Mortal Shell earns positive reviews as critics praise its dark Souls-like adventure

The action role-playing game Mortal Shell has received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising its challenging combat, dark atmosphere and ideas that build on the popular Souls-like formula.

Developed by indie studio Cold Symmetry, Mortal Shell was released in August 2020 and quickly attracted attention for its similarities to games such as Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

Despite its smaller budget and shorter length, the game offers a difficult third-person adventure in which players explore a mysterious and dangerous world while taking control of different "Shells" — the bodies of fallen warriors.

One of the game's main features is its Hardening mechanic, which allows the player to temporarily turn their character into stone and absorb an incoming attack.

Critics have generally praised the combat system and the way the Shell mechanic adds another strategic layer to battles.

Metacritic currently lists the PC version with a score of 76 out of 100, describing the overall critical reception as generally favourable.

GameSpot awarded the game 8/10, praising its strange and atmospheric world, combat mechanics and different Shells and weapons. The review also noted that its smaller scale and relatively easier combat could make it a good introduction to the Souls-like genre.

PC Gamer also gave Mortal Shell 8/10, describing it as an enjoyable but slightly uneven debut from Cold Symmetry. The publication praised its challenging gameplay and unusual atmosphere while noting its similarities to FromSoftware's games.

Not every critic was convinced.

Some reviews argued that Mortal Shell follows the Dark Souls formula too closely and does not always develop enough of its own identity. NME, for example, described it as a compact action RPG with some clever ideas but criticised how familiar much of the experience feels.

The game's shorter length has also been viewed differently by reviewers. For some players, the compact experience makes it easier to complete than much larger Souls-like games, while others have felt that it limits the variety of enemies, weapons and environments.

Despite those criticisms, Mortal Shell has developed a strong following among fans of the genre and has gone on to sell more than one million copies, according to available sales information.

The game's reception demonstrates that a smaller independent studio can successfully take inspiration from an established genre while introducing its own mechanics.

For players who enjoy difficult combat, mysterious worlds and the challenge associated with Souls-like games, Mortal Shell remains an interesting entry in the genre.