If the original Code Vein was "anime Dark Souls," then Code Vein 2 is "anime Elden Ring." The original Code Vein launched in 2019 to a mixed reception. Code Vein 2, developed and published by Bandai ...

Code Vein getting a sequel, as announced at Summer Game Fest earlier this year, was a pleasant surprise. The original was good! It was one of those games that necessarily didn’t blow people away, but ...

When you’re presented with a chance to right the wrongs of the past, how much do you fix? Whether you would simply solve the surface-level issues or dig deep to find the root of the problem, you’ll ...

Anthony Taormina is an original member of the GameRant team, having been part of the publication for 15 years. He coordinates content for all facets of the site and manages its social media, PR, and ...

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 ...

Ever since the genre gained popularity, soulslike games have been known for their challenging gameplay, punishing difficulty, and steep learning curves. FromSoftware’s Dark Souls made this a defining ...

Sequels carry certain expectations with them, like the promise of building on the promise of what came before and correcting past mistakes. Bandai Namco’s Code Vein 2 is exceptional in that it manages ...

Oscar Gonzalez is a Texas native who covered video games, conspiracy theories, misinformation and cryptocurrency. The Soulslike genre -- difficult action games built on the formula established by ...

While a vampiric Souls-like is always welcome, this one seems to have been rushed out the door. Code Vein II is Bandai Namco’s long-awaited sequel to the 2019 sleeper hit Code Vein, which slowly but ...

The idea of an anime-style soulslike releases plenty of good chemicals in my brain, but the first Code Vein back in 2019 turned out to be just okay in my book. Like a number of Bandai Namco's original ...