{"id":8249,"date":"2026-08-20T22:22:45","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-day-reviews-august-20-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T22:22:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:22:45","slug":"mortal-shell-ii-launch-day-reviews-august-20-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-day-reviews-august-20-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Mortal Shell II Launches On Steam, PS5 And Xbox With Strong Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Cold Symmetry&#8217;s <strong>Mortal Shell II<\/strong> is officially live worldwide today \u2014 20 August 2026 \u2014 on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and Singapore&#8217;s queue of Soulslike fans finally has a verdict to work from. As we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/mortal-shell-2-august-20-release-date-2026\/\">covered when publisher Playstack locked in the release date back in July<\/a>, the sequel keeps the possession-based shell mechanic that made the 2020 original a cult favourite and stretches it across an interconnected open world. What we didn&#8217;t have then was the review scores. Now they&#8217;re in, and they&#8217;re solid.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-1.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mortal Shell II shell selection screen showing Proxima the Broodseeker\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Cold Symmetry \/ Playstack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What the reviews are saying<\/h2>\n<p>The launch-day aggregate is landing in strong &#8220;buy&#8221; territory rather than niche cult territory this time. <a href=\"https:\/\/opencritic.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OpenCritic<\/a> has Mortal Shell II sitting at an 85 Top Critic Average, and Metacritic is tracking an 84 on PC and an 85 on PS5 as more outlets file in. Individual scores skew consistent: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IGN<\/a> handed it an 8\/10, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamespot.com\/articles\/mortal-shell-ii-review-emerge-from-your-shell\/1900-6418800\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GameSpot<\/a> matched it, and <a href=\"https:\/\/gamerant.com\/mortal-shell-2-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GameRant<\/a> went a step further with a 9\/10. Reviewers keep circling the same two beats: the drop-in stamina-free combat gives fights a punchier rhythm than 2020&#8217;s original, and the eight playable Shells with their own kits give builds real breathing room.<\/p>\n<p>Australian outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/checkpointgaming.net\/reviews\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-review-emerge-from-your-shell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Checkpoint Gaming<\/a>&#8216;s review captures the general read \u2014 the sequel is bigger, more confident, and finally feels like Cold Symmetry hit the scale their design was reaching for the first time.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-2.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mortal Shell II hooded warrior facing a chained statue in a candlelit ruin\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Cold Symmetry \/ Playstack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Watch the launch trailer<\/h2>\n<p>Playstack dropped the launch trailer overnight; it&#8217;s a two-minute sizzle of the shells, the Harden ability and a handful of boss silhouettes.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gt-video\">\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O9bOlQRjd6M\" title=\"Mortal Shell II - Official Launch Trailer\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer;clipboard-write;encrypted-media;gyroscope;picture-in-picture;web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><figcaption>Mortal Shell II &#8211; Official Launch Trailer &mdash; via Playstack on YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Singapore pricing and where to buy<\/h2>\n<p>Steam is the easiest starting point for local players: the Singapore storefront lists the standard edition at <strong>S$59.90<\/strong>, with the Devout Edition \u2014 base game plus up to 72 hours of Advanced Access (which unlocked on 17 August) and the Obsidian Shell skin set \u2014 at <strong>S$66.99<\/strong>. Those numbers pull directly from the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/app\/2584270\/Mortal_Shell_II\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mortal Shell II Steam page<\/a> when opened from Singapore.<\/p>\n<p>PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store both list the game today for digital purchase from Singapore accounts. Physical PS5 copies through major game retailers and electronics chains will vary in stock \u2014 the Devout Edition&#8217;s SteelBook Revered Edition in particular has been running scarce internationally, so it&#8217;s worth checking with your usual local shop before assuming it&#8217;s on the shelf.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-3.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mortal Shell II boss encounter with a horned, tattooed warrior in a barren grove\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Cold Symmetry \/ Playstack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What&#8217;s actually different from the first Mortal Shell<\/h2>\n<p>The 2020 game was a tight, roughly ten-hour dark-fantasy loop across a compact hub-and-spoke map. Mortal Shell II expands that in three concrete directions: an interconnected open world dotted with dozens of dungeons, an increased Shell roster (eight this time, each with their own passives, weapon affinities and traversal quirks), and a firearms layer bolted onto the melee kit so ranged options aren&#8217;t limited to throwing your weapon. The Harden ability \u2014 turning your Shell to stone mid-swing for a free parry \u2014 is still the identity move, but the moment-to-moment feel is faster now that stamina isn&#8217;t gating combos.<\/p>\n<p>The Steam Early Access window has already banked an 88% &#8220;Very Positive&#8221; user review score, and preview coverage from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gematsu.com\/2026\/07\/mortal-shell-ii-launches-august-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gematsu<\/a> pointed to consistent 60 fps performance on Xbox Series X and Series S ahead of launch, which lines up with what reviewers are reporting today.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-4.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mortal Shell II knight standing in a misty forest of gnarled trees and ruins\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Cold Symmetry \/ Playstack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The pitch for Singapore Soulslike fans<\/h2>\n<p>Timing works in the game&#8217;s favour for Singapore players. August has been quiet for major PC and console launches \u2014 the big waves in the region are Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 and Star Wars Zero Company clustering around 27\u201328 August \u2014 so Mortal Shell II gets a clean week or so to itself before the Gamescom-adjacent releases land. If you&#8217;ve been rationing your Soulslike hours between FromSoftware drops and you like your dark fantasy on the tighter, weirder end of the genre, this is the launch window to jump in on.<\/p>\n<p>For related coverage, see our archive of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/category\/game-news\/\">game news<\/a> for more Singapore-facing launch tracking, and Playstack&#8217;s official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playstack.com\/games\/mortalshell2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mortal Shell II page<\/a> for platform-specific store links.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-5.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mortal Shell II elderly hooded NPC playing an accordion in a lit clearing\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Cold Symmetry \/ Playstack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!--GT-SCOUT source=\"Web (English)\" theme=\"Video games\" flags=\"none\"--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cold Symmetry&#8217;s open-world Soulslike sequel Mortal Shell II is live worldwide on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S today, and the first wave of reviews is arriving strong \u2014 Metacritic 84\u201385 and OpenCritic 85.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":8243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[11,187],"tags":[1272,64,433,124,123],"class_list":["post-8249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-news","category-reviews","tag-mortal-shell-ii","tag-ps5","tag-soulslike","tag-steam","tag-xbox-series-x"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mortal-shell-ii-launch-header.jpg?fit=460%2C215&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p13AlF-293","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5370,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/mortal-shell-2-august-20-release-date-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":8249,"position":0},"title":"Mortal Shell II Locks In August 20 Release Date","date":"July 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cold Symmetry's open-world soulslike sequel Mortal Shell II launches 20 August 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC \u2014 and a free Steam beta with an exclusive cosmetic is live right now.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mortal-shell-2-header.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3350,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/beast-of-reincarnation-game-freak-august-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":8249,"position":1},"title":"Beast of Reincarnation: Game Freak\u2019s Action RPG Launches 4 August","date":"June 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Game Freak\u2019s first action RPG outside Pok\u00e9mon launches 4 August on PS5, Xbox (Game Pass day 1), and PC \u2014 here\u2019s what Singapore fans need to know.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game Industry News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bor_hero.jpg?fit=1200%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4092,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/lords-of-the-fallen-ii-delayed-q1-2027\/","url_meta":{"origin":8249,"position":2},"title":"Lords of the Fallen II Delayed to Q1 2027 \u2014 GTA VI Among the Reasons","date":"June 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Hexworks and CI Games have pushed Lords of the Fallen II to Q1 2027, citing the need for more polish time \u2014 and being refreshingly candid about the near-impossible task of competing with GTA VI over the holidays.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game Industry News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/lords-of-the-fallen-ii-delay-2027.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7342,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/onimusha-severing-fates-trailer-demo-live-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":8249,"position":3},"title":"Onimusha: Way of the Sword \u2014 &#8220;Severing Fates&#8221; 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Metacritic: 84 on Xbox, 81 on PS5. Here's what critics say and whether it's worth S$79.90 in Singapore.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/halo-campaign-evolved-header.jpg?fit=460%2C215&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8249"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}