Shortly after midday, the wait is over: Developer Cold Symmetry and publisher Playstack have officially released Mortal Shell II today, August 20, 2026 – for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Those who pre-ordered the Devout Edition were able to dive in up to 72 hours earlier via the advanced access period.
How Does Mortal Shell II Differ from Classic Soulslikes?
The biggest break with the formula: The stamina bar has been completely removed. Players can sprint, dodge, and attack without restriction, giving the combat system a significantly faster, more aggressive pace than in the first installment from 2020. The core of the game remains the Shell System: Instead of traditional classes, players inhabit different 'Shells' – fallen warriors with their own abilities, armor ratings, and special attacks, which can be freely swapped at any resting spot. Additionally, it features a significantly larger, more interconnected world design with more freedom to explore than its comparatively linear predecessor, as well as an expanded weapon system with more extensive upgrade paths.
How Is the New Combat System Being Received by the Press?
The first reviews, released right on time for the launch, are unusually consistently positive: Several international outlets are calling Mortal Shell II one of the biggest improvements a Soulslike sequel has ever made over its predecessor, and particularly praise how consistently Cold Symmetry shakes up the genre's core formula by foregoing the stamina bar, without losing its characteristic difficulty.
For context: The first Mortal Shell, released in 2020, was a comparatively small niche project from a little-known studio and was primarily praised for its tight, compact pacing – but also criticized for its short playtime. The fact that the sequel is now launching as a standalone full-price title with noticeably more scope, an entirely new engine basis (Unreal Engine 5), and a significantly higher marketing budget shows just how much the Soulslike genre has commercially evolved since the success of titles like Elden Ring. From our perspective, this is precisely the most exciting aspect: A former hidden gem is now deliberately competing against the genre's heavyweights.
You can watch the official launch trailer directly at Playstack:
In terms of price and technical aspects, Mortal Shell II operates within the usual scope for a Soulslike of this magnitude, supporting all three major platforms simultaneously at launch and, unlike many AAA releases these days, foregoing a staggered console rollout.
Already played it? Tell us in the comments what life without a stamina bar feels like for you!
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