Mortal Shell 2 just showed off 11 minutes of brutal combat

Cold Symmetry just released the first gameplay footage for Mortal Shell II. The update includes nearly 12 minutes of combat and exploration for the upcoming soulslike sequel. The game is scheduled to launch in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

The original 2020 game was a surprise hit in a very crowded genre. A tiny team of 15 people built the first game on a tight budget. It sold over two million copies by offering a condensed, focused take on the dark fantasy formula. It stood out by letting players inhabit the corpses of fallen warriors to gain different abilities and stat pools. The sequel keeps that core shell-swapping mechanic intact with a larger 30-person development team. I think the combat looks incredibly brutal here. Enemies get ripped apart with heavy gore effects. The weapon impacts carry a deliberate, heavy weight.

New bodies to borrow

Players will have access to new shells to possess. A winged character appears atop a massive stone staircase. Each shell has its own combat style and skill tree. You can swap between them to handle different enemy types or boss encounters.

The original game forced players to carefully manage a stamina bar. The sequel throws that restriction out entirely. Without a green bar to worry about, players have to rely on breaking enemy posture and using the returning hardening mechanic to absorb blows. Executions are a major focus. The player character can completely destroy a large armored knight with a single fluid motion.

The first game had four main shells. The sequel brings back familiar faces like Tiel and Eredrim alongside new additions like Proxima. The expanded arsenal also includes ranged options. One of the new weapons functions like a fantasy-themed machine gun, which is a weird but welcome addition to a world mostly populated by swords and monsters.

A compact open world

The developers are calling the map an interconnected open world. It covers diverse biomes like frozen wastes, forbidden forests, and bone-carved citadels. Cold Symmetry describes the map as deliberately compact. The goal is to respect the player's time by packing the environment with hidden structures and shortcuts rather than empty space.

There are more than 60 dungeons scattered across these environments. You play as the Harbinger. This protagonist is trying to reclaim stolen artifacts from various false gods. The map connects these areas with winding footpaths guarded by fanatical enemies.

Publisher Playstack is offering a $50 standard edition alongside a $70 Revered Edition. That physical collector's version is exclusive to the PlayStation 5. It includes a steelbook case, limited-edition fine art prints, an artbook, and a special collector's box. PC and Xbox players will have to stick to the standard digital or physical releases for now. Pre-orders also include a couple of in-game cosmetic skins.

The soulslike genre is far more crowded now than it was when the first game launched. Cold Symmetry will have to prove this sequel has enough mechanical depth to stand out when it arrives next year. The removal of the stamina bar was a bold choice. We will see if it pays off in 2026.