Mortal Shell II Reviews
In the end, what defines a “soulslike” isn't its difficulty, its bosses, or its world. It's its soul. And Mortal Shell 2 has soul.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I genuinely didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I have. It’s still a Soulslike, which means it is still going to make me angry, still going to kill me repeatedly and still going to make me question why I’m voluntarily doing this to myself. But unlike some Soulslikes, I actually want to keep going. It takes the formula, removes some of the things that make it unnecessarily frustrating, adds its own ideas and delivers one hell of a sequel. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a boss waiting to kick my arse again.
Mortal Shell II feels like a sequel that gets that bigger-is-better when it adds to the original notion. It’s still a weird, hard, and often messy Souls-like, but it’s also a really interesting action RPG with its own unique visual identity and a rewarding sense of discovery.
Mortal Shell II is everything fans of the soulslike genre should be looking for. Its world is a beautifully depressing homage to a bygone era of fairy tales and medieval fantasies, while its brutal combat will have you scrambling for a moment of peace between fights. I truly believe they have accomplished something great here, and I can’t wait to see what Cold Symmetry has up their sleeve in the next installment of the series.
Some bugs, a couple of crashes, weak boss battles, and other strange design choices hold Mortal Shell II back from being the masterpiece I hoped it’d be, but Cold Symmetry has more than proven itself as a small-but-mighty team that knows how to deliver the action RPG goods.
Mortal Shell II is a soulslike that successfully builds upon the first game in every respect and manages to carve out a place for itself within the genre. If you enjoy soulslike games, it is a title you can pick up and play without hesitation—and even if you are somewhat distant from the genre, it is still well worth giving a chance.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 is a solid follow-up to the first game. Excellent combat and a dark fantasy world create a creepy, oppressive atmosphere, making it a strong contender in the Soulslike genre. However, some inconsistent balancing holds it back from taking that next step and becoming something truly special.
Mortal Shell 2 is an excellent game that creates its own identity, despite technically qualifying as a Soulslike. Since it doesn’t require any knowledge of the original, it isn’t a stretch to say that jumping directly into Mortal Shell 2 is the way to go for newcomers. The developer’s still releasing updates to tweak the difficulty and fix some graphical issues, but the game is still a blast to play through. It’s for this reason that I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Mortal Shell II has a few rough edges here and there, but it's still a very enjoyable soulslike that understands what makes the genre work while building on its own core vision
Mortal Shell II is an excellent soulslike that delivers simple yet brutal gameplay, featuring unique shells that alter playstyles and a dark open world with stunning landscapes. However, there is a lack of variety in melee and ranged weapons; furthermore, the fact that mini-bosses also appear as common enemies slightly detracts from the experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cold Symmetry took Mortal Shell and tackled the heavy problems of the first chapter, creating a second entry that hybridizes Dark Souls and Sekiro that genuinely surprised us. Regardless of everything, the bold gameplay and the strong artistic component make it a game not to be underestimated, one genre fans should recover as soon as possible.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mortal Shell II isn’t trying to prove that it can make a better Dark Souls. It’s trying to prove that a Soulslike can evolve without losing what made the genre special in the first place. And after playing it, I think Cold Symmetry has made a pretty convincing argument.
Mortal Shell 2 could have played it safe. It could have taken the original game, added a few new shells and weapons, increased the resolution, and called it a day. Instead, Cold Symmetry went considerably further. The sequel takes the Shell system that made the original interesting and builds an entire game around it. Combat is faster, the world is larger, exploration is more rewarding, and the sheer number of weapons, abilities, and dungeons gives players plenty of room to experiment. It doesn’t always get everything right. But I’d rather play a sequel that occasionally reaches too far than one that never tries anything new.
Mortal Shell 2 deconstructs familiar souls-like mechanics in genuinely exciting ways, with dynamic stamina-free combat and deep build variety across Shells, Seals, and Tarstones — even if some fall damage frustrations and predictable mini-bosses hold it back from greatness.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mortal Shell II may not deliver the unforgettable bosses, intricate storytelling, or constantly surprising world design of the genre's best games, but it does not need to. Its combat, character building, atmosphere, and approachable design give it enough of an identity to stand on its own.
Mortal Shell 2 evolves the Soulslike formula by removing the stamina bar, paving the way for more fluid and aggressive combat. With the introduction of the Herald, a vast world to purify via Beacons, a refined system of Shells and PP Items, and striking visuals, this sequel establishes itself as a must-play dark fantasy adventure for Soulslike fans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A confident, deeply satisfying Soulslike that stands entirely on its own, Mortal Shell 2 is one of the best the genre has to offer right now.
Mortal Shell 2 is a great example of a sequel that understands what worked in the original and improves on nearly every part of it. It has its problems, but its combat and exploration can easily stand alongside far more high-profile Soulslikes.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
In my humble opinion, Mortal Shell II surpasses the original. Whilst the first instalment made a particular impression with its Shell system, the second builds on that in an excellent way. The eight Shells, more extensive skill trees, Tarstones, Seals and sidearms give you a huge amount of freedom to create your own build. My Tiel, for example, evolved into a venomous shadow assassin who strikes from the darkness and can protect himself against poison. For me, that sort of experimentation is one of the game’s greatest strengths. On top of that, the combat feels a lot smoother than I remembered. The Posture mechanic gives parries more meaning, the Riposte remains delightfully brutal, and the sidearms add a fun extra dimension. Add to that the dungeons, puzzles and the many ways to further customise your Shell, and Mortal Shell II no longer feels like just another sequel, but like a game that’s finally starting to stand on its own two feet. And honestly? As far as I’m concerned, that Shell can stay wrapped around me for a while yet.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 is one of those games that'll make you smile when remembering it, but frown when you recall the details. Its horrifying audiovisuals and polished combat create plenty of memorable moments, but repetitive stages, limited build variety, and a painfully slow narrative make it equally frustrating. Its content also falls short of justifying the $49.99 price against the competition. For all its strengths, Mortal Shell 2 gets the pieces right without quite putting them together.