Mortal Shell

Mortal Shell hardened StreamerHouse in 2020, hitting 346 peak viewers for Cold Symmetry's souls-like that came closer to FromSoftware's throne than any clone before. Released August 18th for $30, the game was developed by a core team of just 15 people at indie studio Cold Symmetry, making critics' praise even more remarkable. StreamerHouse appreciated the unique "hardening" mechanic—freezing your Shell mid-combat to deflect attacks and counter enemies, adding risk/reward scenarios beyond standard blocking. Reviews called it a "revelation" and potentially "the best Dark Souls game ever," with one noting the small team's achievement with short playtime was "nothing short of astounding." The game sold one million units by September 2023, earning a Game Awards 2020 nomination for Best Debut Game. Critics loved the haunting atmosphere and polished combat but noted the lack of multiplayer features disappointed Souls fans seeking co-op. A sequel was announced for 2026, validating Cold Symmetry's vision. For StreamerHouse, it proved indie studios could master the masocore formula with fresh mechanics and creativity.