Code Vein II Reviews
Code Vein II is the kind of sequel that tries to embrace the whole world and ends up tripping over its own feet. The ambition to create a vast open world with an anime aesthetic is clear, and the system that lets you switch classes at any time remains brilliant for the freedom it gives the player. The problem is that the game quickly loses its shine: exploration becomes tiring with empty environments and repetitive enemies, the story turns into a bureaucratic routine of “going back in time and saving someone,” and the technical performance leaves a lot to be desired.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Code Vein 2, in short, is an action JRPG with a very distinctive aesthetic and a deep, fun combat system. Ultimately, it's not a game that tries to reinvent the genre; it doesn't aspire to be the new Elden Ring or a Final Fantasy killer. To be honest, and after playing it quite a bit, I don't think the game even aspires to be those things. It's content to be a game that corrects the problems of its predecessor, respects the series' fandom, and, above all, entertains anyone who tries it. And if we judge it by these three factors, the game more than succeeds.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Code Vein II remains a big piece of the puzzle in a world littered with puzzling Soulslike at the moment. Usually, a second entry into a series like this one does something that would surprise fans (in a good way), but I fail to see that happening for Code Vein II.
Code Vein II is judged, depending on your point of view, as either interesting or a missed opportunity.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Code Vein 2 is a Souls-like Action RPG from Bandai Namco. A number of improvements have been made on the original, but there are also some improvements on the predecessor. In any case, it is highly recommended for Souls fans.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Code Vein 2 is decent and entertaining, but its core mechanic involves time travel that ends up being somewhat basic and vastly underutilized. It excels in its soundtrack, boss design, and a high yet accessible difficulty level. However, the disproportionate design of female characters, a lackluster story, and—above all—poor performance prevent it from becoming the game it truly could have been.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.