Mortal Shell II earns strong early reviews

gamingAug 17, 2026301,055

Mortal Shell II's embargo lift and Advanced Access release sent players and creators into full coverage, with early reviews praising faster combat, the shell-switching system, and a much larger open world. Streamers announced evening plays and Devout edition access while outlets like Giant Bomb, IGN, and Seasoned Gaming published high scores and detailed takes calling the sequel a confident step up. Coverage highlights the removal of the stamina bar, a brutal nonstop action feel, clever boss encounters, and reviewers such as a Kotaku critic saying they came out of retirement to write about the game and AndresPlays guesting on a Seasoned Gaming episode to discuss it all.

Jacob Geller

@jacobgeller.com

Spent the past week playing Mortal Shell II and am pleased to report it's generally quite successful and good! Quickest possible pitch is "for anyone who wanted a little more Sekiro in their Elden Ring," but it's got more than enough of its own character. (more on @minnmax.com this week)

28645d ago

Jacob Geller106

The most interesting thing about it imo is the way it gets rid of a lot of ER's RPG mechanics. You don't level individual stats, or necessarily stick with a specific build. I really like the focus it puts on the combat system! Creativity instead comes from combining shells' active abilities.

Tee to the Gee2

Jacob please I'm already heavily in hour-debt I can't take out another sleep-loan

Relvean2

I mean, fromsoft themselves seemingly thought that Elden Ring could use some judging by the deflecting tear in the dlc. And honestly, good thinking on that. Base Elden Ring felt a bit awkward without it, especially when contrasting it to how well ds3's character controller and bosses harmonized.

Iron Pineapple

@ironpineapple.bsky.social

I played Mortal Shell 2, had a very fun time, and now here's an hour-long video of me playing through the game. Thank you @mortalshellgame.bsky.social for sponsoring! youtu.be/JmC53fspphg

24945d ago

Casey Explosion4

Your friend Shar is a delight by the way

Pyxelette1

Baby, wake up, new Pineapple just dropped.

Skrogan1

"Oh is he killing the babies? Nice dude!" - Iron Pineapple

AndresPlays

@andresplays.bsky.social

Mortal Shell II upends the soulslike formula by removing the stamina bar, resulting in a brutal, non-stop action experience. Featuring elaborate dungeons, a satisfying parry system and insanely clever bosses, it ends up being a remarkable Black Metal-infused fantasy. My review for Seasoned Gaming.

7945d ago

AndresPlays6

Thank you so much for having me! @seasonedgaming.com and congrats @playstack.com @mortalshellgame.bsky.social @thehashtagonist.bsky.social

Finn4

This was a wonderful review Andres, great job! I hadn't heard about the constant eclipse thing before but that sounds super interesting - going to 100% be picking this up at some point so I'll have to try that! 😄

jwac4780.bsky.social3

I saw the easier setting disabled achievements which really upsets me 😣

LeedleLee3

Black Metal, you say 😳🤘

PhilNeedsCoffee2

The beta is awesome. I liked the first MS, but this is a leaps and bounds major improvement. Really looking forward to getting the full game later this week. I just wish your progress from the beta would carry over. At least we can skip the prologue.

Patryk of the Sleeper Tribe1

you should have opened with the words black metal 😆

Quoting this

CyNetrunner15

No stamina bar? And it has parrying? And Andres recommends it? ...I'm Mortal Sold 2.

Giant Bomb

@giantbomb.com

A NEW REVIEW IS LIVE! @chucktowski.com played through Mortal Shell II, and had a blast with it. Read his full thoughts here! ➡️ giantbomb.com/reviews/mort...

Giant Bomb Review Graphic for Mortal Shell II

Score: 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." - Chuck Zimmerheld

6245d ago

Nick Calandra

@nickjcal.bsky.social

Oh, Mortal Shell II embargo is up. As the original was the game that got me into soulslikes, the sequel is the exact kind of sequel you want to see from studios. Extremely confident step-up. Fantastic map design, fun and impactful combat, much better bosses... it's a fantastic soulslike.

5145d ago

Carly 🌼

@tncarly.bsky.social

Super excited to say that I will be streaming Mortal Shell 2 this evening at 6PM BST 🕺🏻✨ Thank you so much to @playstack.com for providing me with a code for the Devout edition! Hope to see you there? 👀✨ twitch.tv/tncarly

4345d ago

Ryan, Your Friendly Neighborhood Dispatcher3

But @arrontk.bsky.social said you hated "Mortal Shell." Like, a lot.

lazyPYRO (Josh)1

Shell yeah! 😄 (sorry TMNT, use it or lose it haha)

Herr Random 🎮 ALTTP1

Congrats! I hope you have a lot of fun and that the game is good. 🙌🙏

Steve 🔥🗡💀1

😭I missed my chance to get devout edition on physical because they sold out fast. Physical copy coming later this week

Chuck Zimmerheld

@chucktowski.com

I reviewed Mortal Shell II and had a damn blast. Beautiful game, well considered gameplay options, and one of the best souls-likes out there. giantbomb.com/reviews/mort...

4145d ago

SammoNice1

Ooooh baby let’s freaking go Chuck. Played the beta and thought it was a blast.

Denim Chicken1

Great review that might just makes me pick it up. Didn’t have it on my radar at all.

Jessie from GameThatTune1

I loved the Demo and this review probably seals it for to grab it when I am able to. Chanks Thuck

Be_three1

How does it compare to the first game?

cherojack1

Funny how it sounds like I had the same experience with the first game as you. (Maybe the only game I've successfully refunded on steam?) The beta for this one really reset my expectations in a big way - I would probably never have tried it out otherwise. Very smart move by the devs

sappergeck.bsky.social1

Sounds great, thanks, Chuck! May I ask how long a playthrough roughly could be?

HORRORVISUALS

@horrorvisuals.com

I'm about to start my playthrough of Mortal Shell II I haven't played the demo, because I knew I wouldn't be able to contain my cravings. I was a big fan of the first game. Come watch me get my ass kicked: www.twitch.tv/horrorvisuals

3145d ago

Knoebel 🛬 Gamescom

@knoebel.bsky.social

'Mortal Shell II' Reviews: GiantBomb 4.5/5 Seasoned Gaming 8/10 Console Creatures 7/10 COGCONNECTED 90 GamesRadar+ 4/5 IGN 8/10 OC 86: opencritic.com/game/20988/m... MC PC 84: www.metacritic.com/game/mortal-...

3845d ago

Quoting this

Arthur Tayt-Sohn8

Game Lodge na foto ☝️🤓

Emmett Watkins Jr2

As someone who really likes non-From soulslike games, I had a great feeling about this one. Removing the stamina bar seems to be the thing that'll get me in, wanted to like the first game but fell off quick. If it's at least as fun as Surge 2 or Thymesia I'll love it!

MORTAL SHELL II

@mortalshellgame.bsky.social

🔥 Mortal Shell II Advanced Access is Live🔥 If you can't wait until Thursday's global release, you can buy the Devout Edition now and play today on Steam / PS5 / Xbox.

1945d ago

Quoting this

Gamers Heroes2

"Currently sitting in my top five releases of the year, fans of gritty Soulslike action RPGs will absolutely love Mortal Shell II." Our review (90/100!): www.gamersheroes.com/honest-game-...

Arron Automata

@arrontk.bsky.social

Happy Mortal Shell 2 release day! I will be streaming it on twitch today at 7:30pm BST. I am EXCITED! twitch.tv/arrontko

2545d ago

Ryan, Your Friendly Neighborhood Dispatcher1

But @tncarly.bsky.social said you really hate "Mortal Shell." Like, a lot.

Ian Higton

@ianhigton.bsky.social

⚫️LIVE FROM 3PM BST🟡 #MortalShell2 is finally here and as a big fan of the original game, I can't wait to play the first two hours of this sequel for you on @insertcoin.bsky.social! Watch me harden my shell, here: www.youtube.com/live/vLQAA1W... or on twitch.tv/officialinsertcoin

1545d ago

DLC Pod

@dlchypetrain.bsky.social

🎉NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! AndresPlays (@andresplays.bsky.social) joins us to chat Mortal Shell II, Metroid Prime Origins, Lootbound, and more!

1245d ago

Nautilus

@nautilus.bsky.social

Mortal Shell 2 é uma evolução em todos os sentidos ao jogo original, um ótimo souls like, com faíscas de excelência. Nossa análise: youtu.be/cjT1pwuReUY

uma imagem que diz "mortal shell 2 - análise/review"

1345d ago

The Indie Informer

@theindieinformer.bsky.social

This week's indies have a little bit of everything: Aug 17 - Feed It (@prettysoongames.bsky.social) Aug 17 - Tukoni (@dream-operator.bsky.social) Aug 18 - The Sinking City 2 (@frogwares-games.bsky.social) Aug 20 - Mortal Shell II ( @playstack.com) And more: theindieinformer.com/2026/01/05/2...

1145d ago

3 sources

seasonedgaming.comReview : Mortal Shell II : As Bloody As It Gets thegamerztheory.comMortal Shell II Review Not Quite Soulslike Not Quite RPG Mix That Hits the Mark steamdeckhq.comMortal Shell 2 Review + Steam Deck Performance - Steam Deck HQ

Mortal Shell II earns strong early reviewsgaming Vintage Super Mario Brothers Super Show frames circulate onlinegaming

Mortal Shell II earns strong early reviews

Related