Survival horror has made a big comeback in recent years, and Tormented Souls 2 looks ready to earn a spot alongside the genre’s modern standouts. I spent some time with the demo, and even though it only offers a small slice of the full game, it already captures the atmosphere, mechanics, and tension fans loved from the original. With its creepy convent setting, classic fixed-camera angles, and puzzle-heavy gameplay, this sequel feels like it’s staying true to its roots while introducing a few new twists. Here’s what stood out in the Tormented Souls 2 demo.
What You Can Play in Tormented Souls 2 Demo
The demo provides a solid overview of the core gameplay loop. You’ll get a mix of storytelling, combat, puzzle solving, and exploration. You play as Caroline, from the original, searching for her sister, Anna, who vanishes during a retreat at a remote convent. The sisters arrive by train, spend the night, and by morning, Anna is gone. Your first objective is to unlock the chapel, which sets the stage for your descent into the game’s twisted world.
This early section sets the tone well. The story unfolds through subtle environmental cues and scattered notes, making exploration feel rewarding. I enjoyed how the puzzles integrated into the environment. At one point, I got stuck after overlooking a small detail, but once I noticed it, the pieces fell into place. That moment of clarity felt great.
Exploration
Exploration plays a major role in the Tormented Souls 2 demo, and the convent is designed to encourage it. The environment is full of locked doors, secret paths, and puzzles that block progress. Some areas are swallowed in darkness, which prevents access until you find a lighter. The darkness isn’t just spooky, it can actually kill you if you enter it unprepared.
Thankfully, you get the lighter early in the demo. It’s easy to assign to your quick-access inventory, and once equipped, it lets you move through previously blocked areas. Inside the darkness, you’ll find new items, puzzles, and clues. The game also rewards players who return to earlier locations after collecting new tools. This backtracking adds depth and makes exploration feel meaningful.
Camera System
The game uses fixed camera angles, similar to early Resident Evil titles. As you move through rooms, the camera shifts to different static angles. This creates a cinematic look and adds tension since you can’t always see what’s ahead.
If you’ve played the first Tormented Souls, the camera system will feel familiar. For the most part, it works well, though it can occasionally make it tough to spot small objects, especially in darker areas. On the Steam Deck, the lower resolution made some items harder to see. Despite that, the camera enhances the classic survival horror feel.
Puzzles
The puzzles in the demo range from simple object interactions to multi-step combinations. One early example has you use a push pin to unlock a bible, which hides a key for a locked door. It’s a small moment, but it shows how puzzles are embedded in the environment.
My favorite puzzle takes place in the bell tower. You must solve a riddle and ring four bells in the right order to earn a powerful reward: the shotgun. However, you can’t access the tower right away. You need both the lighter and the hammer. I first reached the tower before getting the hammer, which left me stuck. Later, after grabbing the hammer, I backtracked and realized I could smash some pots to climb higher. That moment felt great. It’s a perfect example of how the game rewards exploration and curiosity. The puzzles feel logical, creative, and satisfying to solve.
Combat
Combat is simple but effective. The demo gives you several weapons, including a hammer, nail gun, and shotgun. The auto-aim and target-switching features make encounters smoother and more accessible, especially when things get tense.
One mechanic I didn’t love was how enemies collapse after taking enough damage but then rise again for a second round. Every enemy I fought did this. It dragged out some fights more than necessary. I’m hoping the full game adds variety to how enemies behave. Still, the combat feels responsive, and the weapons hit with satisfying weight.
Steam Deck Performance
The Tormented Souls 2 demo runs well on Steam Deck but needs some tweaks. I had to adjust the controller layout to mimic a PS5 setup. Without this change, certain features like dodging and item shortcuts didn’t work properly.
The resolution defaults to 1280×720, which fits the Deck. However, trying to change it caused UI glitches that only went away after restarting the game. Outside of that, performance was solid. It’s playable on handheld and still delivers the horror atmosphere, but I hope the final version includes better support for controls and display options.
Final Take – Is Tormented Souls 2 Worth Buying?
The Tormented Souls 2 demo makes a strong case for the full game. It blends classic survival horror elements with modern touches and creates a creepy, puzzle-filled experience that fans of the genre will enjoy. While some parts—like enemy behavior and UI scaling—could use polishing, the core is solid. If the developers continue refining the experience, this sequel could become a standout horror title. Based on the demo alone, I’m excited to play more.
Check out our Demo Hub for more first impressions, including our look at the Shape of Dreams Demo Impressions, where we explore what’s playable and whether the full release is worth picking up.
