Fans of punishing RPGs have plenty of reason to celebrate today as Cold Symmetry officially revealed Mortal Shell 2, the long-awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed 2020 Soulslike Mortal Shell.
The announcement was accompanied by an epic new trailer giving fans a glimpse of the game's gritty dark fantasy world, brutal melee combat, mysterious masked figures, terrifying bosses, and the return of the series' signature 'Shell' mechanic. This was all delivered alongside a tasty backing track from Paradise Lost, might I add.
Mortal Shell 2 will be releasing on PC, PS5, and the Xbox Series X|S on August 20, 2026.
A Bigger, More Ambitious Sequel
Thankfully, the series is staying true to its roots, and the iconic 'Shells' mechanic is making a comeback. 'Shells' are powerful husks of fallen warriors that players will inhabit to learn and utilize new movesets. But don't get too comfortable, the sequel will introduce plenty of new features, as well.
According to the official reveal, Mortal Shell 2 is set to expand on the foundation established by the original game with an open world, more diverse environments, deeper combat mechanics, and more advanced character customization. You can also expect to see new weapons, enhanced traversal, and more aggressive enemy encounters. Just in case they weren't aggressive enough for you in the first installment.
Mortal Shell 2 will not be easy. Let our Mortal Shell 2 wiki help guide the way!
Open Beta Announcement
Following the reveal, Cold Symmetry confirmed that an open beta would be available, so players can experience the game's updated combat system early. The beta is being hosted through Steam and will give the community a chance to provide feedback before the game officially releases in August. The open beta is available now on Steam as a free download, so you can start playing Mortal Shell 2 today!
Eager players that participate in the open beta will unlock the Flayed Harbinger cosmetic, which is an exclusive event reward. If you've ever felt like your skin was holding you back, this is your chance to play without it.
Mortal Shell has gathered a dedicated fanbase since its 2020 release, and Mortal Shell 2 is set to expand and deepen both the franchise's lore and mechanics. The game looks incredibly polished, and the open beta demo currently has a 'Very Positive' rating with over 90% positive reviews on Steam. That's a pretty good sign.
Fortunately, we don't have long to wait until the full game releases on the 20th of August. The first Mortal Shell installment offers a free DLC that allows you to change the game's soundtrack to Rotting Christ, so our fingers are crossed that Mortal Shell 2 gets another epic soundtrack crossover, as well!
Mortal Shell II
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- August 20, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Cold Symmetry
- Publisher(s)
- Playstack
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike, Action RPG, Fantasy
