New souls-like RPG from Bandai Namco launches on Steam with nearly 2,000 reviews, but a "Mixed" aggregate

After seven long years of waiting, the "anime souls" crowd finally get their awaited sequel. Bandai Namco has officially released Code Vein II on January 30, 2026, though players who shelled out for the Deluxe or Ultimate editions have been playing the game since the 27th. Developed by the same core team behind the original and God Eater, the game isn't just a straight retread of the 2019 hit. It takes a big swing with an Ocarina of Time-style time-travel mechanic. You and a new girl named Lou are tasked with jumping between a pre-apocalyptic past and the gray, dilapidated present to save humanity from the "Luna Rapacis".

The primary hook this time is the Forma and Jail system. While Blood Codes are back, you now assign specific special attacks (Formae) to your face buttons, so that there is more "active" combat that feels like a character action game rather than a slow Souls-crawl. You’ve also got a motorbike to navigate the open world, though early reviews haven't been kind to it (more on that in a bit). Many are comparing the handling to an "RC car" that struggles with invisible walls. The Partner system - which was the heart of the first game - has been beefed up, too. You can now "assimilate" your partner, and fuse with them for a massive stat boost while they’re off the field, or rely on them to resurrect you mid-fight if you get sloppy.

However, the launch hasn't been the clean win Bandai Namco probably hoped for. The game is currently sitting at a 53% "Mixed" rating on Steam. The common theme in the negative reviews isn't the story, which people actually seem to like, but the technicalities of the PC port. Despite the fairly high system requirements - recommending an RTX 3080 just for 1080p/60fps - players are reporting "muddy" textures, frequent pop-in during cutscenes, and combat animations that lack the "punch" of its predecessor. There’s also some disappointment over the total lack of co-op at launch, which is a feature many considered to be the best part of the first game.

If you’re planning to jump in to Code Vein II, you should be be prepared for a resource hog. You’ll need 16 GB of RAM and 70 GB of space, and an SSD is pretty much mandatory if you want to avoid a mess. On the Steam Deck (curr. $765 on Amazon), it’s a rough ride. While it’s "Playable" and supports controllers perfectly, the game is struggling to hold 30 FPS even on Low settings, and the UI isn't exactly optimized for the smaller screen. It’s a tough start for a highly anticipated sequel, but for the hardcore fans who can overlook the technical jank, there looks to be a lot of depth the in this sequel right here. Code Vein II is priced at $69.99 - you can check it out on Steam here.