5 Best Souls-Like Games Everyone Should Play

FromSoftware recently once again proved its mastery of the craft with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Despite being a departure from Dark Souls or Bloodborne, Sekiro undeniably still has the SoulsBorne blood coursing through its veins. While other studios haven’t been too keen on giving the genre a shot, there have still been a few really good SoulsBorne games here and there. Here are the five best SoulsBorne games that are definitely worth your time and money.

Ashen

The most recent release in this list, Ashen even starts like Dark Souls: by telling the story of how its world was created. What sets it apart from its Souls parents, however, is the fact that you have an AI buddy with you. Not only does this change how engagements play out, since you’ll have someone to distract enemies with, but it also places a larger emphasis on co-operative play. Add in a quest system that’s more at home in a typical RPG than it is a SoulsBorne and you have quite the unique take on the genre in Ashen.

Nioh

Nioh takes a lot of elements from a lot of different genres, puts them in a blender and turns the dial up to 11. Part loot-based RPG, part Souls-esque level design and part DMC-styled action game, Nioh has a wide variety in even its minute-to-minute gameplay. Its fast-paced gameplay is supplemented with a stance system that gives you a wide variety of moves to play around with, depending on your enemies, and even its dodging is integral to how minibosses and big boss fights play out. Nioh might get repetitive at times, but play it in intervals and you’re bound to be entertained. I personally like to think of Nioh as a modern-day take on Onimusha.

Salt and Sanctuary

One of the most thematically-successful Souls-like games out there, Salt and Sanctuary truly feels like a side-scrolling Dark Souls. Salt and Sanctuary nails the feeling of being lost in a strange, hostile land, and much of its storytelling is environmental. Add in heavy, deliberate combat where you can’t just cancel out of combo moves and punishing fights and you’re in for one hell of a time – albeit dark, brooding time. There’s also a gigantic skill tree to work your way up, so you’ll always have a good reason to go around killing enemies and picking up salt.

DarkMaus

DarkMaus is a unique take on the Souls style of games; its minimalistic visual design doesn’t divulge too much information about you or the world you’re exploring, and as the name might imply you are playing a mouse. It retains its Souls-ness in its combat, which is slow, deliberate and reactive. Greedy moves are punished severely, but death isn’t as punishing as other games in this list; every time you die you’ll get a friendly ghost fighting alongside you, and you can get as many of these ghosts as you want. You’ll just have to die. A lot.

Rain World

Rain World is unquestionably the weirdest game on this list. Less of an RPG and more of a simulation of nature, Rain World puts you in the shoes of a defenseless slugcat. The world is an unforgiving place, and every time you set out for food and shelter, you’re bound to face tonnes of beasts that would want little more than to kill you. Every encounter feels almost like a puzzle as you try and use the level around you to best sneak past your predators. Rain World is punishing and definitely not for the faint of heart, but it’s a REALLY good game with fun, physics-based gameplay.