Should I get OMD1 or OMD2?

[cubeman]

Was browsing around the store and founded this fun looking game but I don't know which one to get for my steamdeck. What do you recommend?

[Uber Conan]

OMD1 doesn't support coop, so if that's important to you, get 2. I liked OMD2 better in general, because of the coop support and smoother graphics (OMD1 often had enemy animations that jumped when I played, but were problematic for completing the stages). However, there was an aspect in 1 called Weavers[orcsmustdie.fandom.com] that was popular with some players, but I just felt it added unnecessary complexity.

[cubeman]

Originally posted by Uber Conan:

OMD1 doesn't support coop, so if that's important to you, get 2. I liked OMD2 better in general, because of the coop support and smoother graphics (OMD1 often had enemy animations that jumped when I played, but were problematic for completing the stages). However, there was an aspect in 1 called Weavers[orcsmustdie.fandom.com] that was popular with some players, but I just felt it added unnecessary complexity.

Ok thanks, I might get OMD2 due to it also having workshop support which would give it more replayability. Also how's OMD3 btw?

[Uber Conan]

Originally posted by cubeman:

Ok thanks, I might get OMD2 due to it also having workshop support which would give it more replayability. Also how's OMD3 btw?

I've only got a handful of hours in OMD3. I still prefer 2, but 3 is not bad and I anticipate playing it more.

[Beef]

2 is overall the best experience, ranging from co-op to just how the game plays
1 is good in terms of difficulty, and is the only one with weavers
3 is generally the easiest, it wasnt hard to 5 skull any level really

get them all IMO, but if i have to pick 1 i'd say 2

[basslines]

get them both you cheap ♥♥♥♥

[TEA || IT'S CHRISTMAS]

At least 1 and 2 honestly, it's not too expensive. OMD2 is more polished though. 3 kinda sucked in comparison but it's still a good game

[cubeman]

Originally posted by TEA || IT'S CHRISTMAS:

At least 1 and 2 honestly, it's not too expensive. OMD2 is more polished though. 3 kinda sucked in comparison but it's still a good game

I actually managed to get both OMD 1&2 with the money I got from selling some old board games I didn't play anymore. Ill play the first one and then go to the sequel

[RDC100]

Hi, I know it's been 4 months, but I love orcs must die!. Every school holiday since 2016 I have played though the series. I think they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Orcs must die 1! has a really good story line and the weavers (allow you to have special abilities or passive abilities) was a really fun addition to the game. I can't tell you how many times I have replayed it. Orcs must die 2! has a shorter game play but also has endless and the tlc modes like fire and water, etc which are quiet fun. Again, countless hours spent killing orcs. While Orcs must die 3! can still be fun, it doesn't have the same feeling as the first 2. The first 2 have the creepy dungeon vibe whilst the 3rd is more colour-orientated. Nonetheless, There is also a lot of fun to be had with a new introduction of Scrabble mode where you get random locations to fight, you can choose between 2 options but each location has a disadvantage that stacks the further you progress. I would recommend number 1 to try, and if you enjoy it, moving onto 2 and 3 is a wise choice!
Hope this helped

[Wolf_Hastenichgesehn]

Get Orcs Must Die! 2 first for co-op fun. If you enjoy the game and want a challenge, get the first OMD! as well for hardened solo play, and also to unlock more maps for OMD! 2.

[greentiger]

Get both. 2 is the better game, but 1 is fun too.

[intenselygoodtime]

I recommend all 3, and all DLC packs -- just put them all on your wishlist and buy as they go on sale.

The optimal play-order is 2,1,3.
...but you'd be fine playing 1,2,3 too. The lead characters make a boatload more sense this way. Plus, if you have 1, a bunch of those levels are replayable inside of 2 with 2's gameplay (i.e., it's NOT the same game, but a map pack.)

2 is a good balance of the raw gameplay that 1 brought, plus a great variety of traps and builds for your 2nd playthrough in Nightmare mode. (ABSOLUTELY WORTHWHILE IN EACH GAME.)

3 is mainly a "bigger is better" type of upgrade over 2 -- the levels get HUGE, with custom open-air traps that present an entirely new style of play. As others have said, on the base difficulty 3 is easier than the other 2 games, but on Nightmare 3 is far harder and requires both more hero-skill and more tactical planning skill for at least half the maps. You have to be on the move and really push the Orc spawners else you won't get perfect scores. ...but I'm getting WAY ahead of the conversation at this point...

Don't skip the DLCs -- in each game, they add a worthwhile set of variety.
Note: 2 and 3 are single-platform: Nothing carries between Steam or other platforms. (OMD3 is glorious to behold on Xbox Series X on a high-refresh 85" 4K screen with surround sound though.)