Imagine a world where the heroes who saved humanity have become the very monsters they once fought. That’s the premise of Code Vein II, a new Soulslike from Bandai Namco Studios arriving January 30th on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. Unlike its predecessor—a tightly designed action RPG—the sequel expands into an open world where players must decide whether to rewrite history itself.
The game drops players into a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by the Resurgeance, a catastrophe that twisted living beings into grotesque Horrors. Five legendary Revenants sealed away the plague by sacrificing themselves, but their cocoons are now weakening. Players take on the role of a Revenant Hunter, tasked with breaking open those cocoons and slaying the once-noble heroes—unless they choose to ally with them instead.
Here’s what sets it apart
- Time-Travel Mechanics: Players can journey back 100 years to forge bonds with the five heroes before the Resurgeance occurred. Each restored bond unlocks a unique ending, with three possible conclusions based on how many alliances are secured.
- Ichor-Based Combat: Instead of relying solely on melee attacks, players harvest Ichor from enemies using Jails—gear that drains resources passively (via bats, spikes, or gauntlets) or actively. This Ichor fuels Gifts, special abilities that range from evasive maneuvers to devastating slashes.
- Burden System: A twist on traditional Soulslike stamina, this system tracks how abilities strain a character’s stats. Staying under half of an attribute’s capacity grants Light rolls, while exceeding limits slows movement or reduces damage output.
- Blood Code Mastery: Proficiency with each Blood Code (replacing the original’s Blood Veils) unlocks passive boosts, akin to accessories. Maxing out a Blood Code allows players to speak with an NPC for an additional stat-boosting perk.
The open world borrows from Elden Ring’s design, with sparse markers on the map and hidden dungeons tucked into abandoned buildings and tunnels. However, travel between key locations is often punctuated by repetitive enemy encounters and loot collection. Combat remains brutally punishing, with enemies capable of one-shotting undergeared players even in New Game Plus runs.
With a runtime of roughly 40 hours for a full playthrough—plus additional grinding for collectibles and Blood Code mastery—Code Vein II isn’t for casual players. Yet its depth in character customization, time-bending narrative, and three distinct endings offers replayability. The game launches for $69.99, continuing Bandai Namco’s tradition of delivering high-stakes, blood-soaked action.
For fans of Soulslikes with an appetite for experimental mechanics, Code Vein II delivers a sequel that’s as ambitious as it is unforgiving.
