Platforms
- PCSep 26, 20197.6playscore7.214 Critics8.126K Players
- PlayStation 4Sep 27, 20197.8playscore7.339 Critics8.815K Players
- Xbox OneSep 27, 20197.9playscore7.87 Critics8.31.93K Players
73 critic reviews · 15 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- 69 Read our review policy Code Vein 2 Weak characters kill loftier ambitions, but a brisk pace keeps the combat lively.
Baxter Burchill · Jan 28, 2026 Reviewed on PCRead full review - Code Vein is a stylish Soulslike with an anime twist. It excels in customization and experimentation, but the enemies and graphics could be improved.
Azfar Rayan · Oct 02, 2025 Reviewed on PCRead full review - I just pull up the real-time overlay, click around a bit, and now I’m playing a completely different type of character. When you’ve got this kind of flexibility and variety constantly at your fingertips, when this sort of intricate interactivity is always available to distract you from potential frustration, a Dark Souls game isn’t quite so soul crushing anymore.
Tom Chick · Dec 25, 2020 Reviewed on PCRead full review - Code Vein should be applauded for doing something different with the Dark Souls formula. It's great to be able to switch out your classes at will and combine them, and the almost-constant presence of co-op is a real selling point for those who may not want to jump into the deep end of this emerging subset of the genre. The rest of the game, from the story to the level design, feels bland, and the combat falls apart when you suddenly have no AI companion by your side.
Cody Medellin · Apr 03, 2020 Reviewed on PCRead full review - Code Vein is a very successful entry in the Souls genre and does a formidable job in creating its own interesting and unique quirks. The game does suffer under several difficulty spikes and still has a few hit detection problems which could end up being frustrating for those watching their moves but still getting hit. Nonetheless, if you like games such as Dark Souls, but want a proper story and love the aesthetics of an anime-like game, then Code Vein will be right up your alley.
Ibuki · Oct 19, 2019 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - Code Vein can be stressing as you can’t cut much slack until you have gained not only level-ups to strengthen your character but also personal confidence to challenge everything the game throws at you. While it sometimes too obediently follows conventions of Souls-likes, its generous framework and character-centric exposition bring the game its own kind of unique personality.
Jukka Piira · Oct 14, 2019 Reviewed on XB1 - If you were waiting for a Dark Souls inspired game to set your heart aflutter with vampiric themes and pulse-pounding combat…then you might want to wait a bit longer, as Code Vein definitely isn’t that game.
Darryn Bonthuys · Oct 07, 2019 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - It's a stylish action RPG that replicates the structure of Dark Souls while leavening its strict attitude towards mastery with fallbacks and safety nets, making it easier to pick up and persevere with. Players willing to embrace its over-the-top aesthetic and narrative sense - while overlooking its shortcomings in level design and combat tuning - will find an enjoyable, relaxed romp, a fun trifle whose spirit elevates it from crude clone-job to loving send-up.
Josh Tolentino · Oct 06, 2019 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - Code Vein tries hard to overcome its flaws with anime style and flamboyance—and in many areas almost succeeds. The character creation and Code-based upgrade system are intriguing, but the combat and partner AI are too inconsistent to overcome the uneven pacing and difficulty. Code Vein has its positives, but is flawed as a single-player experience.
Rebecca Hills-Duty · Oct 04, 2019 Reviewed on PC - Code Vein provides a very casual Souls-like experience which will be perfect for the right sort of person. Minor bugs, and clunky JRPG-style exposition aside the game is a breeze to play through.
William Worrall · Oct 04, 2019 Reviewed onRead full review
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Community Reviews
- Reviewed on PS4
- Reviewed on PC
- Reviewed on PS4
- Rated on PC
- Rated on PS4
- Rated on XB1
- Rated on PS4
Deleted User
Sep 27, 20227Rated on PC
About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
IN THE FACE OF CERTAIN DEATH, WE RISE. In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity. Wandering aimlessly in search of blood, the Lost will stop at nothing to satisfy their hunger. Team up and embark on a journey to the ends of hell to unlock your past and escape your living nightmare in CODE VEIN.
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios