A One-Night Detective Thriller That Hits Hard, Kathy Rain 2 Delivers
I finished the Kathy Rain Sequel: Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer in a marathon 6–7-hour session: coffee, rain sounds, and a suffocating pixel noir hangover later. By the final cutscene, I was hooked. This atmospheric detective game is lean, sad, unsettling, and every bit as compelling as its predecessor in 2016.
Previously on Kathy Rain…
In the first game (and by first I mean, Kathy Rain Director’s Cut), Kathy returns to her hometown, Conwell Springs, after her grandfather’s mysterious death. What starts as a personal investigation spirals into a tangled web of cults, comas, and creepy supernatural forces: all tied to a town that wants its secrets buried. Along the way, Kathy’s forced to confront her broken family, unprocessed grief, and a darkness that doesn’t play by earthly rules.
Do I Need to Play the First Game?
If you haven’t played Kathy Rain, go back. While Soothsayer works as a standalone story, the emotional impact-the callbacks, Kathy’s inner wounds, that looming sense of family burden, lands so much harder if you’ve lived her original descent into grief and cultish small-town weirdness. That said, the game even offers a slick recap with voice-over and Polaroid-style flashbacks, helpful but not a full substitute
What Happens in Soothsayer?
It’s 1998 in Kassidy, three years after the original’s weirdness. Kathy, now a burnt-out private eye bleeding funds, gets a new case: a serial killer who leaves obsidian scrying mirrors at each murder site, nicknamed the “Soothsayer.” She can’t afford to walk away from the cash and prestige attached so she dives in. The game’s urban thrill vibe is strong, with the familiar pixel art upgraded: sharper portraits, richer lighting, and cinematic cutscenes that pull you further into Kathy’s inner world.
Gameplay & Puzzles
- Classic point-and-click interface-intuitive, smooth.
- Mostly fair puzzles, but yep, there are some “90s adventure-headscratchers.”
- One encryption/minigame felt like a fraught throwback (spoiler: I Googled the logic).
- The detective loop of finding clues, connecting dots, and chatting with suspects is tightly paced and deeply satisfying
- Speaking to a wide variety of characters on the topics provides some fun takes depending on who you’re asking!
Replay Value & Achievements
There’s no real branching story or multiple endings (let’s set that myth aside). But there are 65 Steam achievements, many tied to optional scenes or hidden actions. Casual play gets you most of them, but for completionists, replaying for those sneaky ones is actually fun. I still have a few more pending!
If you’re into uncovering Easter eggs or reaching 100% completion, this one’s worth a second, third or even fourth, round.
Visuals & Atmosphere
- Gorgeous pixel art, crisper than ever.
- Dynamic lighting, rainy windows, reflection details, those visuals sell the mood
- Sound design leans minimal but hits hard: dripping pipes, distant thunder, minor synth stabs.
Kathy Rain 2 Pros:
- Strong narrative continuity and emotional depth
- Well-written Kathy, still flawed, still relatable
- Sharp voice acting with full audio
- Tight pacing that keeps you hooked
- Accessible puzzles with nostalgic flair
- Rich visual upgrades over the original
Kathy Rain 2 Cons:
- A couple of puzzles drift into moon logic
- Lacks branching story: only one ending
- If you skip the first game, the emotional stakes miss half their weight
Pricing & Where to Play Kathy Rain 2
Kathy Rain: Soothsayer or Kathy Rain 2 is available now on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, running on Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
- Steam lists it at around $19.99 USD (₹880 INR), currently discounted by around 10% in some regions ($17.99 in select markets)
- GOG features it DRM-free for the same price, with optional soundtrack and deluxe editions available
- No microtransactions or DLC traps, just a standalone, emotionally packed mystery.
If you’re in India, the regional Steam price (~₹880) translates to roughly ₹800 during launch discounts AKA a full night’s worth of detective escapism for under a coffee-shop tab.
Games Like Kathy Rain: Soothsayer
- Whispers of a Machine – sci-fi detective game from the same dev
- Unavowed – urban fantasy meets detective work
- Lamplight City – Steampunk detective game with thoughtful puzzles and a richly drawn noir setting.
- Unforeseen Incidents – A beautifully hand-painted mystery with intuitive puzzles and strong dialogue. Mood: quiet detective drama with environmental stakes.
Final Take
Kathy Rain 2 is the kind of narrative mystery game you binge in one sitting. It knows exactly who it’s for: detective-philes who love slow-burn noir, clever puzzles, and protagonists with baggage. If you’ve got the original in your backlog, this sequel gives you everything you enjoy, polished harder and deeper.
It’s short, haunting, and hits that rare indie sweet spot between pixel nostalgia and emotional storytelling. Just wish there was more room to roam in that city of secrets. But hey, maybe next time.
Played on PC. One night. Rating 7.5/10.
Not too into gaming? Never fear, click here for a great movie recommendation or here for a new TV show to binge.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Mister Tikku.
Okay, so I’ll be honest—this is not my usual genre at all and I’m definitely not a gamer, but I still found your review so engaging! You made something completely outside my comfort zone sound genuinely interesting. I liked how you focused on the storytelling and mood—it gave me a glimpse into why people love these games. Even though I probably won’t play it, I appreciated your insights and how passionately you wrote about it. Great job breaking it down in such an accessible way!
Great to know about something completely new (for me) with this post. I have zero idea about gaming, but as a creator, I have great appreciation for those who are passionate about their specific genre.
I can see the appeal of Kathy Rain.It has an emotional raw narrative and has suspense and mystery. I love games that have a detective theme.I love the art style too.
Thank you for introducing me to something new. It sounds very intriguing.
I feel ancient after reading your review on Kathy Rain. I have never heard of it before. But thank you for brushing up my knowledge and I learnt something new from your blog, today.
My knowledge of gaming is zilch! But I liked reading about Kathy Rain as she is a detective. I love thrillers and maybe I won’t play, but I did learn something new–games on deep emotional dark aspects.
Not a gamer but your way of writing is engaging. The write up is detailed and informative.
I wish I played games. it sounds so interesting
Great job capturing the eerie pixel‑art vibe and dark atmosphere of Kathy Rain 2. I’m not into gaming at all but you’ve at least managed to pique my interest enough to check this one. So job well done!
Not a fan of games, but your blog is just interesting and made me curious to check this one out.
This was a fresh way of exciting and intriguing genre for me. My sister loves detective themed games will definitely share with her.
Once upon a time I used to play such online games but gone are those days now for me because of work commitment, pressure, family and lot more. But I must say your post actually made me feel back to those old days… for me truly its a nostalgic feeling and I feel like hugging you for giving the flavour of the lost memories. I feel so good after reading your post as you made me feel exploring the game in real life. Brilliant presentation.
Not usually my genre and I’m no gamer, but your review had me hooked. Loved how you highlighted the storytelling and mood, gave me a better sense of why these games are so loved.
Thanks for the briefing about the game. I would love to try it. Though I never played many online games, it’s still quirky and interesting. I will try it.
This sounds so interesting! I haven’t played either of the Kathy Rain games yet, but now I’m really tempted to start. Love how you described the mood and emotional depth, definitely adding it to my list for a cozy weekend binge.
Love how you touched on the supernatural twist – Tiny Horror and Twin Peaks vibes! That kind of eerie payoff seems to be a hallmark of the series.
Reading this review brought back memories of my own late-night gaming marathons with Kathy Rain. The blend of mystery, nostalgia, and emotional depth makes it so much more than just a game. Truly a heartfelt journey worth experiencing again and again.
I guess its the first time im reading a game review, its fun to read a gaming one. different from my usual reads
This is the kind of story I love to read and was getting excited about it, but alas! Not a gamer but can vouch that it’ll be totally worth spending good money for.
The concept sounds interesting. I don’t play any video games, just the word games on my phone.
i am not a gamer, but my techie hubby is a gamer and would love it…
Oh wow! That sure sounds like an interesting game! Love to learn something new.
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds interesting from your way with the words. will decide if I need to check this out
This looks so exciting! Not my typical genre but now I need to check this out!
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Gosh I haven’t played video games since I was a kid, especially detailed plot-driven ones! What fun!
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