The first Code Vein was a moderately well-received soulslike with a lot of anime overtones. I appreciated its willingness to embrace the soulslike subgenre, and the twist on vampires was fun enough.

The soulslike genre revolves around challenge and skill mastery, both of which hold true for Code Vein 2. From the opening hours, it is clear that it is designed with mechanical depth in mind. Combat ...

Bandai Namco’s latest Soulslike has ‘Elden Ring’ DNA, courtesy of its open world, but it can’t maintain the quality of FromSoftware’s Game of the Year effort. Code Vein II drops you into a ...

In 2019, Bandai Namco continued its foray into the Soulslike business in true Bandai Namco fashion. The original Code Vein introduced an anime storyline, anime character designs, and a unique anime ...

If one would claim that the role of art is to create something wholly original, then Code Vein 2 stands in direct opposition to this. The opening minutes feel like the cutscene equivalent of a friend ...

Although many of its mechanics have improved, one part of Code Vein 2 has derailed its path to success by a wide margin. After the game’s release on January 29, 2026, Mixed reviews on Steam reveal a ...