15 Must-Play Games Like Dark Souls in 2025 🔥

If you’ve ever found yourself both frustrated and exhilarated by the punishing challenge of Dark Souls, you’re not alone. This genre-defining masterpiece has inspired a legion of games that capture its brutal combat, cryptic lore, and haunting worlds. But what if you want more? More worlds to explore, more bosses to conquer, or just a fresh twist on the formula? We’ve got you covered.

In this deep dive, we explore 15 of the best Soulslike games in 2025 that echo the spirit of Dark Souls—from gothic nightmares like Bloodborne to sprawling open-world epics like Elden Ring, and even 2D masterpieces like Salt and Sanctuary. Curious about which game offers the most satisfying combat? Or which ones blend Soulslike mechanics with co-op multiplayer? We reveal all that and more, including tips for newcomers and a peek into the future of the genre.

Ready to find your next brutal obsession? Let’s jump in!

Key Takeaways

  • Soulslike games share core mechanics: deliberate combat, stamina management, punishing difficulty, and interconnected worlds.
  • Variety abounds: From fast-paced aggression (Bloodborne) to precise deflection (Sekiro) and even sci-fi settings (The Surge 2).
  • Multiplayer features like summoning and PvP invasions create a unique community experience.
  • 2D Soulslikes such as Salt and Sanctuary and Hollow Knight prove the formula’s versatility.
  • Newcomers should embrace patience, learn enemy patterns, and upgrade weapons early.
  • The genre continues evolving, blending with roguelikes, shooters, and open-world design for fresh challenges.

Dive into our full list and expert insights to discover which Soulslike game will test your mettle next!

Table of Contents

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Video: Ranking Every Soulslike I’ve Played From Worst To Best.

⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts About Dark Souls and Its Clones

Welcome, brave adventurer, to the punishing yet rewarding world of Soulslike games! Before you take your first fateful steps into a land designed to test your very soul, we at Games Like™ have gathered some essential intel. Think of this as your trusty map and compass for the treacherous journey ahead.

  • What is a “Soulslike”? The term describes a subgenre of Action RPGs inspired by FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls series. They’re famous for their high difficulty, intricate level design, and deep, often cryptic, lore.
  • Prepare to Die… A Lot: Death isn’t a failure in these games; it’s a learning mechanic. Each demise teaches you something new about enemy attack patterns, environmental hazards, or boss strategies. Embrace it!
  • Stamina is Everything: Nearly every action—attacking, dodging, blocking—consumes stamina. Managing this green bar is the key to survival. Get greedy, and you’ll be left vulnerable.
  • Checkpoints are Sanctuaries: Known as Bonfires, Lanterns, or Idols, these are your safe havens. Resting at them replenishes your health and healing items but also respawns most enemies in the area. 😱
  • It’s Not Just About Swords: While melee combat is a staple, the genre has expanded! Games like Remnant 2 prove “that the Soulslike spirit can thrive well beyond the traditional sword-and-sorcery mold” by incorporating firearms.
  • The Community is Your Ally: Soulslike games feature a unique multiplayer system where you can leave messages for other players, see their final moments, or summon them for help. You’re never truly alone.

🔥 The Origins and Evolution of Soulslike Games

Ever wonder where this masochistic love for brutally difficult games came from? Let’s take a trip back in time. The genre’s spark ignited with the release of Demon’s Souls in 2009, a PlayStation 3 exclusive that was initially met with mixed reception. It was punishing, obscure, and didn’t hold your hand. Yet, for a dedicated group of players, it was a revelation.

Then came Dark Souls in 2011. This spiritual successor refined the formula and unleashed it upon a wider audience. As one video essayist noted, it had a massive impact by showing there was a market for games with “rough edges,” where the struggle itself was a core feature. It fostered an “unshakable bond” among players who conquered its challenges together.

From there, the genre exploded. FromSoftware continued to perfect its craft with sequels and new IPs like Bloodborne and Sekiro. Meanwhile, other developers, both indie and AAA, began creating their own interpretations, leading to a diverse and ever-expanding universe of Soulslike experiences. The genre continues to evolve, with games like the open-world epic Elden Ring redefining what’s possible.

🎮 What Defines a Game Similar to Dark Souls? Core Mechanics and Themes

So, what’s the secret sauce? What makes a game “Soulslike”? While there’s no official checklist, we’ve found that the best games in the genre share a certain “Dark Souls-like frequency.” It’s a design philosophy built on a few key pillars:

  1. High-Stakes Combat: Every encounter is a potential death sentence. Combat is deliberate, methodical, and requires you to learn enemy patterns. Button-mashing will get you nowhere fast.
  2. The Bonfire System: A central checkpoint that acts as a hub for leveling up, repairing gear, and taking a much-needed breather. The catch? Resting respawns all non-boss enemies, creating a tense risk/reward loop.
  3. Currency/XP on the Line: When you die, you drop your souls, runes, or whatever the game’s primary currency is. You get one chance to retrieve them from the spot where you fell. Die again on the way? They’re gone forever. It’s heartbreaking but makes every run feel incredibly tense.
  4. Interconnected World Design: Levels are often intricate, labyrinthine mazes filled with shortcuts, secrets, and hidden paths. Unlocking a gate that leads back to a familiar bonfire is one of the most satisfying feelings in gaming.
  5. Environmental Storytelling: The lore is rarely spoon-fed to you. Instead, it’s pieced together through cryptic item descriptions, enigmatic NPC dialogue, and the very design of the world itself. It trusts the player to be curious and figure things out on their own.
  6. Epic Boss Battles: These aren’t just bigger, tougher enemies. They are multi-phase spectacles that serve as the ultimate skill check, often with their own tragic backstories woven into the fight.

This philosophy of player-directed gameplay and earned accomplishment is what makes these games so special. It’s about overcoming what feels impossible and the immense satisfaction that comes from that victory.

🕹️ 15 Best Games Like Dark Souls: The Ultimate Soulslike List for 2025

Alright, you’ve done your homework, and you’re ready to dive in. But where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve bled and died across countless worlds to bring you our definitive list of the best Soulslike games to play right now.

1. Bloodborne – The Gothic Nightmare

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Atmosphere 10/10
Combat 10/10
Challenge 9/10
Replayability 9/10

If Dark Souls is a medieval knight, Bloodborne is a frenzied hunter. Set in the gothic, Lovecraftian city of Yharnam, this is FromSoftware’s masterpiece of aggressive combat. It trades shields for firearms and encourages a fast-paced, offensive playstyle.

The “Regain system,” which allows you to recover lost health by quickly striking back at enemies, rewards boldness and fundamentally changes the rhythm of combat. The world is a triumph of eerie design, and even years later, “no other Soulslike captures this perfect blend of horror and action.”

✅ Pros:

  • Incredibly fast and satisfying combat.
  • Unmatched world design and atmosphere.
  • Unique and terrifying enemy and boss designs.

❌ Cons:

  • Still a PlayStation exclusive.
  • Locked at 30 FPS, which can be jarring for some players.

2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Precision and Stealth

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Combat System 10/10
Stealth 9/10
Challenge 10/10
RPG Elements 6/10

Sekiro is FromSoftware’s brilliant departure from the traditional Soulslike formula. It strips away the RPG elements of stats and builds, focusing instead on pure, unadulterated swordplay. The core mechanic is the Posture system, where you break an enemy’s guard through a flurry of perfectly timed deflects, leading to a visceral Deathblow.

It’s less of an RPG and more of a rhythm-action game. Some have even compared other games’ parry systems to it, like in STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order, which was described as “Sekiro in space.” The learning curve is a sheer cliff, but once the combat clicks, it feels like nothing else.

✅ Pros:

  • One of the most satisfying and deep combat systems ever created.
  • Incredible mobility with the grappling hook.
  • Stealth mechanics add a new layer of strategy.

❌ Cons:

  • Lack of build variety may disappoint RPG fans.
  • Arguably the most difficult FromSoftware title, with less room for error.

3. Elden Ring – Open World Epic

Aspect Rating (1-10)
World & Exploration 10/10
Combat 9/10
Scale & Content 10/10
Accessibility 8/10

What happens when you take the core DNA of Dark Souls and inject it into a sprawling open world? You get Elden Ring, a monumental achievement in gaming. It “redefined the genre by going open-world without sacrificing precision and danger.” The Lands Between is a world dripping with dread, wonder, and endless challenges, from the poison swamps of Caelid to the majestic spires of Leyndell.

The freedom of exploration is the game’s greatest strength. If a boss is too tough, you can simply go somewhere else, explore a cave, find new gear, and come back stronger. It’s considered by many to be “one of the best games of all time.”

✅ Pros:

  • A breathtaking and massive open world packed with secrets.
  • Unprecedented build variety and player freedom.
  • More approachable for newcomers than previous FromSoftware titles.

❌ Cons:

  • The sheer scale can be overwhelming for some.
  • Some repeated bosses and dungeons in the late game.

4. Nioh 2 – Samurai Souls

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Combat Depth 10/10
Loot System 9/10
World Design 7/10
Story 7/10

If you love the challenge of Dark Souls but crave faster combat and a deep, loot-driven progression system, Nioh 2 is your game. Set in a fantastical version of Sengoku-era Japan, it features some of the most technical and complex combat in the genre.

The Ki Pulse mechanic, weapon stances, and Yokai abilities create a combat system with “layers of depth, speed, and a greater sense of spectacle.” It’s less about interconnected worlds and more about discrete, replayable missions, but the sheer mastery required for its combat is a joy for those who love a challenge.

✅ Pros:

  • Incredibly deep and rewarding combat system.
  • Massive amount of content and a robust loot system.
  • Yokai Shift abilities add a fantastic layer to fights.

❌ Cons:

  • The loot system can feel overwhelming and require a lot of inventory management.
  • Level design is more simplistic and mission-based compared to FromSoftware’s titles.

5. Salt and Sanctuary – 2D Soulslike Masterpiece

Aspect Rating (1-10)
2D Adaptation 10/10
Atmosphere 9/10
RPG Systems 9/10
Platforming 7/10

Ever wondered what Dark Souls would look like in 2D? The answer is Salt and Sanctuary. This indie gem is more than just a clone; it’s a love letter to the series that brilliantly translates its core mechanics into a side-scrolling Adventure.

One Steam curator put it perfectly: “This game ‘gets’ Dark Souls 1 and what made it great better than anyone else, even Fromsoft.” It captures the weighty combat, the sense of dread-filled exploration, and the satisfaction of overcoming brutal bosses. The hand-drawn art style is grim and beautiful, and the RPG systems are surprisingly deep.

✅ Pros:

  • A masterful translation of 3D Soulslike mechanics into 2D.
  • Deep and engaging character progression with a massive skill tree.
  • Excellent atmosphere and art style.

❌ Cons:

  • Platforming sections can feel a bit clunky at times.
  • The art style, while great, can sometimes make environments look a bit samey.

6. Hollow Knight – Metroidvania with Soulslike Challenge

Aspect Rating (1-10)
World & Art 10/10
Exploration 10/10
Combat 8/10
Challenge 9/10

While primarily a Metroidvania, Hollow Knight is infused with the spirit of a Soulslike. You explore the vast, ruined kingdom of Hallownest, uncovering its secrets and battling challenging foes.

The Soulslike DNA is clear: benches that act as bonfires, losing your currency (Geo) upon death and having to fight your shade to reclaim it, and incredibly tough boss battles that demand pattern recognition and precise execution. Its beautiful, melancholic world and tight controls make it an absolute must-play for fans of challenging exploration.

✅ Pros:

  • A gorgeous, hand-drawn world that is a joy to explore.
  • Tight, responsive controls for both combat and platforming.
  • An incredible amount of content for its price.

❌ Cons:

  • The map system can be frustrating for some players initially.
  • Combat is simpler than dedicated Soulslikes, but still very challenging.

7. Blasphemous – Dark Fantasy Metroidvania

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Art & Atmosphere 10/10
Combat 8/10
Worldbuilding 9/10
Platforming 7/10

If you want a Soulslike experience that is even darker and more twisted, look no further than Blasphemous 2. This 2D Metroidvania channels the genre’s brutal difficulty and cryptic worldbuilding through a stunning “Spanish Catholic Gothic aesthetic.”

You play as The Penitent One in a land cursed by a miracle. The combat is weighty and deliberate, and the boss encounters are both grotesque and memorable. It’s a game that is “tough, it’s unforgiving,” and it will absolutely satisfy your craving for a dark, challenging adventure.

✅ Pros:

  • Absolutely stunning and unique pixel art and world design.
  • Deeply unsettling and fascinating lore.
  • Satisfyingly chunky and brutal combat.

❌ Cons:

  • Some instant-death pits and platforming challenges can feel cheap.
  • The first game had some control stiffness, though this was improved in the sequel.

8. Remnant: From the Ashes – Soulslike Shooter Hybrid

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Co-op Gameplay 10/10
Combat Hybrid 9/10
Replayability 9/10
World Design 7/10

“Dark Souls with guns” is a phrase thrown around a lot, but Remnant: From the Ashes and its sequel, Remnant 2, are the games that truly nail the concept. While the combat is primarily third-person shooting, the core mechanics are pure Soulslike: stamina management for dodging, challenging multi-phase bosses, and a deep sense of discovery.

What sets it apart is its focus on Cooperative play and procedurally generated worlds, which ensures high replayability. It’s fantastic proof that the Soulslike formula can be successfully blended with other genres.

✅ Pros:

  • Excellent and seamless three-player co-op.
  • A unique and satisfying blend of shooting and Soulslike mechanics.
  • Procedurally generated levels make each playthrough different.

❌ Cons:

  • The story and lore are not as compelling as other titles on this list.
  • Procedural generation can sometimes lead to less memorable level layouts.

9. The Surge 2 – Sci-Fi Soulslike

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Limb Targeting 9/10
Crafting System 8/10
World Design 8/10
Enemy Variety 7/10

The Surge 2 takes the Soulslike formula to a dystopian, sci-fi future. Its standout feature is the limb-targeting system. By focusing on specific armored parts of an enemy, you can break them off and use the schematics to craft that very piece of gear for yourself.

This creates a fantastic gameplay loop where you’re constantly hunting specific enemies to complete your armor sets. The combat is fast and fluid, and the level design is a significant improvement over the first game, with plenty of shortcuts and secrets to uncover in the sprawling Jericho City.

✅ Pros:

  • The limb-targeting and crafting system is unique and addictive.
  • Fast-paced combat with a wide variety of weapon types.
  • More open and interesting level design than its predecessor.

❌ Cons:

  • The sci-fi setting and enemy designs can feel a bit generic at times.
  • The story is largely forgettable.

10. Mortal Shell – Gritty and Strategic Combat

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Shell System 9/10
Atmosphere 8/10
Combat 7/10
Game Length 6/10

Mortal Shell is a game made with a deep reverence for Dark Souls. It’s a shorter, more focused experience, but it has some brilliant ideas of its own. The core innovation is the “Shell” system. You are a frail creature that can inhabit the bodies of fallen warriors, each with their own unique stats and abilities. It’s a “clever way to implement builds in a short game.”

Another key mechanic is the “Harden” ability, which lets you turn to stone at any moment to block an attack. This adds a unique rhythm to combat. While one Steam curator felt that “none of the weapons feel good and there’s too much enemy spam,” we found the deliberate, heavy combat to be a refreshing change of pace.

✅ Pros:

  • The Shell and Harden mechanics are fantastic and original.
  • Thick, oppressive atmosphere.
  • A focused, concise experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

❌ Cons:

  • Very limited number of weapons and shells.
  • Can feel a bit clunky and unforgiving, even for veterans.

11. Dark Messiah of Might and Magic – Action RPG with Soulslike Elements

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Environmental Kills 10/10
First-Person Combat 8/10
RPG Systems 7/10
Story 6/10

Okay, hear us out on this one! Dark Messiah came out before Demon’s Souls, but it shares so much of the same DNA that it feels like a spiritual ancestor. It’s a first-person Action game with a focus on brutal, physics-based combat.

The real star is the environment. You can kick enemies into spike walls, drop crates on their heads, or send them flying off ledges. This emphasis on deliberate combat and using your surroundings feels incredibly Soulslike in retrospect. It’s a bit janky by modern standards, but for a taste of the genre’s pre-history, it’s an absolute blast.

✅ Pros:

  • The physics-based environmental combat is endlessly entertaining.
  • A great sense of impact and brutality in first-person.
  • Offers a unique perspective on what Soulslike combat could be.

❌ Cons:

  • It’s an older game and definitely shows its age.
  • The story and voice acting are pure fantasy cheese.
  • 👉 Shop Dark Messiah of Might and Magic on: Steam

12. Ashen – Co-op Focused Soulslike

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Art Style 9/10
Co-op Integration 9/10
Combat 7/10
World 8/10

Ashen is a Soulslike with a unique, minimalist art style and a strong emphasis on passive co-op. As you explore its beautiful, sun-drenched world, you’ll seamlessly encounter other players, who appear as one of the game’s NPCs. You can journey with them, help each other overcome challenges, and part ways without ever saying a word.

The combat is a simplified take on the Souls formula, focusing on stamina management and timing. The core of the game, however, is about building relationships and a community. As you complete quests, your home base grows, and NPCs you’ve rescued populate it, making the world feel like it’s healing alongside you.

✅ Pros:

  • Beautiful and distinct cel-shaded art style.
  • Passive multiplayer is a refreshing and friendly take on co-op.
  • A strong sense of progression as your town grows.

❌ Cons:

  • Combat is simpler and lacks the depth of other titles.
  • Can be a bit too easy for hardened Soulslike veterans.

13. Code Vein – Anime Soulslike

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Character Creator 10/10
Build Variety 9/10
Level Design 6/10
Story 7/10

If you’ve ever thought, “I love Dark Souls, but I wish it had more anime vampires,” then Code Vein is the game for you. It fully embraces its anime aesthetic, from the character designs to the dramatic, over-the-top story.

Its greatest strength is the “Blood Code” system, which allows you to switch your entire class or build on the fly. One moment you can be a tanky knight, the next a nimble spellcaster. This flexibility encourages experimentation. You’re also almost always accompanied by an AI partner, making the experience more forgiving and a great entry point for newcomers to the genre.

✅ Pros:

  • An incredibly deep and flexible character creator and build system.
  • The freedom to change your class at any time is a fantastic feature.
  • The constant AI companion makes it more accessible for new players.

❌ Cons:

  • Level design can be bland and confusing to navigate.
  • The anime aesthetic might not be for everyone.

14. Death’s Gambit – 2D Action RPG with Soulslike Flair

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Pixel Art 9/10
RPG Systems 8/10
Combat 7/10
Boss Fights 8/10

Another excellent 2D take on the genre, Death’s Gambit (especially the Afterlife expansion) is a challenging action-RPG with gorgeous pixel art. It combines the methodical combat of Souls with the platforming and exploration of a Metroidvania.

What sets it apart is its rich class system and massive talent trees, allowing for a ton of build customization. The boss fights are a major highlight, often featuring giant, screen-filling monstrosities that require both skill and strategy to defeat. It’s a game that wears its inspirations on its sleeve but has enough unique ideas to stand on its own.

✅ Pros:

  • Beautiful pixel art and animation.
  • Deep RPG mechanics with a wide variety of weapons and abilities.
  • Epic and memorable boss encounters.

❌ Cons:

  • Platforming can feel a bit stiff.
  • The initial release was rough, but the Afterlife update fixed most issues.

15. Dead Cells – Roguelike Soulslike Hybrid

Aspect Rating (1-10)
Combat Flow 10/10
Replayability 10/10
Build Synergy 9/10
Difficulty 9/10

Dead Cells is a masterful blend of roguelite progression and Soulslike combat philosophy. Each run is a new, procedurally generated journey through a deadly island. The combat is lightning-fast, fluid, and incredibly responsive.

While it lacks the persistent world of a true Soulslike, it captures the spirit of learning through failure. You will die, a lot. But with each death, you unlock new weapons and abilities, and more importantly, you gain knowledge about enemy patterns and weapon synergies. It’s an addictive loop of “just one more run” that will keep you hooked for hundreds of hours.

✅ Pros:

  • Supremely fluid and satisfying combat.
  • Endless replayability thanks to procedural generation and a vast arsenal.
  • A perfect “learn by dying” gameplay loop.

❌ Cons:

  • The roguelite structure means you lose your level progress on death, which can be frustrating.
  • Less focus on lore and atmosphere compared to other titles.

🛠️ What Makes a Soulslike Game Tick? Gameplay Mechanics Breakdown

We’ve talked about the “feel” of a Soulslike, but let’s get granular. What are the nuts and bolts that make these games so compellingly challenging? It’s a delicate dance of interconnected systems designed to test your patience and skill.

The Stamina Bar: Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy

This is the absolute core of Soulslike combat. Every action is a calculated risk because it costs stamina.

  • Attacking: Swing that giant sword too many times, and you won’t have the energy to dodge the incoming blow.
  • Dodging: The classic “panic roll” is a surefire way to drain your stamina and get flattened. Each roll must be deliberate.
  • Blocking: Holding up a shield will stop an attack, but it will take a chunk out of your stamina bar. A powerful enough blow can break your guard, leaving you staggered and helpless.

Healing: The Estus Flask and its Descendants

Your primary healing item is a limited resource that only replenishes when you rest at a checkpoint. This simple mechanic creates immense tension. Do you use your last swig now or push forward, hoping to find the next bonfire just around the corner?

Game Healing Item Unique Mechanic
Dark Souls Series Estus Flask Upgradable number of uses and potency.
Bloodborne Blood Vials A consumable item you can hold more of, but must farm from enemies.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Healing Gourd Functions like an Estus Flask, but can be refilled by defeating enemies.
Elden Ring Flask of Crimson Tears Similar to Estus, but can be allocated between HP and FP restoration.

Death and Recovery: The Soul-Crushing Corpse Run

Dying in a Soulslike is a lesson, not an end. But it comes at a cost. You drop all your collected experience points/currency on the spot where you died. This creates the infamous “corpse run”—a tense, desperate scramble back through a dangerous area to reclaim what you lost. It’s a system that turns every death into a high-stakes mission.

🎭 Storytelling and Lore: How Soulslike Games Weave Dark Narratives

Why are the worlds in these games so fascinating? It’s because they don’t just tell you a story; they make you uncover it. Forget lengthy cutscenes and exposition dumps. Soulslike games practice a form of minimalist, environmental storytelling that is incredibly effective.

  • Item Descriptions: This is the big one. Every sword, shield, and soul has a story. Reading the description of a piece of armor might reveal the fate of a legendary knight. A simple key might hint at a forgotten conspiracy. It turns your inventory into a library of forgotten lore.
  • Environmental Clues: The world itself is the main character. Why is this city flooded? Why are there petrified figures everywhere? The placement of enemies, the architecture of a castle, the design of a boss—it all tells a story about a world that has fallen into ruin long before you arrived.
  • Enigmatic NPCs: The characters you meet are rarely straightforward. They speak in riddles, their motivations are unclear, and their questlines are often obscure and easily missed. Piecing together their stories is a puzzle in itself.

This approach, as highlighted in the video from our friends at #featured-video, trusts the player to be intelligent and curious. It doesn’t hand you the answers; it gives you the tools to find them, making the eventual discovery all the more rewarding.

⚔️ Combat Styles in Soulslike Games: From Brutal Melee to Tactical Magic

While all Soulslikes share a foundation of deliberate, high-stakes combat, the genre offers a surprisingly diverse range of fighting styles. Finding the one that clicks with you is part of the fun!

  • The Stalwart Knight (Sword and Shield): The classic Dark Souls experience. You methodically block, parry, and counter-attack, waiting for the perfect opening. It’s a defensive style that requires patience and a good sense of timing.
  • The Agile Hunter (Aggressive Offense): Popularized by Bloodborne, this style is all about dodging and constant pressure. You stay in the enemy’s face, using speed and aggression to overwhelm them. The “Regain system” in Bloodborne is the pinnacle of this design, rewarding you for fighting back.
  • The Masterful Shinobi (Parry and Deflect): Sekiro perfected this style. It’s not about chipping away at a health bar but about breaking an opponent’s posture through a rhythmic dance of sword clashes. It’s arguably the highest skill ceiling in the genre.
  • The Arcane Sorcerer (Glass Cannon): For those who prefer to fight from a distance. You wield powerful magic to obliterate foes before they can even get close. The trade-off? You’re usually much more fragile and need to carefully manage your magic meter (FP).
  • The Gunslinger (Ranged Hybrid): A style pioneered by games like Remnant 2. It blends third-person shooting with the core tenets of Soulslike combat—dodging, stamina management, and fighting massive bosses. It’s proof that the formula works even without swords.

🌍 Exploring Soulslike Worlds: Open-World vs Linear Design

The feeling of exploration and discovery is central to the Soulslike experience. But how that exploration is structured has evolved significantly over the years.

The Interconnected Labyrinth

The original Dark Souls is the master of this design. The world of Lordran is a complex, three-dimensional puzzle box. You’ll spend hours delving into a sewer, only to find a ladder that leads you back to the starting area. These “aha!” moments, where you realize how everything connects, are pure magic. Games like Salt and Sanctuary do an incredible job of capturing this feeling in 2D.

The Sprawling Open World

Elden Ring took this philosophy and applied it to a massive open world, and the result was a revelation. The sense of freedom is unparalleled. You can see a castle in the distance and just… go there. This approach makes the journey more personal, as no two players will explore the world in the same order. It also allows you to gracefully bow out of a challenge that’s too tough and return later, which makes the game more accessible without sacrificing its core difficulty.

Which is better? It’s a matter of taste! Do you prefer the tightly curated, puzzle-like design of the early games, or the boundless freedom and sense of adventure of an open world?

🤝 Multiplayer and Co-op Features in Soulslike Games

While often seen as solitary experiences, Soulslike games have some of the most innovative and memorable multiplayer features in all of gaming. It’s a system of “passive” and “active” interactions that builds a unique sense of community.

  • Messages: Players can leave cryptic messages on the ground for others to read and rate. These can be helpful tips (“Try plunging attack”), warnings (“Beware of ambush”), or just plain trolling (“Try jumping”).
  • Bloodstains: You can touch these red stains on the ground to see a phantom of another player’s last few seconds, showing you exactly how they died. It’s a constant, ghostly reminder of the dangers that lie ahead.
  • Cooperative Summoning: Struggling with a boss? You can use an in-game item to summon other players into your world to help you out. It’s a fantastic system that fosters a sense of camaraderie in the face of overwhelming odds.
  • Player vs. Player (PvP) Invasions: The flip side of co-op. Other players can forcibly invade your world with the sole purpose of hunting you down. It’s a terrifying and thrilling mechanic that ensures you never feel completely safe. For those who love this aspect, games like Blade Symphony have been described as “evocative of Souls PvP.”

💡 Tips for Newcomers: How to Survive Your First Soulslike Experience

Feeling intimidated? That’s totally normal. We’ve all been there. But trust us, you can do this. Here are a few essential tips from our team to help you on your journey.

  1. Patience is Your Greatest Weapon: Don’t rush in. Take your time, observe your surroundings, and learn enemy attack patterns. Greed will be punished.
  2. Learn to Love the Dodge Roll: Your dodge roll gives you a brief window of invincibility (i-frames). Learning the timing to roll through attacks instead of away from them is a game-changer.
  3. Don’t Get Attached to Your Souls: You will lose a massive pile of souls at some point. It’s a rite of passage. Accept it, learn from it, and move on. Don’t let it discourage you.
  4. Explore Everywhere: These games are packed with secrets. Hit suspicious-looking walls (they might be illusory!), look for hidden paths, and read every item description. Curiosity is always rewarded.
  5. Upgrade Your Weapon: The single most important thing you can do to increase your damage output is to upgrade your chosen weapon. A +5 basic sword is almost always better than a +0 fancy boss weapon.
  6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: There is no shame in summoning another player or even an NPC to help with a tough boss. The multiplayer system is there for a reason!

🧰 Tools and Mods to Enhance Your Soulslike Gaming

For our PC players out there, the journey doesn’t have to end when the credits roll. The Soulslike modding community is one of the most passionate and creative in gaming, offering everything from simple quality-of-life tweaks to full-blown new experiences.

  • Graphical Mods: Tools like ReShade can be used to tweak colors, add new lighting effects, and give these already beautiful games a fresh coat of paint.
  • Randomizers: These mods shuffle the placement of every enemy and item in the game, making for a completely unpredictable and highly replayable experience. Imagine finding the final boss’s sword in the first chest of the game!
  • Overhaul Mods: These are the big ones. Mods like Cinders for Dark Souls III add hundreds of new weapons, spells, and armor sets, rework game mechanics, and even add new bosses. They essentially turn the game you love into a brand new sequel.
  • Challenge Mods: For the true masochists, these mods ramp up the difficulty to insane levels, like making all enemies invisible or giving bosses new, terrifying attacks.

A word of caution: Always back up your save files before installing mods, and be aware that playing online with mods can potentially get you banned. Mod with care!

So what’s next for our favorite genre? The future looks bright, brutal, and full of exciting innovation. There’s never been a better time to be a fan of this beautiful style of game.

One of the biggest trends is the genre’s expansion beyond its dark fantasy roots. We’re seeing Soulslike mechanics successfully blended with sci-fi (The Surge 2, Hellpoint), post-apocalyptic shooters (Remnant 2), and even classic stories like Pinocchio (Lies of P).

We’re also seeing developers experiment with the core formula. Upcoming titles like WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers are introducing unique mechanics like a “Madness system” for strategic risk/reward and boast an intricately interconnected world comparable to the original Dark Souls. The ambition behind these new systems shows that developers are still finding fresh ways to challenge players.

The continued success of games like Elden Ring, with its massive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, proves there’s a huge appetite for these experiences. We’re eagerly awaiting what FromSoftware does next, and we can’t wait to see how the next generation of indie and AAA developers puts their own unique spin on the formula that Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team pioneered all those years ago. The future is punishing, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

🎯 Conclusion: Which Soulslike Game Should You Play Next?

After exploring the vast and varied landscape of Soulslike games, one thing is crystal clear: whether you’re a hardened veteran or a curious newcomer, there’s a perfect challenge waiting for you. From the gothic nightmare of Bloodborne to the sprawling open world of Elden Ring, from the pixel-perfect brutality of Salt and Sanctuary to the sci-fi limb-targeting thrill of The Surge 2, the genre offers something for every kind of dark fantasy adventurer.

Positives across the board:

  • Deep, rewarding combat systems that test your skill and patience.
  • Rich, atmospheric worlds filled with secrets and lore.
  • Innovative multiplayer features that foster community and cooperation.
  • A wide variety of settings and styles—from medieval fantasy to dystopian sci-fi and anime-inspired worlds.

Negatives to keep in mind:

  • The steep learning curve can be intimidating.
  • Some games have accessibility or performance issues (e.g., Bloodborne’s 30 FPS cap).
  • Older or indie titles may have rough edges or limited content.

Our confident recommendation? Start with Elden Ring if you want the most expansive and accessible Soulslike experience available today. If you crave a faster, more aggressive combat style, dive into Bloodborne or Sekiro. For those who love 2D action and exploration, Salt and Sanctuary and Hollow Knight are must-plays. And if you want to mix things up with guns and co-op, Remnant: From the Ashes is a fantastic choice.

Remember the question we teased earlier: What makes a Soulslike game tick? It’s the perfect storm of challenge, mystery, and reward that keeps you coming back, dying, learning, and finally conquering. Now, it’s your turn to join the ranks of those who have faced the darkness—and lived to tell the tale.

Ready to gear up for your next adventure? Here are some direct shopping links and resources to get you started:

Recommended Books on Dark Fantasy and Game Design:

  • Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier – An insider’s look at game development, including FromSoftware’s rise.
  • The Art of Dark Souls by FromSoftware – Stunning concept art and lore insights.
  • The Ultimate History of Video Games by Steven L. Kent – For a deep dive into gaming history including Soulslike evolution.

❓ FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Soulslike Games Answered

What are some games like the Witcher that have a similar dark fantasy setting and deep storytelling?

If you love The Witcher’s rich narrative and dark fantasy world, but want a Soulslike twist, consider Bloodborne for its gothic horror atmosphere or Blasphemous for its grim, religiously inspired world. While The Witcher focuses heavily on dialogue and choice, these games emphasize environmental storytelling and cryptic lore, offering a different but equally immersive experience.

How do I find games that are similar to the gameplay of Dark Souls but have a different setting or atmosphere?

Look for games that retain the core mechanics—methodical combat, stamina management, and punishing difficulty—but explore new settings. For example, The Surge 2 offers a sci-fi dystopia, Remnant: From the Ashes blends Soulslike combat with shooting in post-apocalyptic worlds, and Code Vein delivers an anime-inspired vampire apocalypse. Exploring Games Like™ is a great way to discover such titles.

What are some action RPGs similar to Demon’s Souls that I can play on Xbox?

Xbox players can dive into Elden Ring, Nioh 2 (via backward compatibility), Lords of the Fallen (2023), and Remnant 2. These games offer the challenging combat and exploration that define the Soulslike genre, with Elden Ring being the crown jewel for Xbox users.

Can I play games like Dark Souls on PS4, and if so, what are the best options?

Absolutely! The PS4 has a stellar Soulslike library including Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne (exclusive), Sekiro, Nioh 2, Code Vein, and Salt and Sanctuary. Bloodborne remains a standout for PS4 owners craving a unique, fast-paced Soulslike experience.

What games are like Bloodborne in terms of difficulty and gameplay style?

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice shares Bloodborne’s aggressive combat and high difficulty, emphasizing precision and timing. Nioh 2 also offers fast-paced combat with a steep learning curve. For a 2D alternative, Blasphemous delivers brutal difficulty and a dark atmosphere reminiscent of Bloodborne’s tone.

Are there any games similar to Dark Souls that are available on Nintendo Switch?

Yes! Salt and Sanctuary, Hollow Knight, Blasphemous 2, Death’s Gambit: Afterlife, and Dead Cells are excellent Soulslike or Souls-inspired games on Switch. They combine challenging combat with portable convenience.

What are some good games like Sekiro for PC players who enjoy challenging experiences?

PC players should check out Sekiro itself, Nioh 2, Mortal Shell, and Lies of P. These games emphasize precision combat and punishing difficulty. Death’s Gambit and Salt and Sanctuary also offer challenging 2D action RPG experiences.

What are the best games like Dark Souls for challenging combat?

Dark Souls III, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Nioh 2, and Mortal Shell are top-tier for punishing, skill-based combat. Each offers a unique twist on the formula, from aggressive offense to strategic defense.

Which games have a similar dark fantasy atmosphere to Dark Souls?

Bloodborne, Blasphemous, Lies of P, and Salt and Sanctuary excel at creating oppressive, haunting worlds filled with mystery and decay. Their art styles and lore evoke a similar mood of tragic grandeur.

Are there any indie games that play like Dark Souls?

Definitely! Salt and Sanctuary, Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, Death’s Gambit, and Dead Cells are indie masterpieces that capture the challenge and atmosphere of Soulslikes with their own unique flair.

What RPGs offer a similar level of difficulty and exploration as Dark Souls?

Besides the FromSoftware classics, Nioh 2, Lords of the Fallen (2023), and Remnant 2 provide deep exploration and challenging combat. For a 2D twist, Salt and Sanctuary and Hollow Knight are excellent choices.

Can you recommend multiplayer games with Dark Souls-style mechanics?

Elden Ring and Dark Souls series have the most robust Soulslike multiplayer. Remnant: From the Ashes offers seamless three-player co-op with Soulslike combat. Ashen provides a unique passive co-op experience. For PvP dueling, Blade Symphony is a hidden gem.

What games feature boss battles comparable to those in Dark Souls?

Bloodborne, Sekiro, Elden Ring, Nioh 2, Lies of P, and Death’s Gambit all feature multi-phase, memorable boss fights that demand skill and strategy, rivaling the intensity of Dark Souls.

Which games have a similar storytelling style to Dark Souls?

Games like Bloodborne, Salt and Sanctuary, Blasphemous, and Hollow Knight use environmental storytelling and cryptic lore to immerse players, trusting them to piece together the narrative from subtle clues and item descriptions.

Dive in, prepare your weapons, and may your reflexes be sharp. The world of Soulslikes awaits!

Jacob
Jacob

Jacob is a game developer turned editor who leads GamesLike.org with a builder’s eye for systems, balance, and “feel.” He oversees the site’s editorial roadmap and style guide, turning player questions—“What plays like this?”—into clear, cross-platform recommendations. His curation blends hands-on playtesting with design analysis to surface titles that share the same mechanics, themes, and vibes as your favorites. You’ll see that approach across GamesLike.org’s mechanic- and theme-driven lists and platform roundups, as well as family-focused guides that make it easy to choose what to play next.

At GamesLike.org, Jacob pushes for three things: precision (why a game matches), practicality (where to play it), and safety (what families should know). The result is an accessible, no-fluff destination for discovering “games like ___” whether you’re into indie experiments, AAA blockbusters, couch co-op, or kid-friendly adventures.

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