When one talks about the defining game that launched FromSoftware to dizzying heights of superstardom, it goes without saying that most people would utter the name Dark Souls without so much as a second thought. However, what people overlook is that there was another game that actually formed the base for this wildly successful franchise. Demon's Souls might not have received the same level of critical and commercial praise as its sequel, but there's no denying the fact that this game had something truly special, which materialized properly in its spiritual successor.
Now, with the release of this title's remake on the horizon, more people will finally be able to appreciate the Demon's Souls for the underrated classic that it is. That being said, there is still quite some time until this game finally hits shelves, along with the PS5 itself. For people who find this wait to be overly excruciating, here are some other similar action RPGs in the same vein as this criminally underappreciated title.
10 Remnant: From The Ashes
The idea of a third-person shooter soulslike might sound like a complete mismatch, but its a testament to the brilliant work of Gunfire Games that they managed to execute this concept almost flawlessly.
Remnant: From The Ashes is easily the most challenging third-person to have ever released in a long time, and it's also one of the very best. Any player who loved the brutal-yet-fair combat of the "Soulsborne" series would be doing themselves a massive disservice by not trying this title out.
9 The Surge 2
Deck13 Interactive didn't exactly have the best reputation as a AA studio for the longest time. For the longest time, they were known as nothing more than a bootleg version of FromSoftware. However, the release of The Surge 2 changed this perception for good.
The first game in the series was pretty okayish, but the second game turned out to be a very welcome surprise. It was clear that Deck13 had learned from their mistakes, and this reflected in the excellent design of The Surge 2. Probably the only avenue that the game could've worked on was its bosses, and, given the studio's track record up to this point, one can confidently say that the next game they release would certainly be even more of an improvement.
8 Nioh 2
Speaking of sequels that were better than their predecessors, one can't fail to mention Nioh 2 in this conversation. One might argue that the achievement here is even more impressive, since the first Nioh was already a pretty good game in its own right, even though there were some avenues of the game that could've done with some polish.
Team Ninja took all this feedback into account while making Nioh 2, turning this samurai soulslike into one of the most challenging yet satisfying games ever released. Regardless of whether one has played the first game or not, Nioh 2 is pretty much a must-play for any soulslike veteran.
7 Code Vein
An anime soulslike seems like one of the most obvious variations of this formula, and yet it took quite some time before Code Vein saw the light of day. However, one might argue that this wait was worth it since Code Vein is a great game that applies its own unique spin on the Soulsborne formula to great effect.
6 Blasphemous
The Soulsborne games have influenced a ton of other genres as well, with perhaps the Metroidvania genre making the most of its mechanics. This rise of Metroidvania soulslike titles has been quite widespread, with Blasphemous being one of the better titles to release during this period.
The mysterious religious motifs scattered throughout the entire game make it feel as mysterious as any Miyazaki title, and the gameplay very much retains the core concepts of Soulsborne titles while also adding a new coat of 2D paint to the mix, as well.
5 Salt & Sanctuary
Speaking of Soulslike Metroidvanias, we can't exclude Salt & Sanctuary from this conversation. While the release for this title was fairly muted, Salt & Sanctuary ended up garnering more reputation through word-of-mouth due to its stellar gameplay, leading to it becoming one of the more beloved indie darlings in the Soulsborne community.
4 Horizon Zero Dawn
At a glance, Horizon Zero Dawn might not really have much in common with Demon's Souls. However, there's no denying the fact that the game does have some concepts that are inspired by the soulsborne series, making these players feel right at home. It certainly helps that Horizon Zero Dawn feels equal parts fresh and accessible at the same time, which makes for a highly enjoyable experience from start to end.
3 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
The comparisons to Soulsborne titles might seem somewhat far-fetched for Horizon Zero Dawn, but one need only look at Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's combat and gameplay mechanics to notice a very clear resemblance to From Software's titles. Aside from the few odd bugs, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order does end up being a rather enjoyable game that would entice anyone who's a fan of either Star Wars or Demon's Souls.
2 God Of War
Santa Monica Studios definitely put in a ton of work into revitalizing the God of War genre to make it fit for a new generation, and one might argue that they've successfully pulled this off.
After all, one can't deny the fact that God Of War is one of the best exclusives on the PlayStation, and a must-play for anyone who owns the console.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red is teasing us with one of the biggest gaming releases of this year, and this wouldn't have been possible had their Witcher series not hit the ground running. The first two games certainly earned their fair share of fans, but it was The Witcher 3 that truly elevated their position in the gaming industry to the stratosphere.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is easily one of the best action RPGs of all time, and it's an absolute must-play for anyone who wants a mix of challenging gameplay and brilliant storytelling.