Graveyard Keeper 2 Review Roundup: Is It Good in 2026?
Updated 2026-09-30 · Fan-made guide for Graveyard Keeper 2 · Not affiliated with Lazy Bear Games
Yes — Graveyard Keeper 2 is good. Reviewers call it a smart, confident sequel that fixes what held the first game back, with a 7/10 from cinelinx and warm player reviews on Steam. The honest caveats: it can be grindy, and launch-window console builds had technical issues.
What critics say
CGMagazine's PS5 review calls Graveyard Keeper 2 a smart, confident sequel that fixes the exact things that held the first one back — not a perfect game, but pointed improvements in the right places.
Cinelinx scored it a solid 7 out of 10, highlighting the great music, stunning art, fun dialogue and humor. Another outlet describes it as a great grim cozy game sim — the cozy-with-grave-darkness tone is landing as intended.
What players say
Steam community reviews skew positive: one representative review calls it a really good and well-executed sequel with great new features and improvements to existing mechanics. Players also describe it as therapeutic — the loop is calming even when the humor is unhinged.
The main player-side critique is pacing: a Should I buy this? thread asks whether the grind is engaging, which is the honest question to ask yourself. If you liked Graveyard Keeper 1's loop, the sequel's factory automation and Town systems deepen it; if the first game's loop bored you, more of it won't convert you.
What's new versus the first game
The sequel's headline additions: you are the Grand Inquisitor, the Town is a reclaim-and-rebuild system with battles, factory automation is a full production layer, and mastery gates craft progression.
Those four systems interlock — zombies staff your factory, the factory supplies the Town, the Town rewards you with economy and quests. Reviewers who liked the game consistently credit that interlocking for making progress feel earned.
Who should buy it
- Fans of the first game: the sequel is bigger, automated and better-paced — an easy yes.
- Management sim players: factory automation plus town economy is a strong hook at $24.99.
- Performance-sensitive console players: check the latest patch state for your platform first.
- Haters of grind: be honest with yourself — this is a game about incremental empire building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Graveyard Keeper 2 good?
By the evidence so far, yes — critics call it a smart, confident sequel (7/10 from cinelinx), Steam players praise the new systems, and the common complaint is grind, not quality.
Is Graveyard Keeper 2 better than the first game?
Reviewers consistently say it fixes what held the original back: automation, the Town system, mastery and combat add structure the first game lacked.
What are the negatives of Graveyard Keeper 2?
Grind and pacing are the main critiques, and the launch window had technical issues on some console versions — Switch 1 runs slow and PS5's early build drew player complaints before patches.