Code Vein II Reviews
A bold sequel with great combat and character moments, but uneven design choices stop Code Vein II from reaching its full potential.
Code Vein 2 excels at being a more accessible sequel, offering a game that fans of the original will find irresistible. However, it's technically unpolished on consoles, and it struggles to stand out in a sea of soulslikes. What Code Vein 2 does better than the others, though, is the excellent world-building and exploration and some fun, brazen characters that'll make you love them.
Even though an 8/10 may sound like a solid score, that's actually lower than it could have gotten if it had been polished even further. Sure, the gameplay is nice and the story's very compelling; but with the backdrop of a horribly dumb enemy AI and its terrible performance issues, Code Vein 2 on release is at its worst.
Code Vein II overstays its welcome long before the credits roll. This is one Souls-like missing its soul.
Code Vein 2 delivers a confident experience that knows exactly what it wants to be, evolving the series’ identity without abandoning its roots. It expands gameplay with multiple playstyles while reshaping the experience around a standalone, human-centered story filled with regret and inner conflict, exploring fate and the heavy cost of change. Deeper in its systems and clearer in its artistic vision, it proves that Code Vein now holds its own space within the soulslike genre rather than relying on its popularity.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
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Review in Arabic | Read full review
Code Vein II reminds me of a PS2 game, and I say that as the highest praise. It doesn’t always get what’s going for, but man is it trying. It’s the kind of game you’d rent for a weekend and think about for years afterward, not because it’s the prettiest or the most polished or the best in its genre, but because it’s unique and trying hard and succeeding in cool, memorable ways.
Overall, Code Vein II improves on the first game with more in-depth combat, better voice acting, and fun characters. However, a world that feels a little empty and some minor bugs hold it back from being the perfect sequel. Still, this is a fun way to start 2026 and should be on your radar if you’re a fan of the soulslike genre.
The result is an experience that excels mechanically but sometimes struggles to give those mechanics the emotional weight they deserve. Still, soulslike fans do not want to miss this difficult RPG.
CODE VEIN II is a big improvement over the first game. It gives you a deep, open-world anime Souls-like experience with big battle systems, characters that make you feel a lot, and a world that rewards exploration. Early-game explanations and jargon can be too much, but the story and exchanges between characters quickly become interesting.
CODE VEIN II doesn't want to be the hardest game in the room. In its place, it centers on emotional resonance, player freedom, and ease of access. Even though technology problems and enemies that keep coming back keep it from being great, its strengths are much greater than its weaknesses.
Code Vein II is a game whose final rating depends heavily on the player. For those unfamiliar with anime, soulslikes, and story-driven RPGs, it's a solid but unsurprising experience that leans towards a six. For fans of Japanese action RPGs, however, Code Vein II offers a solid and well-developed experience, earning an eight. The performance is excellent, the combat deep and accessible, and the world and lore offer enough to keep you occupied for dozens of hours. Thanks to the lower difficulty level, the minor shortcomings are easier to ignore. In any case, it's a game you'll pick up effortlessly if you enjoyed the first Code Vein.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Code Vein II is a high-quality sequel, but not perfect. Some game design choices seemed a bit too bold and counterproductive to us, and, as far as we’re concerned, they limited the enjoyment of the title. In particular, we were somewhat disappointed with the level of difficulty balancing, with the presence of numerous almost mandatory “blockades” that you have no choice but to confront.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This "anime Souls" sequel drains the life from its premise with sluggish combat and a tedious, repetitive open world. While character customization remains deep, wonky hit detection and lackluster performance make saving the past feel like a waste of the user’s future.
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