Every expedition is a journey back from madness. That chilling line sets the tone for EMPTY SHELL 2, the newly announced roguelike action horror shooter from CC ARTS, coming to PC via Steam. There’s no release date yet, but a free demo is already live, inviting players into a dark and decaying world they might not come back from.
Following up the eerie, retro-tech dread of the original, EMPTY SHELL 2 takes everything deeper—bigger environments, tighter systems, more monsters, and a creeping sense of doom that doesn’t let go.
From the moment you boot it up, the game throws you into a strange and haunting setup. You’re one of many nameless “volunteers” sent to a mysterious island in the Pacific. No one tells you why you’re here—just that there’s a mission, and the place you’re going into is dangerous. From a drone’s top-down view, you’ll explore an abandoned complex that feels alive with secrets—creaking corridors, derelict facilities, and something monstrous lurking around every corner.
Each time you die—and you will die—another volunteer takes your place, picking up the scraps of the last attempt. That roguelike loop fuels EMPTY SHELL 2‘s high replayability and meta-progression system, letting you grow stronger with every run. The Structure itself changes each time, making every expedition feel fresh and unpredictable.
Here’s what makes EMPTY SHELL 2 stand out:
- Procedurally generated levels that keep every mission unique and full of dread
- Customisable loadouts with firearms, melee weapons, and experimental gadgets
- Meta-progression that unlocks upgrades, weapons, and lore across multiple runs
- Crafting and blueprint system to modify and build new tools for survival
- Side quests and narrative logs that peel back layers of disturbing backstory
- Environmental puzzles and vintage terminals to hack, decode, and survive
- Black-and-white visual mode, amplifying the retro horror atmosphere
And the most compelling part? It’s not just run-and-gun. You’ll have to think, explore, and strategise. Each mission is more than a shootout—it’s an unravelling of something deeper, tied to post–World War II experiments that should’ve never happened. There’s a rich lore underneath it all, told through crumbling notes, haunted tapes, and puzzles that hint at humanity’s failures.
EMPTY SHELL 2 isn’t just about survival—it’s about how much you’re willing to sacrifice to find the truth. And it looks like there’s a lot of truth buried beneath the dust, rot, and madness.
If you’re into top-down shooters, psychological horror, or games like Darkwood, Teleglitch, or Returnal, this is one to watch.
The demo is live now on Steam, so if you’re curious, you can jump straight into the nightmare.
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