The scars from Kosmora's mountain must be more rotten than Witcher

Kena: Scars of Kosmora was announced at Sony's recent State of Play showcase, and it looks even better than its predecessor. It's hard to do, because 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 may hold answers to help her ailment. In addition to Kena's more obvious changes, Scars of Kosmora makes many exciting changes to the game, with one of the most exciting being the inclusion of mounts.

In the trailer for Kena: Scars of KosmoraKena is seen riding 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 KosmoraThe 2026 release date was surprising, but the mounts already have many fans of the first game happy. How exactly will mounts work in Kena: Scars of Kosmora is a great mystery. Developer Ember Lab is hopefully looking into it 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 out there, but Geralt's trusty steed Roach is sadly missing in some areas. Roach is notoriously buggy, and beyond that there isn't much in the way of customization. Over the years fans have made mods for horse adaptations too The Witcher 3but 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 the way of deeper customization. The Witcher 3 is a rich game, but Roach can often be a source of frustration with her strange handling and erratic movements. Technically, Roach's stubbornness is a fairly realistic portrayal of a horse, but that doesn't make her any less difficult to deal with.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 remains the standard for montage features

IN The Witcher 3the story limits Geralt to a horse. The big downside to this is that it prevents players from choosing their own. Red Dead Redemption 2 however, is not like this. Throughout the game's story, Arthur Morgan can either tame wild horses, buy them from local vendors, or simply steal them. This already offers many options, but there are also ways players can customize their horses to make them a unique companion.

Horse binding mechanics
Tail adaptation
Mane customization
19 horse breeds

Correct binding with a horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 is an important feature that enhances the game's already impressive realism. It really gives an extra feeling of attachment, and Kena: Scars of Kosmora would greatly benefit from this approach. Kena: Scars of Kosmora has kept quiet 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 already teases more mountain variants

The reveal trailer showed off the green wolf, but Ember Lab has even more companions in store. In the official press release, these mounts are referred to as “elemental spirit companions” that help Kena throughout her journey. Speaking of these spirit companions, Ember Lab says, “They are charming companions 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 found throughout the world.” Players haven't even seen it all Kena: Scars of Kosmoras mounts yet, which is already a step in the right direction.

It is unclear if every single companion will be a mount.

Different mounts can mean more options

With a diverse list 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 2players only have different horse breeds to choose from. IN Kena: Scars of Kosmorathere will be a range of unique spirits all potentially very different from each other. It will be fascinating to see what the other elementals beyond the wolf mountain are, but those details are being kept under wraps for now.

What's even more exciting is that Ember Lab has already confirmed the importance of bonding with these companions. Bonding promises some subtle Red Dead Redemption 2 vibes, but it's not the only game that throws in some fascinating animal bonding mechanics. Finding wolf dens in Ghost of Yotei helps Atsu bond with them, eventually unlocking stronger abilities. Both Red Dead Redemption 2 and Ghost of Yotei show 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 possible customization features.

When is Kena: Scars of Kosmora launching?

Right now there is no concrete release date set in stone, but it is confirmed for the 2026 calendar. This year is shaping up to be a big one for the gaming industry in general, but Sony is bringing a lot of compelling PS5 exclusives to the spotlight. Marvel's Wolverine and Saros were highlights, but the State of Play showcase confirmed that Kena: Scars of Kosmora and Marvel Token: Fighting Souls will also be part of the 2026 lineup. There are also God of war metroidvania prequel, God of War Sons of Spartait was shady. So far it looks like Kena: Scars of Kosmora is in good company. As the year continues, it will be exciting to see what Ember Lab decides to reveal next before the game launches. Only time will tell, but the next update will hopefully dive deeper into how mounts will work.