Wasteland 2 is inXile Entertainment’s 2014 party-based RPG, and it’s the Kickstarter-funded revival that proved the original 1988 Wasteland, widely credited as a direct inspiration for the entire Fallout series, still had life in it decades later. As newly graduated Desert Rangers investigating the murder of one of their own, you and your squad uncover a much larger conspiracy while carving a path through the irradiated ruins of Arizona and beyond.
Turn-based combat, deep skill-based character building, and a genuinely dark, morally complicated world define the experience, this is a game that regularly forces impossible choices and doesn’t soften the consequences. It also, honestly, looks and plays like exactly what it is: a passion project built on a comeback budget, rough edges included.
Before diving in, it’s worth knowing exactly where it lands on our full breakdown of the best party-based RPG games worth your time today.
Is Wasteland 2 Worth It?
Yes, particularly for fans of tough, choice-driven RPGs who don’t need a polished presentation to enjoy deep systems. Critics were genuinely impressed: Metacritic’s critic score sits at 81, “Generally Favorable,” with 82% of 65 reviews landing positive and zero negative. The writing draws consistent praise, one reviewer specifically highlighted a quest forcing a choice between saving a town’s food supply or its water, with real, felt consequences either way, and the moral complexity of its factions and world is widely considered the game’s strongest asset.
Interestingly, player sentiment runs noticeably cooler than critic sentiment, Metacritic’s user score sits at a more mixed 7.3, 65% positive but with real, specific complaints: a confusing, underexplained interface at launch, combat that some players found shallow or poorly balanced (enemy AI closing distance too aggressively, certain stats feeling largely useless), and a main story that several reviewers called thin or occasionally silly despite the strength of the surrounding world-building. It’s genuinely a “rough around the edges” game by its own reviewers’ repeated description, one that rewards patience more than it welcomes you in.
Gameplay & Features
You build a squad of Desert Rangers from scratch, managing skills, gear, and survival essentials like water and ammunition, resources that matter enough to actually shape how you approach encounters. Turn-based combat plays out across Arizona’s wasteland and beyond, with a keyword-based dialogue system that rewards paying close attention to what NPCs actually say.
The Director’s Cut version, the one currently sold, rebuilt the game’s visuals in Unity 5, added full voice acting, and introduced quality-of-life improvements over the original 2014 release.
- A fully custom squad of Desert Rangers, deep skill-based character building
- Turn-based combat with resource management, ammo and water genuinely matter
- A keyword-based dialogue system rewarding close attention to NPC conversations
- The Director’s Cut adds full voice acting and a Unity 5 visual overhaul
- 50+ hours for a full playthrough, with genuine replay value across different choices
PC System Requirements
Wasteland 2 is genuinely light on hardware, a decade-old engine keeps demands modest even at the recommended tier.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10 (64-bit) | Windows 7, 8, or 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD equivalent | Intel i5 series or AMD equivalent |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or Radeon HD 4850 (512 MB VRAM) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 5770 (1 GB VRAM) |
| DirectX | Version 9.0c | Version 10 |
| Storage | 30 GB available | 30 GB available |
It’s also officially supported on macOS and Linux. Console players can find it on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
How to Buy & Play Wasteland 2
The Director’s Cut is priced at $29.99, and it goes on sale often, historically dropping to $5-6 during major sales. A Digital Deluxe Edition, adding the soundtrack and extras, runs $44.99, also frequently discounted.
- Buy Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut on Steam, for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Also available on GOG, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
After purchase, install through your chosen storefront. Give the opening hours some patience, the interface and combat take real getting used to, and several reviewers specifically noted the payoff comes once things click. For the more refined, higher-budget sequel, Wasteland 3 is worth considering instead, and our full RPG catalog covers more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wasteland 2 worth buying?
Yes, for fans of tough, choice-driven RPGs. Critics rated it highly, though player sentiment is more mixed, real complaints exist around interface clarity, combat balance, and a main story weaker than the game’s excellent world-building.
Should I play this or Wasteland 3 first?
Either works, they’re connected but separate stories. Wasteland 3 is the more polished, better-reviewed entry overall, so it’s a reasonable starting point if you only want to play one.
What’s the Director’s Cut?
An updated version of the original 2014 release, rebuilt visually in Unity 5 with full voice acting and quality-of-life improvements, it’s the version currently sold.
Is combat good?
Opinions genuinely differ. Some players find the turn-based tactics rewarding, others describe it as shallow or poorly balanced, particularly around enemy AI aggression and certain underwhelming character stats.
How long does it take to finish?
Around 50+ hours for a full playthrough, with real replay value given how many choices branch the story.
Who made Wasteland 2?
inXile Entertainment developed and published it, funded through Kickstarter, originally releasing on September 18, 2014, with the Director’s Cut update following in 2015.
