10 Of The Best Souls-Like Games That Aren't Dark Souls
New feature thumbnail, new list: 10 of the best Souls-like games that aren’t Dark Souls or anything else by FromSoftware. Is that possible? Of course.
Thanks to the recent release of Lies of P it’s reignited my interest in the genre. Here are some of my favourites, in no particular order, nor are they definitive. Seek ’em out.
Salt and Sanctuary
Ska Studios can’t go wrong in my eyes. There’s been a bit of a backlog of their titles in my Steam library, and what I’ve played are as equally stylish as this ‘ere Souls-like.
A 2D side-scroller, it’s that classic deep-end anecdote of finding the right class for you and whether you have the balls and patience to stick it out when fighting the bosses. They’re well-balanced, but that Sodden Knight fight got on my tits. Not enough to extinguish the flame, however. This is an excellent start for the list.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is so tongue-in-cheek that it could be an endgame weapon to slay all that attempt to mock it. It’s a parody that somehow makes light of the genre yet captures the essence so well you can’t help but enjoy it.
And, as we’ve seen with many 2D/3D crossovers, the visual variety keeps it fresh and engaging. Yes, the humour is a strong point, but don’t forget to adjust the commentary if it’s putting you off your swing.
Arboria
I don’t quite get why this game doesn’t get enough exposure. The number of hours I’ve spent in the darkness was unreal, but with each new run, there was another unique trip into the lower depths. Well, unique in the sense of a rogue-like.
Featuring characters that are a mash-up of Moss Man from He-Man and the veggie bastards of Jase and the Wheeled Warriors, Arboria’s look is also a very different experience to most, avoiding that monotonous grey and beige palette that is the medieval era.
Elderand
Jumping back to the 2D games, Elderand is closer to a Metroidvania, but for argument’s sake (and because I think I tagged it as a Souls-like), this features in the list.
Looking like a Castlevania yarn, we explore familiar territory by exploring new biomes, overpowered bosses, and more power-ups than you can shake a stick at. Alas, there is no powerstick. It’s a little slower-paced than the others, but worthy to make the cut.
GRIME
Another 2D/2.5D indie, which I also think was overlooked. Not enough exposure or because it was rubbish? The concept for GRIME was great, as you’re playing a character that is evolving as you play through the game. Alas, that means starting at the bottom, and if you aren’t good at these types of games, expect some early frustration.
Like Salt and Sanctuary, this also suffers from some sadistic knockbacks that can induce the odd ragequit. Additionally, GRIME is also about timing, and the mechanic here is absorbing attacks so that you can gain mass, thus power. Have a look-see for it on YouTube.
Thymesia
Who’d want to experience an open world (ish) plague environment where, to explain the ambiguity we’re accustomed to in these Souls-like titles, we have to help the protagonist (Corvus) recover their memories.
Why is Thymesia one of the best Souls-likes? It has to be the slick combat and being able to undo the hours you invest into stats to try something new. OverBorder Studio’s game puts aside armour sets and weapons and introduces plague weapons to serve as specials. But the ultimate feature to point out is the level of precision in this game.
After writing the review some time ago, I still wish I was better at this game. It’s so good.
Hellpoint
Controversial is too strong of a word to use in a list built up of opinions, but tinyBuild’s Hellpoint didn’t get much love when it came out. At least, that’s what it was like at the time – I’m not sure if it’s changed.
Dropping the medieval setting for a dystopian sci-fi, Hellpoint is more like Event Horizon than any of these gothic themes we’ve encountered. Combat can be a little sluggish, and it does take a little time to truly get into it, but the setting and mechanics make a change to the norm, and I’d recommend watching some playthroughs at the very least.
Blasphemous
Another title that, like Salt and Sanctuary, has had a sequel come out, though I haven’t played it yet. Again, we’re in 2D territory and more of a pixel art aesthetic that is surprisingly beautiful. And bloody.
The religious themes are powerful in this one, and as a result, while ambiguous and ominous – all those ‘ous’ words, Blasphemous has one of the strongest narratives in this list and, in my opinion, one of the deeper connections to the story. Of course, the gameplay is similar to its ilk: brutal, punishing, but incredibly rewarding.
Code Vein
Anime fans will already have lapped this up a while ago, but I came to it relatively late. But oh, how much I enjoyed it. I’m not the biggest anime fan nor into the aesthetic, but there was enough challenge to stick all the way through this and complete it two or three times.
Much like all our other third-person Souls-likes, the combat is familiar, and there are different styles of play to experiment with. The biggest standout here compared to all the others is that the story is pretty damn strong and, when held up against the rest, much more understandable. Plus, there’s a photo mode for taking snaps of your warriors. It’s pretty good for bragging rights or writing a review.
Nioh 2
It wasn’t intentional to leave Nioh 2 all the way at the bottom, as this list isn’t in any order other than me searching the ol’ data banks for ideas. That said, Nioh 2, outside of Darks Souls and Bloodborne is my favourite Souls-like.
I platinumed Elden Ring on the PS5 in about 114 hours, but I haven’t mastered demonology in my 200+ hours on this feudal Japan third-person romp that features the best variety of weapons in any of these games. You’ll think you’re a master of the naginata, only to do another playthrough with kusarigama and another with a ninjutsu build. It’s insanely good, and the endgame is even better.
You Are Dead
Before you get enraged because I had the audacity not to include your favourite Souls-like, or perhaps you think Hellpoint is utter shit like so many others have said, these are just my opinions.
I’m particularly fond of the genre and have been hooked since Dark Souls (not Demon Souls – that was too hard, the same for Sekiro). These are a selected few I’ve reviewed with the aim that you’ll either a) go check out playthroughs, reviews, and store pages or b) read through what I wrote about them in the first place. By the way, Deathbound in one worth checking out.
Any suggestions? Hit me up on the contact form, bitches.