Highlights

• Soulslike games provide immense satisfaction when conquered, designed to challenge players for a rewarding victory.
• The Last Faith delivers a 2D Soulslike experience, blending Dark Souls mechanics into a Metroidvania world.
• Going Under offers a unique, chaotic dungeon-crawling experience that becomes more challenging in Imposter Mode.

Soulslike video games, while difficult, are designed to be beaten. There is a pathway to conquering games like Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition. While it may not seem possible the first or even fifteenth time a player goes up against a boss, they're designed to be challenging enough so that this same player feels immense satisfaction when they eventually do beat the boss.

Soulslike games are part of a subgenre that has become a prominent part of the gaming industry for a good number of years now. Developers like From Software and Team Ninja have made their mark on the subgenre time and time again. But, while there are plenty of other studios who have created these incredible Soulslike games, how many of them actually compare to Dark Souls' difficulty?

Updated March 8th, 2024 by Jacob Buchalter: The Soulslike subgenre of games is one that will likely be around (and continue to be popular) for the next 30-50 years, as these games always sell well. New Soulslikes come out all the time, and whenever a new one is announced there are always dedicated Soulslike fanatics that follow the development of said game religiously. So, with that in mind and with those fanatics in mind, let's take a look at some more Soulslikes. These are the Soulslike games that are well-known and well-liked, but as a whole are a bit easier than the original Dark Souls game or even the Souls franchise on average. Keep in mind that the 'Soulslike' descriptor is pretty all-encompassing at this point, so there are quite a few games that fit into this subgenre that people might not be expecting.

25 The Last Faith

One of the Best 'Soulslike' Metroidvanias

Starting things off with a relatively recent Soulslike, The Last Faith is a great representation of a subset of Soulslike games that are also Metroidvanias. Games like Hollow Knight, Salt & Sacrifice, Grime, Blasphemous, and more all fit into this sub-category, and almost all of them are fantastic games. The Last Faith is a game that unabashedly wears its inspirations on its sleeve, as anyone who even watches a tiny bit of footage of this game can see the heavy Bloodborne, Blasphemous, and Castlevania influences everywhere.

All that said, as a game, The Last Faith is probably one of the best representations of a '2D Soulslike' as it has almost all of the core systems of the Dark Souls games almost 1:1 translated into a 2D platformer. Players upgrade weapons using resources, they light 'bonfires' they use as fast travel, they drop their currency on death, they find and send NPCs back to their hub area to function as merchants, and so much more. But, when it comes to difficulty, this is probably the one area where players will probably wish The Last Faith was even more similar to a Souls game because it's a bit too easy, at least for anyone who has a decent amount of experience with these types of games.

24 Going Under

A Hilariously Nihilistic & Chaotic Dungeon Crawler

Next up is absolutely one of the most creative and unique additions to the massive lineup of Soulslike games, Going Under. Going Under is a game made by Aggro Crab, a studio that also has another Soulslike in the works called Another Crab's Treasure. So, it's clear this dev team feels confident in their ability to create unique games with Soulslike influences. And, they should feel confident, because Going Under is an amazing game overall. Yes, the game is a bit 'janky' in some places and the gameplay isn't the tightest thing ever, but Going Under has such an immaculate setting, sense of humor, artstyle, and soundtrack that these small issues can easily be ignored.

But, when it comes to difficulty, Going Under is rather easy at least until the last few areas of the game. The 'real' challenge of this game came with the Imposter Mode that came with the Working From Home update for the game back at the start of 2021. This mode turns the game into a full-fledged roguelike by putting all the dungeons together in one long run and adding stacking modifiers as players continue to clear each run. Still, even this mode is, as a whole, a lot easier than the Dark Souls games.

23 Remnant 2

An Upgrade on the Original in Every Way

The only reason Remnant 2 (which came out July 25th, 2023) is a separate entry from the first Remnant: From the Ashes game is simply that this sequel has built upon its previous game so much that the two games aren't nearly as comparable as other games, and their sequels.

Remnant 2 has such an absurd amount of replayability, in-universe lore, secrets to discover, and archetypes to play. However, is it harder than the Souls games? Probably not. Other than its last boss which is a bit of a case of overstimulation more than difficulty, Remnant 2 gives its players an absurd amount of tools to overcome any and all difficulty it offers.

22 Lies Of P

One of the Most Polished & Unique Soulslikes Around

Lies of P is one of the more recent Soulslikes to come out and is also one of the most ambitious. This is one of the rare Souslikes in recent memory that truly feels like it's nearing From Software levels of polish.

When the game first came out back in September 2023, players were really struggling with parrying certain bosses as Pinocchio. However, as time went on and the mechanics of parrying, dodging, and blocking were fully explored by the community, the difficulty of Lies of P jumps down quite a bit. Still, that parry window is very tight, so people who are relatively new to this genre of games might not want to rely on it too heavily.

21 Steelrising

An Interesting Concept With Interesting Gameplay

Funnily enough, in recent years two separate Soulslike games have come out that feature an automaton as the main protagonist. Both Lies of P and Steelrising have a puppet main character (Aegis & Pinocchio), are fighting to save a crumbling world, and are set in a very steampunk-inspired setting.

However, while Lies of P does have its fair share of issues and systems that not everyone loves, Steelrising seems to have had a bit more of a polarizing reception across the Soulslike fanbase. And, one of the main 'complaints' for Steelrising has to do with the fact it's just too easy, with Aegis being so much more agile than any enemy they ever come up against.

20 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Dynasty Warriors x Sekiro In Terms of Chaotic & Parry-Based Combat

Wo Long Fallen Dynasty is one of the more recent Soulslikes to release in comparison to the rest of this list, it's also one of the more accessible options, given that it's part of the Xbox Game Pass lineup.

Additionally, while this title is still absolutely comparable to Dark Souls, it has much more in common with the Nioh games than it does being a pure Soulslike. The Morale, Fortitude, and Guardian Spirit systems Wo Long uses are also incredibly inventive in the way they differentiate the game from others in the same genre and also serve to make the game easier in a way. So, while learning the combat system and Deflect timing of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is initially difficult, as soon as players learn that they can just farm stages to get max Morale and make the end boss easier, especially if they have a co-op partner, the game becomes a lot more of a 'cakewalk' to get through.

19 The Surge & The Surge 2

The Originator of the 'Future Souls' Soulslikes

The first Surge game back in May 2017 was one of the earlier titles that was unabashedly inspired by the Dark Souls formula, to an obvious degree. Only, instead of a low-fantasy medieval vibe, the Surge games go for a futuristic dystopian setting where players are literally ripping and tearing the cybernetics they use from their enemies.

Limb Targeting in both of these games is such a unique mechanic and does a lot to make players feel like they're actually 'stealing the power' from their enemies. And, while the first Surge game had a lot of heart, it also had a fair number of problems. Thankfully, the sequel that came out 2 years later in 2019, AKA The Surge 2, improved on most of these.

18 Mortal Shell

An Example of a Soulslike That Succeded in Doing Something Different

Out of all the comparisons on this list (that aren't also From Software games) Mortal Shell, a game that was released in August of 2020, is probably the closest in terms of overall atmosphere and vibe to Dark Souls. At least, that was until Lords of the Fallen (2023) came out. Regardless, the world that Mortal Shell takes place in is dour, on the edge of ruin, and everything has this sour nihilistic flavor to it.

In terms of gameplay, Mortal Shell separates itself from the Souls games pretty heavily. While the core combat is similar, the Hardening system of Mortal Shell alongside the different 'Shells' players can collect and the 'Glimpses' techniques they'll steadily gather over their run do a lot to make the game feel different enough when playing it. That said, once players do get used to the core combat loop of Mortal Shell, it does lose a lot of the initial difficulty and players get a lot more confident in roaming around. It's a fantastic title for any fan of the Souls games to play, just don't expect Mortal Shell to leave players as an empty shell of themselves from the pure difficulty of the game as much as Dark Souls does.

17 Elden Ring

One of the Most Popular Open World Games Out There

Although Elden Ring definitely has its tough moments, it's hard to classify it as more taxing than the series that came before it. There are definitely some things that players can do in Elden Ring to make their open-world Dark Souls-esque experience a bit less difficult, and bringing a friend along for some of the more challenging bosses will greatly deplete the challenge overall. Elden Ring also suffers a bit from certain spells and mechanics that make it easy to 'cheese' certain bosses. The other games also suffer from this, but it's more plentiful and easier to execute in Elden Ring.

Players who struggle a bit to deal with Elden Ring's no-hands-held massive open-world approach will definitely find themselves a bit overwhelmed, but it's an experience that gets a bit easier for many players pretty quickly as they make it through the opening hours and start to build their character up, unlocking new skills and weapons that are capable of dishing out serious damage. Here's hoping the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, large as it is, will pump up the difficulty as much as the Dark Souls 3 DLCs seemed to do.

16 Blasphemous & Blasphemous 2

The Type of Game A Catholic Crusader Would Dream Up

The Dark Souls series inspired a lot of knock-offs and hard-as-nails copycats that attempted to cash in on the success of the Soulslike moniker. Unfortunately, there were a lot of titles produced that seemed more like a cash grab for the genre than anything else. Thankfully, there were also some gems that took the 'concept' of an overly difficult players-against-the-world mentality and crafted their own unique adventures from it. Blasphemous is one of the best examples of a Soulslike done right, while also mechanically differentiating itself quite a lot from the Souls series.

It's a beautifully crafted, visually stunning title that has a beautifully poignant storyline, incredible bosses, and some seriously challenging gameplay. That said, it doesn't feel as difficult as the original Souls releases at times, making it more accessible to players of all backgrounds. And, while the second Blasphemous game, Blasphemous 2, is arguably more challenging overall, the games are more challenging in a 'difficult SNES platformer' sense than they are in a 'bash your head against the wall' Soulslike sense.

15 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

It's Barely a 'Soulslike' But The Difficulty is Certainly Comparable

Although The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt wasn't necessarily meant to mimic Dark Souls in its difficulty, many players found the game pretty overwhelming and difficult, especially when it came to combat. The early hours of The Witcher 3 can be especially punishing, as players attempt to learn the ropes and understand the combat mechanics at their core. Players need to switch between different sword types and master an array of Signs if they want to be successful in culling the monsters that roam these dark lands while simultaneously dealing with some pretty dastardly human enemies.

Toss all of this together with The Witcher 3's downright imposing open-world map in terms of the sheer amount of things to do, and it's easy to see why some players found it difficult. That said, the experience definitely isn't as difficult as the Dark Souls series, especially when players understand the ins and outs of the combat system, how to prepare for each fight, and what to do after each combat encounter.

14 Death's Door

What if the Handheld Zelda Games Were Soulslikes?

Death's Door was developed by Acid Nerve and was first released in July 2021. Reviews of the game soon grabbed people's attention, with comparisons being made to both The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls and a series of excellent scores that landed the game an 89 score on Metacritic.

Death's Door doesn't disappoint, with gorgeous visuals that vastly change from area to area, making each location stand out, a fantastic soundtrack, and, like any game that wants to be compared to Dark Souls, memorable boss fights. But, at the end of the day, it's a pretty easy game in terms of combat. While rewarding regardless, the difficulty curve of this game compared to Dark Souls is like night and day.

13 Hollow Knight

One of the Most Beloved Indie Games of All Time

Hollow Knight is one of the first games that people will recommend to fans of Dark Souls, which speaks volumes to the game's quality, especially considering quite literally in a different dimension and genre of gaming, being a 2D Metroidvania instead of a 3D Action Game.

Despite the drastic shift in genre, Hollow Knight's similarities to the first Dark Souls game come primarily from the atmosphere, lore-centric storytelling told predominantly through NPCs, and some truly engrossing boss battles. A sequel, titled Hollow Knight: Silksong, was expected to be released initially in 2022 but has since been delayed. It's basically more of an urban legend than an actual upcoming release at this point.

12 Ghost Of Tsushima

One of the Only Games That Truly Makes You Feel Like a Samurai

Ghost of Tsushima was first released in July 2020 exclusively on PlayStation 4, just over a year before August 2021's PlayStation 5 upgrade. Along with similarities to Dark Souls, the game's combat and stealth are reminiscent of From Software's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, while the open world and horseback riding draw comparisons to the upcoming Elden Ring.

Ghost of Tsushima was a hit with fans and critics, best exemplified by its 9.1 user score on Metacritic and Game of the Year nomination from The Game Awards. Not only that, but the game had support from its developers for quite a long time after the initial release, even getting a multiplayer content update in the form of the 'Legends' mode that came out about three months after the game's release.

11 Salt & Sanctuary/Salt & Sacrifice

2D Souls With A Very Unique Style

Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D action RPG that was developed by Ska Studios and immediately turned heads upon release with its stunning hand-drawn visuals. Salt and Sanctuary's similarities to Dark Souls include its leveling system, bonfire-like checkpoints, online messages that can be left for other players, and area designs that often feel like literal 2D remakes of From Software's smash hit.

Additionally, a sequel to Salt and Sanctuary came out in May of 2022 called Salt and Sacrifice which completely switched up a lot of the core mechanics of the first game. While the initial game is incredibly similar to Dark Souls, Salt and Sacrifice goes for a blend of Dark Souls, Monster Hunter, and some classic Metroidvania mechanics as well as a bit more Bloodborne than people were probably ready for.

10 Remnant: From The Ashes

The So-Called 'Dark Souls With Guns' Game

Remnant: From the Ashes was first released in August 2019 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and soon became known as the 'Dark Souls with guns' Soulslike. The aptly named development team, Gunfire Games, gives players a wide range of weaponry to choose from, offering plenty of variety to combat and giving players the chance to adjust their playstyle depending on the enemies and bosses that they're fighting.

Along with the third-person shooter gameplay, one of Remnant: From the Ashes' key differences to the Souls series is that it features randomly generated worlds, making each playthrough of the game unpredictable. The sheer amount of content to be experienced in Remnant is staggering and that is why the game has such a dedicated fanbase.

9 Dark Souls 2

The Black Sheep of the Souls Franchise

There are areas of Dark Souls 2 that cause a lot of trouble for players, such as the Fume Knight, Ancient Dragon, and the Smelter Demon. However, the difficulty of Dark Souls 2 comes from learning and getting used to the differences in design and combat between the first and second games as well as the groups of enemies that seem to swarm players much more often than in most other From Software games.

Dark Souls 2 had a different team at From Software behind it primarily, and the two games feel very different from a foundational level. That said, Dark Souls 2 is in no way easy, but once players understand how the game approaches difficulty, it's a lot easier to get used to than the difficulty spikes of the first Dark Souls game.

8 Lords Of The Fallen (2014 & 2023)

One of the First Games to Get The 'Soulslike' Descriptor & It's Fantastic Sequel

Lords of the Fallen was released on 28 October 2014. It didn't hide its influences from the first two Dark Souls games, with its interconnected areas and emphasis on intense boss fights. Another similarity to Dark Souls is the game's combat. Getting impatient or trying to rush fights in Lord of the Fallen is a fatal error. Enemies will punish players who don't adopt a tactical, methodical approach to combat. Lord of the Fallen struggled to reach the quality of the Soulsborne series, exemplified by its Xbox One Metascore of 71. However, it still provides an enjoyable experience for fans of the Soulslike formula.

In late 2023, the second Lords of the Fallen game (both have the same name) came out and was a massive improvement over the first game. The developers at Hexworks obviously have put the work in to create not just 1 but two interconnected worlds with Axiom and the Umbral. The combat is cleaner, the aesthetics are incredible, and most systems from the 2014 game have been improved upon. However, LotF (2023) is difficult in pretty much the exact same way Dark Souls 2 is, and while it does feel mean at times, Dark Souls as a whole is tougher.

7 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

One of the Highest-Octane Games Out There

Dragon's Dogma was originally released by Capcom in 2012 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, before an enhanced edition titled Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen hit stores the following year. The game differentiates itself from the Dark Souls series with its hack-and-slash combat and open world. But, unlike other hack-and-slash games, Dragon's Dogma prioritized style and flair in combat much the same way something like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta would, leading almost every fight in the game to become a visual spectacle. Additionally, the Pawn system the game uses was an interesting experiment in a sort of pseudo-multiplayer experience, as players could borrow and use the Pawns of other players across the globe in their party.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen performed better with critics than Lord of the Fallen. It scored between 78 and 81 on Metacritic across its numerous releases. And, like many other games on here, it also has a sequel coming out very soon (at the time of writing this, March 8th, 2024) that fans of the first game are literally drooling in anticipation for.

6 Dark Souls 3

The 'Cleanest' Souls Game in Terms of Design & Concept

The final game in the Dark Souls trilogy, Dark Souls 3, had tremendous potential, and for the most part, it met these expectations but did fall short a bit in the difficulty department. The game kicks off with an epic clash against Iudex Gundyr, a boss with silver cast-iron armor, in the Cemetery of Ash. From there, players travel all over Lothric as the world itself seems to be actively pulled together by some apocalyptic force.

And, while there are plenty of standout tough bosses in this game, for the most part, it's a fair bit easier than the original Dark Souls due to the extra mechanics it has as well as the sheer polish from experience that the original title was also missing. There are outliers like the Nameless King and Pontiff Sulyvahn, but it's hard to deny the disparity in difficulty between Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition and Dark Souls 3.