Summary
- The Soulslike boom showed players want hardcore challenges, but not every game needs those mechanics.
- Shoehorning Soulslike systems into established IPs stripped away the fast, cathartic action fans expected.
- Janky combat, unfair bosses, and repetitive design made many Soulslike attempts forgettable.
The Soulslike trend has been largely positive for the gaming industry. Dark Souls made it clear that players wanted more hardcore experiences that don't hold their hand, and the rise of this new genre has ensured that players can enjoy such tough and rewarding gameplay in more titles. However, just because there's a market for Souslikes doesn't mean that every new game needs to follow this trend.
This is personified by certain titles that didn't need Soulslike elements to make their combat riveting, but added them anyway when they didn't really fit. From established franchises that switched things up to new titles that had a lot going for them and didn't need Soulslike gameplay, some infamous video games may have been better experiences had the Soulslike dynamic not been shoehorned in.
8 Best Soulslike Games That Let You Play Your Own Way
These great Soulslike games provide a wide variety of build options and approaches, allowing players to play their own way.
Darksiders 3
The Franchise Didn't Need To Go Down The Soulslike Route
Darksiders 3
- Released
- November 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The first two Darksiders games were largely hack-and-slash experiences that felt similar to games like the classic God of War games and The Sands of Time trilogy. However, after the boom of the Soulslike trend and the Darksiders IP being handed to a different developer, Gunfire Games decided to go for a Soulslike approach with the third game. This may have worked for the Remnant games, which were a new IP and felt fresh in the eyes of fans, but it was a mistake to do the same for an established IP where fans expected something different.
Darksiders 3 had its moments, but the Soulslike gameplay was a poor fit for a franchise that was about breakneck action and cathartic combat. Instead, the enemy count was lowered, and combat felt more stripped-down compared to previous games. This drew unflattering comparisons to FromSoftware's games and did no favors to the title's critical reception.
Steelrising
The Jank Makes The Soulslike Approach Frustrating
Steelrising
- Released
- September 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Spiders hit a goldmine with GreedFall, which occupied the BioWare void and let fans enjoy a full old-school western RPG. Such an approach could have benefited Steelrising, but Spiders, like most other developers, wanted a slice of the Soulsborne pie. This led to the development of Steelrising, a game with a unique setting where players control an automaton that must serve the needs of its master, Marie Antoinette.
A Soulslike game needs to nail its gameplay to justify its placement in this genre, but combat was too janky in Steelrising for it to be viable. This is something that long-time Spiders fans could anticipate, since gameplay was never their strongest suit. As a result, Steelrising exposed this limitation and became a forgotten game moments after release. It's a shame, since this title could have reached new heights had it simply tried to improve on the GreedFall formula.
Thymesia
Boss Runs And Unnecessarily Hard Combat Make The Soulslike Approach A Mistake
Thymesia
- Released
- August 15, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Bloodborne is one of the most coveted Soulsborne games of all time. This gothic action RPG is in a class of its own, and it's easy to see why fans were hungry for a title that would emulate what made this title so special, especially with the lack of any news surrounding a Bloodborne sequel. This is why Thymesia's hype was through the roof, especially with its art design being absolutely stellar.
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However, Thymesia has some issues that hold it back from being a worldbeater. The environment design looked great at first, only to become a bit repetitive later on. Some bosses are unfairly hard (a cardinal sin in the Soulslike genre), and some of the boss runs are a gigantic pain. Thymesia's elements could have gelled well if the Soulslike trappings were dropped, but the game failed to make a notable impact and became a forgettable title in the eyes of many.
Code Vein
The Soulslike Elements Feel Tacked On
Code Vein
- Released
- September 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Code Vein's world is tantalizing, and its anime art style ensures that fans will have a great time if the visuals gel with them. The lore surrounding the Revenants and their struggle is tantalizing enough to serve as a great hook, but the game's Soulslike elements end up bogging down the experience for many players.
Good boss battles, fun traversal, and environmental design are essential to nail in every Soulslike. Code Vein falters in all three areas for many fans, which is why opinions about the title were mixed. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed in a sequel, especially since the rest of the game showed a ton of promise.
Dolmen
The Execution Of Soulslike Elements Needs To Be Immaculate
Dolmen
- Released
- May 20, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike, RPG
Dolmen was put through the wringer when it launched, and understandably so. The game misunderstood what makes Soulslike games click, with the animations and combat being nowhere near the standard of what fans expect from this genre. This caused many players to give up on Dolmen in no time, which is a shame since the game itself looks amazing.
The blend of sci-fi and cosmic horror made for a tantalizing setup, but Dolmen's poor execution of Soulslike elements prevents it from reaching the heights that it could have achieved. If the game had abandoned the tough gameplay and focused on polishing the rougher edges, then it could have been a fun, simple action game that fans would have enjoyed throughout its run.
Best Soulslike Games On Xbox Game Pass
Whether it's the punishing difficulty or epic boss encounters, these are the best Soulslike games on Xbox Game Pass.