Mortal Shell II

Mortal Shell II is the standalone sequel to Cold Symmetry’s 2020 Soulslike, published by Playstack. You play the Harbinger, a being born from a fallen alien mother figure, whose job is to win back her stolen eggs from the cultists, mutants and other forces that took them. The setting leans into grim body horror.

The big idea is still the Shells, the bodies of dead warriors that you take over. Each Shell has its own abilities and upgrade path, there are eight to find, and unlocking their memories reveals who they were. Combat is faster and more flexible than in the first game. Dodging, sprinting and blocking cost nothing, an energy bar fills as you attack, and parries and ripostes sit at the centre of most fights.

The world is a set of large, connected areas around a central hub, with secret paths, hidden weapons and dungeons that each have their own twist. An optional Night Mode makes things harder for players who want more of a fight.

It launched below the usual new-release price. Reviewers praised the combat and level design but noted balancing quirks and occasional hit detection problems. A first playthrough runs roughly 20 to 26 hours.