Mortal Shell 2 is bigger than Mortal Shell, and Leif Johnson says the sequel is better in almost every way. IGN’s review also says that scale comes with rough edges, including weird technical things and balance issues, so the upgrade is not a clean sweep.
Johnson describes a 25-30 hour quest built around a roster that has double the possible shells of the first game. He says the sequel adds distinct active abilities and keeps the shell-swapping structure intact, turning the game into a larger action-RPG instead of a simple retread.
Leif Johnson on the shell roster
The review points to two kinds of shell variety at once: returning faces and a mostly new lineup. Johnson singles out “a ferocious cannibal, an armor clad alien, and a time-stopping cultist” as standout examples, which gives the sequel a broader combat identity than Mortal Shell.
Johnson also says players learn side stories by building a bond with each shell through the help of a special collectable and a very large woman. That progression system matters because the shells are not just stat swaps anymore; they are the main way the sequel spreads its story and combat options across the run.
Tiel, Eredrim, and combat
Tiel can disappear for short periods of time, then reemerge for a backstabbing attack after slipping past enemies. Eredrim works more directly, using a shoulder charge to wear down a target’s stagger bars and a wide blast to handle groups, so the sequel separates stealth pressure from crowd control instead of forcing one approach.
Johnson’s own phrasing captures the shift: shell-piloting feels like being a “squishier Iron Man”. That is the practical change for players of Mortal Shell in the sequel — each shell now plays like a distinct tool, not just a different body.
Rough edges in the finale
Johnson still says “bigger is not always better”, and that caveat stays attached to the score of the game’s expanded design. Some abilities are finicky, especially ones that require traveling some distance or auto-locking onto enemies, and that is where the sequel’s ambition starts to wobble.
He closes the balance of the review by saying “besides being bigger, Mortal Shell 2 is also better in almost every way”, but the late-game roughness keeps it from being an across-the-board victory. For players, the immediate takeaway is clear: the sequel rewards experimentation with more shells and stronger active abilities, but the final stretch is still the place to watch for the odd technical snag or balance break.
