Mortal Shell 2's August 20 release date is fast approaching, and if you just can't wait, you don't have to. An early preview of the game is currently available on Steam as an open beta, but there is one thing missing that has been causing a bit of a stir. Mortal Shell 2 has no stamina bar.
Stamina management has always been a staple of the Soulslike experience. Every hit, every dodge, and every block comes at a cost. Not only do you have to keep an eye on your incredibly powerful and often horrifying opponent, but you also have to be locked in on your stamina bar to make sure you have enough left in there to make your move.
If you run out of stamina, you're hit with a penalty that often leaves you unable to properly defend yourself until you recover. This might not sound like a lot, but every second counts when you're getting relentlessly thrown around like a ragdoll, and it can be the difference between life and death.
Cold Symmetry, the Mortal Shell 2 developers, have yet to release a detailed breakdown on what led to the removal of the stamina bar, but the game's description describes combat as being agile and expressive, and we can see how. If you don't have to worry about stamina, you can be much more fluid in your movements. You'll be free to take advantage of every opening, and you won't have to hang around the side of the arena out of arm's reach, waiting for your stamina bar to refill. This will make combat faster and more expressive, and it has been proven to work.
Mortal Shell 2 is far from the only Soulslike game to say goodbye to the traditional stamina management system. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice doesn't have a stamina bar, and the game certainly doesn't suffer for it. Plenty of Metroidvania Soulslikes, such as Hollow Knight, don't have stamina bars either. And while they're a little further removed from the traditional Soulslike experience, not having a stamina bar doesn't mean they are not enjoyable.
Of course, not everyone is convinced. Many consider a stamina bar to be a hallmark of the genre that adds another layer of complexity to the experience. Stamina management means you have to be more precise about your movements and the windows you choose to retaliate. Removing this altogether can run the risk of combat becoming button-mashy or less calculated, making gameplay easier in general.
If the lack of a stamina bar isn't enough to deter you from Mortal Shell 2, check out our Mortal Shell 2 Wiki!
Sekiro is a success story that shows that stamina removal can work. In that case, stamina is replaced by an in-depth posture system that rewards aggression and punishes mistakes. Mortal Shell 2 seems to be taking a similar stance with its combat by using an ability meter and long attack animations that lock you into your moves and help to discourage button mashing.
If you're stuck on the fence about this change, and you're not sure whether it's worth picking up Mortal Shell 2 without a stamina bar, the best thing to do is try the open beta for yourself! Playing the open beta before the game fully releases on August 20th earns you an exclusive Flayed Harbinger skin, so if your curiosity alone isn't enough to give it a try, that might tip you over the edge.
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
