Unlike its predecessor, Remnant: From the Ashes, Remnant II features an expanded and more clearly defined archetype system, allowing players to take on defined roles in co-op whether it's as the squad's tank or damage dealer. So far, three of the archetypes have been revealed: the DPS-focused Gunslinger, the tank-like Challenger, and the supportive Handler. At GDC 2023, I got the chance to play as all three and walked away enjoying the Handler the most--the archetype's dog companion is just wonderful to have, especially when you're playing solo and want an ally on hand.

Much like the first game, Remnant II sees you fight your way through a world twisted by demonic god-like monsters in an effort to prevent humanity from being completely killed off. You primarily rely on firearms throughout your journey, but have access to melee weapons in a pinch as well. Combat is frenetic--your precision is oftentimes rewarded with higher damage numbers but ammo is plentiful and enemies regularly outnumber you, so shooting with abandon is a viable strategy. On occasion, an enemy may have specific weak points--in the demo I played, the boss at the end of the level had distinct points on its massive body that you had to shoot in order to deal damage--but oftentimes it seems the best strategy is to just pump bullets into an enemy before it reaches you for a melee attack. It's not especially challenging, but it seems like it would be good fun in a group.

You can absolutely play through Remnant II entirely solo, but the new archetype system seems to lend itself to a more cooperative experience, encouraging folks to play through the game in co-op. Every archetype feels dangerous in a firefight but each brings a different skill set to combat to inform how they fight, with the Challenger and Handler definitely feeling like they'd better reach their full potential by fighting within a squad that includes a glass cannon class like the Gunslinger.