Tormented Souls 2, A Review

In an era where horror games increasingly rely on jump scares and quick adrenaline, Tormented Souls 2 arrives as a cold shower for all that modern plastic and in the best possible way. There are no endless scripted scenes or screams, just the old, primal fear from the era when the camera was static, the light scarce, and every creaking sound could mean the end. 

Developer Dual Effect knows exactly who they are addressing: older players who grew up with Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and countless nights spent searching for that one key that opens the door right next to the room you’ve been struggling with for three hours.

Want to play something completely different? Check out our Octopath Traveler 0 review!

The Charm of Camp and Clichés in Tormented Souls 2

The main heroine, Caroline Walker, returns to the spotlight, and the poor girl clearly hasn’t heard of taking a break. This time, she’s trying to save her sister Ana from a new religious horror adventure in a place called Villa Hess, which by name alone sounds like you’re renting a room straight from the devil. It doesn’t take long for things to fall apart (literally), as the local nuns quickly reveal that the only sacred thing to them is kidnapping youth and performing occult rituals. At that moment, Caroline grabs her famous nail gun again and sets out to resolve the situation in a way that even Jill Valentine would nod in approval.

The first thing that stands out is how well Tormented Souls 2 utilizes its atmosphere. Everything radiates nostalgia from the thin rays of light piercing through windows to the unsettling creak of doors opening suspiciously slowly, as if they themselves don’t want to reveal what’s waiting on the other side. The game is a little museum of survival horror, but not as a dead exhibit instead, it feels like a renovated display with a modern approach. There is no doubt that Dual Effect knows how to “channel” the spirit of old classics while adding its own slightly sadistic touch.

The best part is that the game doesn’t try to pretend to be serious. Tormented Souls 2 consciously plays with its own clichés, melodramatic scenes, theatrical dialogues, and occult twists that even Lovecraft would have struggled to explain. And yet, it all works. Its charm lies precisely in this camp tone. The game knows it’s a bit over the top, but it uses that as a weapon, and every player who has ever enjoyed listening to poorly dubbed lines in the first Resident Evil knows this is part of the ritual.

How Introspection and Puzzles Slow the Horror Pace

Caroline is now much more self-confident, which is evident in her reactions, comments, and attitude. When she records her progress using a dictaphone, it’s not just a functional save; it’s a small moment of introspection where she collects her impressions and sounds like someone who knows exactly how insane the world around her is. The game smartly uses these moments to slow the pace and allow the player to breathe before plunging them back into the darkness. And that darkness is literally deadly. The lighting system in Tormented Souls 2 is brilliantly simple yet brutally punishing. 

If you don’t hold a lighter, it will extinguish you like a candle. While there are dozens of candles and lanterns throughout the halls, Caroline can’t use them except in rare instances. The game uses this to make players constantly think they should hold the weapon or the light. One wrong choice, and everything ends in silence. This creates fantastic tension, the kind of paranoia players lost long ago. Yes, it can be frustrating, but it also restores the sense of risk that modern games often lack.

Puzzle segments are a true pleasure or torment, depending on how long you stare at the screen trying to connect two seemingly unrelated items. Most puzzles, however, have a logical basis. If you carefully follow notes and small details, the solution is almost always within reach. And if you’re not attentive, get ready for a few loops around and that classic “aha!” moment when you realize you’ve been ignoring the item that was right in front of you for hours.

Balancing Fear and Strategy in Tormented Souls 2

One of the most original mechanics, “The Other Side”, returns in full glory. It’s a kind of parallel dimension, something like a twisted mirror of reality, and yes, it reeks of Silent Hill from every angle. What’s exciting is how creative these sequences are: changing one reality to solve a problem in another, eerie environments, and the constant tension that something could jump out of the shadows at any second. Dual Effect demonstrates a true understanding of atmosphere and knows how to pace the rhythm between panic and relief.

Combat, as expected, is tough and relentless. The Nail Gun is still your best friend, although an upgrade to prevent ammo from depleting faster than you can say “reload” would be welcome. There are new weapons, but they serve more as supplements than a revolution. Melee attacks remain practically useless unless you enjoy testing your reflexes between two strikes and three breaths of fear. Enemies are fast, unpredictable, and randomly terrifying, and every encounter forces the player to consider whether it’s worth spending bullets or simply running. This balance between combat and survival gives every decision weight.

How Tormented Souls 2 Brings Back Survival Horror Tension

The game’s saving system remains true to the old school, no autosave, no mercy. If you forget to save using a tape recorder, you can easily lose hours of progress. And yes, that hurts. But this sense of risk, this constant tension, and the awareness that every decision has consequences make the game palpably suspenseful. It’s the old, masochistic pleasure that made us all love survival horrors because they force us to be better, more careful, and prepared.

Technically, the game runs excellently. On PS5, it’s smooth, with no frame drops or major bugs. Graphics and lighting effects are surprisingly high quality for an indie title, and the music does its part, from oppressive tones to perfectly timed moments of silence. If nothing else, Tormented Souls 2 shows how much passion can go into a small team project that knows exactly what it wants to create.

In Conclusion

In the end, what sets Tormented Souls 2 apart is not only its respect for the tradition of survival horror but also its courage to reinterpret it. The game balances old and new, fear and frustration, logic and madness. It’s not perfect, there are odd choices and moments when you’ll want to throw the controller out the windo,w but all that comes packaged with the charm of a game that knows exactly who it is and who it’s for.

 Dual Effect has managed to create a title that doesn’t try to satisfy everyone but clearly says: “This is for you, veterans who survived the PlayStation 1 era.” Tormented Souls 2 isn’t just an homage to the classic,s it’s proof that small developers can make games that stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants of the genre.

Grade: 9.0/10 

Tormented Souls 2 earns this score for its perfect blend of nostalgic survival horror, innovative mechanics, and immersive atmosphere, despite minor frustrations.

Recommended Age: 17+ 

Due to intense horror, disturbing imagery, and complex puzzles not suitable for younger children.

Gemini AI Summary:

Tormented Souls 2 is a masterful survival horror that combines nostalgic mechanics with modern polish. Players navigate tense atmospheres, solve clever puzzles, and survive ruthless enemies as Caroline Walker battles occult horrors in Villa Hess. The game’s lighting, sound design, and parallel dimension mechanic deepen immersion, while combat and resource management maintain high stakes. Veteran horror fans will appreciate its homage to classics, smart pacing, and psychological tension. Despite minor frustrations, it stands as a high-quality indie horror experience.