Axiom and Umbral Return – But Is Lords of the Fallen 2 About to Redefine Soulslike Again?

What Is Lords of the Fallen?

The modern Lords of the Fallen (2023) is a third-person action RPG heavily inspired by the Soulslike formula. Players create their own character, choose from nine starting classes, and explore an interconnected dark fantasy world filled with brutal enemies, towering bosses, and layered environmental storytelling.

Its defining mechanic is the existence of two overlapping realms:

• Axiom – The world of the living

• Umbral – The realm of the dead

Using the Umbral Lamp, players can shift between these realms to solve puzzles, uncover secrets, or survive death. When killed in Axiom, players are resurrected in Umbral for a second chance. However, dying in Umbral means full defeat and loss of unspent Vigor.

This dual-world system became the game’s most praised innovation and is expected to return in Lords of the Fallen 2.

What Can We Expect from Lords of the Fallen 2?

While official gameplay details are still limited, Lords of the Fallen 2 is expected to expand on the mechanics introduced in the 2023 title rather than reinvent them completely.

Key features likely to return include:

• Third-person melee and magic combat

• Soulslike stamina-based mechanics

• Cooperative campaign play

• PvP multiplayer

• Deep character customization

• Layered dual-realm exploration

The 2023 game introduced significant improvements in April 2025 with “Version 2,” which refined cooperative play, adjusted difficulty balance, redesigned audio cues, improved tutorials, and enhanced the character creator. These changes suggest that the sequel may launch in a more polished and player-friendly state from day one.

Given Hexworks’ stated ambition to become a major reference point in the Soulslike genre, expectations are high that Lords of the Fallen 2 will address performance optimization, enemy balance, and narrative depth.

Story Direction: Where Could the Sequel Go?

The first game presented three major endings:

• Radiant Ending – Aligning with Orius

• Inferno Ending – Empowering Adyr

• Umbral Ending – Unleashing the Putrid Mother

Each ending reshaped the fate of Mournstead in drastically different ways. This leaves open the possibility that Lords of the Fallen 2 could either:

• Canonize one of these endings

• Introduce a fractured world shaped by player choice

• Explore an entirely new region within the same universe

The Umbral ending, in particular, opened massive narrative potential, suggesting cosmic-scale consequences that could dramatically expand the franchise’s scope.

How Was the First Game Received?

Critically, Lords of the Fallen (2023) received “generally favorable” reviews on PC (Metacritic 75), while console versions landed closer to mixed territory.

Strengths frequently praised:

• Dual-realm mechanic

• Magic system improvements

• Humanoid boss fights

• World design

Common criticisms included:

• Performance issues at launch

• Inconsistent difficulty spikes

• Limited emotional connection to characters

• High ambition compared to FromSoftware standards

Despite this, the strong sales performance demonstrated clear audience interest, and the studio’s commitment to long-term updates suggests a desire to evolve rather than abandon the formula.

Is Lords of the Fallen 2 Worth Getting Hyped For?

If you’re a Soulslike fan who appreciated the ambition of the 2023 game—even if you noticed its flaws—Lords of the Fallen 2 is positioned as a second attempt at refinement rather than a risky reinvention.

The first game proved that Hexworks could:

• Build a visually striking dark fantasy world

• Introduce a genuinely fresh mechanic with the Umbral realm

• Deliver impactful boss encounters

Now the challenge is consistency, performance stability, and deeper narrative cohesion.

If the sequel smooths out the rough edges while preserving the unique two-world system, it could finally cement Lords of the Fallen as a serious long-term contender in the genre.

FAQ – Lords of the Fallen 2

When is Lords of the Fallen 2 releasing?

Lords of the Fallen 2 is scheduled for release in 2026. An exact release date has not yet been announced.

Is Lords of the Fallen 2 a sequel or reboot?

It is a direct sequel to the 2023 reboot of Lords of the Fallen, continuing the modern iteration of the franchise.

Will Lords of the Fallen 2 have co-op multiplayer?

Based on the previous title’s features and its improved co-op updates, multiplayer is expected to return, though official confirmation is pending.

Is Lords of the Fallen connected to Dark Souls?

No. Lords of the Fallen is not part of the Dark Souls series. However, it is heavily inspired by the Soulslike formula and shares similar gameplay mechanics.

Conclusion

Lords of the Fallen 2 enters development with something many Soulslike contenders lack: a proven audience. The 2023 game demonstrated commercial strength and introduced a bold mechanic that genuinely differentiated it from competitors.

Now the question is not whether Hexworks can imitate the genre—but whether they can refine and elevate their own identity within it.

If the sequel strengthens performance, deepens storytelling, and expands the Umbral system in meaningful ways, 2026 could mark the moment Lords of the Fallen steps fully out of the shadow of its inspirations and into its own legacy.

Thank you for reading and make sure to bookmark the site, comment and follow up on the newest posts!