The resurgence of indie games inspired by classic horror franchises like Resident Evil has been ongoing, and Tormented Souls 2 is the latest to join that wave. It is a traditional survival horror game that combines fixed camera angles with full 3D gameplay. Its biggest appeal lies in its old-school, 90s-style design. Players looking for a tough challenge can enable limited saves, while newcomers or casual players can choose an assisted mode for a more forgiving experience.
The first Tormented Souls was something of a surprise hit, successfully capturing the look and feel of a 90s-era Resident Evil title. The sequel builds on the story and characters from the original, expanding both the narrative and gameplay. It continues after the events at Wildberger Hospital, following Caroline Walker and her sister Anna as they respond to a summons from a nurse named Mother Lucia to a secluded villa in rural Chile. The story revolves around a mysterious covenant and delves into the secrets surrounding Anna.
The biggest issue with the story in Tormented Souls 2 is that it’s hard to follow. There are noticeable plot holes and timeline gaps that only make sense if you spend time reading every piece of lore scattered throughout the game. It seems like the developers aimed for a psychological horror experience similar to Silent Hill, but they fell short of capturing that same impact. Like Silent Hill, the game features an “other world” that draws inspiration from horror legends such as H.P. Lovecraft. Unfortunately, the character development is weak, which makes the story lack the emotional depth and intensity expected from games inspired by Resident Evil or Silent Hill. Many indie horror titles have managed to tell strong, well-written stories, but sadly, this is not one of them.
The game offers multiple endings, both good and bad, and it’s clear where the developers drew their inspiration for these outcomes. However, the underdeveloped characters make it difficult to feel any real connection to them. The visuals, on the other hand, are quite solid for a game of this scale, and the cutscenes look decent. The problem lies more in the writing than in the presentation. That said, the soundtrack stands out as one of the game’s strongest elements, perfectly capturing the eerie atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience.
The gameplay in this sequel shows clear improvement over the first game, with the new dodge mechanic standing out as a major upgrade. Combat feels smoother and more dynamic this time, though there are still a few odd design choices. The dodge move, for instance, has an unnecessary cooldown period, and certain attack animations can leave you stuck mid-action. The sequel also introduces a wider range of weapons, including the Automatic Nailer, which is featured in the main artwork, as well as the Hand Cannon and a chainsaw. A quick-select menu has been added to make switching between weapons faster and more convenient. As with Silent Hill, players on higher difficulty levels will need to manage ammo carefully, often relying on melee attacks to finish off enemies.
Even with these improvements, the combat system still has some rough edges. Enemy encounters can sometimes feel clunky rather than satisfying, especially given the game’s fixed camera angles and narrow corridor environments. This setup can make dodging attacks awkward at times. On the positive side, the level design is a major highlight, successfully capturing the spirit of classic survival horror. The game features a surprising amount of variety in its locations, something the first title struggled with. Tormented Souls 2 also offers a solid amount of content, with a story that takes roughly 10 to 20 hours to complete, depending on how thoroughly players explore.
The game truly shines through its puzzles, which strike a good balance between being engaging and approachable. They never feel overly difficult, yet they still manage to challenge players in a satisfying way. The puzzle design deserves particular praise for being rooted in logic and seamlessly tied to the game’s lore. The enemy and boss designs also stand out, offering creative and unsettling visuals that feel distinct within this world. Replay value is strong, especially for players interested in unlocking multiple endings. For those who find the combat or puzzles frustrating, the assisted difficulty option allows them to focus more on the story instead.
That said, not every part of Tormented Souls 2 is enjoyable. Some sections drag on longer than necessary, while others add little to the overall narrative. If the pacing had been tightened and the runtime shortened, the game could have delivered a more focused and impactful experience. On the visual side, the atmosphere is excellent, with beautifully crafted environments that make exploration rewarding. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the cutscenes, where the animation often feels stiff and transitions between scenes lack polish, leading to awkward pauses. Additionally, the game currently suffers from several technical issues and bugs. While patches are being released to address them, these problems are worth keeping in mind before deciding to purchase the game.
On a personal note, it was disappointing to see how poorly the game performs on the Steam Deck. It doesn’t automatically optimize for the device’s hardware, which means players have to manually adjust the settings to get it running properly. Cutscenes are particularly demanding and often suffer from noticeable frame drops. With some tweaking, I managed to get the game running at around 30 FPS, which made it playable, though far from ideal. Despite the occasional bugs and performance hiccups, it was still enjoyable overall, but the lack of proper optimization definitely holds it back.
Tormented Souls 2 Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: PQube
- Developer: Dual Effect
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
