“Cardinal Quest 2” is a Turn-Based Roguelike that began life as a flash game, and eventually made it’s way to mobile devices. Its simplistic nature makes it easy to pick up, but the complex design makes it hard to put down.

Players take control of one character class out of a possible seven, each of which play significantly different from each other. The goal is simple: get to the end of the act and beat the boss. Along the way, players will collect a variety of different weapons, armor, spells and  items to aid them on their quest.

There’s no hand holding in “Cardinal Quest 2.” Enemies are numerous and strong, meaning that recklessness only leads to defeat. If the character dies, then that’s the end, and the player has to start all the way from the beginning.

One of this game’s greatest strengths is its addicting nature. It’s fast-paced and thrilling, yet calculated and strategic. This combination makes for an extremely engaging experience.

Over the course of a run, players earn Morale, which is used to unlock new classes and perks for the classes they already have. Experimentation is greatly encouraged, and players will have to adapt their play style with each class.

While playing, there is a small chance that a player will run into a Legendary treasure. These can have game changing items or equipment, at a cost. Every Legendary also has a way it can backfire on the player. For example, the Weeping Katana does drain health based on damage dealt, but for the cost of 40% of a character’s maximum HP. Legendary treasures add a degree of strategy, rather than being so strong they make the game easy.

The graphics are 16-bit, and are simple to a fault. There’s dozens of pixelated games out there, and “Cardinal Quest 2” doesn’t do anything to stand out among them. Other games have looked much better with the same art style. Something similar can be said of the soundtrack, which is done in a similar style. No track is particularly memorable and no song sticks in the mind.

Despite a weak presentation, “Cardinal Quest 2” makes up for it with addictive gameplay. This, combined with replayability and an emphasis on experimentation, creates an extremely enjoyable game.