PlayStation Plus free Elden Ring alternative drops huge update with unexpected musical twist

One of the best additions to PlayStation Plus in a long time just received a major content update.

Earlier this month PlayStation Plus was bolstered with a superb batch of freebies, with Horizon: Forbidden West and Mafia: The Old Country taking center stage.

It wasn’t just the Extra library that saw some great, new additions though. PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers got a new free trial for an Elden Ring rival like no other; Mortal Shell 2.

Simply put Mortal Shell 2 redefines what it means to be a souls game, and it’s up there with the likes of Nioh and Lies of P in my humble opinion. It tackles my biggest issue with FromSoftware's work.

The Mortal Shell 2 Rotten Autumn update is the best time for new players to jump in

After launching in August earlier this year Mortal Shell 2 has dropped a major content update with some excellent improvements/additions.

For starters, a new photomode is going to be a big hit with players wishing to express their artistic side.

Some new cosmetic skins have been added for deeper customisation and they’re joined by 10 new tarstones. These are items used to upgrade your gear, so you’ve got more options for your builds now.

Delving deeper still is 15 new dungeons to explore, and you can enjoy these with Overkill graphics.

The musical twist however comes through a new type of lute. Mortal Shell 2 went viral for letting you use a lute as a weapon and the new Impervious Lute lets you lure enemies in with the sound of your sweet melodies. There are even some additional tracks to play on your shiny, new instrument.

Keeping with the music theme, the game also has an alternative soundtrack now. It was composed by Rotting Christ's Sakis Tolis and will be a fitting change for those who want to make the game a shade darker.

All of this is completely free, and available now. Some very meaningful changes have been made here so we’re excited to jump back in, but if you’re yet to play you can learn more about the game below.

Why Mortal Shell 2 should be your next PlayStation Plus game

Mortal Shell 2 is a completely different beast to FromSoftware’s soulsborne games. The way it stands out from the crowd is through its ‘shells’.

Rather than putting players in boxes and forcing them to choose a build and stick with it, Mortal Shell 2’s main gimmick is the ability to switch as you go. Each ‘shell’ is a body with its own unique stats, strengths and shortcomings.

There’s a shell for all types of gamers, but the beauty of the mechanic is how it won’t penalise you for trying something new. You’re not spending your hard-earned experience points on a build you might not like.

That’s rather fitting considering the game is free to sample via PlayStation Plus Premium. You can only play it as a game trial rather than a rental, but it’s a great way of trying a game you might be on the fence on, especially soulslikes as they cater to a very specific demographic.

We wholeheartedly recommended Mortal Shell 2 when it first dropped on PlayStation Plus earlier this week, and with the launch of the new, free update, we’re recommending it again.

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