Mortal Shell 2 Open Beta, Strange As Ever

Mortal Shell gained its own unique following when it was released, even though it was not only a soulslike in a sea of soulslikes, but also exclusive (at the time) to the Epic Games Store. That combination often leads to titles being lost in players' memories, but not Mortal Shell.

This was thanks to its strange way to manage combat, exploration, and even consumable items, all the while being approachable enough to let you learn its quirks. You could still dodge and parry, but you could also ‘harden' just like Metapod and negate nearly all damage, but be frozen in place.

The game's name is a reference to its Shell system, where instead of classes, you inhabit the dead bodies of warriors, rogues and the like. Each Shell had small bits of lore, but they mostly served as little more than variety for the player.

Mortal Shell 2

With the Mortal Shell 2 Open Beta live right now, you can easily pick the game yourself and see if it's for you, a move often made by developers confident in their product. So, after a few hours, what does a fan of the original game like me think of the sequel?

In essence, it is what you'd expect it to be: Mortal Shell, but bigger. The expansion is not just on the map or combat variety, but also on lore. The Shells now have their own little cutscenes letting you know how they died, making their personalities far more memorable.

The odd item usage is also back, but this time is about hoarding items rather than using them. There's one piece of grass that does nothing when picked up, but if you collect 1000 of them, you'll be immune to all damage. I bet that's only possible in New Game +, if at all.

There's little more to say about this title other than, if you're at all curious, give it a try. I feel it's a one of a kind series, not loved for its difficulty, but for its own take on the genre.

Related: Guild Wars 3 In Development: Beta Fall 2027. What Does That Mean For GW2?

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 2:31 PM.