Mortal Shell II
Possess eight warrior Shells, shatter enemy posture, and wage stamina-free war against false gods.
A worthy successor that nails the fast, hard-hitting combat — but the 50-100-hit boss fights and near-unreactable one-shots make it a qualified buy.
For you if
- You enjoyed the original but want a bigger world and faster combat.
- Boss fights with telegraphed patterns and parry windows are your jam.
- You're fine with sparse checkpoints and long runbacks in dungeons.
Not for you if
- You quit Dark Souls because of bonfire-to-boss treks.
- You dislike damage-sponge bosses that take 50+ hits to down.
- You expect a huge weapon/armor variety like in Nioh or Dark Souls.
The adrenaline-charged combat and Harden mechanic keep fans coming back, dozens of hours in.
Runbacks without dungeon checkpoints and unreactable one-shot attacks are the consistent annoyances for long-haul players.
Media
What critics say
- Giant Bomb
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.
- IGN Italy
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.
- Game8
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.
- Shacknews
Mortal Shell 2 is one of the best follow-up sequels to a game in a long time. It expands upon every single aspect of the first game, twists deeper into its metal roots, and hammers out the dents of the original title while retaining the same brutal, unforgiving gameplay Soulslike fanatics have come to masochistically enjoy. Mortal Shell 2 slays.
- EvelonGames
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.
What's happening now
Updated 16m agoMortal Shell II is out worldwide, with players sharing feedback and seeking help on PS5.
- Worldwide release on Steam, PS5, and Xbox after advance access
- Some players asking about GoG version availability
- Fans sharing original songs inspired by the game
- Early reviews mixed but generally positive on its identity
- Player asks about GoG release for Mortal Shell II
- PS5 player requests co-op help in Mortal Shell II
- Fan releases original Death/Doom Metal song inspired by Mortal Shell II
- Mortal Shell II feels like a sequel that finally found its own identity
- Long post with thoughts after finishing Mortal Shell II
- Mortal Shell II now available worldwide on Steam, PS5, and Xbox
- Advance Access launch on Steam for Mortal Shell II
Show 4 earlier eventsShow fewer
What they're asking
Updated 15m ago- ✳New Fast-moving
Is the Grisha Army glitch worth exploiting now, or will it be patched soon?
Worth exploiting — the infinite Grisha Army glitch is still active in the current build, per a 55-hour-old YouTube short; however, long-time players expect a quick hotfix given the dev team's track record.
- ✳New
Does the combat depth (parry mechanics, shells) justify buying the Revered Edition now?
Mixed — early reviews praise the new parry system's depth, but long-time players warn the Revered Edition's $49.99 price tag feels steep for DLC that doesn't include all future content.
- ✳New
Should I come back to Mortal Shell II after finishing it for the new content found in Night Mode?
Yes — Night Mode adds 8 extra Glimpses per run, a concrete reason to revisit. Long-time players on Reddit praise the mode's challenge and payoff.
Community pulse
Sentiment flatUpdated 12h agoCombat and mechanics praised as major step-up
Strong opening hooks players early
Player base excited to try the sequel
Difficulty spikes leave players questioning outcomes
Early-game summon build invites grinding and future nerfs
Before You Play
Refreshed 5 days agoIs Mortal Shell II polished at launch or should I wait for patches?
On console, you can buy it at launch—the Xbox Series S|X and PS5 versions are stable and well-optimized on day one. On PC, frame pacing issues can ruin the experience, so waiting a few days for a patch is safer. Reviews from launch period (Aug 17, 2026) confirm no game-breaking bugs on consoles, but PC users have reported stutter and inconsistent frame rates, especially in densely populated areas.
Source: GamerFuzion
Which difficulty should a new player pick for Mortal Shell II?
New players should start with the default difficulty and unlock Easy Mode early by finding the Slayer Seal — it makes combat more forgiving without locking you out of achievements. To unlock it, you'll need to locate the Slayer Seal in the first area, which is near the tutorial zone. Alternatively, for a challenge, Night Mode increases enemy toughness and reward drops but is best saved for a second playthrough.
Source: SportsRant India
Does Mortal Shell 2 respect your time, or is it padded with filler?
Mortal Shell 2 keeps a tight runtime of roughly 13 hours for a standard playthrough, similar to the original, but its open world can feel padded and frustrating to navigate. The map is large with many collectibles, yet traversal is often tedious, and the game lacks the density or variety to justify its size. If you focus on the main path, you'll get a concise experience, but fully exploring every corner may feel like busywork.
Source: GamesRadar+
Do I need to play Mortal Shell before Mortal Shell II to understand the story?
Mortal Shell II is a standalone sequel, so you can play it without finishing the first game. Its opening cutscene ties into the original's conclusion, and playing Mortal Shell first helps with understanding the lore and playstyle, but it's not required. If you want the full context, play the first game, but you won't be lost if you dive straight into the sequel.
Source: RPG Site
What is there to do in Mortal Shell 2 after beating the main story?
After defeating the final boss, you can continue exploring and clearing unfinished content—the point of no return is choosing Send Ova at the Gloom Siphon in Marrow Keep, which starts New Game+. In NG+, dungeons, beacons, and corrupted gates reset, but map areas and character progression carry over, letting you improve your build. You'll need at least one additional playthrough to achieve 100% completion.
Source: Game Rant
Dig deeper on this game
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Solo action-soulslike at the same price and length, better received
Elden Ring Nightreign
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