Tormented Souls 2 just hit 100K sales — why horror fans should care (and what’s next)

Why 100,000 copies matters – and why I paid attention

This caught my attention because indie survival horror is having a moment, and Tormented Souls 2 is one of the stronger examples of how to do a modern “90s throwback” without leaning on nostalgia alone. Launched on 23 October, PQube and Dual Effect’s sequel has already cleared the 100,000-sales mark and sits on over 250,000 Steam wishlists – not blockbuster numbers, but very impressive for a focused, atmospheric horror follow-up.

• Key takeaways:
• Tormented Souls 2 crossed 100,000 sales in a month and has huge wishlist interest on Steam.
• Critics praise its atmosphere, puzzles and the return of protagonist Caroline Walker.
• The game supports classic fixed-camera modes and an assisted option-so it’s built for both purists and newcomers.
• Publisher teases new content, which could help longevity and community engagement.

Breaking down the numbers: why 100K is a real win

One hundred thousand copies in roughly a month sounds modest next to AAA releases, but this is the sort of result that matters for niche horror studios. Dual Effect’s original Tormented Souls built a loyal audience by nailing tension, puzzles and fixed-camera staging — all things that don’t usually drive massive mainstream sales but do build passionate communities. Converting a quarter-million Steam wishlists into six-figure sales across PC and consoles is a solid conversion rate and shows the sequel tapped both existing fans and curious newcomers.

It also suggests word-of-mouth is working. Praise from outlets like Noisy Pixel, TryHardGuides and regional IGN branches points to consistent strengths: atmosphere, smart puzzle design and faithful use of survival-horror mechanics. Those are the exact qualities community streamers and dedicated horror forums reward with sustained interest.

What the game actually offers players

Tormented Souls 2 continues Caroline Walker’s story, taking her from Wildberger Hospital to the eerie town of Villa Hess and a clinic in southern Chile. The core hooks are familiar but well-executed: a reality-switching mechanic that lets you rewrite parts of the past to affect the present, handcrafted puzzles that demand observation more than brute force, and a makeshift weapons system that emphasizes improvisation.

• Huge, varied locations — convents, malls, abandoned schools — each designed with environmental puzzles in mind.
• Supernatural “Other side” mechanic that changes the environment and opens new paths.
• Weapon crafting and quick-select tools for tense encounters — makes fights meaningful rather than spammy.
• Two gameplay modes: classic fixed-camera/tank control for purists, or assisted mode for accessibility.

The options matter. Offering both tank controls and an assisted mode shows the developers understand their audience: some players want the muscle-memory challenge of old-school survival horror, while others want the tone without the frustration. That balance keeps the game accessible without compromising its design identity.

What this win implies — and what I’m skeptical about

Sales momentum and positive reviews give Dual Effect breathing room. PQube’s CMO Andy Pearson even teased more content coming in a few weeks — “we’re also working on some exciting new content and will have news in a few weeks… so keep your eye(s) peeled,” he said. That could mean DLC, free updates, or seasonal events; any of those would help retention.

That said, some questions linger. Will future content be meaningful expansions or bite-sized paid add-ons? Can the team maintain the narrative quality that reviewers praised? And most importantly for players: will post-launch patches iron out any balance or performance issues across platforms?

Why this matters to horror fans

If you care about survival horror that prizes mood, puzzles and restrained combat over action-horror spectacle, Tormented Souls 2 looks like a rare win in 2025. It’s a reminder that you can modernize mechanics and still keep the claustrophobic feeling that made classics endure. The sales milestone proves there’s an audience for thoughtful, well-crafted horror — and that’s good news for the genre’s health going forward.

TL;DR: Tormented Souls 2 isn’t trying to reinvent survival horror. It’s doing the old things well, adding smart modern touches, and the market responded. If you liked the first game or you miss puzzle-forward horror, this is worth your time — just keep an eye on how post-launch support shapes up.