With the recent reveal of Code Vein 2 at Summer Game Fest 2025, the hype is building up for this highly-anticipated sequel!
Released in 2019, Banda Namco Entertainment’s Code Vein found great success with fans who loved the anime aesthetic tightly wrapped around gaming’s increasingly prevalent soulslike mechanics. The game was part of a vast array of well-received titles the publisher released during the last gaming generation, alongside titles such as Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Arise. As of March 2023, Code Vein has shipped over 3 million copies, an impressive milestone for a brand-new intellectual property taking on a genre with some industry-defining experiences, and evidence that it’s a smart decision for Namco Bandai to pursue a bigger and better sequel, one that may reach greater heights.
Part of the game’s success among fans was the incredible character creator, an editor for the player’s protagonist that allowed an immense depth of customization, leading players to recreate their favorite characters from other franchises, or make unique and exquisite new ones altogether. An improved and expanded character creator would invite great enthusiasm and hype from Code Veins fans and interested newcomers as well.
Early reveal details indicate a grand new story for players to experience, as well as enhancements to the series’ unique take on the genre’s typical combat systems. It’s not known yet whether this sequel is directly linked to the original’s story, but either way, players can expect a dark and gritty world in which to explore, fight, and survive. Taking on the role of a “Revenant Hunter”, the player must travel through time alongside new character Lou to save the world from imminent collapse. Namco Bandai Entertainment has also shared that partner characters will be making a return, powerful allies with which you can fight and grow bonds. In the original Code Vein, players could quest alongside a companion of their choice.
Personally, as someone who isn’t strongly into soulslike games, I had a great time with Code Vein, and I can admit a large part of that was due to the visual style, freedom of character creation, and the high quality of the game overall. The different approach with this title allowed me to enjoy a type of game I usually wouldn’t pursue, and that says a lot about the great potential of the property as a running series. The more we learn about the sequel, the closer we’ll get to seeing if it can live up to the original game’s success, and possibly even surpass it.
Time will tell what Code Vein 2 will bring to fans new and old alike, but the developers at Bandai Namco Studios will surely capitalize on the success of the original game, mechanically and stylistically, to bring back excited fans and simultaneously introduce fresh ones into the fold over half a decade later.