I just took a long look at the new walkthrough for Code Vein II, and the biggest takeaway is that this game wants you to be the director of your own story. While the first game felt like a standard action RPG with a vampire twist, the sequel is leaning heavily into player agency. They are doing this by introducing a time travel mechanic that actually lets you change the world and a character creator so deep it feels like a separate game. This matters because it moves the series away from being just another difficult combat game and turns it into a personal journey where your decisions in the past dictate how the world looks in the future.
Time travel feature lets you shape your own experience
The most interesting part of Code Vein II is how it handles its world. You play as a Revenant Hunter alongside a girl named Lou MagMell, who has the unique power to manipulate time. The world is falling apart because of something called the Luna Rapacis, which turns people into monsters. Instead of just fighting these monsters in the present, you travel 100 years into the past to meet the “Fallen Heroes” before they were corrupted.
This is a brilliant move for the story. In the walkthrough, we saw a place called the Sunken City. In the present day, it is a polluted ruin where nobody can live. But when you travel back in time, you see it as a functional city and meet a character named Josée Anjou. By helping her in the past, you unlock new paths and secrets in the present. This gives you a reason to care about the characters because you are literally saving their souls before they lose them. It also makes the world feel like a puzzle that you solve by jumping between two different eras.
The character creator brings a whole new level of game immersion
If you are someone who spends hours making your character look just right, Code Vein II is speaking your language. Bandai Namco announced a free Character Creator Demo that launches on January 22 for PC and January 23 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. This is not just a small preview; you get 64 save slots, and everything you create transfers over to the full game when it launches.
The detail here is impressive. You can customize body types, facial expressions, and even how your character looks in different lighting by visiting a hot spring in the game’s hub, the MagMell Institute. For the business side of things, this is a smart way to get people invested before they even buy the game. For us, it means we can spend a whole week perfecting our hero so we can jump straight into the action on launch day. It turns the character into a digital avatar that reflects your specific style.
We also have a refined combat system
A common complaint with games like this is that they can feel lonely or too hard for people who do not have perfect reflexes. Code Vein II solves this with a revamped Partner System. You are not just fighting next to a computer; you are working with them. There is a new move called the Restorative Offering where your partner can give you some of their health to bring you back if you die.
There is a catch: if they save you, they become weak and cannot help for a while. This creates a real sense of tension. Do you play aggressively because you have a safety net, or do you protect your partner so they are ready when you really need them? They have also added seven different weapon types, like dual blades and halberds, so you can find a fighting style that fits your hands. It makes the “Soulslike” genre feel much more welcoming to people who want a challenge but do not want to feel frustrated.
You don’t need to walk around the map anymore
Traversing a post-apocalyptic world on foot can get tiring, so the developers added the Motorcycle Forma. It is a magical bike that does not need fuel or parts, making it much easier to explore the vast ruined landscapes like the Undead Forest. This is a simple addition, but it changes the “flow” of the game. It allows for larger, more open areas instead of the cramped corridors seen in the first game. It makes the world feel like a place worth exploring rather than just a series of rooms to clear out.
The game also brings back Blood Codes, which are basically character classes you can swap on the fly. If a boss is too fast for your heavy armor, you can switch to a faster Blood Code without having to restart your whole character. This flexibility is a huge win for players who want to experiment without being punished for it. It ensures that the game stays fun and tactical rather than becoming a repetitive grind.
Release date and pricing
Code Vein II is scheduled to launch worldwide on January 30, 2026. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. There are several versions available for pre-order, each with different bonuses:
Standard Edition ($69.99): Includes the base game and pre-order bonuses like the Twin Fangs of the Lone Wolf weapon.
Deluxe Edition ($89.99): Includes a Custom Outfit Pack and the “Mask of Idris” expansion DLC (available by January 2027).
Ultimate Edition ($99.99): Includes everything in the Deluxe version plus a digital artbook, soundtrack, and six costumes from the original game.
Collector’s Edition ($179.99): Exclusive to the Bandai Namco Store, this includes all digital content plus a physical 18cm Lou MagMell figurine, a 60-page hardcover artbook, and a SteelBook case.
