Mortal Shell 2 reviews landed this week, and critics are largely in agreement that Cold Symmetry's sequel is a dramatic leap forward from its 2020 predecessor. The game currently sits at an 85 average on Metacritic and holds a "Mighty" rating on OpenCritic from 37 critics, with 92% recommending it, placing Mortal Shell 2 among the best-reviewed Soulslikes not developed by FromSoftware. That reception comes despite a modest debut for the original game, which built a cult following through its unusual Shell-based class system rather than blockbuster sales, making the sequel's critical reception a genuine underdog story within the crowded Soulslike genre. Here is what the reviews are saying about the game's world, combat, and where it still stumbles.
Kotaku's review, written by John Learned, opens with an unusual thesis: Mortal Shell 2 is simply the most metal video game the critic has ever played, from its cult-heavy opening to a world that looks torn from a Wayne Barlowe painting. The review compares the game's tone to the Blasphemous series, taking itself so seriously it borders on the theatrical, and praises the game's expanded scope compared to the tightly compact original, noting the sequel's open environment is littered with weapons, small dungeons, and Tarstones that let players build out distinct character builds. Kotaku singles out the removal of the traditional Souls-style stamina meter as the game's most controversial decision, initially frustrating but ultimately fitting for the game's lumbering, weighty combat once its rhythm clicks, letting players attack, run, and dodge with impunity rather than managing a depleting resource. The review's stated dislikes include a scarcity of upgrade materials and currency that made character builds feel restrictive and grindy, alongside occasional environmental collision issues, though neither was enough to undercut an overall glowing 40-hour playthrough.
Across the wider Mortal Shell 2 review roundup, the most consistent praise centers on the Shell system itself, now offering more diverse classes, active Shell abilities, and layered combat improvements over the original. OpenCritic's aggregated consensus describes the game as taking meaningful steps forward in almost every major area, citing its large, handcrafted open world and a combat system with more depth than its simple design initially suggests. Multiple outlets specifically called out the absence of a stamina system as a defining change, arguing it gives players more freedom rather than making combat easier, allowing the battle system to develop an identity distinct from stamina-gated Soulslikes like Dark Souls or Elden Ring.
Not every note in the Mortal Shell 2 review roundup is positive. OpenCritic's consensus specifically flags shortcomings in the game's progression system, main story, and soundtrack as recurring weak points across otherwise strong reviews. Giant Bomb's review noted that resource distribution can feel confusing, sometimes steering players away from experimenting with different builds even though reaching a Shell or weapon's full potential was never required to finish the game. Pure Xbox's roundup of early reviews found at least one outlet describing inconsistent parry timing and unclear feedback on certain actions, leading to moments of uncertainty about whether an input had actually registered.
Several reviews describe Mortal Shell 2 as more accessible than typical Soulslikes, prioritizing fun and flexibility over raw difficulty, while still offering harder options for players who want them. Giant Bomb specifically notes that "Full Night" and "no-glimpse" challenge modes exist for players seeking a punishing experience, while the base game leans toward welcoming newcomers who bounced off the original's stamina-gated combat.
The original Mortal Shell launched in 2020 to a 76 Metacritic score and a 6.1 user score, generally positive but unremarkable by Soulslike standards, developed and published independently before Cold Symmetry found a wider audience through word of mouth. Mortal Shell 2's 83 to 85 range across aggregators represents a significant jump, positioning the sequel as one of the highest-rated Soulslikes from a studio other than FromSoftware. The original's Shell system, which let the Harbinger possess reanimated corpses of exceptional warriors as character classes instead of a traditional character creator, has been doubled from four Shells to eight in the sequel. Confirmed Shells so far include returning favorites Eredrim the Venerable, a heavily armored tank-style warrior, and Tiel the Acolyte, a nimble rogue-like fighter, alongside new warriors like Proxima the Broodseeker, each offering unique abilities of each warrior tied to their own style of combat and playstyle.
Cold Symmetry's own marketing describes Mortal Shell II, the game's official title, as a standalone sequel that significantly expands the original with unrestricted, adrenaline-charged combat and an emphasis on free exploration across a compact but interconnected open world. An open beta ahead of launch let players sample the prologue and first explorable region, confirming early Shells like Harros and Tiel the Acolyte before the full release. Players step through derelict temples of ancient deities, forbidden forests, and citadels carved from bone, with more than 60 dungeons scattered across the map, each offering a challenging test of the talents and weaponry collected along the way. The premise casts the Harbinger as a being prophesied to reclaim the blessed Undermether's stolen eggs from the dangerous creatures guarding them, wandering a ravaged world that rewards curiosity with new warriors to possess, additional story elements, and powerful sidearms and weaponry to use against tougher foes. Combat removes stamina gauges entirely in favor of enhanced execution options, break damage buildup, and deep learning of enemy attack patterns, delivering what Cold Symmetry calls a kinetic, chaotic dark power fantasy built on precision rather than resource management. Each Shell also carries at least one passive ability alongside its active skills. Weapon and Shell customization benefits from extensive upgrade options and real build variety, encouraging experimentation across the arsenal of weapons available. Official screenshots and stats for the action-RPG have circulated widely since the reveal trailer.
Mortal Shell 2 launched across three editions. The Standard Edition includes the full game and pre-order bonus Harbinger skins. The Devout Edition adds an exclusive Obsidian skin set for all eight playable Shells alongside early access. A PS5-exclusive Revered Edition adds physical extras including a SteelBook case, a 100-plus-page physical artbook, and fine art prints alongside its own collector's box.
Fextralife hosts a comprehensive Mortal Shell 2 wiki covering Shells, weapons, and dungeon locations, while Game8 and GamesRadar both publish detailed guides on Shell unlock order, boss strategies, and build recommendations, drawing on datamined and confirmed information from the open beta and early access period.
Mortal Shell 2's Steam listing sets minimum requirements at an Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16GB RAM, a GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER or Radeon RX 6600 with 8GB VRAM, DirectX 12, and roughly 30GB of storage. No recommended specification above these minimums has been published.
Kotaku's reviewer reported roughly 40 hours to complete the main campaign and explore several dozen dungeons, finding all eight Shells while missing only a couple of weapons, indicating a substantially longer game than the original's tighter 10-to-15-hour runtime.
Mortal Shell 2 released with early access through its Devout Edition on August 17, 2026, ahead of a full launch on August 20 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Physical PS5 editions reportedly sold out quickly following early access, with players calling on Sony to take note of the demand for physical Soulslike releases. With critics largely agreeing the sequel corrects the original's pacing and stamina complaints while expanding nearly every system, Mortal Shell 2 looks positioned as a genuine sleeper hit heading into a crowded back half of 2026 for the Soulslike genre.
Olivia Blake · Editor
Editor
Mortal Shell 2 reviews landed this week, and critics are largely in agreement that Cold Symmetry's sequel is a dramatic leap forward from its 2020 predecessor. The game currently sits at an 85 average on Metacritic and holds a "Mighty" rating on OpenCritic from 37 critics, with 92% recommending it, placing Mortal Shell 2 among the best-reviewed Soulslikes not developed by FromSoftware. That reception comes despite a modest debut for the original game, which built a cult following through its unusual Shell-based class system rather than blockbuster sales, making the sequel's critical reception a genuine underdog story within the crowded Soulslike genre. Here is what the reviews are saying about the game's world, combat, and where it still stumbles.
Kotaku's review, written by John Learned, opens with an unusual thesis: Mortal Shell 2 is simply the most metal video game the critic has ever played, from its cult-heavy opening to a world that looks torn from a Wayne Barlowe painting. The review compares the game's tone to the Blasphemous series, taking itself so seriously it borders on the theatrical, and praises the game's expanded scope compared to the tightly compact original, noting the sequel's open environment is littered with weapons, small dungeons, and Tarstones that let players build out distinct character builds. Kotaku singles out the removal of the traditional Souls-style stamina meter as the game's most controversial decision, initially frustrating but ultimately fitting for the game's lumbering, weighty combat once its rhythm clicks, letting players attack, run, and dodge with impunity rather than managing a depleting resource. The review's stated dislikes include a scarcity of upgrade materials and currency that made character builds feel restrictive and grindy, alongside occasional environmental collision issues, though neither was enough to undercut an overall glowing 40-hour playthrough.
Across the wider Mortal Shell 2 review roundup, the most consistent praise centers on the Shell system itself, now offering more diverse classes, active Shell abilities, and layered combat improvements over the original. OpenCritic's aggregated consensus describes the game as taking meaningful steps forward in almost every major area, citing its large, handcrafted open world and a combat system with more depth than its simple design initially suggests. Multiple outlets specifically called out the absence of a stamina system as a defining change, arguing it gives players more freedom rather than making combat easier, allowing the battle system to develop an identity distinct from stamina-gated Soulslikes like Dark Souls or Elden Ring.
Not every note in the Mortal Shell 2 review roundup is positive. OpenCritic's consensus specifically flags shortcomings in the game's progression system, main story, and soundtrack as recurring weak points across otherwise strong reviews. Giant Bomb's review noted that resource distribution can feel confusing, sometimes steering players away from experimenting with different builds even though reaching a Shell or weapon's full potential was never required to finish the game. Pure Xbox's roundup of early reviews found at least one outlet describing inconsistent parry timing and unclear feedback on certain actions, leading to moments of uncertainty about whether an input had actually registered.
Several reviews describe Mortal Shell 2 as more accessible than typical Soulslikes, prioritizing fun and flexibility over raw difficulty, while still offering harder options for players who want them. Giant Bomb specifically notes that "Full Night" and "no-glimpse" challenge modes exist for players seeking a punishing experience, while the base game leans toward welcoming newcomers who bounced off the original's stamina-gated combat.
The original Mortal Shell launched in 2020 to a 76 Metacritic score and a 6.1 user score, generally positive but unremarkable by Soulslike standards, developed and published independently before Cold Symmetry found a wider audience through word of mouth. Mortal Shell 2's 83 to 85 range across aggregators represents a significant jump, positioning the sequel as one of the highest-rated Soulslikes from a studio other than FromSoftware. The original's Shell system, which let the Harbinger possess reanimated corpses of exceptional warriors as character classes instead of a traditional character creator, has been doubled from four Shells to eight in the sequel. Confirmed Shells so far include returning favorites Eredrim the Venerable, a heavily armored tank-style warrior, and Tiel the Acolyte, a nimble rogue-like fighter, alongside new warriors like Proxima the Broodseeker, each offering unique abilities of each warrior tied to their own style of combat and playstyle.
Cold Symmetry's own marketing describes Mortal Shell II, the game's official title, as a standalone sequel that significantly expands the original with unrestricted, adrenaline-charged combat and an emphasis on free exploration across a compact but interconnected open world. An open beta ahead of launch let players sample the prologue and first explorable region, confirming early Shells like Harros and Tiel the Acolyte before the full release. Players step through derelict temples of ancient deities, forbidden forests, and citadels carved from bone, with more than 60 dungeons scattered across the map, each offering a challenging test of the talents and weaponry collected along the way. The premise casts the Harbinger as a being prophesied to reclaim the blessed Undermether's stolen eggs from the dangerous creatures guarding them, wandering a ravaged world that rewards curiosity with new warriors to possess, additional story elements, and powerful sidearms and weaponry to use against tougher foes. Combat removes stamina gauges entirely in favor of enhanced execution options, break damage buildup, and deep learning of enemy attack patterns, delivering what Cold Symmetry calls a kinetic, chaotic dark power fantasy built on precision rather than resource management. Each Shell also carries at least one passive ability alongside its active skills. Weapon and Shell customization benefits from extensive upgrade options and real build variety, encouraging experimentation across the arsenal of weapons available. Official screenshots and stats for the action-RPG have circulated widely since the reveal trailer.
Mortal Shell 2 launched across three editions. The Standard Edition includes the full game and pre-order bonus Harbinger skins. The Devout Edition adds an exclusive Obsidian skin set for all eight playable Shells alongside early access. A PS5-exclusive Revered Edition adds physical extras including a SteelBook case, a 100-plus-page physical artbook, and fine art prints alongside its own collector's box.
Fextralife hosts a comprehensive Mortal Shell 2 wiki covering Shells, weapons, and dungeon locations, while Game8 and GamesRadar both publish detailed guides on Shell unlock order, boss strategies, and build recommendations, drawing on datamined and confirmed information from the open beta and early access period.
Mortal Shell 2's Steam listing sets minimum requirements at an Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16GB RAM, a GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER or Radeon RX 6600 with 8GB VRAM, DirectX 12, and roughly 30GB of storage. No recommended specification above these minimums has been published.
Kotaku's reviewer reported roughly 40 hours to complete the main campaign and explore several dozen dungeons, finding all eight Shells while missing only a couple of weapons, indicating a substantially longer game than the original's tighter 10-to-15-hour runtime.
Mortal Shell 2 released with early access through its Devout Edition on August 17, 2026, ahead of a full launch on August 20 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Physical PS5 editions reportedly sold out quickly following early access, with players calling on Sony to take note of the demand for physical Soulslike releases. With critics largely agreeing the sequel corrects the original's pacing and stamina complaints while expanding nearly every system, Mortal Shell 2 looks positioned as a genuine sleeper hit heading into a crowded back half of 2026 for the Soulslike genre.
Olivia Blake · Editor
Editor
