Elden Ring was announced in 2019. After its brief teaser, the project went dark for a while. Some even thought it was canceled. Fans of the Game of Thrones books know that the author, George R. R. Martin, takes his sweet time in writing sequels. Was he the cause for the delay? Was the game getting canceled because he couldn’t keep up?

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Thankfully those worries have since subsided. There was one delay for the game so far but it wasn’t a long one. Elden Ring moved from January to February. Fans of the Souls-like genre may wonder what’s coming after Elden Ring. There is more good news because there are seven other potential Souls-like games that could also come out in 2022. Most of these should release across a wide array of platforms including the PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox One X.

8 Elden Ring

Fighting a boss in Elden Ring

Elden Ring is an early 2022 release but it might be strong enough to be a game of the year contender. Many of the Souls-like games in FromSoftware’s library have done so. While the gameplay will be familiar to longtime fans, Elden Ring does bring something new to the table: an open world.

The other games were vast, but they were more like Metroidvanias than true open-world games. Players will even get a horse to ride around on. It will be interesting to see how the more open environments will mesh with the brutal combat.

7 Lies Of P

Exploring the world in Lies Of P

Lies of P is also being called Pinocchio Souls around the Internet. That’s because the hero character is a puppet. This is not a light-hearted adventure though. This is the real deal, brutal combat fans of the genre have grown to know and love.

It was just announced in 2021 no timeframe for the launch has been determined yet. It could be 2022 or beyond. The platforms have also not been decided other than PC and “consoles.” It looks good no matter when it launches or whatever it comes out on.

6 Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Final Fantasy Stranger Of Paradise

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin was revealed in 2021 and a demo even launched alongside this news. That is the way most games should get announced. The demo was pretty beefy too and showcased the more relaxed Souls-like combat to release in quite some time.

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This should be a good gateway game to get the more casual crowd into Souls-like games. It is set to launch on March 18, 2022, and will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

5 Salt And Sacrifice

Exploring the world in Salt And Sacrifice

It has been a long time since the first game, Salt and Sanctuary, was released in 2016. That was one of the first indie games to try and emulate the more big-budget Souls-like games. It was an instant hit with rave reviews.

Can this sequel match that hype or be even greater? Only time will tell but fans should have some faith in this one. It was announced in 2021, has no date other than 2022, and will launch on PC, PS4, and PS5 initially. There will also be co-op in the game.

4 Hollow Knight Silksong

Fighting a boss in Hollow Knight Silksong

Hollow Knight launched in 2017 and took the world by storm. It was a massive hit on PC and even bigger when it hit the Switch. Soon after a sequel was announced, Hollow Knight Silksong, which was originally planned as DLC.

The developers, Team Cherry, saw potential in their new protagonist, Hornet, so they expanded the idea into something massive. The original’s appeal was its art style, Metroidvania exploration system, and brutal Souls-like combat, and upgrade features. If this launches as promised in 2022 on PC and Switch, then it’s going to be a good year.

3 Steelrising

A robot from Steelrising

Steelrising is a Souls-like action RPG that is set in an alternate version of 1789 Paris. That might be the most unique setting for a game in quite some time. What makes it bizarre is that robots are running around aristocratic societies.

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That doesn’t sound like what most may know from the history books. All that was shown in 2021 was a CG trailer so it’s hard to gauge what this game is going to be like. It could put a whole new twist on the genre or it could be a standard adventure. However it plays, Steelrising is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X sometime in June 2022.

2 Dolmen

Exploring the world in Dolmen

Dolmen began with a Kickstarter in 2018. The main page still says it was supposed to be delivered in 2019 which is funny. However, the latest trailer from 2021 declared that Dolmen would be available in 2022. When it does launch it will be for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

What makes this Souls-like experience worth waiting for is that it involves aliens and guns. It looks like there is melee combat as well, but the guns and aliens help set it apart from most other games like it in the genre.

1 The Last Hero Of Nostalgia

Fighting enemies in The Last Hero Of Nostalgia

The Last Hero of Nostalgia is also unique for a Souls-like because it is a comedy. The main character is a wireframe puppet with armor attached. An evil spell is turning the fully polygonal world into pixel art which is both a funny idea for a story along with being a cool visual touch.

The game was revealed in 2021 with a planned release date for sometime in 2022. Whenever it does launch it will be available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

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