For the fans soulslike genrethe future looks bright. Many developers have announced their upcoming soul-like games for 2026, including highly anticipated sequels such as Code vein 2 and Mortal Shell 2. In addition to these announced titles, there are sure to be more unannounced souls in development that fans will hear about in the coming months and throughout the next year.
Each new soulslike tries to tweak the familiar formula in a unique way, so it's always exciting to see how other studios follow in FromSoftware's footsteps while exploring new territory and introducing new mechanics to make the soul-like experience more diverse and exciting. Below is a look at top five upcoming soulslike games currently the release is in 2026 along with the exceptional features of each game that will excite you.
Duskbloods
Perhaps the most interesting soulslike release of 2026
After a massive success Elden RingIt seemed likely that FromSoftware would stick to a similar formula. Instead, the studio took an unexpected turn, first releasing Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubiconand then launching an experimental multiplayer project, Elden Ring Nightreign. The experimental phase of the study is far from over Duskbloods builds on ideas Nightreignpromising another multiplayer-focused soul with a strong emphasis on player interactions.
Duskbloods is easily one of the most interesting new IPs announced for 2026, featuring a new world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and a more complex balance of PvE and PvP interactions than Elden Ring or Nightreign when achieved. While some fans are excited Duskbloodsothers eagerly await FromSoftware's return to a traditional Soul-like single-player experience, though that doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon.
Nioh 3
Familiar and innovative for the series
Many souls of similar fans eagerly await Nioh 3and it's easy to see why. The series ranks among the highest-rated Souls-like games ever released, celebrated for its complex, layered combat and abundance of loot to chase. WITH Nioh 3It looks like the franchise's hallmarks will be elevated to new heights, while the game is set to deliver excruciatingly challenging boss encounters that will test even veterans of the genre.
Nioh 3 will feel familiar to fans of the previous entries, but brings enough new elements to make it stand out. From more open zones and mission designs that encourage exploration and side activities, to two distinct combat styles – block-focused Samurai and dodge-focused Ninja – Nioh 3 promises to start 2026 with a bang.
Valor Mortis
What if Soulslikes adopted a first person perspective?
Valor Mortis stands out as possibly the biggest wild card for 2026. Depending on how Ghostrunner the creators deliver on the unique promises of the title, it has a real chance to become something special, bringing a first-person perspective and its own unique setting to the soulslike genre, and potentially leading the pack as the first to really nail it.
From the recent pre-alpha playtest, many soul-loving fans were already impressed with the gameplay Valor Mortiswhich compliments its unique combat feel that allows you to wield a sword and a pistol at the same time, along with those challenging bosses. Hopefully, the developers will address the current issues raised in player feedback, such as clunky controls, to ensure Valor Mortis starts in the best possible shape.
Ballad of Antara
Ambitious free-to-play soulslike with multiple characters
Ballad of Antara remains a bit of a mystery as very few updates or details have been released about this gorgeous looking game. Although it's still officially slated for a 2025 release, it's almost certain to slip into next year. It's also not entirely clear how close to the traditional formula Ballad of Antara it really is because the devs haven't shown proper boss encounters yet. Additionally, the game is expected to launch as free-to-play, which is uncharted territory for the genre.
According to the previous samples Ballad of Antara will have a cinematic feel to its narrative, as well as multiple playable characters, each with their own story. The developers also showed a gaming section for Ballad of Antara to give a taste of its combat system, but it's hard to jump to conclusions yet considering this was an early version, even if the combat seems too slow. However, Ballad of Antara looks like a possible pleasant surprise, almost similar Wuchang: Fallen Feathersso it's worth watching.
Lords of the Fallen 2
Adhering to a “Gamers First” approach.
original Lords of the Fallen (which was a soft reboot of the 2014 game of the same name) faced technical issues at launch, but thanks to the team's efforts, it didn't fade into obscurity. As more players have tried the game after numerous updates, there is a consensus Lords of the Fallen is a very solid soul, with stellar exploration and a dark fantasy aesthetic done right. Now it's your turn Lords of the Fallen 2 to fully exploit the potential of the original.
Lords of the Fallen 2 promises to take fan feedback from the first game seriously while deepening its core mechanics and standout features like the dual world system. The ability to seamlessly switch between the two realms for puzzle solving and exploration is already unique enough to make the series stand out, but there's still a lot of untapped potential that Lords of the Fallen 2 maybe he will touch it.
