You Should Play This Short, Underrated Soulslike Before It Leaves PlayStation Plus This Month

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HowLongToBeat estimates that finishing a typical Dark Souls game takes 30-40 hours. Its sequels are similar, though playtime varies slightly depending on which version you play. Elden Ring is much longer, averaging 60 hours, and can easily take 120 if you aim to complete everything. This lengthy playtime isn’t unique to FromSoftware games; titles like Nioh, Lords of the Fallen, and The Surge also demand dozens of hours. Long playtimes seem to be a core part of the “Souls-like” genre, just like healing potions and bonfires. However, Mortal Shell is a refreshing exception – it’s a Souls-like that’s shorter than average, and that’s a good thing.

Mortal Shell is a deliberately concise game and doesn’t try to feel bigger than it is. It’s clear from the start that it’s a relatively short experience. The game features a central area with just a few branching paths, and completing the first one gives you a good idea of how long it will take to finish. With a main hub and three additional stages, most players can expect to complete Mortal Shell in five to twelve hours, depending on their skill level. This makes it easily achievable to finish before it’s removed from PlayStation Plus Extra on May 19th.

Mortal Shell Is the Rare Brief Soulslike

The faster speed of the game is beneficial for several reasons, particularly how quickly players become more powerful. Compared to other similar games, you gain strength and upgrades at a noticeably quicker rate in Mortal Shell. New weapons and Shells – which function like character classes with unique abilities – are given out frequently, allowing players to experiment with different playstyles and level up consistently. You won’t spend hours waiting to unlock new tools or skills.

It’s a welcome change to experience a familiar gameplay style in a shorter format. RPGs don’t need to be incredibly long – over 30 hours – and games like South Park: The Stick of Truth prove that, just as Mortal Shell does for Souls-like games, shorter experiences can be just as effective. Strictly following the length of other games often leads to unnecessary filler that can weaken an otherwise good title. Mouse: P.I. for Hire, for example, is around 15 hours long, but feels rushed and unsatisfying before that point. Ninja Gaiden 4 is another recent game that, despite being a typical length for its genre, ultimately overstays its welcome.

Mortal Shell understands the danger of overstaying its welcome and thankfully remains concise. While it largely follows the familiar formula of Souls-like games – and is refreshingly quicker paced – it introduces a few unique elements. The most prominent is the ‘Hardening’ ability, letting players instantly turn to stone to absorb damage. Mastering the timing of this ability and its cooldown is crucial for combat, allowing for strategic punishes, safe healing, stamina recovery, and avoiding mistakes. This ability complements a resource system that unlocks various combat options, like powerful parries, kicks, and sticky bombs, offering players numerous ways to be rewarded for skillful play.

The combat in this game offers fresh and well-integrated mechanics for dodging, blocking, and attacking, but it’s not overly complicated compared to other similar games. It avoids extensive magic systems or endless character customization options. Mortal Shell provides a satisfying level of depth and plenty to experiment with, but it’s a streamlined RPG that understands its focus. Stats generally can’t be improved, and that’s perfectly fine – the game doesn’t need those extra layers. It’s not simplistic by any means, but it’s modest and avoids unnecessary complexity, which is admirable.

Mortal Shell Is Still Replayable, Though

While the game benefits from its length, it also helps to gloss over some of its flaws. The level design in Mortal Shell isn’t as strong as other games in the Souls-like genre. Stages tend to be visually simple and follow direct paths with limited opportunities for exploration. The main hub area is interesting to explore with its winding paths and hidden secrets, but the levels connected to it are much more straightforward. There isn’t a lot of variety in the bosses and enemies either, as most only use a few different attacks. These are the game’s weakest points, but it’s short enough that they don’t ruin the overall experience.

Cold Symmetry expanded Mortal Shell with the Virtuous Cycle DLC, but kept the game’s core feel intact. The DLC introduces a roguelike mode that reuses familiar locations, enemies, and bosses in new combinations, along with helpful buffs to keep things interesting. This mode is challenging—even harder than the main game—and offers a smart way to add more replayability without overhauling the original experience.

A sequel to Mortal Shell is planned for 2026, and fans are eager to see how it evolves the original game. While sequels often become bigger and more complex, it would be great if Mortal Shell 2 maintains the focused simplicity of the first game. The original didn’t need excessive length or a huge number of weapons to be enjoyable; it succeeded with polished gameplay and a clear sense of when to end. Hopefully, Mortal Shell 2 will follow this approach, and improve upon the level and boss designs.

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2026-05-09 20:14