Elden Ring is the best Soulslike game overall because its open world gives you room to leave a difficult fight, improve your build, and return stronger. Choose Lies of P if you want the strongest non-FromSoftware alternative, Remnant II for co-op, Another Crab's Treasure for a gentler introduction, or Nine Sols for precise 2D combat.
The best choice depends on what you enjoy about the genre. Some players want slow exploration and hidden lore. Others care about exact parries, difficult bosses, build experimentation, or sharing the struggle with friends. The 12 best Soulslike games below keep the familiar cycle of danger, defeat, learning, and recovery, but they do not all ask you to play the same way.
What Is a Soulslike Game?
A Soulslike game is an action RPG built around demanding combat, careful exploration, and meaningful consequences for failure. The term comes from FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls series, but it now describes games from many different developers.
Common features include stamina-based attacks, limited healing, powerful enemies, checkpoint systems, and recoverable resources that may be lost after death. Combat rewards patience and timing: players need to study attack patterns, manage stamina, and choose the right moment to dodge, block, parry, or strike.
Soulslikes are best understood as a subgenre rather than one fixed formula. Some combine action RPG combat with open-world exploration, while others use 2D platforming, roguelite progression, anime-inspired visuals, or cooperative play. If you want to see how Soulslikes relate to other categories, SoonLab’s guide to video game genres explains how gameplay mechanics and genre combinations shape different types of games.
Best Soulslike Games at a Glance
| Game | Best for | Difficulty | Key difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Best overall and open world | Hard, but flexible | Exploration gives you many ways around a roadblock |
| Lies of P | Best outside FromSoftware | Adjustable | Tight weapon assembly and guard mechanics |
| Dark Souls III | Best traditional first Souls game | Hard | Focused levels and memorable boss progression |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Best parry combat | Very hard | Deflection and posture replace build-heavy combat |
| Nioh 2 | Best builds and loot | Very hard | Stances, weapon skills, loot, and Yokai abilities |
| Remnant II | Best co-op | Moderate to hard | Third-person shooting and three-player parties |
| Another Crab's Treasure | Best for beginners | Customizable | Assist options and inventive shell abilities |
| Nine Sols | Best 2D Soulslike | Hard | Hand-drawn exploration and deflection combat |
| Code Vein | Best anime style | Moderate to hard | Flexible classes and an AI companion |
| Lords of the Fallen | Best dark-fantasy alternative | Hard | Two overlapping worlds and online co-op |
| The First Berserker: Khazan | Best recent boss-focused pick | Very hard | Sharp defensive combat and cel-shaded art |
| Wuchang: Fallen Feathers | Best recent exploration pick | Hard | Chinese historical fantasy and flexible skills |
The 12 Best Soulslike Games Worth Playing
1. Elden Ring - Best Soulslike Game Overall
Best for: Open-world exploration and flexible character builds
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2
Elden Ring is the easiest overall recommendation because it gives difficulty somewhere to go. If one boss stops your progress, you can explore another region, find a weapon, improve a summon, change your Ash of War, or return with more health. That freedom makes failure feel less like a wall and more like information about what to try next. Players who value that freedom can compare it with other open-world games.
The Lands Between also rewards curiosity unusually well. A ruined building can hide a dungeon, a lift can reveal an underground region, and a minor detour can become an entire quest. FromSoftware's official Elden Ring page now lists the base game, Shadow of the Erdtree content, and its available editions, giving new players a substantial route into the series.
The limitation is scale. Elden Ring can be overwhelming if you prefer a clear route or a compact campaign. Its quests are deliberately opaque, and the open world occasionally repeats enemies and dungeon structures. If you want tighter pacing, Dark Souls III or Lies of P may suit you better.
2. Lies of P - Best Soulslike Not Made by FromSoftware
Best for: Focused levels, weapon experimentation, and a dark fairy-tale setting
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Mac
Lies of P is the best Soulslike outside FromSoftware because it understands the rhythm behind the genre without copying every surface detail. Its streets, factories, opera house, and exhibition halls form a controlled journey through Krat, while its bosses push you to combine dodges, perfect guards, and aggressive follow-up attacks.
The weapon assembly system is its strongest idea. Blades and handles can be combined to change reach, movement, scaling, and special attacks, so finding a weapon is often the beginning of an experiment rather than the end of one. The Legion Arm adds another tool without turning combat into a crowded ability bar.
It is also more approachable than it was at launch. The official Overture launch update added three difficulty settings to the game. That makes Lies of P a reasonable first choice for players who want a traditional 3D Soulslike structure but are worried about being locked into one challenge level.
The world is more linear than Elden Ring, and some late enemies rely on delayed attacks that can feel designed to catch your timing rather than test natural reactions. Even so, its combat, art direction, and mechanical consistency make it the strongest answer to “What should I play after FromSoftware?”
3. Dark Souls III - Best First Traditional Souls Game
Best for: Players who want the classic Souls formula in a focused campaign
Available on: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox One
Dark Souls III is the best first Souls game if you want to understand the traditional structure: bonfire checkpoints, dangerous routes, shortcuts, recoverable currency, cryptic characters, and bosses that test whether you learned the area. Its movement is faster than the earlier Dark Souls games, but it retains the weight and commitment that make every attack matter.
The campaign is more directed than Elden Ring, which helps the difficulty curve feel deliberate. Weapons are varied without requiring Nioh 2 levels of system knowledge, and many builds become understandable after a few upgrades. Its bosses also provide a useful progression from readable duels to fights that demand tighter reactions and positioning.
The tradeoff is that you cannot always leave and explore a completely different region when stuck. Some areas are visually close to earlier FromSoftware work, and players who begin here may miss story context and mechanical history from Dark Souls and Dark Souls II. For the cleanest introduction to the classic loop, however, Dark Souls III remains hard to beat.
4. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - Best Parry-Focused Combat
Best for: Players who prefer mechanical mastery over character builds
Available on: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox One
Sekiro asks you to stop circling enemies and meet their attacks directly. Deflections damage posture, pressure prevents recovery, and the best fights become close exchanges where hesitation is more dangerous than aggression. Few action games make learning an opponent feel this clear.
It is often grouped with Soulslike games because of its checkpoints, respawning enemies, difficult bosses, limited healing, and loss on death. Yet it is a poor choice for someone who loves assembling RPG builds. You play a defined protagonist with a katana, prosthetic tools, and a focused upgrade path. There is no shield build or overpowered magic route waiting to solve a boss for you.
That focus is both the appeal and the limitation. Once the deflection rhythm clicks, Sekiro delivers some of the cleanest combat in the genre. Before it clicks, progress can feel brutally narrow. Choose it when you want the game to change your habits rather than let you change your build.
5. Nioh 2 - Best for Deep Builds and Loot
Best for: Players who enjoy technical combat and long-term build crafting
Available on: PC and PlayStation 5
Nioh 2 expands the basic Soulslike loop into a dense action RPG. Every weapon has three stances, its own skill tree, and different ways to control distance. Ki Pulse rewards active stamina recovery, while Yokai abilities let you interrupt pressure, extend a combination, or answer an attack that your weapon struggles to handle.
The result is more expressive than a simple dodge-and-punish system. The official Complete Edition also includes all three major expansions, so there is enough progression for players who want to keep refining a build after finishing the main story.
Nioh 2 is not friendly to anyone who dislikes inventories. Weapons, armor, set bonuses, crafting materials, guardian spirits, Soul Cores, and overlapping skill systems arrive quickly. Its mission-based maps also lack the continuous world that many players associate with Dark Souls. Choose it for combat depth, not for a quiet introduction.
6. Remnant II - Best Multiplayer Soulslike
Best for: Online co-op and players who prefer guns to swords
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
Remnant II is the best multiplayer Soulslike because co-op feels central rather than attached to a solo campaign. A host can form a party with two other players, and the combination of ranged combat, class abilities, revives, and boss mechanics gives everyone a clear role.
Its procedurally assembled worlds change locations, encounters, and story routes between campaigns. That makes comparing discoveries with friends part of the appeal. One player may find a boss, puzzle, or class unlock that another never saw. Shooting also changes the usual combat spacing: weak points, ammunition, and sightlines matter alongside dodges and stamina.
The procedural structure can make the story feel fragmented, and some secrets are difficult to discover without outside help. Solo play is possible, but the balance of exploration and class synergy is more satisfying with a group. If you specifically want a Soulslike designed around repeated co-op sessions, this is the best place to start.
7. Another Crab's Treasure - Best Beginner Soulslike
Best for: New players who want adjustable challenge and a lighter tone
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
Another Crab's Treasure teaches familiar Soulslike ideas through a world that is colorful, funny, and easy to read. Kril uses discarded objects as shells, and each shell changes both defense and abilities. A soda can, bottle cap, or party hat is not just a joke; it can alter how you approach the next encounter.
Its Assist Mode is the main reason it is the best beginner option. Players can adjust damage, enemy health, game speed, and other parts of the challenge rather than choosing between the full difficulty and quitting. An accessibility review of the available options also notes that the game can be paused during combat and its settings changed mid-fight.
The platforming and camera are less polished than the strongest games above, and experienced players may find parts of the world mechanically light. Its value is not that it removes failure. It lets you decide which parts of failure are helping you learn and which are only stopping you from continuing.
8. Nine Sols - Best 2D Soulslike Game
Best for: 2D exploration, parries, and story-rich action
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
Nine Sols translates the tension of Sekiro-style deflection into a hand-drawn 2D world. Blocking at the right moment builds an opening for talisman attacks, and stronger enemies require you to distinguish ordinary strikes from attacks that need a different response. The combat is quick, but it remains readable enough for improvement to feel intentional.
The setting combines Eastern mythology with science fiction, giving the game a visual identity far removed from medieval ruins. Its official Steam description identifies deflection-focused combat as a central feature, but the story and exploration carry almost as much weight as the bosses.
Nine Sols leans toward Metroidvania structure, so backtracking and ability-gated routes are part of the experience. Its parry demands can also create sharp difficulty spikes. Choose it when you want a 2D game with a strong narrative and exact defensive combat; choose Salt and Sanctuary if you would rather have heavier RPG builds and a closer Dark Souls silhouette.
9. Code Vein - Best Anime Soulslike
Best for: Anime visuals, character creation, and flexible classes
Available on: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox One
Code Vein is the clearest choice for an anime Soulslike. Its character creator is unusually detailed, and its Blood Code system lets you change classes without starting a new character. That flexibility encourages experimentation with weapons, spells, passive skills, and companion combinations.
An AI partner accompanies you through most areas, drawing attention and reviving you under certain conditions. This lowers some of the pressure and makes Code Vein more approachable than its bleak environments suggest. You can also play without that partner if you want a more traditional solo challenge.
Level design is the main weakness. Several environments are difficult to read for the wrong reasons, and the story frequently interrupts exploration with long scenes. Combat also lacks the precision of Lies of P or Sekiro. Still, no other major Soulslike combines this level of anime presentation, character customization, and class freedom as clearly.
10. Lords of the Fallen - Best Dark-Fantasy Alternative
Best for: Dense exploration, dark fantasy, and two-player co-op
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
Lords of the Fallen builds its world around Axiom, the realm of the living, and Umbral, the realm of the dead. Raising the Umbral Lamp can expose hidden paths, pull objects from enemies, or show a route that does not exist in Axiom. Dying can move you into Umbral rather than ending the attempt immediately, creating a second chance that becomes more dangerous the longer you remain there.
This two-world structure makes exploration its strongest feature. Areas fold back into each other, and a wall that seems decorative may conceal an entire route in the parallel realm. The game also supports online co-op, and its Friend's Pass lets someone join a base-game owner without buying a separate copy.
Enemy density and visual clutter can make some encounters feel more tiring than deliberate. The Umbral system is clever, but using the lamp during combat is not always smooth. Pick Lords of the Fallen when exploration and oppressive atmosphere matter more than perfectly restrained encounters.
11. The First Berserker: Khazan - Best Recent Boss-Focused Soulslike
Best for: Demanding boss fights and stylized action
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
The First Berserker: Khazan strips away much of the wandering that defines Elden Ring and puts its energy into combat. Blocking, dodging, and well-timed counters all have a place, while three main weapon types develop through distinct skill paths. Bosses are long tests of defense, stamina control, and recognizing how a sequence changes after the first hit.
Its cel-shaded look helps armor, weapons, and large attack effects stand out from the dark environments. The game is also mission-based, so it works well for players who want a clear objective and a boss at the end rather than an open world full of diversions.
That structure can feel repetitive between major fights, and the story will mean less if you have no interest in the wider Dungeon Fighter universe. Khazan is also a poor first Soulslike because it expects steady defensive execution early. For experienced players searching for a newer challenge, its boss combat earns the recommendation.
12. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - Best Recent Soulslike for Exploration
Best for: Chinese historical fantasy, interconnected areas, and skill experimentation
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers stands out through its late-Ming-inspired setting and a world shaped by disease, war, folklore, and transformation. Temples, villages, caves, and ruined settlements connect through shortcuts that reward attention. Its environments give players a reason to look beyond the next boss.
Combat supports different weapons, spells, and upgrade paths, while the Madness system connects risk with power. This makes Wuchang appealing to players who want to adjust their approach instead of mastering one fixed style. Its visual identity also feels distinct from the European dark fantasy that dominates much of the genre.
The game can be uneven. Some enemy placements and difficulty spikes are less carefully controlled than the best FromSoftware work, and performance may depend on platform and updates. Lies of P remains the safer non-FromSoftware recommendation, but Wuchang is a compelling newer choice when exploration and setting come first.
How to Choose Your First Soulslike
Choose Another Crab's Treasure if difficulty settings and assist options will help you learn without losing progress. Choose Elden Ring if you want the full weight of the genre but need the freedom to leave a difficult boss and explore elsewhere. Lies of P now offers selectable difficulty while keeping a more focused route.
It also helps to identify what usually frustrates you. If complex inventories are the problem, avoid Nioh 2 at first. If parrying under pressure feels stressful, do not begin with Sekiro or Nine Sols. If you dislike wandering without clear direction, Dark Souls III or Khazan will feel more manageable than Elden Ring.
Your first game does not need to be the easiest one. It should give you a reason to tolerate failure. That reason might be Elden Ring's world, Code Vein's character building, Remnant II's co-op, or Sekiro's unusually clean combat. Difficulty becomes easier to accept when the part between failures still feels worth seeing.
Can You Create a Soulslike Game of Your Own?
A complete 3D Soulslike requires combat animation, enemy AI, level design, cameras, collision, progression, balance, and extensive testing. It is not a sensible first project. A small prototype is much more useful: one arena, one player weapon, one enemy, stamina, dodging, healing, a checkpoint, and a clear win or loss state.
SoonLab’s AI action game maker can help turn that smaller idea into a playable browser game. Start with one weapon, one enemy, stamina, dodging, healing, and a clear win or loss state instead of asking for an entire open-world Soulslike.
These AI game prompt examples show how to define controls, goals, obstacles, feedback, and failure conditions clearly. If the prototype proves that the basic action is enjoyable, you can decide whether to continue in a full game engine.
Turn your idea into aSoulslike game
Describe the game you want to make, and SoonLab will help you start building it.
FAQs About the Best Soulslike Games
What is the best Soulslike game?
Elden Ring is the best Soulslike game overall because it combines demanding combat with an open world that offers alternative routes, optional bosses, flexible builds, summons, and many ways to become stronger. Lies of P is the best choice outside FromSoftware.
What is the best beginner Soulslike game?
Another Crab's Treasure is the most approachable starting point because its Assist Mode lets you adjust individual parts of the difficulty. Elden Ring is the better first choice if you want a traditional FromSoftware experience, since exploration gives you alternatives when a boss is too difficult.
What is the best first Soulslike game?
Start with Elden Ring for exploration and build freedom, Dark Souls III for a focused traditional campaign, or Another Crab's Treasure for adjustable challenge. Avoid starting with Sekiro or Nioh 2 unless precise parrying or complex combat systems are already what attracts you.
What are the best multiplayer Soulslike games?
Remnant II is the best co-op Soulslike for a group that wants to progress and fight together. Elden Ring Nightreign is stronger for three-player runs built around short-term adaptation, while Nioh 2 and Lords of the Fallen are good choices for campaign-based online cooperation.
What are the best Soulslike games not made by FromSoftware?
Lies of P is the best non-FromSoftware Soulslike overall. Nioh 2 offers deeper combat systems, Remnant II is better for co-op, Nine Sols is the strongest 2D choice, and Another Crab's Treasure is better for beginners.
What is the best 2D Soulslike game?
Nine Sols is the best 2D Soulslike for players who want deflection-focused combat, strong storytelling, and hand-drawn exploration. Salt and Sanctuary is the better alternative if you prefer heavier RPG builds and a structure closer to Dark Souls.
What is the best anime Soulslike game?
Code Vein is the best anime Soulslike because it combines a detailed character creator, flexible Blood Code classes, dramatic character stories, and optional AI companionship. The First Berserker: Khazan is a better fit if you want a stylized look with tougher, more precise boss combat.
What is the best open-world Soulslike game?
Elden Ring remains the best open-world Soulslike. Its regions support different routes and difficulty levels, while optional dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, and summons make exploration directly useful to character progression.
Are there any good free Soulslike games?
Let It Die is one of the most established free-to-play games with Soulslike combat and death-based progression. Most of the strongest games in the genre are paid releases, so free demos, subscription libraries, and temporary trials are also worth checking before buying.
What is the best Soulslike game on mobile?
Pascal's Wager is one of the closest mobile games to a traditional 3D Soulslike, with stamina-based combat, checkpoints, bosses, and character progression. Mobile availability can vary by region and operating system, so check the current App Store or Google Play listing before purchasing.
Final Recommendation
Elden Ring remains the best Soulslike game for most players because it turns difficulty into a choice about where to go and how to prepare. Lies of P is the strongest alternative when you want a tighter campaign, while Another Crab's Treasure is the safest first step and Remnant II is the clear co-op pick.
Do not choose only by reputation. Pick the game whose world, combat style, or multiplayer structure gives you a reason to learn from the next defeat. That is the part of the Soulslike formula that matters more than how many times a boss sends you back to the checkpoint.