With the astronomical success of the Souls franchise, it has created its own subgenre within the ARPG space. These games tend to be tough as nails, conditioning players to be patient and have good reflexes. With many games now falling under the umbrella of the ‘Soulslike’ genre, which are the top ones out there right now?
We’ll rank them here. This list will exclude anything made by FromSoftware because we can mostly unanimously agree that they are all bangers (especially Bloodborne).
Best Soulslike games out right now
8. The Surge series
It can be argued that the first Surge game was mostly okay, receiving a lukewarm reception overall. There were some cool ideas that were eventually fleshed out to make the sequel much more enjoyable. Unlike most other Soulslike games, The Surge is set in a sci-fi universe that breaks away from the fantasy and medieval setting.
To top it off, the combat also adds a new element of depth thanks to the body part targetting system. While you can still do the typical dodge, block, and parrying that we’re used to in Souls games, The Surge has a system somewhat akin to that of the Dead Space series. By targeting different body parts, you can use that to your benefit, but it can also backfire if you haven’t understood your enemy entirely.
7. Mortal Shell
If you have that itch to keep playing these death-defying games, Mortal Shell can satiate that need. It has that gritty feel like the actual Souls games but with the whole shell mechanic that changes playstyles, it makes the game feel different. Instead of waiting until your next run to try a new build, Mortal Shell lets you switch it up on the fly!
6. Remnant series
This is one of the few games that actually fits the narrative and overused saying “The Dark Souls of…” Remnant is a tough game that borrows its core mechanics from the FromSoftware games, aside from the double death punishment and a few other things. The bonfires, healing item resets, and all the other lingo are all there, just translated so it isn’t a one-to-one copy. Just put that into a shooter, and what we have is something that can give even the shooter players a taste of what Souls games are all about.
5. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
This is the game that started all of the memes about Chaos and even embraced them. Stranger of Paradise received mixed reviews for a lot of justified reasons, but at its core, it’s still something to marvel at. Nioh games borrow heavily from Dark Souls games, meaning that its core elements from that but with Final Fantasy in the mix provide a great time regardless.
Even if you are getting your head bashed in by some of the iconic enemies in FF games because of the Soulslike mechanics, Stranger of Paradise is a noteworthy game to check out. It’s even more enticing that all the DLC is now out for the game, making it an even better experience than when it initially launched.
4. Lords of the Fallen
2023 was a good year for Souls fans. They ate well. One of the later games in the year to come out was Lords of the Fallen. It’s yet another tough-as-nails game that did have some glaring technical issues at launch, but it is something that Souls players shouldn’t take out of their sights.
3. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
From the creators of Nioh came Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Instead of taking place in a fictitious rendition of Japan, it takes place during the Han Dynasty. If you’re vaguely familiar with franchises like Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Dynasty Warriors, this game can be right up your alleyway.
Wo Long isn’t nearly as difficult as other games on this list. In all honesty, this can serve as a starter for people who are intimidated by the Soulslike subgenre of ARPGs. You can farm levels for your character and use other features to slightly decrease the difficulty of the game. It also has a very generous parry system that can carry you through the entire game once you master timing.
2. Lies of P
This game is oftentimes described as, “What if you add Pinocchio to Bloodborne?” It’s a valid question, and it works. Lies of P is one of those games where not playing it as a Souls fan is a disservice and an insult to the genre. Wishlist it; have this game on your radar because not only is the gameplay fun, but the world, the lore, and everything else surrounding it makes this game so encapsulating.
It’s no surprise that LoP was nominated for some categories in the Golden Joystick Awards and the Game Awards.
1. Nioh series
Both Nioh games have hours upon hours of difficult and epic content to delve into. The combat from both games is a lot faster than what you’d be used to from Soulslike games. That’s the appeal to them, though.
Given that they are by the same team that made the Ninja Gaiden games, you can also treat this game as such. A fast-paced, hack-and-slash sprinkled with Soulslike is a match made in heaven. Not to mention, there’s a sizeable endgame for those who want to create some ridiculously strong builds and fight bosses with ridiculous stats and modifiers!
