There's been no shortage of soulslikes over the years, from lesser-known indies onwards Steam to AA editions as Death shell to souls adjacent titles like Star Wars Jedi. Practically everyone wants a piece of the pie that FromSoftware created the recipe for, especially after a hugely successful one Elden Ring proved how popular the genre is. However, few souls have received such attention Lies P has, because it's probably the best souls from FromSoft to date. So it's only natural that indie developers take inspiration from the hit Round8, with only one example being Vapor World: Over The Mind it seems it does.
Obviously, there are some clear differences between the side-scrolling platformer and the third-person Souls equivalent, which adds to the dark setting. Pinnochio story. Still, there are some clear similarities, especially when it comes to the appearance of the main character and the overall feel of the world. If you're someone who digs games that offer soul-style gameplay from a different perspective, such as Hollow Knight series, Vapor World: Over The MindThe challenging metroidvania game could absolutely deserve a spot on your Steam wishlist.
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Vapor World: Over The Mind Features at a Glance
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EXPERIENCE the intriguing story of an amnesiac boy trapped in a disturbing dream world.
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FIGHT a variety of basic enemies and endure increasingly challenging boss fights.
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Attack directly or using the stealth system.
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UPGRADE your character as you go and discover new abilities as you explore the world.
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ENJOY a stunning, hand-crafted 2D experience that promises gorgeous art from start to finish.
Lost in the darkness, a boy drawn into a twisted dream, with no way out. Vapor World is a narrative-driven soul-like platformer focused on deflection combat set in an atmospheric dream world. Descend into a shattered mind and search for lost memories. Faced with a dark, beautiful world born of anguish and regret.
What kind of weapon is that?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
What kind of weapon is that?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
Vapor World: Over The Mind's Lies of P Vibes are as obvious as its unique features
Just one look at the narrative synopsis available at The world of steamThe user's Steam page to connect to Lies P. A young boy with amnesia trapped in a dark world with a series of entities trying to kill them? Yeah, that sounds almost like Pinnochio's predicament, and when you look at the character's wardrobe, pale face, and dark hair, the similarities only become clearer. The architecture and environments in this Metroidvania only reinforce that connection, and with challenging soul-like gameplay that throws tough fights at you at every turn, there's no denying that the similarities are many.
Still, the fans Lies P the universe still finds its fair share of differences in this game. The doctrine of The world of steamfor example, he trades twisted puppets and machines for a dream realm into which humanity has been thrown as a last ditch effort to survive. However, this dream world went wrong as humanity was “tainted with wounds” from an unknown event, and the nightmares of the people began to invade the new world. This means you'll encounter all sorts of threats as you progress – giant spider bosses, creepy lantern-holding figures and shadowy humanoid guards are just a few examples of what you'll have to contend with.
The mysterious boy who has forgotten who he is will be able to fight these threats directly using power-ups found while exploring – as with many platformers and metroidvanias, looking around pays off – or using stealth. Hiding locations will allow the protagonist The world of steam to attack from the shadows and sneak up on certain encounters. When you need it loud, you can use projections, launch fire attacks at your opponents, blind them, or electrocute them (hello again, Lies P's Electric Blitz). These options should keep combat varied, and they all look great in action thanks to the hand-drawn 2D world that developer ALIVE inc. created
Early access means Vapor World will get deeper over time
Unlike some other Steam Early Access games, The world of steam is set to offer all of its core mechanics when it launches in Q2 2026. Instead, it will only save the last half of the story for the full launch, using the first two of the three episodes as a way to gather feedback and further improve the rest of the game. While the exact window for the rest of the content is not yet available, ALIVE inc. is shooting to complete the game by the end of 2026. With only 5 hours available in the early access version, it's only natural that it's a bit cheaper than the final 12 hour release, so those who are already selling this handcrafted soulsvania game might want to buy it sooner rather than later.
