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Mortal Shell 2, an upcoming Soulslike heading to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, has just been given an official rating by the ESRB. The highly anticipated PS5 Soulslike is set to launch on August 20, and its new ESRB rating teases some very intense, very gory gameplay.
Developed by Cold Symmetry and published by PlayStack, the first Mortal Shell launched in August 2020. Mortal Shell is a third-person action-RPG that's openly inspired by 2011's Dark Souls, featuring a similar dark fantasy setting and challenging melee combat. Upon its debut, Mortal Shell was met with a generally positive reception from critics, with the Soulslike earning a Top Critic Average of 76 on OpenCritic. Commercially, Mortal Shell seems to have performed quite well, with PlayStack confirming that the game had sold over one million copies by September 2023.
Mortal Shell 2 Gets Official ESRB Rating
Announced during Summer Game Fest 2025, Mortal Shell 2 looks set to offer another thrilling dark fantasy Soulslike adventure. Earlier this month, Mortal Shell 2 received an official August 20 release date, and now, less than a month before launch, it's been given a detailed ESRB age rating. Mortal Shell 2 is officially rated 'M' due to "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes." Mortal Shell 2's ESRB rating goes into a little more detail behind these mature elements, with the listing stating the following:
"This is an action role-playing game in which players assume the role of the Harbinger on a quest to find mystical eggs across a fantasy world. From a third-person perspective, players traverse dungeons, forests, and castles to battle human enemies and fantastical creatures (e.g., zombies, golems, demons). Players use swords, axes, and firearms to kill enemies in melee-style combat. Battles are accompanied by realistic gunfire and large blood-splatter effects. Some attacks can result in the dismemberment and/or decapitation of enemies; other attacks result in enemies exploding into large sprays of blood. The game depicts a harpy creature with exposed breasts and a bloated corpse that appears nude. The word “f**k” is heard in the game."
Based on this description, it seems like Mortal Shell 2 will offer an even more intense and more mature experience than its predecessor. While the first Mortal Shell also received an M rating from the ESRB, its content didn't receive the "Suggestive Themes" or "Strong Language" tags, and its "Violence" tag didn't come with the accompanying keyword "Intense."
Those eager to experience Mortal Shell 2's intensely violent gameplay for themselves can do so for free right now via the game's Open Beta on Steam. Mortal Shell 2's Open Beta gives players full access to the game's prologue, and a glimpse of the Soulslike's early open world, totaling three hours of gameplay. During this time, players will be able to try out a few different Shells (outfits that offer special gameplay abilities and traits), explore a few dungeons, and face off against "one truly formidable foe."
Mortal Shell 2 PS5 Physical Editions Have Already Sold Out
Just a few days after Mortal Shell 2 revealed its release date and price, publisher PlayStack announced that the PS5-exclusive Revered Editions of Mortal Shell 2 had sold out. Along with a physical copy of the game, Mortal Shell 2 Revered Edition comes with a steelbook case, a collector's box, some fine art prints, an artbook, and the Obsidian and Skeletal Harbinger skins given out to those who pre-order the game.
With an August 20 release date, Mortal Shell 2 is going to avoid the mad rush of September, but it won't be left entirely alone. The start of August will see heavy hitters like Beast of Reincarnation and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls release, while Star Wars Zero Company, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, and Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy all release just a week after Mortal Shell 2.
