Though 2026 has been loaded with new video games, it’s been a relatively quiet year for the Soulslike genre so far. Nioh 3 has been the undisputed king of 2026 since it launched in early February, but it finally has some competition. The reviews are in for Mortal Shell 2, and critics agree that it’s a major improvement over its 2021 predecessor.
As of the time of writing, Mortal Shell 2 has an 84 on Metacritic and an 85 on Opencritic. Both numbers are likely to trend down a little as more reviews pour in, but it’s already a notable jump over the original Mortal Shell, which has a 76 aggregate score on both sites.
So, what’s different this time around? A new approach to character builds, for starters. IGN’s Jarrett Green praised the sequel for making character archetypes that feel distinct, rather than just heroes with different health bars. Shells now have more passive abilities, as well as active abilities that make them “more impactful in combat.”
“This is a gratifying step up from the original, and made actively switching between shells to try new combat tricks a rewarding experience, made all the easier since any points spent to enhance specific shells can be refunded and reallocated for free as many times as you want.” Green wrote in an 8/10 review.
Gamespot’s Richard Wakeling was similarly impressed, shouting out the sequel’s emphasis on exploration. Though Wakeling noted that parts of the world can be bland, he praised the structure of it. Players will explore Zelda-like dungeons scattered around the world, which are the star of the show.
“Each temple is markedly different from the others and provides some gorgeous, inventive locales to fight through, including a deep, icy cave, a flaming crypt, and a twisted obsidian tower that would be right at home in a game like Control or Destiny 2,” Wakeling wrote in an 8/10 review. “Each location feels specific to the challenges within, and exploring them is a treat as you’re rewarded with lore and weapon upgrades for checking every corner.”
Abbie Stone at GamesRadar+ even went as far as to call it “the best Soulslike I’ve played since Elden Ring” in a 4-star review. Stone praised the sequel for being more approachable than its predecessor. That’s thanks to some changes that make the pace of combat much quicker compared to the lumbering Mortal Shell.
“This sequel makes inspired changes immediately. In the original Mortal Shell you moved at a pace that would embarrass snails,” Stone wrote. “Now, you might as well be playing as a Ferrari. Stamina management has also been nixed entirely. You can dodge, attack, and – praise the gaming gods – sprint as much as you like. Soulslike purists may be spitting blood right now, but it gives Mortal Shell 2 its own speedy flavor that’s heavenly after the wading-through-molasses slowpokery of the original.”
Critics do have plenty of nitpicks across the board. Camera problems, overly telegraphed boss fights, and visibility issues were all noted by critics. None of that was enough to earn it any straight-up negative reviews, but scores are largely hovering around the 8/10 range with a few higher marks from Giant Bomb, Game Rant, and Hardcore Gamer. If you’ve been dying for a great Soulslike this year, Mortal Shell 2 sounds like your best option right now.