Punishing mechanics, challenging bosses, lots of blood splatter, engaging level design, and the sudden urge to throw your controller out the window – that’s the basic formula Soulslike. However, every studio that explores the genre finds a way to introduce unique elements that make the experience stand out.
Over the years, many titles have received high praise for this, including Dark Souls, Blood, Nioh, The lies of Pagain The Shell of Death. Among them is Lords of the Fallen, a 2014 title from an indie studio CI Games which won an army of followers.
Much of its success has been due to its amazing map design Umbrellaother is the dark and mysterious nature in which the game is set, and that success paved the way for the sequel, which is currently one of the most anticipated Souls favorites in the community.
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Now, the developers have released a new video proving that they know that their level design is their strongest suit, promising something even more ambitious with Lords of the Fallen 2 – they are intended to be a worthy successor not only to the first title but “in the Pantheon like Souls and beyond.”
Lifting the Veil on Umbral 2.0
CI Games released a behind-the-scenes video on Wednesday, March 25, with a round table with the game’s developers, and the discussion includes important names for Lords of the Fallen 2, such as the Game Director. James LoweCreative Director Ryan HillLead Systems Designer Daniel Reganand the Producer Alex Harkin.
Entitled “Lifting the Veil,” which captures the idea of something special being revealed, the video shows the team discussing the new Umbral version of its sequel, called. “Umbral 2.0” by devs: an evolution built with direct help from fan feedback.
Much of its success has been due to its amazing map design Umbrellaone is the dark and mysterious element in which the game is set, and that success paved the way for a sequel
In case you need a refresher, the Lords of the Fallen universe combines the two realms mechanic where two different realities are very close to each other, controllable with the Umbral Lamp: the ancient dark dream realm of the Axiom and the invading horror of the Umbral realm. And the biggest change in the series lies in how players interact with the latter.
According to the team, Lords of the Fallen 2 will introduce very different environments with a wide variety of Umbral biomes, along with new dynamic companies hiding in the shadows and a world deeply influenced by the work of the players. The idea is to make exploration feel more alive, stressful, and terrifying – exactly what you’d expect from a place besieged by eons of cruel gods and visceral magic.
“If Umbral was ever a place of the dead, it has become a place of the dead,” Creative Director Ryan Hill explained in the video. Its former scab-like coating has been removed, revealing raw flesh beneath, an open wound rotting with new hunger.”
In addition to the developer talk, the studio also revealed new Umbral alpha gameplay footage that is sure to put a smile on any Souls fan’s face (and I say that personally!). I have to admit that this new video really highlights what CI Games has been promising for Lords of the Fallen 2: a sequel with “bravery, courage, and blood.” You can check out the gameplay below:
This is enough to get the hype train moving if you’re a fan of the genre, and the good news is that you can now add Lords of the Fallen 2 to your wishlist, as the game will launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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