Although FromSoftware's Elden Ring was announced at E3 2019, there has been silence ever since leading fans to speculate about the nature of the game. The only confirmation that was given to fans was that Elden Ring would be a natural evolution to the Dark Souls franchise and it would feature an open-field setting. With no release date in sight, fans are nonetheless excited for Elden Ring because it will likely end up as a Soulslike.
Over the years, the Dark Souls franchise has transformed from a risky gamble to becoming so popular that it's generated its own subgenre within ARPGs. Featuring high-risk combat with hard-hitting enemies and sparse checkpoints, Soulslike games take the unforgiving formula laid out by Dark Souls and put their own spin on the mechanics. With anticipation behind Elden Ring building, fans looking for similar games should delve into the Soulslike genre.
Nioh Series
The Nioh series has become one of the biggest successes in the Soulslike genre and for good reason. Developed by Team Ninja, Nioh has players take control of a samurai in a fictionalized, dark fantasy version of feudal Japan. Though Nioh had been stuck in development since 2004, it was revived and reimagined following the success of the Dark Souls franchise. Featuring a combat system heavily influenced by the Dark Souls games, Nioh allows players to fight with melee, ranged, or magic attacks and chain together combos to fight enemies and bosses. Like Dark Souls games, the player will drop their EXP upon death and are only given one chance to retrieve them. Should they die again before reaching that point, the EXP is lost forever.
However, the Nioh series also feature a number of differences from other Soulslike games. One of the key combat mechanics for players to master is changing sword stances which allows for different playstyles. The high stance will deal more damage while reducing defense, the low stance will use quick attacks with better defense while the middle stance balances both. Nioh can also be much more difficult than other Soulslike games as the bosses are some of the most challenging in the genre and will require a steeper learning curve. Fans excited for Elden Ring should give Nioh and Nioh 2 a try if they want a unique setting with punishing boss fights.
Salt and Sanctuary
While the Soulslike genre has largely found success in 3D environments, Salt and Sanctuary is the perfect representation of how Dark Souls would feel as a 2D game instead. Combining Soulslike mechanics with Metroidvania platforming features, Salt and Sanctuary captures the atmosphere and tone of the original Dark Souls games. Though Salt and Sanctuary shares a lot of similarities with Dark Souls like its interconnected map, dodging mechanics, and leaving behind messages, it also stands well on its own.
Salt and Sanctuary features a giant skill tree system instead of the traditional souls skills system. Similar to games like Path of Exile or Final Fantasy 10, players will have the ability to acquire and respec their skills to alter their builds as they play through the game. Moreover, the 2D design of the game rarely feels like a restriction as it utilizes platforming mechanics well to make up for the loss of a third dimension. Though Salt and Sanctuary is less difficult than the Dark Souls games, it's a perfect homage to the series, and fans looking for platforming elements to scratch that Hollow Knight itch will find lots to love here.
Remnant: From the Ashes
Elden Ring fans who are looking to break away from the traditional Soulslike formula should give Remnant: From the Ashes a try. One part Dark Souls and one part The Division, Remnant: From the Ashes is a third-person survival action shooter where players must destroy hordes of enemies in order to preserve humanity. Much like the Dark Souls franchise, the combat in Remnant: From the Ashes features dodging and a stamina system despite being a shooter. Players will also need to utilize checkpoints effectively to restore health and ammo while managing their upgrades for their weapons.
On the other hand, Remnant: From the Ashes takes influence from other genres such as roguelikes to differentiate itself from other Soulslike games. For example, each campaign features a procedurally generated path which only includes certain side dungeons or boss fights. Players will need to replay the game in order to see the extra content they missed during their first playthrough. Boss movesets are also highly varied and will usually spawn adds reminiscent of games like Destiny. Soulslike fans looking to try a game that focuses on gunplay should try Remnant: From the Ashes.
Code Vein
On the other hand, Elden Ring fans who are feeling burnt out by the difficulty of traditional Soulslike games and want a more story-focused experience should try Code Vein. Many classic Soulslike mechanics appear in Code Vein such as an elaborate dodge-based combat system, stamina management, currency loss upon death, and checkpoints that respawn enemies. However, Code Vein only uses these mechanics as a foundation and it's more heavily styled after JRPG elements with its detailed narrative and gameplay.
Featuring an AI system where players are able to join up with companions, Code Vein puts a lot more emphasis on the characterizations in its story. Many of the builds are more flexible than typical Soulslike games which allows for experimentation on the fly. Though it's much easier than other Soulslike games, it also leans heavily into the RPG aspects such as levelling, gearing, and skills. As a result, Code Vein is a great option for players who enjoy the mechanics of Soulslike games but also want to experience a clear-cut story with character development.
Mortal Shell
Elden Ring fans who are looking for a Soulslike experience that's streamlined should try Mortal Shell. Of course, in the case of Soulslike games, simplifying mechanics rarely means making the game easier. Instead, Mortal Shell excels at distilling the core gameplay loop of the Dark Souls franchise into a tight package. As Mortal Shell was developed by a very small team of people, the scope of the game is more limited than typical Soulslike games.
For example, instead of using a wide variety of weapons, armor, and builds, Mortal Shell players are able to use "shells" which are predesigned classes that have different playstyles and backstories. Though it's focused almost entirely on melee combat, Mortal Shell is able to distinguish between the playstyles quite well. Featuring a dark, brooding atmosphere along with unforgiving gameplay to match, Mortal Shell easily captures the feeling of dread that came along with the original Dark Souls games. Soulslike fans should give Mortal Shell a try if they want to experience a short but tight take on Dark Souls.
Elden Ring is currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.