If you’re a fan of the punishing difficulty and dark atmosphere of games like Dark Souls, you’re in for a treat. We’ve compiled a list of 10 challenging games that capture the same vibe as the Souls series and will push your gaming skills to the limit.
Get ready to die (a lot) in this challenging environment that fans of the souls series, games like Lords of the Fallen, Bloodborne, and the dark souls trilogy have come to love.
1. Hollow Knight: A Metroidvania Masterpiece
Hollow Knight is a 2D metroidvania that will feel right at home for Souls fans and those who appreciate the punishing difficulty of games to play in the soulsborne genre.
This indie gem, influenced by the soulslike genre and games like Castlevania, features intricate level design and tough boss fights that will keep you on your toes, reminiscent of the challenges found in dark souls 1. The dark, mysterious world of Hollow Knight is filled with secrets to uncover and challenges to overcome.
You play as a nameless knight, exploring the ruins of Hallownest, a once-great kingdom now fallen to ruin. As you journey deeper into the world, you’ll encounter a cast of quirky characters and unravel the mysteries of the kingdom’s past.
2. Salt and Sanctuary: A 2D Dark Souls Clone
If you’re looking for a game that’s basically a 2D version of Dark Souls, look no further than Salt and Sanctuary. This game has everything you’d expect from a Souls-like: a dark atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and an interconnected world to explore, making it an anticipated title for 2023 alongside eagerly awaited releases like Remnant 2.
You play as a shipwrecked sailor, washed ashore on a strange island filled with danger and mystery, reminiscent of the first game in many soulslike series.
As you explore the island, now available on PS4, you’ll encounter fierce enemies, discover powerful weapons and spells, and uncover the secrets of the island’s past, immersing you in one of the soulslikes available.
3. Blasphemous: A Gothic Metroidvania
Blasphemous is another souls-like Metroidvania that’s sure to satisfy fans of the genre, offering a challenging experience akin to the infamous difficulty of FromSoftware’s titles, set for release on the ps5 in 2024.
Set in a dark, gothic world, Blasphemous features brutally difficult combat and memorable boss encounters that will test your skills on platforms like the xbox and ps5.
You play as The Penitent One, a silent knight tasked with freeing the world from a terrible curse, in an adventure comparable to the best soulslike games, available on PS4, and games developed by gunfire games.
As you explore the world of Cvstodia, drawing inspiration from Castlevania, you’ll encounter twisted creatures, discover powerful relics, and uncover the secrets of the world’s dark past.
4. Mortal Shell: A Souls-Like with a Twist
Mortal Shell is a 3D souls-like that puts a unique spin on the formula. In this game, you play as a “shell,” a being that can inhabit the bodies of fallen warriors. Each shell has its own unique playstyle and abilities, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay.
The world of Mortal Shell is a decayed, medieval landscape filled with danger and mystery, offering an experience akin to traversing the perilous environments seen in Dark Souls 2 and other soul-like games.
As you explore in this soulslike game, available on PS4 and Xbox One, you’ll discover powerful weapons and abilities, encounter fierce enemies, and uncover the secrets of the world’s past, reminiscent of the journey through the Dark Souls trilogy.
5. Nioh: A Souls-Like in Feudal Japan
Nioh, a Souls-inspired action RPG set in a fictionalized version of feudal Japan, is a must-play for fans of the souls series. While it mixes in some new mechanics, such as a stance system and ki pulse, it retains the punishing difficulty the souls series and games like dark souls 1 are known for.
You play as William, a Western samurai tasked with hunting down a powerful demon, in this action game that draws inspiration from the souls-like games.
As you explore the world of Nioh, set to release on xbox and ps5, you’ll encounter fierce yokai, discover powerful weapons and abilities, and uncover the secrets of Japan’s dark past.
6. The Surge: A Sci-Fi Souls-Like
The Surge is a sci-fi take on the Souls formula that’s sure to satisfy fans of the genre, including those who enjoy the challenging gameplay and dark thematic elements of the dark souls trilogy and Thymesia. Set in a dystopian future, The Surge features brutal combat, clever enemy designs, and an interconnected world to explore.
You play as Warren in Surge 2, an employee of a mega-corporation tasked with maintaining the company’s advanced technology, in a setting that fans of sci-fi soulslike games like The Surge might appreciate, available on Xbox Series X.
When a catastrophic event occurs, Warren must fight for survival against the company’s rogue machines and uncover the truth behind the disaster.
7. Furi: A Boss Rush Extravaganza
Furi is a bit different from the other games on this list, but it captures the intensity and challenge of Dark Souls and Sekiro boss fights perfectly, marking it as a must-play action game for fans of the soulsborne category.
This boss rush game features a mix of hack n slash and bullet hell gameplay, similar to the intense combat found in soulslike games like Bloodborne, that will keep you on your toes.
You play as a mysterious warrior, imprisoned by a powerful jailer, in a journey through Lies of P, capturing the essence of soulslikes on PS4 and Xbox Series X.
To escape, you must defeat a series of increasingly difficult bosses, each with their own unique abilities and attack patterns reminiscent of those found in souls games, making it a contender for one of the best soulslike games.
8. Code Vein: An Anime-Inspired Souls-Like
Code Vein is an anime-inspired Souls-like that features fast-paced combat, a unique companion system, and a dark, post-apocalyptic world to explore. In this game, you play as a Revenant, a vampire-like being with supernatural powers.
As you explore the world of Code Vein, available on Xbox One, you’ll encounter fierce enemies, discover powerful weapons and abilities, and uncover the secrets of the world’s past. The game’s companion system allows you to bring along an AI-controlled partner, adding an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.
9. Remnant: From the Ashes – A Souls-Like Shooter
Remnant: From the Ashes is a unique take on the Souls-like formula that blends elements of third-person shooters and action RPGs, reminiscent of the gameplay found in Elden Ring by FromSoftware, marking it as one of the 10 best soulslike games.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by interdimensional beings, Remnant, a soulslike game for the xbox, features challenging gameplay, procedurally-generated levels, and a deep crafting system.
You play as one of the last survivors of humanity, tasked with fighting back against the invading forces and uncovering the secrets of the world’s past.
As you explore in this soulslike game, available on Nintendo Switch and Xbox One, you’ll encounter fierce enemies, discover powerful weapons and abilities, and forge alliances with other survivors.
10. Ashen: A Souls-Like with a Focus on Co-Op
Ashen is a Souls-like that puts a unique spin on the formula by focusing on co-op gameplay. Set in a world without light, Ashen offers a challenging combat experience similar to that of a soulslike game, a vast world to explore, and a unique multiplayer system that seamlessly blends co-op and single-player gameplay.
You play as a wanderer on Xbox Series X, seeking to restore light to the world by defeating powerful bosses and uncovering ancient secrets, making it a journey akin to the best soulslike games.
As you explore, you’ll encounter other players on PS4 and Xbox One, who can join you on your journey or invade your world as enemies, in this immersive soulslike experience.
These are just a few of the many games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne that offer a challenging and rewarding experience on consoles like the ps5.
Whether you’re a fan of metroidvanias, action RPGs, or boss rush games, there’s something on this list for everyone, including titles available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, making them some of the best soulslike games around.
So what are you waiting for to dive into these challenging soulslike games on your ps5? Pick up your controller, available for Xbox Series X and PS4, and get ready to die (a lot) in this exhilarating souls-like experience similar to the much-anticipated action game Remnant 2.
