Nidhogg 2 is a competitive dueling game where two players fence, wrestle, and outmaneuver each other in a race to reach the far end of the screen, where the winner is ceremonially devoured by a giant worm. Its garish, hand-drawn art style is a deliberate departure from the original's minimalism.

Matches are fast and unpredictable, with a variety of weapons and quick reversals keeping every duel tense until the final dash. It's built for local multiplayer sessions between friends who enjoy chaotic, skill-based one-on-one competition.