Mortal Shell II released on PC and consoles - Metacritic 84, critics praise combat system (2026)

On August 20, 2026, the Cold Symmetry studio, together with the Playstack publishing house, released Mortal Shell II - a sequel to the hardcore soul-like game, which in 2020 attracted attention with its unique Harden mechanics (petrification) and the Shell shell system. This time, the developers have significantly expanded the scope: the game received an open interconnected world, a redesigned combat system and dozens of hours of content.

Critics' ratings

The first reviews appeared a few days before the release, and the general mood of the press can be described as “surprised and enthusiastic.” At the time of release, Metacritic showed an average score of 84/100, based on 39 reviews (87% positive, 13% mixed, 0% negative). OpenCritic records 85/100 with a recommendation from 92% of critics.

Among the major publications:

• IGN — IGN - 8/10. "A successful expansion into a full-fledged action-RPG with fresh ideas."
• GameSpot — GameSpot - 8/10. "New combat mechanics and meaningful changes to familiar soulslike systems."
• GamesRadar+ — GamesRadar+ - 8/10. "Faster combat, a beautiful open world, and secrets shoved into every corner."
• COGconnected — COGconnected - 9/10. "Combat, world design, and a much more fleshed out Shell system."
• Hardcore Gamer — Hardcore Gamer - 9/10. "Great presentation in Unreal Engine 5 and a significant leap from the first game."
• GamingBolt — GamingBolt - 9/10. "Rewarding exploration, satisfying combat, progression, and strong enemy variety."

What has changed in the combat system

The most radical innovation is the abandonment of the classic stamina scale. In Mortal Shell II, the character can attack and dodge without worrying about the depleting bar. Instead, the Resolve resource has been introduced into battle: it accumulates in melee combat and is spent on abilities and side weapons. This creates a loop that encourages constant pressure on the enemy rather than passive waiting.

The Harden mechanic (instant petrification to block one hit) was retained and supplemented with Perfect Guard, damage to the stance, finishing moves and long-range weapons. Heavy attacks still require committed animations, and incorrect positioning is quickly punished - so there's no point in pressing the mash button.

Shell system and variety of builds

Shell - fallen warriors whose bodies can be possessed by the protagonist (Harbinger) - remain the hallmark of the series. In the sequel, each shell received unique abilities, a leveling tree, and a fighting style. In combination with weapons, side weapons, Seals, Tarstones and passive effects, the system allows you to assemble specialized builds: from a tank with status immunities to an aggressive melee damage dealer or marksman.

According to Gamer Escape reviewers, the game may seem brutally punishing at the beginning, but clever optimization of the build radically changes the balance of power. Progression here is not only the growth of numbers, but also an understanding of the interaction of mechanics.

Peace and exploration

The second most frequently mentioned benefit is research. Mortal Shell II moved from corridor levels to a large, connected world with optional paths, hidden locations, dungeons, and rewards that were actually worth finding. GameSpot notes "the joy of discovering new Shell mechanics," while GamingBolt emphasizes that almost every path leads to a useful reward - be it equipment, an upgrade, or a passive bonus.

Visually, the world is kept within the framework of a dark fantasy: destroyed temples, infected landscapes, giant monsters and body horror. Unreal Engine 5 allowed the studio to raise graphics to the level of large AA projects. According to Hardcore Gamer, the contrast between the depressing ruins and the unexpectedly picturesque natural areas works for the atmosphere.

Flaws

Nobody calls the game ideal. Most common complaints:

• Technical bugs: problems with AI, sound and level geometry.
• Camera behavior in battles - some angles are disturbing.
• The rate of progression seems slow in some areas.
• Balance - certain Shell and weapon combinations are noticeably stronger than others.
• The story gets less love than the combat and exploration.
• Some critics weren't satisfied with the big boss fights.

At the same time, GamingBolt, despite criticizing the bugs and story, still gave the game 9/10. COGconnected also notes “technical roughness”, but considers it forgivable compared to other advantages.

Platforms and cost

Mortal Shell II is available on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game is a standalone sequel - no playthrough of the original is required. On Steam, the standard edition is priced at $39.99 (price in rubles depends on the region).

Information is current as of August 21, 2026.

Source: Metacritic, G2A News