Code Vein II Reviews
Code Vein II, while remaining a more or less traditional souls-like game, improves on its predecessor in every way. Its ambitious Elden Ring-style open world and timelines make this journey particularly fun and addictive in its gameplay loop.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Code Vein II is a missed opportunity: it expands the universe and streamlines the gameplay, but sacrifices challenge on the altar of accessibility. Between a difficulty flattened by overly powerful teammates and various technical uncertainties, it remains a pleasant title but lacking the spark necessary to excel.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Code Vein II builds on the first game in smart ways, with more flexible combat, a stronger focus on story, and a world that’s fun to spend time in. Technical issues and the lack of co-op hold it back a bit, but the core experience stays engaging thanks to how well everything comes together. It’s the kind of game that keeps you playing because there’s always another build to try or another path worth exploring.
Code Vein returns with a brand new story and new characters, expanded maps and layered, variable gameplay, all waiting to be explored. The freedom derived from the multitude of equipment, upgrades, abilities, statistics, and combat styles could be fun, but it could also be overwhelming due to dense, confusing, and inaccessible menus. Similarly, the unpolished technical aspects suggest a title that tried to be too daring, getting tangled up in a stuttering execution. Code Vein 2 is a game to be taken with a pinch of salt, which we recommend only to the most passionate fans of the action genre with strong “Souls-like” mechanics, lovers of Japanese-style high fantasy stories and those who don't shy away from challenges.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There's a lot going on in Code Vein 2, so much that it arguably loses some of the charm of its predecessor, and yet it's still quite a fun experience.
Code Vein II clearly wants to be more than a continuation of the first game. The shift in structure gives the world more room to breathe, and the combat still rewards players who like to adjust, experiment, and find their own rhythm. But that extra space comes at a cost. The open world softens the pressure that once kept everything moving forward, and the technical rough edges tend to show up exactly when clarity matters most. I enjoyed my time with Code Vein II, even when it tested my patience. I just kept thinking how much stronger it could have been with a tighter focus.
Packed with anime influences and an occasionally thrilling story, Code Vein II is not a bad game, but it is overstuffed and aimless to the point that it feels less than the sum of its parts.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
All things considered, Code Vein II feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air in an otherwise saturated souls-like genre. With its charming narrative, well-crafted social systems, and engaging mechanics, it keeps you hooked from start to finish as you dive deep into the mysteries of its post-apocalyptic world.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
A visually and technically messy Souls-like with a dull story, unbalanced combat and frustrating design choices; Code Vein II fails to capture the tight gameplay and atmosphere that make the genre shine.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
However, it just never quite feels like an essential recommendation for anyone other than hardcore Soulslike fans who appreciate a bit of anime flair. Combat lacks that last bit of punch to elevate its encounters, presentation doesn’t always match modern standards, and missing features like co-op feel like lost opportunities. Code Vein 2 is an enjoyable Soulslike with clear strengths, but it stops short of fully realizing its potential.
Code Vein 2 is an ambitious project full of ideas and personality, expanding the identity of the first game without losing its spirit. When everything clicks, its journey through timelines, companions, and striking environments delivers genuinely engaging moments. Unfortunately, a sluggish combat system, overly omniscient AI, and technical issues hold back an experience that could have shined far more. Still, it remains a distinctive, heartfelt soulslike that rewards those willing to embrace its rough edges. A clear step forward, even if not yet the leap I hoped for.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Code Vein II successfully expands and refines the formula of its predecessor, delivering fast-paced, challenging, and highly customizable combat alongside an engaging narrative. The addition of time-travel mechanics and the shift to an open world add variety to exploration, even though the latter does not go much further than what is basically expected from games of this scale. In the end, despite drawing inspiration from acclaimed titles, the game establishes itself as an action RPG with an identity of its own.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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Review in German | Read full review
Code Vein II is a deeply entertaining adventure that brings hope and life back to a ruined world, tears down massive beasts, and witnesses the most audacious segment in any action RPG.
Code Vein II realizes a lot of the original’s ideas better, but doesn’t do much with its narrative setup and still feels like a milquetoast Soulslike without much to latch onto.
In an attempt to follow trends, Code Vein 2 stumbles on the technical side and delivers an experience full of ups and downs. Combat has been brilliantly expanded; however, constant frame drops, attacks that lack impact, excessively recycled bosses, and an empty open world hold back what could have been one of the best titles in the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Code Vein II delivers a sequel that offers a bigger experience compared to the first, but a better experience may be subjective. Sporting upgraded visuals and a narrative that spans time periods, its deeper combat systems are the star of the show, offering Jails, Formae, and swappable Blood Codes that provide remarkable build diversity, with new weapon archetypes like Rune Blades and Twin Blades that are great options. Despite the expansion of the anime souls formula, it still lacks some polish, limiting its potential due to performance issues and severe texture pop-ins. Ultimately, Code Vein II stands as an ambitious sequel that pushes the series into new territory, even if not all players will embrace its direction.
For every thing Code Vein II does right, it does two things wrong. I had a lot of fun with its character creator and experimenting with its combat system, but its absurd story, boring environments, technical issues, and uneven pacing made it a tedious experience. Despite all that, it can offer some truly great moments, and its appealing characters will surely win it a fair number of fans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With its unique mechanics, "Code Vein 2" takes a refreshing approach compared to other games in the genre. The combat system is far more accessible thanks to AI-controlled companions. Enemies are tough but fair, though an occasionally frustrating camera can sour the experience. The flexible, modular progression system is a highlight, letting you swap abilities at any time and experiment freely without worrying about long-term build planning. The open world impresses with secrets, interconnected dungeons, and brutal challenges. It’s just a shame that the strong anime art style is held back by technical issues, including stuttering and performance hiccups.
Review in German | Read full review
Code Vein II is a huge improvement over its sequel from gameplay to level design, and even its partner system. It also retains its unrelenting brutality and difficulty without compromise, for better or worse. Like a bunch of gamemakers who stan From Software's work to the point where they don't give players a break and probably turning some folks off who really want to give this subgenre a shot.