Tormented Souls 2: A masterclass in old-school survival horror that blends claustrophobic tension, intricate puzzles, and modern polish.
In the past few years, survival horror has become very popular again. Horror games are once again in their prime, thanks to dedicated small teams and big publishers who are rediscovering their love for old-school scares. A Chilean company called Dual Effect is leading this revival.
Their first big hit was Tormented Souls, which was a throwback to the good old days of Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The original game’s mix of set camera angles, complex resource management, and creepy puzzles appealed to fans who wanted a real feel of the old days.
Now, after four years, Dual Effect is back with Tormented Souls 2, a big follow-up that builds on the good things about the first game while smoothing out the bad points. It’s more sure of itself, has more atmosphere, and yes, is scarier. The result isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a great example of how to make a remake that stays true to the original while adding new elements.
In time for Halloween, Tormented Souls 2 is a must-play for anyone looking for a new old-school survival horror game.
Tormented Souls 2 picks up where the first game left off, following Caroline Walker again. She made it through the nightmare that was Wildberger Hospital and now lives in a shaky peace with her twin sister Anna, who is still having terrible visions.
The sisters go to Villa Hess, a small town in Chile, far away, with a strange convent said to heal. But instead of being saved, they find crazy people, groups, and old agreements that connect their family tree to something much worse.
Things go from orderly to crazy very quickly. Caroline wakes up to the screams of her sister and sees people in robes taking her away. She also learns that the house and the town are full of witchcraft rituals and otherworldly horrors.
Though the story doesn’t come up with anything new, the pace and acting are much better. This time, the voice acting doesn’t seem as stiff, and Caroline’s new voice actor makes her both determined and funny. She’s no longer a scared victim; she’s a survivor with a lighter and a sense of snark.
Tormented Souls 2 is proud of the games that inspired it. It’s a tribute to survival horror games from the late 1990s, with fixed camera angles, tank-style movement, and limited saves—a concept that feels surprisingly fresh in a time when open worlds and handholding are the norm. Players are told to be careful, check out every dusty path, and use every bullet wisely.
The most important changes are to the responsiveness and quality-of-life elements. Caroline can now move and reload at the same time, which is a small change that changes the game. Up to four quick slots can be set aside for guns and the lighter.
This makes switching items in real time much smoother than before. Even though Tormented Souls 2 has these nice features, it never makes you feel at ease. The darkness itself is still dangerous; if you stay in it for too long without a light, it will eat you up. This means that you always have to choose between lighting your way or getting ready for battle.
One of the best things about the game is still how the levels were made. Villa Hess and its linked areas have a layout that reminds me of Resident Evil’s Spencer Mansion in the best way possible: it’s confusing, but if you pay attention, it’s rewarding. There is a reason for every locked door and strange item, and going back rarely feels like filler.
It’s the classic survival-horror loop: take small steps forward, find new paths, return with new tools, and barely stay alive.
Tormented Souls 2 is one of the few new horror games that really uses puzzles. It’s clear that Dual Effect knows that horror isn’t just about scares; it’s also about mental stress. A lot of the tasks, riddles, and environmental challenges in the game are tough and remind me of the best times of Silent Hill 2. Some puzzles are so tricky that they will stump you for a long time. For example, a tricky rotary phone question is hard to understand even after you figure it out.
It’s really satisfying to figure out these puzzles, even if some of them are a bit hard to understand. Thankfully, Tormented Souls 2 strikes a better balance than its predecessor. It gives you enough hints through sound and visuals to keep you from getting frustrated.
Combat, on the other hand, is meant to be awkward, but in a good way. You’ll always be unsure of whether to stand your ground or run away to save resources. Caroline’s arsenal is made up of nail guns, sledgehammers, and even a chainsaw that she has made herself. Each one gives fights a different beat. It seems like the graphics are a little rough, but the tension they create is pure survival horror magic. And that’s the point: you never feel strong; you barely feel capable.
There are also a few boss fights, which are mostly fine but can be annoying at times because the cameras stay in one place and the life bars are too long. But they never stay too long, and every fight makes you feel that old fear: every fight could be your last.
You’re always weighing whether to stand and fight or sneak by to save your resources.
Built with Unreal Engine 5, Tormented Souls 2 looks great without giving up its retro look. Dual Effect has mastered the look of a “modern PS2 game,” a dirty, moody world of flickering light and dark. The lighting is truly stunning; each candle and torch feels real, and the shadows they cast make every corner seem like a danger.
The settings, like crumbling convents, spooky graveyards, and underground jails, are full of atmosphere. You really paid attention to the details of the environments, but not always with the people you’re modeling. They look a little stiff and like puppets sometimes, and their eyes and teeth are too shiny and big, which doesn’t go well with the rest of the art direction. Even so, it’s a small flaw in an otherwise deeply beautiful visual experience.
It seems like Villa Hess is bigger, offers more, and is even less welcoming than the Wildberger Hospital.
The visuals set the mood, but the sound design really makes you feel scared. The background music and sound effects (like doors creaking, voices in the distance, and the sharp gasp of your lighter running out of oil) do most of the work here. Most of the time, the creepy quiet between those sounds is scarier than the jump scares themselves.
Even though there isn’t much music, it goes well with the stress. During battles, it slowly builds up, never being too loud for the player, and then it fades into an uncomfortable silence. Not only are the speech actors better than in the first game, but so are Caroline and Anna. The feelings are stronger, the conversations flow more easily, and the direction as a whole feels more like a movie.
Also, the scary use of 3D sound is worth mentioning. Listening through headphones changes the experience. Whispers sound like they’re coming from behind you, and enemy screams reverberate through the halls like they’re coming from a living thing. It’s a great job of making scary sounds.
The great sound design ties everything together. What makes it scary is that you’ll hear the monsters before you see them.
Of course, Tormented Souls 2 isn’t perfect, but it is a great survival horror sequel that knows exactly what horror fans want. It gets better, grows, and sometimes annoys, but it never changes who it is. Dual Effect didn’t follow the latest trends; instead, they built on what made the first game great, making careful changes to make it even better.
Yes, it can still feel stiff to move. Yes, some tasks will make you wait. But every flaw in this game makes it better as a whole—a game that makes you feel scared, helpless, and excited all at the same time. That is what survivor horror is all about.
These days, a lot of horror games rely too much on big, flashy visuals. Tormented Souls 2 is happy to be old-school. As a love letter to the old games, it was made with current technology and a strong focus on atmosphere, challenge, and player-driven discovery.
