[PREVIEW] Mortal Shell II – Difficult, Fair, and Surprisingly Polished

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Mortal Shell II has opened its beta to everyone, and I have to admit, this is exactly how you showcase a game and win people over. As someone who never played the first Mortal Shell, I went into this completely blind. After spending several hours with the beta on Steam, I came away genuinely impressed. Not only is the game challenging and rewarding, but the beta itself does an excellent job of introducing players to its world, combat systems, and overall gameplay loop.

It offers roughly three to five hours of content, covering the opening chapters and the first major explorable region. Unlike many demos that barely scratch the surface, this one gives you enough time to understand what the game is trying to achieve. You get to explore optional dungeons, tackle mini-bosses and major encounters, uncover bits of the story, and experiment with different combat styles while facing a huge variety of enemies.

Difficult but fair soulslike ARPG

At its core, Mortal Shell II is a Soulslike action RPG with a heavy emphasis on exploration. The world is interconnected and surprisingly expansive while still feeling focused enough to respect your time. Progression follows a familiar formula: thoroughly explore one area, overcome its challenges, unlock new paths, and gradually expand into new regions.

One of the first things that stood out to me was the game’s presentation. The world is intentionally dark, twisted, and grotesque, filled with unsettling creatures and hostile environments. Enemy design is particularly impressive. From aggressive melee attackers and shield-bearing ones to archers and strange spider-like creatures, the game constantly introduces new threats that force you to adapt.

Even more impressive is the technical performance. Modern games often struggle with optimization at launch, yet Mortal Shell II ran flawlessly during my time with the beta. I played on high settings and didn’t experience a single stutter, freeze, or noticeable performance issue. No matter how many enemies were on screen or how chaotic combat became, the game remained smooth throughout. It’s refreshing to see such a polished technical foundation this early.

Combat and exploration are vital in Mortal Shell II

Combat is where Mortal Shell II truly shines. The beta allows you to experience Tiel, one of the eight shells that will be available in the full release. Tiel plays like an assassin, utilizing shadow-based abilities and rewarding precise dodging with additional offensive opportunities. Combat revolves around learning enemy patterns, managing positioning, breaking enemy posture, and capitalizing on openings for critical strikes. While movement can feel slightly floaty at times, especially compared to some other Soulslikes, the overall combat system is satisfying and consistently fair.

The game does an excellent job teaching you its mechanics. Whether you’re learning how to dodge, parry, or use special abilities such as coating weapons with elemental effects, the progression feels natural. Death is frequent, but it rarely feels frustrating because the game is clear about what you did wrong. Every encounter follows the same high-risk, high-reward philosophy that defines the genre.

Outside of combat, there are plenty of collectibles, resources, and progression systems to engage with. Souls serve as your primary leveling currency, while gold is used for acquiring equipment and upgrades. Sanctuaries scattered throughout the world act as checkpoints and provide additional rewards, while the main hub offers several ways to improve your character. I also appreciated the flexibility of the camera system. You can switch between a closer over-the-shoulder perspective and a wider exploration-focused view.

Final verdict

The game isn’t without flaws. The world, while visually beautiful, often feels static. Many NPCs lack personality, making interactions less memorable than they could be. Exploration is enjoyable because of the environments and combat encounters, but not necessarily because of the characters you meet along the way. I also would have liked to see more major boss encounters in the beta, as some of the most interesting moments were reserved for the few larger fights available.

There are also a few mechanical issues that need attention. The lock-on system occasionally behaves unpredictably, particularly during hectic encounters. Lighting can be inconsistent as well, with certain areas becoming unnecessarily dark. The absence of a jump mechanic may bother some players, and parts of the level design can feel overly artificial, resembling obstacle courses rather than believable locations with their own history and purpose.

Despite these issues, Mortal Shell II left a very strong impression on me. It is difficult, demanding, and occasionally unforgiving, but it is rarely unfair. Every victory feels earned, every death teaches a lesson, and the combat system encourages constant improvement. There is still room for refinement before launch, but if you’re a fan of Soulslike games and enjoy challenging combat paired with exploration, there is already a lot to like here. For someone who never touched the first game, this beta completely sold me on Mortal Shell II.