You’d think we’ve seen every possible version of Alice in Wonderland by now. Like those classic Disney movies and the gritty reboots. We all know what this is all about. White rabbits, mad hatters. Then there’s a girl named Alice. Now that, however, we stumbled across BLACK SOULS 2, let me tell you this isn’t your childhood bedtime story. This is a Black Souls 2 guide. Let’s begin.
What you will read here:
What Is BLACK SOULS II?
It’s a game that takes Lewis Carroll’s famous world and twists it into a dark fantasy JRPG. It feels equally fascinating and terrifying. You what the strange part is? It works perfectly. So, what is BLACK SOULS II?
Developer & Release Date
It’s developed by the quirky named studio Eeny, meeny, miny, moe? and it’s a direct sequel to the first game.
The Japanese version of BLACK SOULS II was released on November 10, 2018. The English version was released about two years later on July 6, 2020. Finally, BLACK SOULS 2 was released on Steam on November 28, 2025 which is what brought us here.
Story
The premise is simple yet haunting. BLACK SOULS II picks up directly after the canonical Ending D of BLACK SOULS I. It takes the protagonist known as Grimm into a nightmarish wonderland. Grim is a character that embodies fairy tale authors like the Brothers Grimm, Lewis Carroll, Hans Christian Andersen.
During a peaceful picnic with his beloved Alice (chosen at the start as mother, daughter, or sister), the ground collapses and it separates them. Grimm gets plunged into this warped realm inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Here, familiar characters from this tale and other fairy tales are reimagined as tragic ones amid a terrifying world that transforms inhabitants into deranged beasts.
Grimm’s primary quest is to locate and rescue Alice. Now he must face demon princesses like Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, the Little Mermaid, etc.
Gameplay
Now, you might expect a game made in RPG Maker to have basic, button mashing combat. BLACK SOULS 2 actually surprised me with its depth. It uses an ATB (Active Time Battle) system, but with a catch: Action Points (AP) dictate everything.
It’s not just about who hits harder, it’s about who moves faster. Your SPD stat fills your gauge. If you’re fast enough, you can lap your enemies and take multiple turns before they even blink. I found myself obsessing over the Break mechanic. If you hit an enemy just right, you can leave them stunned and vulnerable. This way they take double or even triple damage. But be careful, though. They can do the same to you.
There’s also this really cool risk-reward system with the states. Sure, you can guard to evade critical hits, but it makes you wildly susceptible to Break attacks. It forces you to think three steps ahead.
SEN System
Here’s where things get really interesting. The game features a SEN system. Honestly, it’s one of the coolest features I’ve seen in a while.
Most games just use a health bar, but here, your grip on reality matters. If your SEN drops too low, the game messes with you. The background music might just vanish which leaves you in eerie silence. NPCs might start speaking in gibberish you can’t understand. Even worse, you might start seeing things that should not be seen. Monsters and horrors that were invisible to you before. It’s a brilliant way to make the gameplay feel connected to the story’s madness.
All 9 Classes in BLACK SOULS II
I also loved the freedom the game gives you right from the start. You pick from nine classes.
When you pick a class at the start, you’re basically locked into it for the whole playthrough. You can’t switch later, even if you change our mind. Still, most classes aren’t all that different from each other. They share almost the same stats and they level up the same way. The only real outlier is the Fluffy which works a bit differently.
Each class starts with its own look, but that part isn’t permanent. Once you finish an ending and reach the Library Dream, you can head into the Reminiscence Room and change it.
| Class | Description & Starting gear |
|---|---|
| The Knight | “High Attack and Defense. Knows techniques for lowering enemy Attack and Defense.” Begin with the Knight’s Sword, Knight’s Shield, Knight’s Helmet, and Knight’s Armor. |
| The Thief | “Incredibly high Speed. Knows a technique for slaying foes in a single blow. Begins with 1000 bonus Souls.” Begin with an extra 1000 Souls. Given the Thief’s Dagger, Buckler, Thief’s Mask, and Cloak of Shadows. |
| The Sorcerer | “Incredibly high Magic. Knows how to cast Soul Arrow (attack sorcery).” Given the Sorcerer’s Staff, Round Shield, Magician Hat, Magician’s Coat and Soul Arrow technique. |
| The Cleric | “High Magic and Magic Defense. Knows how to cast Soul Light (healing sorcery).” Given the Mace, Round Shield, Clergy Circlet, Clergy Clothes, and Soul Light technique. |
| The Warrior | “Incredibly high Attack. His regular attacks inflict Break. Knows a technique that increases his Crit Chance.” Given the Club, Warrior’s Round Shield, Viking Helm, and Warrior’s Armor. |
| The Templar | “High Attack, Defense, and Magic Defense. Knows how to cast Soul Arrow (attack sorcery) and can use a technique that lowers enemy Magic Defense.” Given the Halberd, Templar Shield, Helm of Milton, Armor of Milton, and Soul Arrow technique. |
| The Hunter | “High Attack, Evasion, and Magic Evasion. Deals extra damage to beasts. Begins with a gun instead of a shield, which changes Break skill.” Given the Beasthunter Saw, Silver Pistol, and Hunter’s Attire. |
| The Explorer | “Incredibly high Luck. Has no particular strengths, but begins with a good number of consumables.” Begin with 5 Firebombs, 10 Blood Vials, 4 Blood Stanches, 4 Antidote Herbs, 2 Sedatives, 2 Pigeon’s Eggs, 1 Homeward Bonedust, 1 Candy, 5 Girl’s Photos. Given the Broken Sword, Wooden Shield, and Gentleman’s Coat. |
| The Fluffy | “A furry enigma. Begins with no equipment, but all of his parameters are slightly higher.” Begins with nothing. Starts with slightly higher stats. Levels up faster. |
Is BLACK SOULS 2 Worth It?
BLACK SOULS 2 is a difficult unforgiving experience that demands your attention. Between the bonfires that don’t actually save your game and the massive open world, it’s a challenge. If you’re looking for a game that offers a deep strategic combat system and a story that will stick with you for a long time, I’d say BLACK SOULS 2 is definitely worth a shot.
Hope you enjoyed our BLACK SOULS 2 Guide. Have you played the game already? Feel free to leave a comment and talk about your experience.
BLACK SOULS II’s Official Steam Page
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