Code Vein was one of the more distinctive entries in the souls-like genre when it launched in 2019, offering a challenging world that felt different enough to capture players’ attention. Its relative success made a return to the franchise a logical step for Bandai Namco, particularly with an opportunity to refine what players liked and address what they did not in the first instalment.
Launching Jan. 30, Code Vein II introduces a new story and setting that, based on what has been shown so far, is not directly tied to the original game. It does, however, retain the core aesthetic, mechanics and punishing difficulty that made the first entry stand out. Despite some rough edges during a two-hour hands-on session, fans of the original should find plenty to enjoy when they dive into the sequel, anime intensity included.
Code Vein II tells a completely new story that does not rely on familiarity with the first game. Players are taken to a world on the brink of total collapse, where much of the landscape has been reduced to ruins. A century earlier, humanity avoided annihilation with the help of the Revenant, this universe’s vampire-like beings, after a truce was formed to preserve what remained of the world.
That fragile balance did not last. A force known as the Resurgence corrupted the Revenant, transforming them into monsters called the Luna Rapacis. These creatures are brutal to fight and represent only a shadow of what they once were, underscoring just how dire the situation has become.
Players take on the role of the Revenant Hunter, one of the few individuals capable of pulling the world back from the brink of ruin. The story begins with the character’s revival by a mysterious Revenant girl named Lou MagMell, who saves the hunter by giving up half her heart. Lou also possesses the ability to travel through time and enlists the player’s help to journey into the past and undo the horrors that have devastated the land.
It is a lot to absorb. The story is dense, deliberately over-the-top and packed with some of the most exaggerated anime concepts seen in a game in quite some time. Surprisingly, that excess works. Unlike games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and many of the titles released by FromSoftware, Code Vein II leans into its silliness. Despite that, the sheer absurdity proves captivating, creating a genuine desire to understand what is happening and to save a world slowly being consumed by monsters.
The enjoyment stems from the effort the developers have put into making Code Vein II both entertaining and rewarding to play. Numerous systems work together to form the game’s core mechanics, but once immersed in the universe, those systems are introduced in a way that feels accessible and balanced. While the game does not hold the player’s hand through its chaos, it offers enough guidance to allow experimentation and character builds that suit individual play styles, without pushing a single optimal approach.
Even frequent deaths do little to dampen that experience. Repeated defeats at the hands of a seemingly ordinary skeleton wielding an oversized sword felt oddly refreshing, reinforcing the game’s commitment to challenge without sacrificing its playful identity.
Before spilling blood across ancient ruin floors, players must first create a character, and this is one area where the developers deserve clear credit. Code Vein II features an exceptionally comprehensive character creator. While it is possible to choose from several default options, there is considerable depth for those who want to customize every detail. Players can adjust body type, scars, outfit style, hair and overall physique, all while preserving the stylish, anime-inspired monster hunter aesthetic that has become a defining part of the franchise.
“The enjoyment stems from the effort the developers have put into making Code Vein II both entertaining and rewarding to play.”
Spending roughly 15 minutes experimenting with different customization options barely scratched the surface of what is available. With limited time for the preview, the character creation process had to be cut short, but the results were still satisfying and highlighted just how flexible the system can be.
Once the Revenant Hunter is created and the unusual circumstances of their resurrection are established, the focus shifts to gameplay. This is where the game’s numerous systems come into play and where learning to accept death as inevitable becomes essential. Code Vein II is challenging. While it is less punishing than some other games, it still demands patience and will humble players repeatedly before its mechanics fully click.
Several core systems define the experience, including weapons, formae, jails, ichor and the companion system. At first, the sheer number of mechanics can feel overwhelming. There is a great deal to absorb, and understanding how everything works together takes time. After about an hour, however, the structure becomes clearer, at least as much as can be expected from a game involving time travel, exposed hearts and vampire-like beings battling monstrous horrors.
Once those systems fall into place, the combat reveals itself as one of the more rewarding examples within the genre. The learning curve is steep, but the payoff is a sense of progression and mastery that makes perseverance worthwhile.
The easiest way to understand the game’s core flow is that weapons and formae function as offensive tools, jails serve as defensive abilities and the primary way to generate ichor, and the partner system acts as a crucial support element in more demanding encounters. Much like titles such as Bloodborne, Code Vein II offers a wide range of weapons that blend classic vampire imagery with a steampunk-inspired future. The result feels cohesive within the game’s world. Players can wield massive swords, dual blades, guns and axes, and that list only scratches the surface of what the full game is expected to include.
Once those core mechanics are understood, it becomes time to explore the world and engage more deeply in combat. Credit is due to the development team for the variety of enemies on display. The monster designs are both grotesque and striking, with each enemy feeling distinct in how it looks, moves and attacks. Repetition is a common pitfall for souls-like games, but Code Vein II largely avoids it by introducing enemies that pose different challenges and demand varied approaches.
There is a clear intent behind each creature’s design, including how size, weapons and abilities are used to pressure the player. That care is most evident in the boss encounters. These stand out as some of the more distinctive battles seen in the genre in recent memory. They are challenging, require players to engage fully with the game’s systems and discourage simple attack spamming. Success depends on understanding available skills and identifying weaknesses, which makes the fights feel varied, demanding and rewarding.
After roughly two hours with the game, it is difficult to judge how consistently those strengths will hold up over a full playthrough. Based on what was shown, however, the experience was enjoyable, challenging and ambitious, even if it appears to move away from some of the story and world-building established in the original entry.
With hands-on time now complete, the sequel leaves a stronger impression than expected. There are still questions about how Code Vein II will distinguish itself in a crowded souls-like field that includes titles such as Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series. Its visual style and time-travelling vampire premise give it a chance to stand apart. How much of an impact it ultimately makes will become clear when the game launches on Jan. 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
