The Soulsborne games have made FromSoftware a heavyweight in the industry after repeated successful titles, creating a cult following for games that are both challenging and punishing in nearly every aspect. Following the release of Elden Ring, many gamers are wondering what other gaming franchises could adopt the Soulsborne formula to improve the gameplay and make it more challenging for players. There have already been several successful Soulslike games including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Nioh that have brought the FromSoftware formula to other worlds and franchises.
There are certain criteria that a game must have to call itself Soulslike, the major one being that players should expect to die multiple times in a playthrough. These games also need a currency that is used to permanently level up a character and can be lost upon death, as well as other consequences for dying such as resetting the world and the enemies in it. While not every franchise is a good fit for the Soulslike formula, there are many IPs that could adopt this genre, elevate the experience, and give fans a new challenge.
InFamous
Sucker Punch’s hugely successful super-powered franchise became a highlight for the PlayStation 4 and left fans hoping for a new title. With rumors circulating about a potential new InFamous game, it would be interesting to see the franchise take up a Soulslike formula. A new InFamous game will likely not feature Cole MacGrath or Delsin Rowe, the previous two protagonists, but it could go down a more RPG route and give fans the chance to create their own Conduits. Allowing this freedom to fans would open the possibility for the Soulslike formula.
With a world filled with powerful and dangerous enemies, including the Soulslike formula could greatly benefit the InFamous franchise by introducing a new level of difficulty to the games. There is already a currency system, based on karma, in place that can level up characters. Collecting the Blast Shards can also assist with this. Further, the enemies in the world would fit perfectly in a Soulslike formula, and it could give fans the chance to experience a completely new Conduit who has just discovered their powers.
The Witcher
The Witcher has become one of the most influential RPGs in gaming, giving players exciting combat, a vast open world, and captivating storylines. At the heart of The Witcher are the monsters that players can fight using both weapons and magic, making it a perfect fit for the Soulsborne formula. With the next title in the series in development and CD Projekt Red confirming that the next title will usher in a new saga, there is a possibility that the game will adopt the Soulslike formula.
The Witcher games have a great RPG formula, but if CDPR wants to give its fans a more challenging and punishing game, a Soulslike formula is perfect. With the next game probably stepping away from Geralt, the next protagonist may face a challenge fighting many of the world's monsters. This narrative would work well with the Soulslike formula and could add a new spin to the hugely successful franchise.
`
Horizon Franchise
The Horizon franchise has taken the world by storm and has quickly turned into one of the most successful franchises in modern gaming. With beautiful landscapes, a ton of lore, and machine dinosaurs, it is easy to see how living in the world of Horizon would be difficult. The Horizon formula differs greatly from Soulslike games but with the monstrous beasts roaming the lands, the level-up mechanism, and even Horizon's reliance on dodging and long-range combat, a future entry could adopt the Soulsborne formula.
Having the world reset after each death or with every rest would also fit the lore of the game as machines are constantly being built and sent out to terraform the wild. While Horizon games aren't difficult as Soulslike games, it would be easy to see how taking down some bigger beasts may be a challenge and may require a lot of strategic planning. Further, the mix of technology and older weapons would be a great fit for a Soulslike game.
There are many Soulslike games that have successfully utilized the formula to deliver challenging and occasionally frustrating games that beg fans to have another try. The Soulslike formula has been proven to work time and time again and gives players a unique perspective on gaming while still being a lot of fun. While these games are incredibly difficult, it is the rewarding feeling of defeating one of the tough enemies that keep fans excited and keeps them from getting discouraged. There is no reason that a game that is challenging should not be fun, and FromSoftware has proven this notion time and time again.
Elden Ring is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.