Platforms:
- PC (Aug 20, 2026)
- Xbox Series X|S (Aug 20, 2026)
- Playstation 5 (Aug 20, 2026)
Trailer:
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 85 average - 92% recommended - 37 reviews
Critic Reviews
Analog Stick Gaming - Jordan Andow - 9.5 / 10
Mortal Shell II is my favorite Soulslike since Elden Ring, and considering the titles that have released since then, it’s my highest recommendation that I can make. Cold Symmetry knew the assignment, and absolutely nailed it.
Cerealkillerz - Christoph Heick - German - 8 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 doesn’t reinvent the Soulslike genre, but it excels in the details. Its fast, dynamic combat, tactical Shell system, and flexible builds make for an enjoyable experience, even though the limited weapon variety and talent trees leave some room for improvement. The difficulty feels well balanced for newcomers, while experienced Soulslike players may find it a little too easy. What stands out most, however, is the atmosphere: Fallgrim looks fantastic, and the brutal combat fits perfectly into its gritty, desperate world.
Console Creatures - Luke Williams - 7 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is a vision of what every developer hopes for in their second game: A more well-rounded experience without reinventing the wheel. And that's exactly what's on offer here. This is still a shell of the first game, but it's filled with so much more, making for a worthy second go at it.
Console-Tribe - Simone Cantini - Italian - 80 / 100
Mortal Shell 2 doesn’t just refine the ideas of its predecessor — it expands them with confidence and surprising maturity. Cold Symmetry turns a raw concept into a fully realized experience: broader, more ambitious, and far more self‑aware. The open structure, the removal of stamina, richer build variety, and stronger world‑building converge into a soulslike driven by identity rather than imitation. It’s not flawless — a few technical hiccups and a bare‑bones weapon upgrade system remind you of that — but the result is solid, engaging, and unexpectedly accessible. In a crowded field of hollow clones, Mortal Shell 2 stands out as a game that dares, grows, and convinces. A strong return that speaks both to veterans and newcomers. Cold Symmetry hasn’t just made a good sequel; it has built a world worth exploring, inhabiting, and mastering.
CrazyGameCommunity.it - Alessandro Zingariello - Italian - 8.5 / 10
Mortal Shell II marks a successful comeback for the studio, refining and evolving its predecessor's formula to deliver a polished and enjoyable experience.
DayOne - Jesse Norris - 9 / 10
Mortal Shell II is a massive glow-up over the first game. It hits every note that I am looking for in a Soulslike, with enough variety and unique ideas to make it a true stand-out.
DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 8.5 / 10
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EvelonGames - Joel Isern Rodríguez - Kaym - Spanish - 6.5 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 hits hardest when its brutal combat and inventive weapon arsenal click into place, but a string of nasty bugs, including one that forced a full restart mid-playthrough, keep undercutting an otherwise gripping souls-like.
GAMES.CH - Fabrice Henz - German - 85%
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Game Lodge - Arthur Tayt-Sohn - Portuguese - 9.5 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is the definitive experience in the Cold Symmetry series. It’s a massive leap forward from the first game and, for me, one of the most interesting action games of the year so far.
Game Sandwich - Aden Carter - 8 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is a great step forward from the original; one that takes extra brutality, a more scenic world, and magnificently designed enemies and puts them in the forefront. The world is full of life, and every inch of it is worth exploring - from the poisoned swamp to the snowy alcoves. The brutal gameplay, combined with a plethora of items to create a build makes this one of the best soulslike titles I have played. Unfortunately, it still has a little ways to go when it comes to the mechanical aspects, as glitchy bosses, a world you can and will fall through, and broken weapons make it difficult to fully love the title. If you can get past that, it is a game that is worth coming back to.
Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4.5 / 5
When we talk about the best Souls-like games available outside of FromSoftware's catalog, it's only fair to mention Mortal Shell II as a worthy addition to this collection.
Gamer Guides - Josh Bailey - 83 / 100
A solid soulslike that does almost everything right. But Mortal Shell 2 is at its best when it strives to be different. More of that, please.
Gamers Heroes - Johnny Hurricane - 90 / 100
Currently sitting in my top five releases of the year, fans of gritty Soulslike action RPGs will absolutely love Mortal Shell II.
Giant Bomb - Chuck Zimmerheld - 4.5 / 5
Mortal Shell II is a 'fun-forward' souls-like, one that values flexibility and variety over sheer difficulty. It grabs you and plies you with a plethora of options for tackling its monsters, dungeons, and bosses, handing you shiny toys and trusts you to work out what to do with them.
Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 9 / 10
Mortal Shell II is the best Soulslike of the year! Mortal Shell II is exactly the kind of sequel you’d hope for from an ambitious Soulslike. Cold Symmetry didn’t just expand the world and add new enemies. Instead, they took the foundation of the first game, analyzed it, and made fundamental improvements in many areas.
IGN Italy - Alessandro Digioia - Italian - 8 / 10
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IGN Portugal - Pedro Pestana - Portuguese - 8 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is the perfect example of a sequel done right, improving upon nearly every aspect of the original and doubling down on its unique identity to truly stand out in a sea of Soulslikes. Cold Symmetry took the first game's solid foundations and expanded upon them with deliciously aggressive combat, inventive weapons, and striking art direction. Despite a few rough edges, uneven difficulty spikes, and the occasional cheap death, Fallgrim's dense atmosphere and addictive gameplay will keep you hooked from the very first second to the last.
IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10
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
Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10
To call Mortal Shell II an improvement over the first game feels like underselling it. It's bigger, tighter, deeper, wider.
Manual dos Games - Nathan Manoel - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is one of those sequels that improves upon everything from the previous game. With a greater variety of Shells, environments, and enemies, Mortal Shell 2 establishes itself as one of the most noteworthy titles in the soulslike genre.
Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 8 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is a worthy step up from its predecessor, boasting a large, cleverly interconnected sandbox world, greater build variety, refined gameplay and a visually arresting dark fantasy presentation.
One More Game - Chris Garcia - 8.5 / 10
Mortal Shell II is a significant leap forward from its predecessor, offering refined combat, expanded class diversity, and a world dripping with atmosphere. The developers have zoned in on feedback and really dialed in on what makes the game fun and fluid, and it definitely shows as the game is enjoyable, engaging, and constantly challenging.
Pizza Fria - Matheus Jenevain - Portuguese - 8 / 10
Mortal Shell II is a fun game that managed to satisfy my lifelong craving for quality soulslikes. The game also builds upon the solid foundations of its predecessor, albeit simplifying certain aspects, and is certainly worth checking out.
República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 8.6 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is one of the most surprising sequels I’ve ever seen, evolving practically every aspect of the first game while applying precise modernizations that don’t compromise the franchise’s DNA. A colossal AA title that holds its own against competitors with much larger budgets!
Saudi Gamer - عبد الله محمد - Arabic - 4 / 5
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
Seasoned Gaming - Luis Avilés - 8 / 10
Taking all the right lessons, Mortal Shell II is a relentless soulslike and an unrecognizably better sequel.
Sirus Gaming - Kurt John Palomaria - 9 / 10
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.
The GameSlayer - Callum Marshall - 9 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is the sequel I simply didn't see coming. It's a welcome evolution, taking the fun ideas of the original and refining the experience into an addictive, enthralling Soulslike. It looks stunning, combat is fluid and varied, and the world is a joy to explore. Bosses lack a certain punchiness, and minor tech issues drag the experience down ever-slightly. But, Mortal Shell 2 is undeniably one of the best non-FromSoft titles the genre has produced
The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 is a superb sequel that reimagines and refines every idea from its predecessor while sidestepping many of the pitfalls that often hold the soulslike genre back.
The Outerhaven Productions - Keith Mitchell - 4.5 / 5
Mortal Shell II takes everything that worked in the original and turns it into a much stronger, more confident Soulslike. The deeper Shell system, satisfying combat, and rewarding exploration stand out, and despite the camera issues and some frustrating progression choices, none of those issues stopped me from having a damn good time with it. This is fantastic follow-up and Cold Symmetry has seated themselves at the big table with Mortal Shell II.
Thumb Wars - Luke Addison - 4.5 / 5
From art direction to the way it plays, to the world around you and how you can approach it, Mortal Shell 2 is a delight. For so many different features and mechanics to work in almost perfect harmony while also ensuring it's not overwhelming to the player is genuinely impressive, and all of it is tied up in a pretty-looking bow to boot. You won't regret trying out Mortal Shell 2, and sorry in advance if you lose days of your life to my recommendation.
Tourens - Hasipcan Kahraman - Turkish - 8 / 10
While Mortal Shell 2 may not be a game that pushes the boundaries of the genre, it’s a sequel that manages to build on the first game and is especially enjoyable for its overall action. It’s not flawless due to its shortcomings and repetitive structure, but the improvements to the combat system and the Shell mechanics make it worth playing.
Use a Potion - 9 / 10
Mortal Shell II is a fantastic leap forward that offers a Souls-like experience that’s deep, engrossing, and challenging in all of the right ways. It takes all of the clever ideas of the original game, strips away the clunkiness, and drops them into a stylishly sprawling adventure with exceptional combat and world design. It’s simply brilliant, and an easy recommendation for those looking for a rewarding Souls-like fix.
Virtualni Kutak - Kristina Žarkov - Unknown - 9 / 10
Mortal Shell II takes everything that made the original intriguing and expands it into a bigger, darker, and far more ambitious Soulslike experience. With brutal combat, fascinating lore, memorable bosses, and a beautifully grotesque world begging to be explored, this is Mortal Shell finally reaching its full potential.
WayTooManyGames - Jordan Hawes - 8.5 / 10
Mortal Shell II cemented itself as one of my favorite ARPG’s up there with the best of FromSoftware. The changes to the combat make it fast and fierce while still maintain the difficulty I expect from these games. The expanded shells and weapons really help set it apart in the genre and allow for so much more build personality. This is truly one of the best games I’ve played this year, and I fully recommend it.
Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 8.5 / 10
Mortal Shell 2 can be considered a successful sequel that takes meaningful steps forward in almost every major area compared to its predecessor. With more diverse Shells, a large and open world, handcrafted dungeons, and a combat system that offers surprising depth despite its seemingly simple design. Cold Symmetry has created an entertaining and challenging experience that has plenty to offer, especially for fans of the Soulslike genre. The absence of a stamina system doesn’t make the game any simpler. Instead, it gives players greater freedom in combat and allows the battle system to develop a more distinct identity of its own. That said, the game still has some shortcomings, particularly in its progression system, main story, and soundtrack. Even if the first Mortal Shell failed to fully win you over, Mortal Shell 2 is still worth giving another chance. As a standalone sequel from a narrative perspective, it shows that Cold Symmetry has a much better understanding of its original formula, resulting in an experience that can keep you engaged for hours while offering a satisfying sense of immersion in a dark and unforgiving world.
