Wolcen 2 opens Closed Alpha 2 on November 26 with a new pistol skill and Parasitic Shadows

The best way to build a better action RPG is to hand it to the people who will break it. Wolcen Studio clearly agrees, because Wolcen 2 goes back on the test bench with Closed Alpha 2, running from November 26 to November 30.

If you missed the gamescom 2026 reveal, Wolcen 2 is the sequel to 2020's isometric dark fantasy action RPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem. The first Closed Alpha ran in August, and the studio says the game has grown a lot from what those players told it.

That lesson was earned the hard way, through Lords of Mayhem and the ExtrAction RPG Gods, Death & Reapers. This time the team is talking back in public, too: it has started a series of Community FAQ videos on the Wolcen Studio YouTube channel, with Parts 1 and 2 already up.

Wolcen 2 hero slashing a wide arc through giant spiders on a ruined stone bridge at night — Spiders, a lot of spiders, in a work-in-progress Wolcen 2 dungeon.

What's new in round two

Closed Alpha 2 is mostly about feel. Combat pacing gets another pass, and the Combat Mastery and Twilight Procession systems have been reworked so build paths are clearer and easier to use. The UI and general user experience have been smoothed out based on player feedback.

There are new toys as well. Testers get a new Pistol ability called Havoc Orb, plus a new Shadowform mechanic named Parasitic Shadows. You can register for the playtest through the Wolcen Studio Playtest Program website.

Armored warrior with crackling twin blades standing on a pile of skulls before a red demon horde — Key art from the official Wolcen 2 site.

Like the first game, Wolcen 2 has no predefined classes. You pick the weapons that suit you, then unlock, customize and master their abilities, and your passives and gear slowly turn your character into an archetype of your own. Melee mage, spellblade, tank caster or gunslinger are all on the table, and you can take on the campaign solo or with up to three friends in online co-op.

The story picks up with Anathea, the goddess holding the Rift shut against the demonic Void, mortally wounded. The Warlord, a bastard son of the Shadow God, is pulled out of exile alongside returning characters from Lords of Mayhem. When fights turn ugly, Shadow Form lets you flip the odds. After the credits, Conquest pits factions against each other across dynamic battlefields, and the Tower of Wonders lets you chase specific rewards while steering each climb's difficulty.

Wolcen 2 warrior surrounded by fiery demons and glowing summoning circles in a cathedral hall — Work-in-progress screenshots from Wolcen 2 on Steam.

Wolcen 2 hero blasting burning enemies with fire on a dark cobblestone street — Work-in-progress screenshots from Wolcen 2 on Steam.

Closed Alpha 2 runs November 26-30, and Wolcen 2 is planned to enter Steam Early Access in 2027, with the full release intended for Windows PC and current-generation consoles. You can wishlist it on Steam here. Stay tuned to GamingTrend.com for more on Wolcen 2, and for all your upcoming reviews, previews, and gaming news!