The best Soulslike games

The souls-like genre has established itself as a must-play for fans of demanding challenges, dark worlds, and punishing but rewarding gameplay. Precise dodges, methodical combat, interconnected level design, and environmental storytelling have become the pillars of this now cult formula. Today, many studios have adopted this style to offer their own interpretations, sometimes daring, sometimes very faithful to the original. In this first article, we offer an overview of the best games in the souls-like genre.

No one saw it coming, and yet it’s the first title in our selection: Another Crab Treasure. You play as a hermit crab in search of a shell. Don’t be fooled by appearances, the combat is technical and punishing, while adopting a lighter aesthetic, proof that the genre can reinvent itself… even underwater. The Surge transposes the formula of Souls-like games into a science fiction universe, with combat mechanics based on dismembering enemies to recover resources, while maintaining demanding battles and rigorous progression. Alternatively, Hollow Knight is a renowned Metroidvania with strong Souls-like influences: frequent deaths, recovery of points after death, demanding bosses, and non-linear exploration in an interconnected world.

And if it’s something clearly French-inspired you want, you ought to check Lies of P. Inspired by the story of Pinocchio and set in a city inspired by French aesthetics, this game combines narrative challenges and demanding combat in a sinister city. The emphasis on learning patterns and weapon builds makes it an excellent representative of the genre. Steel Rising applies the souls-like formula to an alternate French Revolution featuring automatons. Combat remains rigorous, with an emphasis on pacing and resource management, placing the focus on methodical difficulty.

Of course, we’ve included a section dedicated to FromSoftware productions. The unmissable Dark Souls III, which has become a true icon of the genre, offers punishing combat, an interconnected universe, and progression that rewards learning enemy patterns. Elden Ring represents the evolution of the franchise, combining demanding combat and free exploration in a gigantic open world. The freedom given to players to tackle dungeons, bosses, and quests makes it a modern benchmark for the genre. Finally, Bloodborne stands out with its gothic horror atmosphere and a combat system that is more aggressive than its Souls counterparts. It retains the difficulty and environmental storytelling that are emblematic of the genre.

Blasphemous II is the sequel to a 2D Souls-like inspired by religious art and the Inquisition. It combines challenging combat, interconnected exploration, and a dark atmosphere, while being more visually accessible. Lords of the Fallen is a modern reinterpretation of the title of the same name, striving to update the formula with dark world design and strategic combat. In another genre, Remnant from the Ashes places a strong emphasis on cooperation and third-person shooting, combining procedural exploration with intense combat. Its difficulty and survival-focused progression bring it closer to the classics of the genre.

Finally, The First Berserker: Khazan is a single-player title promising intense combat and formidable boss rushes, emphasizing combat mastery and the gradual learning of enemy patterns, a formula faithful to the codes of the genre. Black Myth: Wukong, while not purely a souls-like, can be considered a souls-lite. This game combines demanding combat, memorable bosses, and clear inspirations from the genre’s gameplay, while bringing a rich artistic direction and interesting narrative.

Whether they are faithful to FromSoftware’s legacy or dare to reinvent the codes of the genre, the best souls-like games all share one thing in common: they offer an intense, demanding, and deeply memorable experience. Each title in this selection offers its own take on the challenge, whether through its universe, combat mechanics, or atmosphere, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer ready to take on the challenge. See you soon for Part 2 of the best games in the genre!