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Mortal Shell
Critics Consensus (Skip It)
Mortal Shell is a brisk Soulslike experience that doesn’t overwhelm players, but more attention to the story would have gone a long way, and problems in scenario design and world building offer needless frustrations.
Game Info
Mortal Shell is a ruthless and deep action-RPG that tests your sanity and resilience in a shattered world. Your adversaries spare no mercy, with survival demanding superior awareness, precision and instincts. Possess lost warriors, track down hidden sanctums of the devout, and face formidable foes.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 92
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, RPG
DEVELOPER(S):
- Cold Symmetry
PUBLISHER(S):
- Playstack
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- Unreal Engine 4
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
92
Critic Reviews
76
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
90%
Median Score
80%
Low Score
60%
Rick Lane (PC Gamer)
[Date Unavailable]
80/100
“Both its world and story are entertaining to investigate, with glimpses of brilliance hidden amidst its gloomy environments and obscure characters. Ultimately, Mortal Shell is not a Souls game, but it is the best not-Souls game I’ve played so far.”
Leif Johnson (IGN)
[Date Unavailable]
8/10
“Mortal Shell is an extremely loyal Dark Souls homage with just enough clever new ideas to make fighting through its gorgeous world feel like something more than a rehash.”
Phil Hornshaw (GameSpot)
[Date Unavailable]
8/10
“Developer Cold Symmetry’s budget action-RPG is a love letter to From Software’s work, but Mortal Shell’s take on similar ideas feels aimed at those who struggle to get through Soulsborne games.”
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (92 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Jesús Díaz-Suelto Berrueco | 75 / 100 | 09-03-2020 | Mortal Shell has a solid and clear base that in the future can give us outstanding games, but today I think that he does not quite understand what makes the genre difficult and to make up for it he resorts to a tool, the number of enemies, which makes something almost essential in just good. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Денис Щенников | 7 / 10 | 08-29-2020 | Slow-paced action-slasher with satisfying combat and grim atmosphere. And it leaves you wanting for more. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 08-17-2020 | A lean Dead Souls like title with some very fresh ideas, some old problems but very fun gameplay | Read review |
| Area Xbox | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | As a soulslike vetran Mortal Shell offered me great combat and a solid art direction, it even puts fresh mechanics on the table, it may lack in enviroments variation, but that’s forgotten with the solid gameplay | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Brandon Adams | 3.5 / 5 stars | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell isn’t merely “like Dark Souls”; it’s a love-letter to From Software’s juggernaut series that successfully captures what makes those games special while carving out an identity all its own. It isn’t without fault, yet as a freshman effort Mortal Shell is a worthy addition to the Soulslike pantheon. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Mohammad Zamani | 7.5 / 10 | 08-28-2020 | Although Mortal Shell suffers from several design issues, and although it seems a lot like the Souls series, its solid combat system eventually saves the day, making it an exciting, yet short, Action RPG that will probably worth your while. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Quinn Hiers | 8 / 10 | 08-23-2020 | Overall, Mortal Shell feels like a Souls game. It’s difficult, the enemies are punishing, and the combat mechanics are familiar. Mortal Shell is undoubtedly a love letter to Dark Souls, but Cold Symmetry has added enough novel mechanics and intriguing landscapes to make a game that stands out from the crowd. | Read review |
| Chalgyr’s Game Room | Pierre-Yves Lanthier | 8.75 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | Cold Symmetry have nailed it. Mortal Shell is an amazing, brutally hard, rewarding, frustrating, thrill ride that the genre has needed from development teams outside of From Software. With a genre that everyone has been gravitating to, it’s not an easy one to pull off especially on the first try and that’s what was done here. Out of the box and having made the style work in a different manner may just change the game moving forward while having also brought back the thrill of exploration and the fear of what’s behind the next corner. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Justin White | 8 / 10 | 08-19-2020 | I heavily enjoyed my time with Mortal Shell, and if you are a fan of Souls-like games then you will certainly enjoy this one. The combat is extremely engaging, and the atmosphere and setting provide a disturbing and dark would to explore. At times, if I did not know the title of this game I would have assumed it was a Dark Souls entry. | Read review |
| COGconnected | James Paley | 70 / 100 | 08-17-2020 | For the hardcore crowd that’s made it this far, congratulations! You will love this game, no two ways about it. For everyone else, heed my warning: Mortal Shell is just as brutal and beautiful as you’re imagining. | Read review |
| Critical Hit | Brad Lang | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is an excellent entry in the Souls-like space with some fantastic ideas around character progression and combat, but is unfortunately let down by a health system that discourages exploration and an element of tedium that unnecessarily pads out encounters. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Emil Gunnarsson | 7.5 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | Mortal Shell’s incredibly strong start peters out as you learn more and more about the limitations of the gameplay and the world Cold Symmetry try to establish. | Read review |
| DarkZero | Lewis Howarth | 7 / 10 | 08-22-2020 | Mortal Shell is not a perfect game and still requires a bit of polishing but for a game this enjoyable to be developed by such a small team I’m excited to see what they have planned for the future. The potential to make Mortal Shell into a great franchise is definitely there and I hope to see another game in the series or DLC adding diverse bosses and more items to utilise the amazing elements they have introduced with this game. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Alex Tudor | 9 / 10 | 01-13-2017 | Not without its quirks and issues, Mortal Shell is a fun and unrelenting good time. Shell-swapping makes the experience unique, while its combat and world are ripe for experimentation and exploration. Though unabashedly inspired by other games in its genre, Mortal Shell warrants a play from the most die-hard of fans. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Brad Ellis | 3.75 / 5 stars | 08-19-2020 | While it may not stand at the upper echelon of the genre, Mortal Shell is still an enjoyable action-RPG thanks to distinct mechanics and a strong foundation. | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | João Canelo | Recommended | 08-21-2020 | Mortal Shell is a step forward in the genre and one of the most peculiar games of 2020. It’s bold in its approach and used mechanics and show that sometimes less is more. | Read review |
| Expansive | Brad Baker | Recommended | 08-25-2020 | The world of Mortal Shell is usually a good one to explore. There’s not a lot of narrative explanation outside of the character prose and you’ll often find yourself creeping into every room, staying on your toes from enemies trying to jump out and claw your face off. That can get a bit tedious, at times. | Read review |
| Fextralife | Castielle | 7.9 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell gives players the closest experience to Dark Souls they’ve had since playing Dark Souls itself. If you’re looking for a solid Action RPG that is reasonably priced to hold you over until Elden Ring or Demon’s Souls Remake, Mortal Shell should be atop your list. It’s not going to blow your mind, but for 30 USD it’s hard to ask for much more. | Read review |
| FingerGuns | Greg Hicks | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | It may seem daunting and punishing, and it is. But its visual beauty and aesthetic has me compelled to explore more of this world and the Shells that inhabit it. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Michael Leri | 4 / 5 stars | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell’s scope ends up being a more significant net gain as it offers a brisk Soulslike experience without trying to overwhelm players with content for content’s sake. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Jonathan Bushle | 6 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is a enjoyable Dark Souls-like, with a few good ideas and a charming dark fantasy world but the execution is clearly not perfect. | Read review |
| Gamefa | Saeed Aghababaie | 8.3 / 10 | 08-19-2020 | Mortal Shell surprises me a lot with its quality and value. It uses some of the best elements of masterpieces like Dark Souls, Sekiro and Bloodborne, but in the end and because of some special elements in gameplay like defense system and shell, it has its own unique character and vibe. As a 30 $ game, Mortal Shell has value and quality more than many AAA 60 $ games. Long story short, if you like hardcore games like Dark Souls, you should definitely play Mortal Shell. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Jamie Davies | 6.5 / 10 | 09-12-2020 | An engrossing combat system and numerous novel gameplay mechanics save what would have otherwise been merely a passable Dark Souls tribute from total mediocrity. Sadly, there’s still too much harming the experience to justify a wholehearted recommendation. It ain’t Souls and it certainly ain’t polished, but it’s not terrible either. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is another Dark Souls clone with nice graphics, interesting ideas and good combat mechanics. On the other hand, there’s a problems with hitboxes, enemies are too slow, and it lacks epic bosses and spectacular battles. However, among other Dark Souls clones this game looks really unusual and worthy. | Read review |
| GamePitt | Rob Pitt | 8 / 10 | 08-19-2020 | Fans of Souls-like games will love the challenge and unforgiving gameplay within Mortal Shell – those with little patience should maybe give it a miss! For quite a small-scaled game, there’s a lot of variety within the enemy types and locations you have to venture through, making each Gland quest even more exciting. Pick your Shell, your weapon, your accessories, and your skills, what happens next is all up to you as the game has no direction and no strict order of completion, you’re free to do whatever you want – some will find this enjoyable whereas others may get confused and overwhelmed. So far, this is 2020’s best Souls-like game, one which people who love the genre must buy. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Johnny Hurricane | 8.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell shines brightly as an example of the Souls formula done well. Anyone who is a fan of the challenging gameplay the genre is known for will be happy with this title. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | John Schutt | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Far from being a pretender, Mortal Shell is a sometimes exceptional entry to the genre. Its stumbles are noticeable only because there is so much to enjoy. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 6 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | There’s some good to be found in Mortal Shell; its world is interesting and generally well designed, it looks lovely, and some of its boss fights really are exhilarating. But there are just so many aspects of it that will leave you frustrated, underwhelmed or disappointed. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Phil Hornshaw | 8 / 10 | 08-19-2020 | Developer Cold Symmetry’s budget action-RPG is a love letter to From Software’s work, but Mortal Shell’s take on similar ideas feels aimed at those who struggle to get through Soulsborne games. | Read review |
| GameWatcher | Robert Honaker | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | With a haunting and beautiful world as a backdrop to a solid “Souls-like” RPG, Mortal Shell is a much better game than it has any right to be. The magnificent presentation, mixed with the unique take on character progression, steals the show here and despite dying dozens upon dozens of times, I was hooked from the moment that combat started making sense to me. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Carter Kilmann | 8.8 / 10 | 09-04-2020 | Mortal Shell embraces the Souls-like moniker with open arms. They welcomed comparisons, and, for the most part, delivered. What’s more impressive is that a team of only 15 people created it. Mortal Shell will make you to rethink your ideas around patience and frustration. You will love this game for all the same reasons that you hate it. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Matt Bianucci | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell has a lot of things that allow it to be notable in its own right, but it makes it hard to forget that it’s taking from a giant whose shadow it never truly escapes. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Travis Northup | 80 / 100 | 08-24-2020 | Mortal Shell is an action RPG that uses the sleeve of the soulslike genre to create something unique enough to stand on its own two feet. Though its campaign is short and predictable, the beautiful world, interesting body-swapping mechanics, and strong technical performance more than make up for how liberally it borrows from other games. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Tom Bond | 6 / 10 | 08-23-2020 | If you’re a fan of action RPGs that are Souls-like, I’d probably suggest giving Mortal Shell at least one playthrough, or at least maybe waiting for a comprehensive map to be created by the community. With fun boss fights and good combat, Mortal Shell is one of the better Souls-like games around that’s simply plagued by a lot of bad design choices. | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | Pedro del Pozo | 8.6 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell wants you to know that if you like Dark Souls, you don’t always have to resort to From Software. A brutal ARPG with good ideas. | Read review |
| Gert Lush Gaming | Jim Smale | 8.6 / 10 | 08-19-2020 | Mortal Shell takes from Dark Souls and Bloodborne but still innovates the game genre to the next level and sets a new bar. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Mick Fraser | 7.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | More attention to the story would have gone a long way, but Mortal Shell is an intriguing adventure, and an accomplished addition to the Soulslike genre. | Read review |
| GotGame | Kieran Toovey | 8.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | In conclusion, Cold Symmetry has achieved greatness with Mortal Shell. The game is by no means perfect and it is fairly brief. But for such a small team and a new IP, the result is impressive. This is strongly recommended for all fans of the Souls genre and it shows that innovation still exists within the cluttered space. | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Fran Soto | 4 / 5 stars | 08-19-2020 | Mortal Shell is a faithful homage to the games that came before it. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Francis DiPersio | 4 / 5 stars | 08-18-2020 | If you have a Dark Souls-shaped hole in your heart, I promise Mortal Shell will climb inside and fill that void quite nicely. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | José David Muñoz | 74 / 100 | 08-18-2020 | Mortal Shell is a great debut for Cold Symmetry, but it’s not a perfect game. It has awesome ideas with the shells, but it is also an opaque world with no clear story. | Read review |
| IGN | Leif Johnson | 8 / 10 | 08-19-2020 | Mortal Shell is an extremely loyal Dark Souls homage with just enough clever new ideas to make fighting through its gorgeous world feel like something more than a rehash. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Diego Cinelli | 7.5 / 10 | 08-21-2020 | Mortal Shell is a soulslike that knows how to create the right atmosphere. The combat system is interesting, innovative in some ways, but the game still suffers from some technical problems that can arbitrarily vary the difficulty of the game, from time to time. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Álex Pareja | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | A great Souls-like with personality, new ideas, amazing battles but with problems in scenario design and world building. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Abdul Saad | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-31-2020 | Regardless of all its faults, I still believe Mortal Shell is a solid game. It transcends itself from being another Dark Souls imitation to an excellent game based on true inspiration. This is all the more impressive once you realize that a small studio of fifteen people developed a game with such high quality. Mortal shell is a remarkable love letter to FromSoftware’s Staple series, and its asking price of $29.99 is just an added reason for why Souls fans especially should be picking up this game. | Read review |
| INDIANTVCZ | Václav Šourek | 6 / 10 | 09-19-2020 | Despite the fact that Mortal Shell is a game full of mistakes, therefore it isn’t one of the best souls-like experiences, it still remains a decent hardcore title. | Read review |
| Jump Dash Roll | Jon Peltz | 6 / 10 | 08-27-2020 | Mortal Shell unleashes an astoundingly creative new combat mechanic in a brooding and strange world, but its meandering narrative, uninspired and confusing maps, and punishing-to-the-point-of-cheapness gameplay will test the patience of all but the most hardened of Soulslike fans. | Read review |
| Just Push Start | Grant Gaines | 3 / 5 stars | 08-17-2020 | While I wouldn’t call Mortal Shell a bad game, it doesn’t know what it wants to be and that makes it worse. It’s to the point where I could legitimate see this being developed as an action RPG set in a fantasy world that needed a hook, so a bunch of punishing mechanics were just thrown in haphazardly. Let’s have you drop tar on death but also make it a useless resource or create an extremely difficult mode that can largely be negated by abusing dodge roll. I mean, it’s so bad I quite possibly overcame literally every encounter by using the hallowed sword (initial weapon) and used either a running heavy attack or a normal heavy attack, harden, dodge roll back, wait for resources to replenish and repeat. It’s simply not going to appeal to those looking for a challenge, nor is it going to appeal to anyone who doesn’t care for the tedious elements of this genre. It’s just a shallow experience with some neat gimmicks tossed in a small world. If that is enough you might enjoy it but otherwise, it’s hard to recommend. | Read review |
| KeenGamer | Anyka Pettigrew | 7.5 / 10 | 08-28-2020 | Cold Symmetry’s Mortal Shell is a love letter to Dark Souls fans. This deep-action RPG sets you in a world with beasts and bosses to vanquish, along with a dark world to discover. Although exciting in its own ways–through difficult encounters and unique mechanics–it still has dislikable issues that don’t hold the brightest candle to its inspirations. | Read review |
| Luis Alamilla | Luis Alamilla | 8.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Video Review | Read review |
| Marooners’ Rock | Jonathan White | 7.6 / 10 | 09-15-2020 | Kudos to the team at Cold Symmetry. I hope more people pick up this game so that we can get a sequel somewhere down the road. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Samet Basri Taşlı | 75 / 100 | 08-25-2020 | It’s a great job for a newly established studio’s first game. Among the Dark Souls copies, Mortal Shell managed to stand out with its unique features. This game is the proof that Cold Symmetry can do much better work in the future. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 8 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | The best Dark Souls clone so far features a number of interesting new ideas and also offers an experience that is easier to acclimatise to for new players. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Brian Seymour | 4 / 5 stars | 08-17-2020 | A great stepping stone into a difficult genre. | Read review |
| Nexus | Vincent Kühl | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell has enough fresh ideas to set itself apart and takes enough inspiration from existing titles to create a unique experience for veterans of the genre and new-comers alike. | Read review |
| Noisy Pixel | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | Mortal Shell takes what you’d expect from Souls-clones and adds heaps of creativity along with unique systems and features that make it a whole new experience. Each moment of gameplay is an adrenaline rush as you progress further in the nightmare. There may be a few moments of confusion, but this one’s for the masochists out there who are looking for something to really immerse themselves in and discover for themselves. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Rick Lane | 80 / 100 | 08-17-2020 | Both its world and story are entertaining to investigate, with glimpses of brilliance hidden amidst its gloomy environments and obscure characters. Ultimately, Mortal Shell is not a Souls game, but it is the best not-Souls game I’ve played so far. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Jason Rodriguez | 8.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell boasts refreshing mechanics that eschew the Souls-like subgenre’s tried-and-tested methods. Though a bit on the short side, it oozes bone-crunching, stylish combat, and its performance is superbly optimized. Simply put, Mortal Shell manages to exceed all expectations. | Read review |
| PCGamesN | Dave Irwin | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Wonderfully captures the atmosphere and combat of Souls games, but without enough tools to experiment with and an AI that’s easy to abuse, Mortal Shell lacks meat on its bones. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Sebastian Hawden | 6 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Unfortunately Mortal Shell just feels like a bad Dark Souls game, while I enjoyed it initially, the more I played the more it wore away my enjoyment. The few unique features it has do make the game feel slightly unique but its world-building, combat and enemies pale in comparison to its inspiration. The bad AI and other small issues do little to complement what could have been an enjoyable title. There are far better games in the genre. | Read review |
| Polygon | Jeffrey Parkin | Recommended | 08-17-2020 | At the end of those levels, I collect an object that I need to return to Fallgrim Tower — as the game drip feeds me information, I learn I need all three of them to escape. I fight my way back, deliver the item, and then start off again toward a new temple. The premise is concise and understandable — go here, collect this, come back, repeat two more times, win. | Read review |
| PowerUp! | James Wood | 9 / 10 | 11-21-2020 | Mortal Shell‘s origins may be steeped in an echo but the final product has more than enough soul. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Renan Gaudencio Vale | 70 / 100 | 08-21-2020 | Mortal Shell is an effort to deliver a soulslike game that values the good development of the genre and well-crafted controls that guarantee a refined technique for an indie game. | Read review |
| Push Square | Jacob Hull | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | With beautiful environments and plenty to discover, Mortal Shell is a compelling world to explore. After a steep learning curve, its combat is challenging but fascinating, and with a great sense of reward once you master it. It might be a little too similar to Dark Souls in terms of overall tone and style, but it brings enough new ideas functionally to make it stand out from the crowd. Ultimately, this is a great entry into a demanding sub-genre that fans won’t want to miss. | Read review |
| Rapid Reviews UK | Chris Armstrong | 4 / 5 stars | 09-11-2020 | I’ve never been much of a glutton for punishment. And I’ve never really had the time or patience for try, die and repeat gameplay. I’ll admit, I barely got out of central Yharnam during my time playing Bloodbourne. When I saw Mortal Shell I thought, it’s time to “git gud” and see what this game has to offer. | Read review |
| Rectify Gaming | Unknown | 8.5 / 10 | 11-25-2020 | Mortal Shell is more than a simple Dark Souls clone. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Ed Thorn | Not Recommended | 08-17-2020 | Ultimately, Mortal Shell will make you want to headbutt your monitor out of sheer frustration. The puzzling nature of the map, the repetitive placement of enemies, the lack of options all coalesce into a big arm that holds the game back from being really good, to just good. | Read review |
| RPGamer | Zack Webster | 3.5 / 5 stars | 09-17-2020 | The lack of depth isn’t too much of a detriment as the game is short enough to ever feel tired. Better yet, what is there is good, a foundation with easy room to be expanded upon and a strong demonstration of Cold Symmetry’s understanding of core concepts that are the strength of the genre. Mortal Shell is a exemplary use of limited resources to make a tight, fun game, even if it only takes a weekend to beat. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | صالح بازرعة | 7 / 10 | 08-30-2020 | A well-polished game when looking at the combat system and the great technical visuals, suffers from subpar level design and lack of identity. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Lukáš Zábojník | 8.5 / 10 | 09-04-2020 | New and fresh take on popular soulslike genre from newly established developer is full of interesting ideas | Read review |
| SelectButton | Kevin Mitchell | 8 / 10 | 08-20-2020 | Mortal Shell may be a smaller Souls-like adventure, but the passion from the developers and unique mechanics results in one of the best entries in the genre. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Sam Chandler | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Unfortunately, while Mortal Shell has a heart of gold, there are mechanics and core decisions that prevent it from being a truly great entry into these hallowed halls. | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Rhett Roxl | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is not the perfect Souls-like game out there, but it’s most certainly one of the best ones. It has its glaring flaws, but they’re drowned out by the amazing craftsmanship of the game’s creators and their taste for distinction. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Unknown | 7.3 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is a brilliant take on the soulslike genre, but it is still unbalanced and far from the height reached by Dark Souls series. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Joseph Allen | 6 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell boasts responsive combat and gorgeous visuals, but it’s let down by rote level design, poor storytelling, and a general unfinished feel. | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Danilo Dellafrana | 7.6 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is an interesting soulslike, affected by some not perfectly developed background ideas, combined with an extremely derivative final product. Certainly intended for lovers of the genre. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Keith Mitchell | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-17-2020 | It’s still hard to believe that Mortal Shell is Cold Symmetry’s first game, as this game rivals many AAA games. Everything in the game screams quality, from the gameplay to the art and sound direction. As a long time fan of Soulslike games, Mortal Shell has shot to the top of my favorite game lists and I can’t wait to see what the devs do next. If you enjoy these sorts of games like I do, I recommend giving Mortal Shell a try. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Jason Coles | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is just an incredibly satisfying experience. It’ll punish you constantly, but if you can master the mechanics it lays out in front of you then you’ll have an incredible time of things. The lore is a little more obvious that in other soulslikes, and the story it tells and the world it puts you in are both rather enthralling. This is definitely a game that fans of dying a lot will enjoy, but it’s probably not for everyone. | Read review |
| ThisGenGaming | Charles Oakley | 8.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell has left me fuming at times but the game’s impressive visuals, combat, and atmosphere will keep pulling me back for quite some time yet. | Read review |
| Too Much Gaming | Carlos Hernandez | 7 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | Mortal Shell is bleak, twisted, and poses a challenge from start to finish. It will leave you wanting more, and while some mechanics weren’t as fleshed out and diverse as I’d hoped, this game from Cold Symmetry is a commendable adventure that deserves the attention of those who love the subgenre. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | خالد العيسى | 7.5 / 10 | 08-24-2020 | Mortal Shell isn’t the best Souls-like experience but its a brave and enjoyable shot at the genre with its ideas and interesting world, it will be enjoyable for the genre veterans and a good introduction to new comers. | Read review |
| TrustedReviews | Jade King | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell is one of the year’s biggest gaming surprises, offering a deep, fascinating journey into a melancholic world. It takes blatant inspiration from Dark Souls and Bloodborne,. But innovative tweaks to its combat and progression mechanics let it easily stand on its own two feet. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Σάκης Καρπάς | Recommended | 08-17-2020 | Closest thing to Dark Souls you didn’t know you want… | Read review |
| Use a Potion | Owen | 8 / 10 | 08-18-2020 | Mortal Shell isn’t shy in showing off its Souls-like inspirations, but it offers enough fresh ideas of its own to stand out as an entertainingly brutal adventure. Swapping Shells remained neat throughout and added an extra element of strategy to different encounters, whilst the intricate combat mechanics and mesmerising world will keep you engaged all the way through to the game’s conclusion. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Jacob James | 8 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | Mortal Shell retains the best elements of the genre | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 6.2 / 10 | 08-20-2020 | Mortal Shell may offer a solid experience but as I played it, I couldn’t help but want to dive into the Souls series again as the amount of variety and excitement in FromSoftware’s games makes this feel like a hollow shell in comparison. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Josh Wise | 7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | If you’re willing to devote a weekend to its mood of windbitten despondency (it’s only fifteen or so hours long), you will not emerge from Mortal Shell unrewarded. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Jason Palazini | 8.5 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | For any fans of the Soulslike genre looking for a new addition to their collection, Mortal Shell is worth the time. While there is room for Cold Symmetry to expand upon their ideas here and make improvements, they have absolutely proved their value as creative minds and talented developers. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Kai Powell | 7.7 / 10 | 08-17-2020 | More in line with From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice than a traditional Soulslike, Mortal Shell offers a short and sweet take on the hardcore action RPG formula by focusing the player to harden up and push the offensive in order to create the perfect defense. | Read review |
| Windows Central | Brendan Lowry | 4 / 5 stars | 08-25-2020 | While it’s not perfect, Mortal Shell is nevertheless an impressive snack-sized Soulslike that’s fun, polished, and unique, providing an experience that Souls fans will love. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Cody Medellin | 8 / 10 | 01-08-2021 | Mortal Shell is an enjoyable title for those who are already fans of the SoulsBorne sub-genre, and it has more positives than it has flaws. The swamp hub world is bland and confusing, but the different biomes you eventually reach are gorgeous, even if they’re relatively familiar. The lack of a deep leveling system has a very good replacement in the shell system, which ends up providing more versatility in your character build and the attack system. The relatively shorter length makes it great for newcomers, while genre veterans will find it to be a great debut effort from a small development team. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Jae Lee | 6.5 / 10 | 09-16-2020 | Mortal Shell is built around a solid foundation with a fun and responsive combat engine propped up by strong visuals. While some obtuse design choices and an uninteresting world holds it back from escaping the moniker of being, “just yet another souls-like”, it’s guaranteed to scratch that itch, at least a little. | Read review |
Mortal Shell Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
n/a
PRODUCER(S):
Andrew McLennan-Murray, Anton Gonzalez, Vitaly Bulgarov, Dmitry Parkin
DESIGNER(S):
Patty Shannon, Alexander Varna, Evyn Shuley
PROGRAMMER(S):
Francesco Zacchini, Denny Strube, Csaba Molndar, Eero Mutka
ARTIST(S):
Benjamin Roach, Artem Demura, Samuel C Slover
WRITER(S):
Ryan Schapals
COMPOSER(S):
Simon Heath
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