Endless Legend 2

Almost a year after its Early Access start on Steam on 22 September 2022, Endless Legend 2 by Amplitude Studios has released as version 1.0 on 17 September 2026. The game, published by strategy expert Hooded Horse, is the successor to one of the first big "Civ killer" games: Endless Legend from 2014. Amplitude hadn't only made a good game back then, it introduced several twists on the classic 4X formula until then dominated by Civilization V. It further developed these twists in its real-history title Humankind, which in turn served quite clearly as inspiration for some of the mechanics in Firaxis' current title, Civilization VII.

Back to Endless Legend 2: The game combines a best-of of features from other 4X games, with plenty of options to choose, and enriches them with Amplitude's charming fantasy world setting. Battles can be auto-resolved or played out in a tactics mode. Factions differ vastly, a trait that comes back from Endless Legend, and in Endless Legend 2 the faction differences bring with them especially big changes for the map. This is the best part of Endless Legend 2 as well: Every 4X player knows that one of the best things in these kinds of games is changing the game world to your liking. While Civilization titles and Humankind need to move within the constraints of history, making map changes relatively small (like deforestation or the occasional flood), Endless Legend 2 can really go all in, from burrowing insect hives into the map to glassing entire continents.

All that comes in a visually appealing package: Endless Legend 2 looks great and captures the mystique of its strategical world without sacrificing the clarity needed for good playability.

Reception is very good: 83% of the over 2,000 reviews on Steam are positive at the 1.0 launch.

Endless Legend 2 is available on PC via Steam since 17 September 2026.