That Talks Back
Here’s the surprising part: Crashlands 2 doesn’t waste time animating dramatic character expressions. Instead, it uses small floating icons to show emotion. An elegant, minimal system that somehow feels more expressive than a lot of fully voiced RPGs.
The real hook, though, is the friendship system. Help NPCs, talk to them, and earn their trust. They start to open up, offering more than just quests. Sometimes it’s backstory, sometimes it’s gear, sometimes it’s a recipe for stew you didn’t know you needed. And yes, it matters. This emotional layer turns a casual crafting game into something quietly special.
Cosy Chaos in All the Right Ways
I came into this expecting a light survival game. I left having experienced a carefully layered world full of humour, heart, and personality. Where every interaction felt intentional and every mechanic had soul.
RATING: 8/10
It’s not revolutionary, but it doesn’t have to be. Crashlands 2 understands the assignment. Build, survive, connect, and enjoy the journey. With its snappy writing, warm design, and rich mechanics, it doesn’t just imitate its genre siblings; it earns its seat at the table.
Crashlands 2 is worth the crash.
