Mortal Shell 2

4

Overall Score

4.0/5

Pros

• Diverse & challenging enemies
• Combat system is dynamic, responsive, & satisfying
• Various gaming items to experiment with distinct builds
• Huge & dense open world to explore
• Generous parry window

Cons

• Resources to upgrade all weapons are limited
• Enemies & bosses get tedious

Mortal Shell 2 Review

Mortal Shell 2

“By adding an in-depth world and deeper combat systems, the game sets up a huge sandbox that will keep you hooked“

Taking a small game and making it much larger can often backfire, so I went into this game feeling very unsure about its massive scope. I was a huge fan of the first game because it kept things tight and simple. When I heard the team decided to grow this new title into a full-scale action game, I got worried that bigger might not mean better. Luckily, my fears disappeared fast once I jumped in. The core idea is still here: I play as a strange creature that can jump into the bodies of dead fighters to use their skills. This sequel feels much more ambitious right from the start, proving that growing larger can actually work if done right and done well. So check out my Mortal Shell 2 review and see for yourself if this games worth the buy.  

Overview

If you loved swapping bodies from warriors to survive tough fights, this expanded journey takes that system to a whole new level. Mortal Shell 2 is an action role-playing game set in a dark fantasy universe, released in August 2026. In this game, you control a strange, pale humanoid creature that travels through a ruined world by possessing the bodies of dead warriors to fight enemies, monsters and nightmare bosses.

Compared to the older 2020 title, this sequel brings a massive open-world map instead of narrow paths, doubles the number of playable bodies, removes stamina management completely, adds unique active powers for every shell, and gives your character eight melee weapons paired with eight ranged sidearms. By adding an in-depth world and deeper combat systems, the game sets up a huge sandbox that will keep you hooked for the entire 25 to 30 hour playthrough. 

Game Info

The Best Features

Combat Mechanics, Shell Abilities

What I like most is how different each shell feels in combat. Every body now comes with active combat powers alongside passive skill trees. I could turn invisible as Tiel to sneak behind monsters for a backstab, or slam into groups as Eredrim using a heavy shoulder charge.

On top of that, replacing stamina with a ‘Resolve’ meter encouraged me to stay aggressive, while defensive options like the stone-hardening power allowed me to block hits mid-swing and keep attacking without fear.

Customization and Weapon Variety

The weapon options give me incredible room to experiment. Paired with eight main melee weapons, the eight ranged sidearms add wild variety, including a returning giant launcher and a creepy caged baby skeleton that radiates evil magic.

Slotting dynamic Tarstones into my gear added elemental effects and special attacks like sword spins. Best of all, I love that I can refund and reallocate my skill points for free whenever I want to build a whole new play style.

World Exploration and Map Design

The expanded world is packed with dark charm and rewarding side paths. Navigating the large open landscape led me to bite-sized dungeon encounters, mysterious mini-gauntlets, and rotting beacon checkpoints that act like safe zones. The world is filled with eerie visual touches, like spiders with human faces and dog-sized beasts made of bearded skulls, making every new corner an exciting discovery.

The Deal Breakers

Technical Performance and Controls

My main issue with the game comes down to lingering controls and technical bugs. Actions mapped to clicking the thumbsticks, like running or locking onto enemies, feel sticky and unresponsive in the heat of battle. I frequently found myself missing attacks for no clear reason, especially when using distance-closing moves like Tiel’s Shadow Stab, where my character would inexplicably whiff right past a targeted enemy.

Navigation and Map Usability

While the world is huge, getting around it can be confusing and frustrating. Landmarks often look too similar, making early exploration feel disorienting until you memorize every path. Even though there is an in-game map this time, it lacks basic features like custom map pins or note markers. Because the world constantly tempts you with multiple side paths, I frequently lost track of interesting points I meant to visit later.

Game Balance and Progression

The late-game difficulty scaling leaves a lot to be desired. Because you can reallocate points for free and grind for gold and materials to max out specific resistances—like fireproof armor for fire-based enemies—later boss fights become trivially easy. Overpowering these bosses invalidates their strengths, taking away the tense challenge that made the early encounters so rewarding. Additionally, losing spent gold during weapon refunds penalizes late-game weapon experimentation.

The Final Verdict

At the end of my journey, I can safely say that this sequel overcomes its missteps to deliver a great action-adventure and role-playing experience. My time spent on Mortal Shell 2 showed me a game that can step up to the plate, and end becoming one of the best video games of this year. I did run into a few technical glitches, and the bugs from the first game are also here as well. One issue is how easy it is to get lost in the dark world, or how simple it is to becomes so powerful that you can overpower the final challenges without trying hard.

However, I loved almost every new feature introduced here, particularly the active powers for each body you take over. The bigger world constantly pulled me in, making me want to chase down every secret path I could find. The expanded combat gives so much life to the strange warriors whose forms and skills I steal along the way. To top it off, the whole adventure is wrapped in a fantastic dark world filled with some of the creepiest monsters and coolest visuals I have ever seen. If you enjoy tough dark fantasy games with strange worlds to explore, this is a trip well worth taking.

Now let’s hear from you. What’re your thoughts on Mortal Shell 2? Is it one of the best action-adventure game you’re looking for? Leave us a comment here below.