Soulslike is a relatively young subgenre of video games that got its name from the Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls series of games by Japanese studio FromSoftware. However, it is already clear that it is not going anywhere in the near future. Perhaps its popularity is partly due to the blurred boundaries of the definition of games that can be classified as soul slayers. Because if you look at the representatives of the genre, you will see video games that are as different from each other as possible.

However, it is obvious that the best soul slayers are made by the studio that invented this genre – FromSoftware. That is why the games of the Japanese studio usually occupy key positions in the selections of various publications. But everyone knows everything about Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. That’s why you won’t find them on our list.

We also decided to focus on three-dimensional soul slayers. Therefore, the text does not include really good, even outstanding games like Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, or Salt and Sanctuary. This doesn’t diminish their value at all, but we chose a slightly different focus at the editorial level.

So in the materials you will find three-dimensional, but still significantly different soul slikes, which only increases the chances of finding something you like. But of course, what they all have in common is that they are extremely complex games that don’t forgive mistakes, which is the essence of soulslikes.

 

Ashen

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Genre soulslike
Year 2018

Ashen is probably the most minimalistic game in this selection. For the small New Zealand studio A44, it was the first step into the “big” gaming industry, so the game looks quite modest. However, it’s not for nothing that Annapurna Interactive became interested in the studio, and the game was an Xbox console exclusive for some time. Because Ashen captured the ephemeral essence of Dark Souls better than many other games with much more expensive budgets.

Ashen has an unusual setting and a well-thought-out lore that is interesting to explore. The depressing atmosphere of a world without sunlight, which is why the visuals of the game are made in muted colors. And also the gameplay, which as of 2024 has become standard, almost trivial for soul slayers, but all elements of which work well.

The studio itself did not stop at Ashen. Later, the developers will release Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, which is also included in this selection.

 

Black Myth: Wukong

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5
Genre soulslike, slasher
Year 2024

One of the main gaming discoveries of 2024 came to us from China, and this event has the potential to change the entire gaming industry. But it hasn’t come to that yet, so for now, you can just enjoy a good game. It’s not for nothing that Black Myth: Wukong received such good reviews from critics and players.

In it, you can feel yourself in the setting of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West (one of the four main monuments of Chinese classical literature). The main character is a humanoid ape, destined by fate to free the real Monkey King Sun Wukong. To do this, you need to find magical relics and overcome powerful enemies.

In terms of plot, Black Myth: Wukong is definitely not some kind of sensation, although everything is done well. But the gameplay will give real pleasure to all fans of intense action. The game has a huge number of bosses, each of which requires its own approach. And the protagonist’s unique skills, such as summoning clones, will add variety to the already good combat system.

 

Code Vein

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2019

“Dark Souls in anime style” is what people like to call Code Vein. There is some truth in this statement, although the game has stolen some elements from another Japanese series, God Eater. There is nothing surprising here, because both Code Vein and God Eater were developed by the same studio – Bandai Namco Studios.

Code Vein is set in a post-apocalyptic future. People are constantly fighting vampire-like creatures. To fight back, they themselves created a special hybrid of humans and parasites in their hearts. But for normal existence, they need blood.

In fact, the plot of Code Vein is a typical anime with all the consequences. Something like this comes out on Japanese television almost every season. However, many people like this aesthetic with hypertrophied character traits and provocative appearance. In addition, it is definitely not the worst soul slick in terms of gameplay, which only lacks smoothness of movements. However, it compensates for this shortcoming with a sufficient number of different skills of the protagonist.

 

Darksiders III

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Genre soulslike, slasher
Year 2018

The Darksiders series is often accused of almost stealing its gameplay from other games. The first Darksiders was a clone of the classic God of War, while the second one decided to adapt elements of Diablo. All this is still supplemented with puzzles in the spirit of The Legend of Zelda. And for Darksiders III, the developers chose a more trendy series at the time, so they borrowed some ideas from Dark Souls.

You have to play as the only woman among the Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Rage. Yes, the authors of the game have changed the classic legends a bit. The Fury must overcome the seven Deadly Sins that have escaped to Earth and return them to Hell. However, the Charred Council, which controls the Horsemen, has more ambitious plans than just controlling Hell.

Darksiders III continues to develop a rather interesting setting for the series. It’s also a pretty hard game, especially in contrast to the previous two. However, the emphasis on soul-sliding elements did not prevent the developers from adding puzzles, platforming, and moments that made the gaming community love the previous two installments.

 

Enotria: The Last Song

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2024

Before Enotria: The Last Song, Jyamma Games was exclusively focused on mobile games. Therefore, an attempt to get into the world of premium gaming, moreover, with its own soul-slice, is a strong step for a small and independent Italian studio. To stand out among the many other similar games, Jyamma Games decided to go the opposite way and get rid of the gloom that characterizes many soul slayers.

That’s why Enotria: The Last Song is a bright and sunny game that literally breathes life. However, this does not mean that it is not capable of challenging you. The contrast between the warm atmosphere and the difficult gameplay will definitely appeal to many players.

In addition, Enotria: The Last Song also performs an educational task. The developers have adapted the legends of Italy into the game world. This is not a hackneyed setting, so don’t miss it.

 

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2024

And here’s the second game from A44, by Ashen. From the first glance at the screenshots, it becomes clear that the game’s budget has become fundamentally larger compared to the first project. And given the talents of the developers, there is no doubt about the quality.

A44 Studio has once again relied on an unusual setting in which you need to kill old gods to protect humanity. And the combat system combines melee and firearms. Honest but intense battles, exploration of different regions, and non-obvious secrets are the standard set of a good soulslayer in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is present.

And even if the reviews of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn received mixed reviews because the developers sacrificed a bit of content due to the game’s increased scale, it’s still worth at least trying, especially since the game is available on Game Pass.

 

Lies of P

Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2023

For a long time, it was believed that Bloodborne would remain unsurpassed in terms of aesthetics and style. And then they announced Lies of P, which visually resembles one of the main FromSoftware games. And even though it has a different focus in reality, the developers from Round8 Studio and Neowiz Games still managed to create one of the best modern soulslikes.

The plot of Lies of P retells the classic story of Pinocchio in an interesting way. The city of Krat, where the game is set, is filled with intelligent puppets. At first they led to its prosperity, but then they got out of control. The protagonist, the puppet Pi, finds himself right in the middle of Kratos’ chaos. He will have to figure out what is really going on in the city.

Lies of P perfectly combines many complex elements. Steampunk aesthetics harmoniously coexist with Victorian and Gothic styles. And the gameplay will constantly throw up new secrets, terrifying discoveries, and worthy challenges for the player’s skills. The authors of Lies of P have maintained the perfect balance between mystery and the standard structure of game scenarios, and have complemented everything with thoughtful gameplay. That’s why it’s hard to tear yourself away from Lies of P, almost impossible.

 

Lords of the Fallen (2023)

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2023

The original Lords of the Fallen, released in 2014, was one of the first bright attempts to create a soulslice not by FromSoftware. The game turned out to be problematic in many aspects, especially if we consider the storyline, but it had its own charm. Therefore, the publisher CI Games changed the developer from Deck13 to Hexworks, a studio specially created for the game’s production, and started developing The Lords of the Fallen. On its way to the players, the soulslick lost the first “The” and turned into Lords of the Fallen, which is an interesting name change.

The main feature of the new Lords of the Fallen is the two worlds that seem to overlap. The player mainly explores the world of the living, but with the help of a magic lantern, he can touch the world of the dead. Proper use of these changes helps to better explore the environment and reach places that are not easily accessible.

You can play the whole game in the company of a friend, which is always nice. In general, we can definitely say that CI Games has made a huge step forward compared to Lords of the Fallen 2014. The game has a Ukrainian localization, which we, of course, love and respect very much.

 

Серія Nioh

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2017

Team Ninja Studio was previously known primarily for the Dead or Alive fighting game series, which emphasized obscenely high emphasis on the physics of women’s breasts, and the Ninja Gaiden slashers. However, the development of gaming industry trends forced the developer to adapt. Therefore, they released Nioh, a soul slayer. And as Ninja Gaiden fans know, Team Ninja has always been good with very difficult games. So developing a soul slayer seemed like a logical decision.

As a result, we got an excellent game in this subgenre, which also has perhaps the greatest scope for experimenting with equipment. The first part of Nioh focuses more on the story of Henry, a foreigner, but the second part puts the story on the back burner, completely surrendering to the complex gameplay that will constantly test your resilience.

Sometimes Nioh seems too difficult, and some players have not been able to fully master the rack system. But the many interesting situations that are hidden in this dilogy are worth trying again and again.

 

Серія Remnant

Platforms Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Genre soulslike, shooter
Year 2019

What happens when you combine soul slayers and third-person shooters? Gunfire Games asked themselves this very question. The result is the Remnant: From the Ashes, which takes familiar gameplay systems and combines them in non-standard proportions.

In the post-apocalyptic world of Remnant, humanity is forced to constantly fight for its life against dangerous monsters. Parallel worlds, strange rituals, the mysterious origin of the main danger – the story of Remnant has a lot of interesting moments. But it will be obvious to anyone that this series is primarily about the gameplay.

The shooter elements are surprisingly well combined with the standard soulslice gameplay cycle, although elements of games like Destiny are also present in the dilogy. And Dark Souls fans will be especially pleased with the non-obvious secrets that fill both parts.

 

Серія Star Wars Jedi

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike, action/adventure
Year 2019

A few years ago, it was believed that soulslike were not a genre for a mass audience, because the high complexity would only push people away from the game. The success of Dark Souls and especially Elden Ring proved the opposite. However, in 2019, releasing a game based on such a popular and massive franchise as Star Wars with soulslike elements seemed like a bold, even daring idea. Respawn Entertainment took the risk – and we got not just a decent soulslice, but one of the best games about a “galaxy far, far away”.

The Adventures of Cal Kestis Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are filled with moments that can compete with blockbusters like Uncharted in terms of spectacle. However, these games also put a lot of emphasis on exploring the terrain and fighting enemies. This makes the game similar not only to soul slayers but also to metroidvania. It also found a place for acrobatic challenges and the true spirit of Star Wars, which not even all the films of the sequel trilogy made it into the game.

So if Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws magic didn’t work on you, be sure to check out Star Wars Jedi. This game will be interesting even if you know absolutely nothing about Star Wars. And don’t worry about the difficulty of the game. Respawn Entertainment has managed to create a “soulslice with a human face,” so both challenge fans and casual players will feel comfortable.

 

Stellar Blade

Platforms PlayStation 5
Genre soulslike, slasher
Year 2024

Another outstanding soulslide that brought them 2024. Asia again, but this time in South Korea. However, Stellar Blade became famous long before its release – thanks to the attractive appearance of the main character. The discussions around the game were heated, and at the release we actually got something worthy, although not very original.

In the game, Eva, an android, has to fight against monsters called neutibas. To do this, she uses an arsenal of colorful techniques, her own acrobatic skills, and a drone assistant. Analogies with NieR: Automata are obvious, but the game copies a lot of other sources, sometimes they are quite unexpected and sincerely surprising.

Stellar Blade confirms the rule that sometimes competent copying and adaptation can create something really good, even if there is almost no originality in the work. I’d also like to praise the game’s soundtrack, which is enjoyable even when separated from the main playthrough.

 

Серія The Surge

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Genre soulslike
Year 2017

The Surge is another one of the early attempts to create a good soulslike that isn’t Dark Souls or anything else from FromSoftware. In this series, the emphasis is on the combat system, which also finds an interesting angle on the essence of soulslike. After all, games of the subgenre usually offer to focus on enemies as a whole. The Surge, on the other hand, allows you to hit individual limbs and body parts of your opponents.

The protagonist assembles his own exoskeleton piece by piece. The equipment in The Surge is in perfect order. Perhaps it’s one of the most diverse systems in soulslike.

The plot focuses on the bleak futuristic future of humanity, which is suffering from climate disasters. So instead of the usual soulslike monsters, you will kill robots and other people in exoskeletons. This change is also perceived as a breath of fresh air.

 

Thymesia

Platforms Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Genre soulslike
Year 2022

Thymesia was the debut project for OverBorder Studio. As you can see, soul slayers often become the first “big” game for various developers. Probably because they are easy to adapt to different scales, teams, and budgets, and the audience of players in the subgenre is relatively stable.

The protagonist Corvus has lost his memories of his past. And they may be the reason why the kingdom around him is dying. Together with Corvus, you need to understand what really happened – and whether the hero himself is to blame for everything.

Thymesia can’t boast of a large scale or unusual mechanics. This is an extremely focused soul slot that concentrates on the main elements of the subgenre and does not go much beyond them. However, it copes well with the main task of entertaining the player.

 

Witchfire

Platforms Windows
Genre soulslike, shooter
Year 2023

The Astronauts studio was founded by the developers from People Can Fly, who became famous for the shooters Painkiller and Bulletstorm. However, in their own studio, they initially released The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, which had no shooting at all, and focused on a heartfelt story and incredibly beautiful landscapes that look good even 10 years after the game’s release. But now the cycle has closed, so The Astronauts’ next game, Witchfire, is focusing on shooter mechanics again.

Of course, with the addition of modern elements, because today we can’t do without them. Therefore, the game requires not only shooting, but also active interaction with elements of roguelikes, soulslackers, and extraction shooters. The mix is crazy, but in the realities of the gaming industry in 2024, it feels quite appropriate.

The game is in early access, so it is constantly being updated and improved. However, right now it may seem that there is not much content in it.

 

What do you think of soulikes? What characteristic features of the genre can you identify? Because soullikes are one of the most difficult types of modern games to define specifically.

Also, share your favorite soulikes in the comments. Absolutely any, even from FromSoftware. And remember that even the new God of War is also a soulike for some people.