Mortal Shell II Reviews Are In, and Critics Are Really Into It

Mortal Shell II isn't out until August 20, but critics have already had their say. And so far, the reception is surprisingly strong. The sequel to Cold Symmetry's 2020 Soulslike currently sits at an 85 average on OpenCritic, with 92% of critics recommending it.

That's a pretty good start for a sequel to a game that was known for being compact, strange, and deliberately punishing.

What's getting critics excited isn't that Mortal Shell II has suddenly abandoned what made the original work. It's that Cold Symmetry has taken those ideas and given them considerably more room to breathe.

Star Citizen Livestream Fail: What Went Wrong in the Demo

Developers went live to prove Star Citizen’s bugs were temporary, viewers came away calling the broadcast a “hostage video.”

TechloyEmmanuel Umahi

The combat is faster this time

The biggest change is probably the way Mortal Shell II handles combat.

The original game leaned heavily on deliberate stamina management. The sequel drops that system, allowing players to move, dodge, and attack more freely. Instead, Resolve builds through successful melee attacks and can be spent on special abilities and attacks.

That changes the rhythm of fights. Rather than constantly backing away to recover stamina, the game encourages you to stay in the action.

GamesRadar+ particularly liked this approach, calling Mortal Shell II “the best Soulslike I've played since Elden Ring” and praising its faster combat and expanded arsenal.

It's a big compliment, especially in a genre that has produced no shortage of Elden Ring-inspired games.

The Shell system has grown up

The Shell mechanic is still the game's defining idea.