What Makes a Soulslike
FromSoftware's Dark Souls (2011) defined a template: deliberate combat, punishing death consequences, environmental storytelling through item descriptions, boss encounters as skill tests, and a deep sense of world interconnection. Every game on this list follows that template faithfully while contributing something original.
This ranking weighs accessibility for newcomers, depth for veterans, and the quality of the experience overall.
🥇 1. Elden Ring
Developer: FromSoftware | Price: $59.99 | Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox
Metacritic: 96 | Steam Rating: 90% Very Positive
The best open-world game ever made and the most accessible FromSoftware title. The Lands Between is vast and rewards exploration with constant discovery. Build variety is enormous. Shadow of the Erdtree DLC (included in the $69.99 bundle) extends the experience significantly. For newcomers to the genre, Elden Ring's open world means you can always find an alternative path when you're stuck.
🥈 2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Developer: FromSoftware | Price: $59.99 | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox
Metacritic: 91 | Steam Rating: 93% Very Positive
The hardest major FromSoftware game and the most technically demanding. Sekiro's posture-break combat system demands perfect parry timing and rhythm — there's no build variety, no leveling away from a hard boss. What it asks of you is full mechanical mastery. When you achieve it, no combat in any game feels better. GOTY 2019 by universal consensus.
🥉 3. Dark Souls III
Developer: FromSoftware | Price: $39.99 | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox
Metacritic: 89
The most polished Dark Souls, with the franchise's best boss roster. It's faster-paced than the original, less cryptic than Dark Souls II, and the Ringed City DLC is among the best FromSoftware content ever made. Best starting point for veterans of action RPGs who want the "classic" Souls experience.
4. Lies of P
Developer: Round8 Studio | Price: $59.99 | Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox (Game Pass)
Metacritic: 80
The best non-FromSoftware soulslike. Set in a Pinocchio-inspired Belle Époque city, Lies of P's weapon assembly system and guard parry mechanics feel genuinely original. The narrative is surprisingly engaging. For those who've exhausted FromSoftware's catalog, this is the next stop.
5. Bloodborne (PS4/PS5 exclusive)
Developer: FromSoftware | Price: $19.99 (PS Store)
The most aggressively unique FromSoftware title. Gothic horror aesthetic, stamina-free aggressive combat, and the Insight system create an experience unlike anything else in the genre. It's PS-exclusive, which limits accessibility — but if you have a PlayStation, it's non-negotiable.
6. Nioh 2
Developer: Team Ninja | Price: $49.99 | Platforms: PC, PS4/5
Metacritic: 88
The most mechanically complex soulslike. Nioh 2's stance system, yokai abilities, and Burst Counter create a combat depth that rivals (and in some areas exceeds) FromSoftware's work. The loot system verges on overwhelming, but players who invest in understanding it find extraordinary build depth.
7. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Developer: Respawn Entertainment | Price: $49.99 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Metacritic: 85
The most accessible soulslike for mainstream players. Cal Kestis fights with lightsabers across gorgeous Star Wars environments — it's less punishing than FromSoftware titles while preserving meaningful challenge and the satisfaction of boss mastery.
8. Mortal Shell
Developer: Cold Symmetry | Price: $29.99 | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox
A smaller, more focused soulslike with a genuinely original mechanic: inhabiting the shells (bodies) of fallen warriors, each with distinct playstyles. Not the deepest experience on this list, but one of the most atmospheric.
9. Salt and Sanctuary
Developer: Ska Studios | Price: $17.99 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4
A 2D soulslike made by two people. Salt and Sanctuary adapts the 3D Souls formula to a Metroidvania structure almost perfectly — the combat feels right, the world is coherent, and the boss fights land. Remarkable for its scope given its development team.
10. Hollow Knight
(yes, again)
The final entry is technically a Metroidvania, but Hollow Knight's boss difficulty, death penalty systems, and emphasis on mastery place it firmly in soulslike philosophy. If you've worked through this list and want the next challenge without returning to full 3D combat, Hollow Knight provides it.
Difficulty Reference
| Game | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | ⭐⭐ | Genre newcomers |
| Elden Ring | ⭐⭐⭐ | Most players |
| Lies of P | ⭐⭐⭐ | Experienced players |
| Dark Souls III | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Veterans |
| Sekiro | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Hardcore mastery seekers |