The Talos Principle 2

The Talos Principle 2 is a first-person adventure puzzle game about a robot civilization grappling with the struggles of building a new society, while a mysterious island of puzzle chambers beckons them. These puzzles usually involve plotting out lines of sight and activating doors in the right order to get to the last room of the chamber. At the heart of The Talos Principle 2 is its philosophical sci-fi narrative about a revamped humanity contemplating its future and deciding which principles it will abide by. This much-anticipated sequel went on to be the Community Choice for Game of the Year at the 2024 Thinky Awards.

The story begins some years after The Talos Principle, with a whole society of autonomous robots having stepped forth from the original simulation. You play as the one-thousandth citizen, known affectionately as “1k.” As the robots assemble to celebrate your birth, a giant hologram of an unknown figure reveals itself and challenges you to approach an island full of puzzles, fantastic technology and beautiful scenery. This sequel features a large cast of characters and a much more intricate narrative explored through cutscenes, audio logs and computer notes.

Despite the elaborate plot, The Talos Principle 2 remains first and foremost a puzzle game. The typical level is a self-contained 3D chamber with an objective room locked behind a series of gates. A few generators are stuck to the wall in specific locations; they act as a source of colored light beams, which must be channeled through portable connectors in order to unlock gates or charge other targets. The sequel progressively introduces a number of new tools, such as color inverters and hole drillers. Conversely, some elements from the original game were axed—remember the mines and the recording stations?—reducing the risk of costly mistakes. All in all, these puzzles require a mix of spatial visualization and logical reasoning for charting paths of light in an appropriate sequence.

Aside from the chambers, the game includes many optional collectibles attached to a variety of challenges. There are hidden sparks to locate among the extensive areas, and elusive sprites which will taunt you during (unrushed) chases. Each retrieved spark can be consumed for clearing one of the main game puzzles instantly. Elsewhere, engraved riddles will require you to identify visual patterns in the environment. And a subset of boundary-breaking star challenges will be familiar to players of the original game, having you rerouting light beams in and out of distinct chambers until they can meet a specific statue in the area.

The narrative of The Talos Principle 2 prominently deals with philosophical concepts. It involves considerations in the fields of ethics, ontology, and epistemology. Your character, 1k, interacts with the other androids through dialogue trees and social media. The plot features political intrigue, an exploration of the effects of trauma and fear, and an ultimate choice over which philosophical paradigms the new civilization should embrace. This writing has been met with polarized reactions; at any rate, the game allows you to skip most of the cutscenes and interactions.

The art direction received consistent praise for its utopian architecture and its strikingly detailed environments. A new photo mode offers to capture the most scenic vistas. The islands are significantly larger than the locations from the first game—so much so that an optional compass is provided for easier navigation. And 1k can be played either in first-person or in third-person perspective, the latter being particularly convenient for the occasional puzzles which require jumps.

This description was written by Russel Hansen and edited by Oriane Tury.