Mortal Shell II Reviews
Mortal Shell II made a huge leap from the first game, making its predecessor look almost like a tech demo. However, a few questionable design decisions hold it back a step behind the genre’s heavy hitters
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 is the AA answer to Elden Ring. More focused, no less vicious, and every bit as hard to put down. This land wants you dead, but it rewards every step. So cut down the horrors and don't you dare go hollow.
A top-notch Soulslike—fun, satisfying, and full of good ideas—held back by a few shortcomings and, for the moment, various technical and balancing issues.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 represents a huge leap forward in terms of both quality and scope compared to the original game. It is an incredibly ambitious 'souls-like' game that delivers an exquisite experience in almost every respect
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mortal Shell II is the sequel the first game needed. It builds on and expands its ideas, delivering one of the best Soulslikes out right now. The combat is fun, the bosses are great, and world design and exploration are among its strongest suits. All of that packaged with stunning visuals. And despite the reptitive design of the dungeons and the story leaving a lot to be desired, neither takes away from how amazing the overall experience is.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 is ambitious, occasionally awkward and sometimes downright mean, but I also found it to be hugely satisfying when its systems click together. The first outing felt like an intriguing experiment in condensing the Soulslike formula into something more intimate and unusual. This sequel takes that foundation, blows the walls out and builds a much bigger playground around it.
Foundationally, Mortal Shell II is a very well-put-together videogame, its combat brings so much to love, and the reality is that, had it featured literally anything other than an open world, it very well could have become one of the best soulslikes out there. Instead, all that promise is marred by aspirations comically outside of its scope, and at risk of sounding like some cynical old stick-in-the-mud with Anor Londo as his lock screen, I think it's time we start treating Elden Ring as the cautionary tale it clearly is.
The sequel fixes the shortcomings of its predecessor, and while it is not flawless, it ranks among the most intriguing experiences of 2026. The game is not afraid to be unique and unconventional, benefiting by far the most from its harrowing atmosphere, which gives it a distinct hallmark. Furthermore, it is a high-quality genre piece built on proven and functional elements. The third installment is going to be fantastic.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Mortal Shell II sets the standard for introducing players to the unique genre of soulslike games.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Mortal Shell II succeeds in what is probably the most challenging goal a sequel can set for itself: taking an original but still unpolished idea and transforming it into a fully mature experience, without betraying the dark and experimental spirit that had defined its identity from the very beginning. There are still some imperfections—including balance issues in the later stages, a few too many bugs, and design choices like the absence of a jump mechanic that probably deserved more attention—but none of these flaws seriously detract from the overall value of a game that represents an incredible leap forward compared to its predecessor.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 won’t really break the mould for those invested in the genre, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction for developer Cold Symmetry.
Mortal Shell 2 shows real growth over the original, both in writing and in the overall presentation of its world. The circular map, small but packed with dungeons and points of interest, still carries the experience, and it delivers enough variety even where the surface setting sticks close to genre conventions. The build system now offers more freedom thanks to full respec options for weapons and Shells, letting players experiment without wasting resources, even though certain elemental stones still lock into a handful of specific weapons. The game's biggest weakness sits in the second half's balancing. Difficulty spikes sharply, bosses lose their identity next to regular enemies, and the stretches between checkpoints turn punishing rather than engaging. Several serious bugs compound the issue, from a Shell that stopped working entirely to a broken teleport that caused accidental deaths. Despite these flaws, the combat system holds up well, and the level design in the opening hours alone justifies picking this up if you already love the genre. It suits returning fans far more than newcomers taking their first steps into soulslikes.
Mortal Shell II is the kind of soulslike I wanted: brutally challenging, with excellent combat, memorable bosses, and a world that rewards every detour.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mortal Shell II, although it still carries its influences and never tries to hide where it comes from, I feel like it has enough personality that we don't need to talk about the games that inspired it all the time. It has its own world, its own combat system, its own aesthetic, and a heretical, dirty, black metal identity that's hard to confuse with anything else.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 is able to have a lengthier list of tools that allows players to experiment with different playstyles, a snappier combat system that is unimpeded by stingy stamina bars or slow movement, and a well-honed world that isn’t just empty fields and copy-and-paste buildings.
Mortal Shell 2 represents an excellent and courageous sequel, capable of collecting the legacy of its forefather and expanding it with successful ideas, a finally reactive combat system and an inspired level design. Despite some small flaws in the balance, Cold Symmetry's title knows how to bewitch lovers of souls-like games thanks to a magnetic dark fantasy atmosphere and an extraordinarily free exploration.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mortal Shell II builds on its souls-like foundations with fast, aggressive combat, excellent boss encounters, rewarding exploration, and impressively varied character builds. Its Shell and Tarstone systems give progression real depth without becoming overwhelming, while the removal of stamina encourages a distinctive offensive rhythm. Uneven storytelling, repetitive dungeons, and a few underdeveloped mechanics hold it back, but the core experience remains challenging, addictive, and highly rewarding.
Mortal Shell II thus becomes almost too easy, but this is entirely optional, left up to the player and can be activated or deactivated at any time.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The original Mortal Shell was a straightforward imitation of FromSoftware games. With Mortal Shell 2, however, the US-based team has changed course, creating a title with highly interesting mechanics. Mortal Shell 2 boasts solid gameplay and well-structured level design. Despite a few sporadic bugs and some balancing issues, Mortal Shell 2 is a title destined to rank among the best Soulslikes. We only hope that the recent release of other major titles doesn't hurt its sales. The attractive price point of €49.99 certainly serves as a strong incentive to buy.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 is an improvement on the original in almost every way. Despite some flaws, it offers great gameplay elements, impeccable and striking visuals, fantastic combat, and more. As a result, it cements itself as one of the best Souls-likes of the year.