# Avernum 2: Crystal Souls HD — user reviews > 35 indexed App Store user reviews of Avernum 2 by Spiderweb Software, rated 4.70/5 from 25 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avernum-2-crystal-souls-hd/id967096180/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avernum-2-crystal-souls-hd/id967096180.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 20 · 4★ 3 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (13 of 35) ### 4/5 — Great game, flawed port *2016-04-30, version 1.0.1* I love Spiderweb games, and like having the iPad option for playing on the go. This is one of their coolest releases, and overall it is a terrific transfer from the desktop. However .... There are some annoying mouseclick-to-touch issues that are really frustrating at times (leveling up, for example -- can't press the tiny little buttons). ### 5/5 — Classic *2015-08-13, version 1.0.1* Jeff is an inspiration. His games were among the first I loved. And now I make RPGs for a living :) ### 5/5 — Excellent! *2015-08-04, version 1.0.1* Great game and thanks for providing the ability to save & transfer our game data using iTunes File Sharing...maybe you can update the other games (Avadon 2: The Corruption) to take advantage of this as well since iOS 8.3 broke the ability for the user to archive & restore save game data. ### 5/5 — More brilliant gaming from a master story teller *2015-08-02, version 1.0.1* What makes spiderweb software games great is great gameplay and solid hours of gaming. In a world increasingly chocked full of "play for a few minutes" or "need to kill time" apps, Jeff reminds me that the long game, the games that need you to sit down and invest in the story, the games that aren't about the quick kill or the star achievement, are games that are worth playing and worth paying for. Well worth the money you spend for the hours of gaming you get. ### 5/5 — easily the best and most complete rpg on the ipad *2015-07-25, version 1.0.1* if you're a fan of classic rpgs -- and if you aren't, why are you reading this review -- this is a polished must-have experience. intuitive and deep, with an entertaining story and professional-level encounter design along with a meaty tactical layer, avernum 2 easily stacks up to the best of classic PC RPGs. ### 4/5 — Good start - needs work *2015-07-22, version 1.0.1* I'm comparing this game to the original Avernum for iPad, which is a masterpiece that I've sunk many hours into. This one needs a little more work by comparison. At times the graphics are too choppy when the characters are moving (iPad 4) - the earthquake effect. It's more difficult to press the secret door blocks and 'OK' text boxes. At the beginning of the game I was fighting nephilim and accidentally bumped the mini map which moved the window to another place on the map. When I moved the screen back to the fight, the enemies were just gone. Still a great game, but needs a bit of polish still. ### 5/5 — Excellent game *2015-07-18, version 1.0.1* Been playing for about 10h now and overall it's a great port of a PC game. Controls map well to a touchscreen and the story is excellent. If you like old-school turn-based RPGs, then this is the game for you. Only two issues to note (I don't think these are such a problem to warrant a lower star rating): 1) a pinch and zoom feature would be nice 2) a screen rotate feature would help with some battles because terrain sometimes makes it hard to see certain enemies Still - awesome story-driven RPG ### 5/5 — Classic Fun *2015-07-17, version 1.0.1* Spiderweb Software's games are just a pleasure to play. Classic RPG with a great story, fun humor, and challenging strategy. Avernum 2 lives up to what I've come to expect. I wish I had the whole Avernum universe to play in. You should play it, too. ### 5/5 — Yes. *2015-07-16, version 1.0.1* Yes, yes, yes. I spent months of my life playing Exile 2, and the HD remake is a thing of beauty. I would have paid twice the price. Frankly, only Elder Scrolls comes close to an RPG of this caliber. ### 5/5 — DEFINITELY WORK $10 for a Classic-Style RPG *2015-07-15, version 1.0.1* This one-man developer does great work keeping this style of RPG alive. If the screenshots, and UltimaV style games are your thing, you will LOVE this. I think it is his best! A lot of fun, and the whole experience just has a great “vibe” and feel. ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2015-07-12, version 1.0.1* I am so excited that this game is on iPad. The developer has done an amazing job. The story is really long and deep and the choices you make significantly change the events in the game. The battle system and leveling system are fun and fair. The graphics are old school--you have to be ready for some small detail, some reading, the occasional mis-click when a button is too small. No matter--this is the trade-off for a rich, strategic game instead of a cartoony slash fest. So worth it to have a game that is not dumbed down. I really loved the first Avernum game and this one seems just as good, with an interesting history that continues rather than rehashes the story. One of the best single player RPGs I've ever played on any platform. Cheap at the price. Highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Love the series. *2015-07-12, version 1.0.1* Improving. Very awesome. ### 5/5 — Full CRPG Experience *2015-07-08, version 1.0.1* For anyone who is a fan of the 'Ultima V' style RPG. Jeff Vogel, the single threaded Developer, pours his heart and soul into these games. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Boring *2015-07-10, version 1.0.1* I paid $10 for a game that you have to read more than you get to play. Boring to say the least. The turn-base seems like it came out of the 90s. ### 1/5 — Screen is offset *2015-04-16, version 1.0.0* Depending on how your holding your device the game screen has a two inch strip of black on either the left or right , it's as if The game is pushed to the side . Unplayable wich is sad considering I just paid 10$ for it they better make this right , I love the other games what went wrong here? I'm using an iPad 2 ### 1/5 — Screen size problems *2015-04-15, version 1.0.0* I just bought this because I liked the previous games. To my dismay, the display is cut off on either side of my iPad 2's screen. Hard to play that way. ### 1/5 — Not working. *2015-04-15, version 1.0.0* Downloads o.k but, after instructions you can't get out! You have to turn off IPad and go back in to pick your characters....but then again when you try to start game....it sends you back to menu! Tried everything, but no good. Want money back...how? ### 2/5 — Hard on the Eyes *2016-02-07, version 1.0.1* Unlike Avernum 6 and Escape from the Pit, this game is very hard on the eyes and brain. While traveling in this game, the characters stay in one place and the rest of the screen jerks up, down, left and right to simulate movement. If this were fixed, I'd give the game 4 or 5 stars. ### 2/5 — Disappointed. *2015-07-11, version 1.0.1* This is not a 10$ game. The gameplay is average, the screen detail is FAR too small even on a full sized iPad and it is difficult to manage your team during combat at times as a result. Do not waste your money as I did. ### 3/5 — Great design, bad interface design *2017-10-18, version 1.0.2* Gameplay is great, but it would be better if the screen orientation did not default to one angle, and the game allowed us to turn the screen on the iPad. ### 3/5 — Controls not great *2015-07-12, version 1.0.1* I've just started playing this game and I'm finding the controls are awkward at best..the story seems good but poor controls take away from the overall game experience ..it's also hard to determine which character turn it is...I'll keep playing but wanted to put my two cents in... ### 4/5 — Thoroughly Enjoyable But... *2017-08-03, version 1.0.2* I played the first Avernum episode (Escape from the Pit) and enjoyed it but felt the ending was underwhelming. This second Avernum episode is more complex as there are more sides to the conflict and resolution takes more effort. Its better but not perfect as the ending is still unsatisfying. They should have hired someone to write a better narrative because after all the struggles there needs to be a more meaningful result or the game feels nihilistic and players will have to be Zen adepts not to be disappointed. I guess that is the limit of this kind of game, you fight little fights, gather resources, fight bigger fights, repeat, then the ultimate fight, and after that there is nothing to do. It shows the utter futility of conflict and thus the limit of rpg games like this series. Otherwise, all the mechanics of the game etc are fine - easy to learn the game, loads of entertainment playing it, some funny episodes (e.g. Blosk dialogues which will amuse fans of British television comedy), some cute animations (I love the way rats and demons die), some bizzare stuff never fully explained so one replays a scenario to try to puzzle out the implied story (e.g. Motrax and cats, Athron's boyfriend... what are we not being told!?!) Worth every penny - just dont expect to get an answer to the meaning of life (ha!) ### 4/5 — Fantastic, if flawed *2017-02-05, version 1.0.2* As per usual the Avernum series is in excellent form as a densely filled story, turn-based RPG. Great writing, tons to do, huge map, decent combat system, super easy to learn. Time, however, is being less and less kind towards the game engine. There's a number of things that need to be addressed: - iPad pull tab menus don't rotate with the game - Pathing is horrible and you routinely need to manually move characters out of the way to walk past them for attacks. Otherwise they walk away from the fight or simply do nothing - Touch interface isn't accurate. Hitting menu buttons can be a pain and you'll regularly delete quick actions by accident - Walking around makes the camera stutter horrifically at times It's a great game in most respects but, at least on the iPad, the series is starting to show the rougher part of its edges more. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Exile 2 *2024-10-12, version 1.1.2* I started playing Exile before I could read because my sister, who could read, was playing it. Took a long time to learn how to distribute skill points and cast spells other than spark before combat became more than die or run away. I just wanted that boat she had. Solving the riddles in the Vahneti Temple was a team effort but we walk out of those tests with faith transcending our previous childish efforts. Capture Soul and Simulacrum. The whole thing was thrilling from start to finish and then we got to ascend to the surface and fight that crazy Alien Slime. Amazing. Avernum is sure good too it just doesn’t have a midi version of Beethovens Little Fugue to loop over and the ver until you find out it’s a real song. And the secret doors don’t make a creaking sound and appear like an outline in the wall… ### 5/5 — Fantastic Followup *2024-08-21, version 1.1.2* Another spiderweb software banger, this gem is almost as good as the original Avernum, only dragging a long a little at the end when enemy HP bloat starts to pick up. There’s dozens and dozens of hours of great content in this one, and you’ll stay hooked from start to finish trying to defeat the empire and discover all of Avernums secrets. ### 5/5 — Timeless and Amazing *2022-03-11, version 1.1.2* I got this game way back when it was called Exile 2: Crystal Souls. It came as part of a bundle of games on a CD in the late 90s. I have since bought this game series in multiple media over the decades. I love having it on my iPad where I can revisit my favorite scenes and adventures :D ### 5/5 — Very good! *2019-01-10, version 1.0.2* Those who like D&D’s games, will be happy with Avernum games too! ### 5/5 — Good game *2017-10-23, version 1.0.2* Highly recommended. Deep and immersive rpg in a unique setting. ### 5/5 — Awesome retro fantasy RPG!!! *2016-12-14, version 1.0.2* Spiderweb Software makes the best story driven RPG's that I ever played. If you like old school fantasy RPG's like Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Avadon, and Dungeons of Chaos on iOS, then this game is for you! ### 5/5 — My favorite series *2016-05-27, version 1.0.1* I love everything about this game !!!! If there was something I would like to add,it's kinda silly but, when changing armor equipment have it also change on actual character, not only allowing them to refine their skills but also control how they look doing it ..... This suggestion may p.o. Some ppl but idc I like games where I'm able to customize a bit more n not have to pay for it , so no harm to anyone just an idea suggestion ### 5/5 — Best Game out there *2016-03-02, version 1.0.1* Spiderweb makes the best game out there either the most extensive worlds. The time play on the game is fantastic. Love these for the iPad. ### 5/5 — Amazing, incredibly lengthy (in a great way), and thoroughly engaging. *2016-02-23, version 1.0.1* I played version 1.0 of this game when it was still called Exile, and the giant step up in quality is proof of the developper's dedication to keeping great stories alive. A must buy for any RPG fan. ### 5/5 — Love these type of games. *2015-09-13* This is an excellent game. Mature and well thought out. Love that there are no inapp purchases. Good game for those who like Baldurs Gate and The Bards Tale type games. Try Spiderwebs' other games. They are also good. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-17.*