TL;DR
- Soulslike games are known for challenging combat, exploration, hidden lore, and rewarding progression.
- Lies of P stands out for its creative combat, weapon customization, and unique Pinocchio-inspired world.
- Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty offer faster, skill-heavy combat with strong Japanese and Chinese influences.
- Lords of the Fallen brings an impressive dual-world mechanic and interconnected exploration.
- Mortal Shell and The Surge add fresh ideas to the Soulslike formula.
- Another Crab’s Treasure proves that a Soulslike doesn’t need a dark fantasy setting to be challenging and fun.
- Bleak Faith: Forsaken is worth trying for its mysterious world and atmospheric environmental storytelling.
If you enjoy challenging combat, mysterious worlds, difficult bosses, and stories that make you dig for answers, Soulslike games are probably already on your radar.
Inspired by games like Dark Souls, the genre has grown far beyond dark medieval fantasy. From sci-fi worlds and ancient China to an underwater adventure starring a hermit crab, these games prove that the Soulslike formula can work almost anywhere.
Here are 8 essential Soulslike games worth playing, ranked from good to must-play.
1. Lies of P (2023)
A Brilliant Soulslike With Its Own Identity
Lies of P takes the classic story of Pinocchio and turns it into a dark, gothic action RPG. You play as P, a puppet exploring the ruined city of Krat after a devastating puppet uprising.
The game features challenging combat, memorable bosses, weapon customization, and a unique mechanical arm that can be upgraded with different abilities.
One of its best features is its weapon system. Players can combine different weapon blades and handles to create customized weapons with different moves and abilities.
Why It’s Worth Playing
Lies of P feels familiar without simply copying Dark Souls. It takes the core Soulslike formula and adds enough of its own ideas to create a distinctive experience. For anyone looking for a modern entry point into the genre, this is one of the easiest recommendations.
2. Nioh (2017)
A Faster and More Technical Soulslike
Developed by Team Ninja, Nioh combines Soulslike mechanics with fast-paced action combat. The game is set in a fictionalized version of 16th-century Japan and features samurai, historical figures, and supernatural creatures from Japanese mythology.
Combat revolves around different weapon stances, stamina management, parrying, and adapting to different enemies.
Why It’s Worth Playing
Nioh is ideal for players who want more depth from their combat system. There are plenty of weapons, builds, skills, and mechanics to master, making the game especially rewarding once you understand its systems.
3. Lords of the Fallen (2023)
A Huge Dark Fantasy World With a Clever Twist
Lords of the Fallen completely reimagines the original 2014 game. It features a large interconnected world, challenging bosses, extensive exploration, and multiple endings.
Its standout feature is the Umbral Realm, a parallel world that can be accessed using a special lantern. Switching between the two worlds can reveal hidden paths, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover secrets.
Why It’s Worth Playing
The dual-world system adds a unique layer to exploration. You aren’t simply fighting your way through the map you are constantly looking for ways to manipulate the world around you.
4. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (2023)
Fast-Paced Soulslike Combat Inspired by Chinese History
Set during the Three Kingdoms era, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty mixes historical characters and events with Chinese mythology and supernatural elements.
Unlike slower Soulslikes, Wo Long focuses heavily on speed, timing, and deflecting enemy attacks. Battles can quickly turn against you if you fail to read an opponent’s movements.
Why It’s Worth Playing
This is a great choice if you prefer fast and aggressive combat. The deflection system makes battles feel more like intense duels than traditional RPG encounters.
5. Mortal Shell (2020)
A Soulslike Where Your Character Can Change Bodies
Mortal Shell introduces an unusual character system. Instead of creating a traditional RPG class, you begin as a mysterious husk and can inhabit different bodies scattered throughout the world.
Each shell has different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. Choosing the right one can completely change how you approach combat.
Why It’s Worth Playing
The shell system gives the game its own identity. It encourages experimentation and forces you to adapt rather than simply sticking with one character build from beginning to end.
6. Bleak Faith: Forsaken (2023)
A Dark and Mysterious World Built Around Exploration
Bleak Faith: Forsaken takes place inside the enormous Omnistructure, a strange megastructure containing forests, deserts, ruins, and other unsettling environments. The game combines medieval-style combat with science-fiction and cosmic-horror elements.
Rather than explaining everything directly, the game encourages you to understand its world through exploration and environmental clues.
Why It’s Worth Playing
The atmosphere is its biggest strength. If you enjoy games where the world itself tells the story, Bleak Faith: Forsaken offers an eerie experience filled with mystery and strange discoveries.
7. The Surge (2017)
A Sci-Fi Take on the Soulslike Formula
The Surge swaps swords and medieval armor for futuristic technology. You play as a worker equipped with an exoskeleton who must fight through a dangerous industrial complex filled with hostile machines and augmented enemies.
One of its most interesting mechanics is targeted dismemberment. You can aim for specific body parts to obtain equipment and upgrades, adding another layer of strategy to combat.
Why It’s Worth Playing
If traditional fantasy settings aren’t your thing, The Surge offers something different. Its futuristic world, equipment system, and brutal combat give the Soulslike formula a distinct sci-fi identity.
8. Another Crab’s Treasure (2024)
A Colorful Soulslike With a Surprisingly Tough Core
Another Crab’s Treasure takes the Soulslike formula somewhere you probably wouldn’t expect: the ocean floor. You play as Kril, a hermit crab who loses his shell after failing to pay his taxes. To survive, he uses discarded objects as temporary shells while exploring an underwater world filled with enemies, secrets, and environmental hazards.
The bright visuals and humorous tone make the game look like a children’s adventure, but the combat can be seriously challenging. Different shells provide different abilities and defensive benefits, forcing you to constantly adapt.
Why It’s Worth Playing
It is a refreshing change from the usual gloomy castles and cursed kingdoms. Another Crab’s Treasure proves that a Soulslike can be colorful, funny, and still deliver satisfying combat and challenging exploration.
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