Kena: Scars of Kosmora was announced at Sony’s recent State of Play showcase, and it looks even better than its predecessor. That’s hard to do, since the first game was already so beautiful. Kena: Scars of Kosmora features a more mature and capable Kena as she travels to Kosmora, a mysterious island that could have answers that help her ailment. Beyond Kena’s more obvious changes, Scars of Kosmora is making a lot of exciting shake-ups to gameplay, with one of the most intriguing being the inclusion of mounts.
In the trailer for Kena: Scars of Kosmora, Kena is seen riding on a cool wolf-like creature. The glimpses revealed in the announcement trailer have confirmed that not only will mounts be used to get from Point A to Point B, but they will also be part of combat. Kena: Scars of Kosmora‘s 2026 release date was surprising enough, but mounts already have a lot of fans of the first game excited. How exactly mounts will work in Kena: Scars of Kosmora is a big mystery. Developer Ember Lab is hopefully looking to Red Dead Redemption 2 as a source of inspiration instead of another game with an iconic mount: The Witcher 3.
Kena: Scars of Kosmora’s Mounts Need to Feel More Like Red Dead Redemption 2 Instead of The Witcher 3
Of course, The Witcher 3 is one of the greatest games of this century. Even over a decade later, The Witcher 3 is one of the best fantasy RPGs around, but Geralt’s trusted steed Roach is unfortunately lacking in some areas. Roach is notoriously buggy, and beyond that, there isn’t much in terms of customization. Over the years, fans have made horse customization mods for The Witcher 3, but it would have been nice if the feature had been there from the start. The game allows players to upgrade things like saddles and speed, but it doesn’t really offer anything in terms of deeper customization. The Witcher 3 is a content-rich game, but Roach can often be a source of frustration with her strange handling and erratic movements. Technically, Roach’s stubbornness is a decently realistic depiction of a horse, but that doesn’t make her any less aggravating to handle.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Red Dead Redemption 2 is Still the Standard For Mount Features
In The Witcher 3, the lore confines Geralt to one horse. The one big downside to this is that it keeps players from choosing their own. Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t like this, though. Throughout the course of the game’s story, Arthur Morgan can either tame wild horses, buy them from local sellers, or simply steal them. This already offers plenty of options, but there are also ways that players can customize their horses to make them a unique companion.
- Horse bonding mechanics
- Tail customization
- Mane customization
- 19 horse breeds
Properly bonding with a horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 is an important feature that elevates the game’s already impressive realism. It really adds an extra sense of attachment, and Kena: Scars of Kosmora would benefit greatly from taking this approach. Kena: Scars of Kosmora has kept tight-lipped about the finer details of mounts, but Ember Lab has hinted that the feature could very likely have a touch of Red Dead Redemption 2.
Keno: Scars of Kosmora Is Already Teasing More Mount Varieties
The reveal trailer showcased the green wolf-life creature, but Ember Lab has even more companion creatures in store. In the official press release, these mounts are referred to as “elemental spirit companions” that help Kena throughout her journey. When talking about these spirit companions, Ember Lab says, “They are charming buddies that travel with you, grow over time, and unlock new powers as your bond deepens. Each spirit is tied to a different element and connected to other spirits that exist throughout the world.” Gamers haven’t even seen all of Kena: Scars of Kosmora‘s mounts yet, which is already a step in the right direction.
It’s unclear if every single companion will be a mount.
Different Mounts Could Mean Greater Player Choice
With a diverse roster of elemental spirits, Kena: Scars of Kosmora could actually be better than Red Dead Redemption 2 when it comes to this feature. In Red Dead Redemption 2, players only have different horse breeds to choose from. In Kena: Scars of Kosmora, there is going to be an offering of unique spirits that can all potentially differ greatly from one another. It will be fascinating to see what the other elementals beyond the wolf mount are, but these details are being kept locked away at the moment.
What’s even more intriguing is that Ember Lab has already confirmed the importance of bonding with these companions. Bonding promises some subtle Red Dead Redemption 2 vibes, but that isn’t the only game that throws in some fascinating animal bonding mechanics. Finding wolf dens in Ghost of Yotei helps Atsu bond with them, which eventually unlocks stronger abilities. Both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Ghost of Yotei showcase the importance of caring for nature in different ways, and it will be fascinating to see how Kena: Scars of Kosmora approaches this theme with mount bonding and any potential customization features.
When Does Kena: Scars of Kosmora Launch?
Right now, there isn’t a concrete release date set in stone, but it’s confirmed for the 2026 calendar. This year is shaping up to be a huge one for the gaming industry in general, but Sony is bringing a lot of compelling PS5 exclusives into the spotlight. Marvel’s Wolverine and Saros were highlights, but the State of Play showcase confirmed that Kena: Scars of Kosmora and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will also be part of that 2026 lineup. There’s also the God of War Metroidvania prequel, God of War Sons of Sparta, that was shadow-dropped. So far, it looks like Kena: Scars of Kosmora is in good company. As the year continues, it will be thrilling to see what Ember Lab decides to reveal next before the game launches. Only time will tell, but the next update hopefully dives deeper into how mounts will work.
- Released
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2026
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Number of Players
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Single-player
