Mortal Shell II Is Out, Critics Call It One of the Best Soulslikes Since Elden Ring
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21.08.2026 07:54
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2 min read
Cold Symmetry has released the grim action-RPG Mortal Shell II on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The sequel marks a major leap forward from the 2020 original: according to Metacritic, the PC version holds an average score of 84, and GamesRadar has called it “the best soulslike since Elden Ring.”
The biggest gameplay experiment is the complete removal of the stamina bar. Players no longer need to break up attack combos or track stamina before dodging—combat is now faster and more aggressive. The flow of battle now revolves around breaking enemy poise and building up Resolve, which unlocks powerful special moves.
Eight Shells and a Dense Open World
Instead of a single fixed character, players can inhabit 8 different “Shells”—the bodies of fallen warriors. Each body effectively acts as a separate class, with its own talent tree, passive skills, and movement speed.
As Windows Central notes, combined with 16 types of melee weapons, an additional firearm arsenal, and modifiers, the game offers a huge range of build customization to suit different playstyles—from a heavy tank to a fast, stealthy fighter.
Unlike the corridor-like levels of the first game, the sequel features a seamless open world. The developers focused not on map size but on density: locations are packed with hidden dungeons, bosses, secrets, and alternate routes with valuable rewards.
Demo and Availability
The base version of the game is available digitally for $49.99 on the official website and on Steam.
Before buying, you can try a free demo on Steam, which includes the starting area, the first dungeons, bosses, and about three hours of content. The demo holds a user rating of 89% positive reviews based on five thousand reviews.
Mortal Shell 2 | Reviews:
— KAMI (@Okami13_) August 17, 2026
9 – COGConnected
9 – Gamers Heroes
9 – SteamDeckHQ
9 – Gamesurf
9 – Hardcore Gamer
9 – Screen Rant
9 – The Outerhaven
9 – DayOne
9 – Giant Bomb
8.5 – CG Mag
8 – IGN
8 – Gamesradar
8 – Jeuxvideo
8 – Gamespot
7 – Console Creatures
OC – 85
MC – 83…
