The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II is an action RPG set in a gothic-noir world where players take on the role of the monster hunter Van Helsing. The story picks up after the events of the first game, with new threats emerging in the city of Borgova and surrounding wilderness. Players control Van Helsing alongside his ghostly companion Lady Katarina as they navigate a mix of combat, exploration, and base management against enemies driven by mad science and revenge plots.
Gameplay
Core gameplay revolves around real-time action combat combined with character progression and resource management. Three distinct classes are available from the start: the Hunter, who blends ranged shooting with melee attacks; the Thaumaturge, focused on magic abilities; and the Arcane Mechanic, who deploys deadly devices and gadgets. Each class features its own skill trees and playstyle, encouraging different approaches to encounters.
The Hunter's Lair serves as a central hub for storing loot, trading, teleporting, crafting items through forging and alchemy, and managing the Resistance against the scientific threats. A Rage system allows players to build points from strong performances and apply up to three PowerUp modifiers to active skills across eight abilities. Lady Katarina provides support with her own abilities and two dedicated skill trees that evolve during play.
Additional systems include runecrafting, where artifacts are broken down into fragments to create customizable runes for new items, and the Chimera, an artificial beast that can be upgraded and summoned for combat or sent to gather treasure. The Hall of Trophies lets players display collected items that apply global effects, such as altering monster strength or ally spell power. Tower defense elements appear in optional side quests, where players set traps and upgrades to repel waves of enemies at the Lair or other sites, with up to seven levels available.
Game Modes
The main experience centers on a single-player or co-operative story campaign that can be played with up to four players. This mode follows the narrative through the dark streets of Borgova and the forbidden wilderness, incorporating combat, quests, and exploration. Resistance Management adds a layer of strategy, as players oversee allied troops, upgrade their gear, and distribute loot to strengthen the faction.
Multiplayer options extend to an eight-player PvP mode for competitive matches against friends. Tower defense scenarios function as separate side activities within the campaign, offering wave-based defense challenges with improved mechanics compared to earlier entries. These modes integrate directly with the core loot and progression systems, allowing players to carry progress across different playstyles.
Key Mechanics and Progression
Item customization forms a major part of long-term engagement. Beyond standard forging and enchanting, runecrafting provides a way to disassemble artifacts and rebuild them with magical runes that grant varied bonuses. The Chimera companion adds another dimension, with upgrades that affect both combat summons and treasure-hunting expeditions. Resistance Management encourages ongoing decisions about troop equipment and alliances, tying into the broader campaign objectives.
Difficulty scales with player choices, including options to import characters from the previous game or start fresh at different levels. The combination of active skills, companion behaviors, and lair-based upgrades creates a loop of combat, collection, and refinement that rewards experimentation across the three classes.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player reception stands at Mostly Positive based on thousands of reviews, with many noting improvements in combat variety, class balance, and integration of tower defense elements over the original title. The game suits those who enjoy action RPGs centered on loot collection, skill customization, and light strategy through lair defense and faction management. Co-operative play supports up to four participants for the campaign, while PvP offers separate competitive sessions for groups of up to eight.
Released in 2014 with no ongoing seasonal updates or live-service elements, it remains a complete, self-contained experience available on PC. It appeals particularly to fans of gothic settings mixed with gadgetry and monster hunting, provided they appreciate the blend of real-time action and base-building mechanics. Those seeking modern graphics or frequent content additions may find it dated, but the verified systems deliver solid depth for its target audience.
