Updated July 1, 2026 by Mark Sammut: We've updated this article with a few more games: Lords of the Fallen and Ashen.
The Soulslike genre has evolved significantly since its inception over a decade ago, but one thing that has always been closely associated with it is difficulty. Bosses that take hours to take down, brutal enemies that unleash a series of attacks around every corner, and a world that wants to get the player into it more than the enemies are all staples. There is no room for error and the challenge can often feel a bit unfair.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of Soulslikes that capture satisfying gameplay and expert world-building without forcing players to strain every muscle in their body just to clear a single boss. It's nice when a game is aware of its own challenge, and if a developer turns the selector down just a bit, it can make the game a lot more fun.
Click on a game with a higher OpenCritic rating.
10
Lords of the Fallen Is Dark Souls on easy mode… or easier mode
Perfect soulslike game for beginners
2023 Lords of the Fallen it has a positive but not exactly glowing reputation, but for fans of not only Soulslikes, but action RPGs in general, it deserves more than a look. Through a series of updates, Hexworks has tweaked and rebalanced the campaign, resulting in a more consistent experience that's also much simpler. The launch version was probably too easy already, so this change wasn't really that necessary.
8 Best Soulslike Games That Let You Play Your Way
These great Soulslike games provide a wide variety of build options and approaches, allowing players to play their way.
When playing in default settings LOTF it plays like a traditional but forgiving soul, with an automatic safety net: if you die in a certain state, you'll automatically respawn. The occasional enemies are not very simple by the standards of the genre, but LOTFThe bosses don't really present much of a challenge. Don't get me wrong, they're still visually impressive and fun, but most people probably won't need more than a few tries to beat them all.
Veteran Mode provides a harder core experience and you can even randomize enemies or increase mob density.
9
Steelrising takes you on a journey through the French Revolution
Aggressive slots that don't push the limits
Steelrising
9/10
- Released
-
September 8, 2022
Steelrising is an interesting title that takes the world of the French Revolution and fuses it with a mechanical nightmare that is as terrifying as it is wonderful. The world is gorgeous and the gameplay follows suit, taking elements from the Soulslike genre but keeping things manageable by making the enemy patterns simpler and more readable.
There's even an assist mode that allows players to play around with damage numbers and stamina consumption, and even makes them immortal. Everything feels more linear and less overwhelming. Enemy patterns are still satisfying to combat, but they never let the player feel out of their depth, even early on.
8
Ashen Is The Easy Open-World Soulslike
Bring a friend, human or AI
Ashen
- Released
-
December 7, 2018
Elden Ring wasn't the first open-world Soulslike game, though it certainly ranks among the hardest. Beat it by a few years Ashen it was also one of the first entries in the genre that attempted to provide a more accessible experience, and succeeded. The “ease” comes from several elements: Co-op implementation, leveling system and less intense atmosphere.
Rather than going with the typical progression system, Ashen it ties your level to NPC quests, while upgrading your gear actually makes you stronger. As you further explore the world, you build a hub area that serves as a small safe zone that reflects the cooperative implementation of the game. Even if you don't bring a friend along, you can and will go on missions with AI companions, lowering the bar of entry even further.
7
Remnant 2 defines soul-like co-op shooters
A crisp shootout with a decent challenge
The rest 2 builds on the DNA of the original to create a much more complex experience that allows for immersive co-op battles against fearsome foes. Bringing the Soulslike genre into a more shooter oriented game is a nice change and the enemies still put up a decent fight while still allowing for plenty of counterplay and strategy.
Customization is what really sets the game apart, allowing players to swap out their weapons and abilities on the fly and upgrade them as they wish. More importantly, the ability to play with a group of other players means that even if a fight turns out to be more of a challenge than expected, the extra firepower ensures that any boss can be taken down without too much trouble.
6
Thymesia provides a brief challenge
Short, sweet and never too much
A short-lived record that still shows plenty of Thymesia is a great Soulslike that brings face to face action like games Bloody but keeps things more subdued when it comes to trouble. A key feature is the ability to use enemy weapons against them through powerful abilities that transform the fight in every encounter.
21 hardest soulslike RPGs, ranked by difficulty
Not all Soulslikes on the market can offer the same compelling experience as Dark Souls. Few RPGs capture the rewarding gameplay loop of From Soft.
When a boss appears, the attack patterns are fairly short and simple, meaning it's possible to play as fast or as slow as you feel comfortable and still achieve the same success. Each boss's HP stock is never too high and always drops after a satisfying, simple, yet rewarding fight.
5
Salt And Sanctuary captures the magic of dark souls in 2D
Simplified gameplay with a unique art style
Salt and the shrine is a solid entry into the genre created by two talented individuals with great passion. The level design clearly pays homage early Dark souls games. It encourages players to venture out into the world without giving them the safety net of fast travel back to the center.
Combat is simple but fun. Each new enemy presents a new challenge to overcome, and they all feel intuitive in their design. It's easy to get lost in the world because there are so many hidden traditions and information everywhere. For fans of the Soulslike genre, there are more than enough challenges to keep them engaged throughout.
4
Mortal Shell is accessible thanks to predefined loadouts
Great for soul fans and newcomers to the genre
Death shell is a compact yet immersive Soulslike game that introduces several unique mechanics that make it stand out from the crowd. Players can use Harden's ability to absorb damage and then attack of their own, and the class system is replaced by different shells, each with their own attributes and playstyles.
The combat is tough and immensely satisfying, with every swing of the sword feeling a real sense of power. Enemies are fairly standard and never feel overwhelmed in their attacks or numbers, allowing players to take each fight at their own pace and still progress through the story without being overly challenged.
3
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Force powers mixed with satisfying melee combat
The The Jedi the games have always taken a slightly different path than other games in the genre, but still retain a lot of the gameplay feel that makes Soulslikes so much fun. With swordplay that rewards precision and timing, difficulty settings that provide meaningful differences, and battles that feed the fantasy of being a force user, Survivors is the perfect way for players to enter the genre without feeling out of their depth.
6 best Soulslike for people who don't like Soulslike games
These highly accessible souls still offer a challenge, though they do so without punishing the player as harshly as some of their peers.
Each upgrade changes the way the player interacts with enemies. There are so many options when it comes to customization and combat, giving the player all the power without compromising on anything. Puzzles are also a big part of the world. Each area presents a unique set of challenges, both in the enemies found there and the environmental threats they encounter.
2
Blasphemous 2 throws you into a world of nightmares without the nightmare difficulty
It focuses more on the beautiful world than the unfair difficulty
Metroidvanias have always shared some elements with Soulslike games and Blasphemy 2 he is one of the best at both. The setting is gorgeous, drawing inspiration from Renaissance Italian architecture and religious imagery to create a universe that is both brutal and stunning.
The brutality extends to combat as players attack and slash across the screen with a selection of weapons, each with their own style to mix up the gameplay as they play. The game is by no means a piece of cake, but the difficulty is pretty steady. Even when it reaches its peak, it is still manageable for less experienced players.
1
Another crab's treasure is harder than it seems, but still one of the lightest souls
An undersea journey unlike any other
Another crab treasure was a surprising addition to the genre, bringing so much charm and humor that you just don't see anywhere else. Playing as the cute Krill crab, players navigate the ocean floor in search of their stolen shell and encounter a host of other crustaceans and sea creatures out to get them out.
Combat mixes parrying basics with more forgiving attack windows, meaning the player can get all the satisfaction that comes from more challenging titles without having to pull their hair out to survive. With all the side content available, it's very easy to become a borderline slayer and turn even the toughest fights into scrambles that die in seconds.
Soulslike games with the steepest learning curve, rated
Soulslike games are notorious for their difficulty, but these titles take it to the extreme.
