Mortal Shell

 PC
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 428 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 191 out of 428
  2. Mixed: 121 out of 428
  3. Negative: 116 out of 428

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  1. Mikez023
    Sep 9, 2023
    8
    Mi primer souls. Y si bien tiene defectos como un mapa confuso y una historia inentendible; eso no significa que no sea un buen juego con mecánicas interesantes.
  2. apokalipto
    Aug 28, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  3. Husseinqahtan
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    This masterpiece .



    This is a legend a truly perfect legend The first game i was really obsessed with it
  4. 1Shorzz
    May 26, 2023
    8
    SHORZZ / Mortal Shell: One of the most enjoyable and diverse soul-like games I've ever played.
    There are a lot of animations in the game, sometimes it causes you to die as a result of your wrong moves, so it is a game that requires a lot of attention. Each character and weapon has its own unique feature. As you get used to the game, making combos with these weapons and defeating your    SHORZZ / Mortal Shell: One of the most enjoyable and diverse soul-like games I've ever played.
    There are a lot of animations in the game, sometimes it causes you to die as a result of your wrong moves, so it is a game that requires a lot of attention. Each character and weapon has its own unique feature. As you get used to the game, making combos with these weapons and defeating your opponents becomes more enjoyable. The only thing that sometimes reduces the difficulty of the bosses in the game is to dodge all the damage by getting petrified. There are no maps in the game, so you will have to explore and memorize the environment. I recommend a game that everyone who loves souls-like should try.    … Expand
  5. Jebuss
    Feb 1, 2023
    8
    The game is skeletal and not very fleshed out but still is fun.

    Don't expect to want to play all the time but is a really good first-time playthrough and should last 6-10 hours. It is fun to revisit and is worth it if you're ok with not playing a ton. The game is a bit of a maze if you just wander so use the visions or you might want to look up a quick playthrough. The biomes are    The game is skeletal and not very fleshed out but still is fun.

    Don't expect to want to play all the time but is a really good first-time playthrough and should last 6-10 hours. It is fun to revisit and is worth it if you're ok with not playing a ton.

    The game is a bit of a maze if you just wander so use the visions or you might want to look up a quick playthrough.

    The biomes are great and are designed so that you don't spend too much time in them so they don't get repetitive too quickly.

    Everything that isn't a boss isn't as fun to fight though. Mechanics are fun but I try to avoid using the hardening ability to make it feel less choppy.

    The lore is interesting but there isn't a lot to it when playing through unless you dig for it. If you want lore, playthrough, and level as Solomon.

    Music is good enough and sets the tone of the game.    … Expand
  6. WanderinMelmoth
    Aug 26, 2022
    9
    This is SUPERIOR SOULS.
    Yes, it is better than anything From Soft has ever made. Why? Because the devs are not a$$holes! There are fair saves right in front of every boss room. THIS is excellent game design.
    Atmosphere and world design are excellent and even beat Bloodborne. Fights are hard enough without the cheapness of FromSoft's games. The combat has actually tactics involved instead    This is SUPERIOR SOULS.
    Yes, it is better than anything From Soft has ever made. Why? Because the devs are not a$$holes! There are fair saves right in front of every boss room. THIS is excellent game design.
    Atmosphere and world design are excellent and even beat Bloodborne. Fights are hard enough without the cheapness of FromSoft's games. The combat has actually tactics involved instead of simply memorizing enemy moves. FromSoft: take notes, you have met your master!    … Expand
  7. Flopjokdang
    Apr 25, 2022
    8
    The soulslike Mortal Shell is quite similar to well known games of the genre, but feels completely different. With a beautifully grim and gloomy atmosphere, it tempts you to explore it's maze-like surroundings. With interesting dialogue, mechanics and lore: lovers of the souls genre will be captivated by this interesting 12 hour adventure.
  8. ErnestC
    Feb 24, 2022
    9
    Es un juego digno del género soulslike, algo soso en algunos aspectos pero muy bueno y una dificultad apropiada para el género. El apartado artístico es soberbio.

    It is a game worthy of the soulslike genre, somewhat bland in some respects but very good and a difficulty appropriate for the genre. The artistic section is great.
  9. watchm824
    Jan 24, 2022
    8
    I love "souls-like" games. And "Mortal Shell" was no exception. I got a lot of pleasure from the game.
    Pros: great atmosphere, high-quality graphics and excellent technical execution. Cons: not very interesting leveling of the character, the game is short.
  10. Vishal99
    Jan 1, 2022
    10
    This is my first souls game, I played it because it was on gamepass, and I. LOVED. IT. its not a long game (I wish it was) and story is also not that fascinating but my god the gameplay is so good. I did check few videos of combat as well because at start i was dying so many times but eventually I got it. Also LEARN PARRY, its the most rewarding part of the game and extremely satisfying asThis is my first souls game, I played it because it was on gamepass, and I. LOVED. IT. its not a long game (I wish it was) and story is also not that fascinating but my god the gameplay is so good. I did check few videos of combat as well because at start i was dying so many times but eventually I got it. Also LEARN PARRY, its the most rewarding part of the game and extremely satisfying as well. Deserves no less than 10… Expand
  11. Game_Seeker
    Jun 2, 2021
    9
    MORTAL SHELL is not only the *best* Souls/Borne game ever made - it is also the *only* one worth playing. Sorry DEMON'S SOULS/ DARK SOULS / BLOODBORNE fans, but FromSoftware games are seriously overrated! Sure, it was made by DARK SOULS fans and they do copy a lot from that game
    Take COMBAT for instance - MORTAL SHELL mops the floor with all FromSoft games easily, as it has actually    MORTAL SHELL is not only the *best* Souls/Borne game ever made - it is also the *only* one worth playing. Sorry DEMON'S SOULS/ DARK SOULS / BLOODBORNE fans, but FromSoftware games are seriously overrated! Sure, it was made by DARK SOULS fans and they do copy a lot from that game
    Take COMBAT for instance - MORTAL SHELL mops the floor with all FromSoft games easily, as it has actually tactical depth, while FromSoft games have ZERO tactical depth: you just study enemy attack patterns which you exploit. Boss fights take about ten minutes because they have ridiculously large health pools, while you go down in 2 - 3 hits. MORTAL SHELL actually has an interesting mechanic with the hardening mechanic which turns you into stone for as long as you press the hardening button - or get hit once. It tanks the entire damage. You can harden in mid-action, which can function as a trap.
    Graphically it looks far better than the aforementioned games, it's amazing. The art style is just fantastic.
    The biggest plus of MORTAL SHELL is its FAIRNESS. Enemy health pools are nowhere near as ridiculous as in the other Souls games, boss fights don't last as long. Also there are less bosses, which is also a plus: there's 4 main bosses and 4 "mini bosses". Saving points are fairly placed at the beginning of each area, at the end of each area and right next to the boss rooms, this is good design, not forcing the player through a gauntlet of trash mobs to face a 10 minute boss fight. As such it is far less frustrating.
    The core game mechanics are pretty similar however: souls are replaced with tar, the game's currency for leveling up and purchasing items. Leveling is different however as classic experience levels are non-existent. There are 4 classes to choose from, but not in a conventional sense, as you play an alien creature that wears the bodies of dead people like armor. You can find 4 of these "shells", from an average Joe with medium health, medium and medium resolve to a high health, low stamina tank. Each shell can be leveled up ten times by unlocking ten unique skills, which costs x amount of tar and x amount of glimpses - a rare drop comparable to DARK SOULS "humanity".
    There are "only" four weapons - yes MORTAL SHELL is on a smaller scale - but these weapons feel fantastic, are well animated and can be upgraded five times with additional attacks.
    I liked the areas which are very distinct with greatly designed enemies. MORTAL SHELL does require a bit of work to get used to it: the swamp area took me several hours to not get lost in, getting used to the harden mechanic and dodging, but if you put that time in, it is well worth the 15 - 20 hours of time it takes for a playthrough. Yes, it's not a 50 - 100 hour game, but it also only costs half of one of those.
    Finally the atmosphere is superb, especially when you defeat one of the main bosses and are in for a surprise. It's amazing.    … Expand
  12. wolfram812
    May 11, 2021
    8
    I give this game 8 out of 10. I take minus 1 point because it's short and another point for some minor shortages. But it's perfect in every other way. Graphically speaking the game is beautiful. Almost no bugs of glitches. Creates amazing atmosphere which should be to liking of soulsborn's fans. Challenging. Really look forward to the next creation of these amazing game developers.I give this game 8 out of 10. I take minus 1 point because it's short and another point for some minor shortages. But it's perfect in every other way. Graphically speaking the game is beautiful. Almost no bugs of glitches. Creates amazing atmosphere which should be to liking of soulsborn's fans. Challenging. Really look forward to the next creation of these amazing game developers. Definitely recommend.… Expand
  13. ahmed_malder
    May 1, 2021
    10
    this is one of the best souls like games its good and good story and interesting graphic I wish everyone play this game
  14. matee75
    Mar 7, 2021
    8
    A good DS clone. The combat system is a well-made mechanic. I really like the hardening defence system in the game and there is also the dodge. Great game from a small team.
  15. RickGrimez
    Feb 26, 2021
    8
    Ignore the salty reviews. These people clearly couldn't beat the game. And it shows based on their reasons for hating the game.
  16. drfranconi
    Feb 17, 2021
    8
    It's a great game to discover. I enjoyed it very much. It think it would be better with parry like the other souls-like games.
  17. Galaxian
    Dec 27, 2020
    10
    I usually never manage to finish Dark Souls games or Soulslike games because the difficulty in these games feels like cheating. With Mortal Shell, even though the difficulty is very high; I wanted to get immersed in the game and after going through Fightin Cowboy's walkthrough on youtube, I managed to progress in the game; and finish it. It is certainly worth it, and make sure to downloadI usually never manage to finish Dark Souls games or Soulslike games because the difficulty in these games feels like cheating. With Mortal Shell, even though the difficulty is very high; I wanted to get immersed in the game and after going through Fightin Cowboy's walkthrough on youtube, I managed to progress in the game; and finish it. It is certainly worth it, and make sure to download Rotting Christ's OST and enable it in the Audio menu in-game.… Expand
  18. lessacebola
    Dec 10, 2020
    8
    Não sou muito fã de souls like, então isso acaba influenciando um pouco na análise, mas o jogo tem uma atmosfera bem interessante, algumas animações são um pouco bugadas. Se você gosta de souls like o jogo é bastante recomendável.
  19. Grisha228
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. SPOILER!!! The best game in the world , you spawn like a dead Lenin body and you want to make russia great again , but on your way is standing Grisha (putin) , also he is the most intresting , sexy , incredeble creature in universe . I'd like to become Grisha one day , and to defend my own fork by cost of my life . Its the best allegory on situasion in world . In one word the best of the best of the best (i played for 60 mins)… Expand
  20. RockerKR
    Nov 19, 2020
    8
    IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Good Game IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
  21. PhillusMaximus
    Nov 16, 2020
    8
    Solid game for a studio that small.
    Took a lot of influence from the souls games (but it's ok and they don't try to hide it either), still some unique features.

    Only think that let me down a bit is the story.
    Could have had a bit more to it.
  22. Skygus2002
    Oct 27, 2020
    9
    Not bad game if you choose this like your first souls-like game. Interesting to experience new emotions with every shell, ability, weapon and fight.
  23. Mandulum
    Oct 14, 2020
    9
    I loved this game. For me, it fits in right up there with Dark Souls and The Surge. The combat was spot on and enjoyable, just the right combination of surmountable challenge. I hope there's a Mortal Shell 2 with a longer run time and more customization.

    Date Completed: 2020-10-14
    Playtime: ~ 17h
    Enjoyment: 9/10
    Recommendation: Absolutely.
  24. p1menta
    Oct 2, 2020
    8
    Really good good way to initiate in the souls-like genre. Not at all as hard as from software's games after you get the hang of the hardening mechanic but still challenging enough (although I havent died to ANY of the bosses).
    btw, the shell mechanic and the hardening are really fun, it needs some adjustments, maybe, more integration with combos, or something like that, idk, there's stuff    Really good good way to initiate in the souls-like genre. Not at all as hard as from software's games after you get the hang of the hardening mechanic but still challenging enough (although I havent died to ANY of the bosses).
    btw, the shell mechanic and the hardening are really fun, it needs some adjustments, maybe, more integration with combos, or something like that, idk, there's stuff that can be improved, but i had a lot of fun anyways.
    oh, the game is beautiful, actually, even tho it lacks diversity on it's maps and "dungeons". And the character designs are awsome, really, the bosses are really creative, I wish there were more of them; the game is kind of too short for me.    … Expand
  25. Myzekent
    Sep 27, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Игра шикарная,жду DLC ну или вторую часть, разрабы красавчики)… Expand
  26. ACARVER5853
    Sep 11, 2020
    10
    By far the best dark souls clone. Not a full price game, so the shortness is no issue.
  27. Kilmeister
    Sep 10, 2020
    8
    First off: I hate that Metacritic counts a 7 as "Mixed". I'd give this a 7/10. The atmosphere, setting, and artwork is very well done, but the combat is a bit clunky. For an indie title I am very impressed, and if you go into this knowing that there wasn't a massive budget behind it you will enjoy your time with it. Don't expect From Soft levels of polish because it isn't here. AlsoFirst off: I hate that Metacritic counts a 7 as "Mixed". I'd give this a 7/10. The atmosphere, setting, and artwork is very well done, but the combat is a bit clunky. For an indie title I am very impressed, and if you go into this knowing that there wasn't a massive budget behind it you will enjoy your time with it. Don't expect From Soft levels of polish because it isn't here. Also there are some interesting ideas and design decisions that don't really work out too well in practice.… Expand
  28. Narekplayer
    Sep 9, 2020
    8
    Great game with interesting mechanics, incredible character designs, and awesome graphics. The 3 worlds there especially the seat of infinity are so huge and interesting to explore, it's a really massive game with great gameplay. Minuses are that there is literally no soundtrack or any music and the story is technically about nothing and you won't probably understand anything from lore orGreat game with interesting mechanics, incredible character designs, and awesome graphics. The 3 worlds there especially the seat of infinity are so huge and interesting to explore, it's a really massive game with great gameplay. Minuses are that there is literally no soundtrack or any music and the story is technically about nothing and you won't probably understand anything from lore or story itself, though I think that for such a game, gameplay, boss fights, open-world, and atmosphere of a medieval mystery quest are more important.… Expand
  29. Skull6reaker
    Sep 5, 2020
    8
    Mortal shell is an excellent souls like experience that is not without faults which is why I am giving it an 8/10 First the good mortal shell is not only excellent because of the way it changes up the combat with its new shell system but it also nails the environmental story telling The way dark souls did with the constant environments and creatures that just enthrall you in the lore ofMortal shell is an excellent souls like experience that is not without faults which is why I am giving it an 8/10 First the good mortal shell is not only excellent because of the way it changes up the combat with its new shell system but it also nails the environmental story telling The way dark souls did with the constant environments and creatures that just enthrall you in the lore of the game and the Aesthetics alone that just get you to ask who what where

    Now the bad despite the games unique shell system and enthralling environments it’s also got a small amount of bugs and a bit of a slow start but a fun one which is why this has lost 2 points in my review like how parry don't always work and I don’t mean as unparrybles and I didn’t like crawling through a dozen holes in the starting area

    However This game is an amazing game and I think it’s worth 30 dollars even though it’s not 10/10 it’s also their first game and it’s not a big dev team Either so considering those facts a 8/10 is fair for this team and a game of this caliber I cannot wait to see more from Cold symmetry    … Expand
  30. kenzan
    Sep 3, 2020
    8
    Very good and enjoyable game with some issues that prevent it from being truly great.

    Pros: + The combat gets some getting used to, but at some point it clicks and it feels great + The environment and general setting is great and sets the right tone + Having empowered riposte as the primary method of healing makes combat more interesting + Resolve is a great addition to the    Very good and enjoyable game with some issues that prevent it from being truly great.

    Pros:
    + The combat gets some getting used to, but at some point it clicks and it feels great
    + The environment and general setting is great and sets the right tone
    + Having empowered riposte as the primary method of healing makes combat more interesting
    + Resolve is a great addition to the "standard" souls-like combat
    + Hardening allows for a fun and aggressive playstyle
    + Enemies look great and their attacks have fair tells
    + Parrying timing is generous enough

    Cons:
    - Low res textures are pretty noticeable
    - Bosses are too sparse and on the easy side
    - Weapons and shells would benefit from some rebalancing
    - The temples are too linear to traverse
    - The lore is lacking in content and depth
    - Hardening can trivialize a lot of fights
    - I-frames are a bit too generous and make dodging trivial    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Most Discussed PC Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. Worth Playing
    Jan 8, 2021
    80
    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.
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 7, 2020
    80
    If Dark Souls wasn’t sufficiently dark and difficult, this is just the thing for you. Taking the souls-like genre a step further, Mortal Shell provides a satisfying combat system enveloped in a creatively unique narrative. Well worth the suffering. [Issue#305]
  3. RPGamer
    Sep 18, 2020
    70
    Mortal Shell may be a modest product, but it surprised at nearly every turn with regularity. The lack of variety in the environments, weapons, and classes are more than made up by never overstaying its welcome. Whenever it feels as though its about to become stale, players will stumble across something new to try out. 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 full review
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