51 games

The best soulslike games

Demanding, precise and brutally fair: games where you learn from every defeat and every victory feels earned.

How to find games that really suit you: Select up to 5 games you have played and enjoyed. Playalike compares 50 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.

  1. 1 Elden Ring

    2022 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 59.99 € 93 % positive

    • Open world
    • Lots to discover
    • Lore and world history

    A vast open world, demanding combat and countless secrets, from the creator of the Dark Souls series.

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    Elden Ring

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  2. 2 Dark Souls III

    2016 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 59.99 € 94 % positive

    • Fantasy setting
    • Lore and world history
    • Boss fights as highlights

    A dark action RPG with precise, unforgiving combat and intricately connected levels.

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    Dark Souls III

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  3. 3 Bloodborne

    2015 PlayStation

    • Strong soundtrack
    • Lots to discover
    • Lore and world history

    A fast, aggressive Soulslike set in a gothic nightmare city, where you win by staying on the offensive instead of hiding behind a shield, and the story slowly turns into cosmic horror. Interlocking levels, brutal bosses and cryptic lore make it a genre landmark.

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    Bloodborne

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On sale now

From this list, currently discounted at Gamesplanet (PC key). Affiliate links*

⚡ Flash deal · No. 14 on this list

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

  • Melee combat with weapons or fists
  • Strong character progression
  • Dark, serious atmosphere
⚡−65 %69.99 €24.69 € View deal*

4 days left

  1. Cover of Nioh 3 No. 10 on this list Nioh 3 4 days left ⚡−53 %119.99 €56.84 €
  2. Cover of AI Limit No. 24 on this list AI Limit 5 days left ⚡−43 %34.99 €19.99 €

1 Elden Ring

Open world

2022 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 59.99 € 93 % positive

A vast open world, demanding combat and countless secrets, from the creator of the Dark Souls series.

2 Dark Souls III

Fantasy setting

2016 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 59.99 € 94 % positive

A dark action RPG with precise, unforgiving combat and intricately connected levels.

3 Bloodborne

Strong soundtrack

2015 PlayStation

A fast, aggressive Soulslike set in a gothic nightmare city, where you win by staying on the offensive instead of hiding behind a shield, and the story slowly turns into cosmic horror. Interlocking levels, brutal bosses and cryptic lore make it a genre landmark.

4 Dark Souls

Lots to discover

2011 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

A merciless action RPG whose interconnected world of Lordran rewards careful exploration with clever shortcuts, deliberate combat and cryptic, melancholic lore. Every death teaches something, and every victory feels truly earned.

5 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Boss fights as highlights

2019 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 59.99 € 95 % positive

Sword fighting in feudal Japan, where parrying and posture decide everything.

6 Demon's Souls (2009)

Fantasy setting

2009 PlayStation

The original Soulslike: you fight through the fog-cursed kingdom of Boletaria across brutal, interconnected stages full of traps and demons, where every death costs your souls and every victory feels earned. Asynchronous online touches like messages, bloodstains and invasions give the lonely journey a unique edge.

7 Lies of P

Lore and world history

2023 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable 59.99 € 91 % positive

A Soulslike based on Pinocchio, set in a decaying Belle Époque city with a strong focus on parrying.

8 Elden Ring Nightreign

Co-op or multiplayer

2025 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable 39.99 € 83 % positive

A co-op roguelike spin-off of Elden Ring where a trio races across a shrinking map over three days, powering up before facing a towering Nightlord boss. Fast, intense runs with distinct hero classes replace the sprawling solo journey.

9 The First Berserker: Khazan

Melee combat with weapons or fists

2025 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 59.99 € 85 % positive

A punishing soulslike set in the Dungeon & Fighter universe, where the betrayed general Khazan seeks revenge through weighty, precise melee combat and brutal boss duels. Its striking cel-shaded look and aggressive parry-and-stamina system set it apart.

10 Nioh 3

Loot and gear

2026 PC, PlayStation −46 % 119.99 € 64.79 € 4 days left 78 % positive

Demanding samurai action where you switch on the fly between Samurai and Ninja fighting styles to take down yokai from Japanese myth. Deep loot and build systems meet an open world for the first time in the series.

11 Demon's Souls (2020)

Fantasy setting

2020 PlayStation

This remake of the genre-founding classic sends you through fog-shrouded, bleak fantasy realms full of merciless enemies and punishing bosses. Modern visuals and fluid combat make the birth of the Soulslike feel fresh again.

12 Dark Souls II

Build variety

2014 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 39.99 € 87 % positive

The second Souls entry sends you as a cursed undead through the decaying kingdom of Drangleic, offering punishing bosses, huge weapon and build variety, and a sprawling, branching world packed with secrets.

13 Nioh

Loot and gear

2017 PC, PlayStation 49.99 € 78 % positive

A punishing samurai action RPG set in Sengoku-era Japan, where you play William and fight Yokai using multiple stances and Ki management. Deep loot and build systems meet demanding, precise duels.

14 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Fast pace

2023 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified −60 % 69.99 € 27.99 € 4 days left 49 % positive

A fast-paced Soulslike from Team Ninja set in the collapsing Han Dynasty, where deflecting and countering define the combat rhythm. Demon-corrupted warlords and mythical beasts provide tough fights that can also be tackled in co-op.

15 Nioh 2

Loot and gear

2020 PlayStation

Nioh 2 is a punishing samurai action RPG set in Sengoku-era Japan, where you play a half-Yokai and master stances, timing and supernatural powers. Its deep loot and build variety and fast, demanding combat make it a standout for Soulslike fans.

16 Valor Mortis

Dread and tension

2026 PC, PlayStation, Xbox 39.99 € 80 % positive

A first-person soulslike from the Ghostrunner team that casts you as a resurrected soldier of Napoleon's army. You fight horrifying monsters with blades, firearms and supernatural powers, in tense parry-driven combat set in a grim, twisted version of the Napoleonic era.

17 Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Lavish presentation

2025 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable 49.99 € 58 % positive

A demanding soulslike set in a grim take on the late Ming Dynasty, where a mysterious plague twists people into monsters. Flexible weapon builds, precise parrying and a madness mechanic that trades risk for power define its combat.

18 Mortal Shell II

Fantasy setting

2026 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable −25 % 49.99 € 37.49 € 3 days left 80 % positive

A grim soulslike where you possess the bodies of fallen warriors and use them in fast, punishing fights against false gods. The sequel offers a more open, ruined world with horror undertones.

19 Thymesia

Fast pace

2022 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable −75 % 24.99 € 6.24 € 2 days left 82 % positive

A fast, punishing soulslike where you play plague doctor Corvus, relying on precise parries and dodges and on the disease powers of plundered weapons. Combat rewards aggression over turtling, set in a grim, decaying kingdom.

20 Lords of the Fallen (2014)

Lots to discover

2014 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 29.99 € 69 % positive

A grim Soulslike where a magic lantern lets you shift between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead. Weighty combat, interconnected level design and the Umbral mechanic make exploration tense and demanding.

21 No Rest for the Wicked

Loot and gear

2024 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 39.99 € 80 % positive

An isometric soulslike action RPG with weighty, deliberate melee combat, stamina management and loot-driven builds, wrapped in a gorgeous painterly dark fantasy style. Town building and co-op round out the grim adventure on the Isle of Sacra.

22 Mortal Shell

Dark, serious atmosphere

2020 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 24.99 € 67 % positive

A compact soulslike where you possess fallen warriors as "shells", each with its own abilities. The Harden mechanic lets you briefly turn to stone to absorb hits, making combat tense and tactical in a bleak, decaying world.

23 Nine Sols

Distinctive, stylised art style

2024 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 28.99 € 94 % positive

A hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania set in a Taoist-flavored sci-fi world, with combat built almost entirely around precise deflecting and counterattacks. Revenge, mythology and stylish boss fights drive the journey.

24 AI Limit

Post-apocalyptic setting

2025 PC, PlayStation, Steam Deck playable 34.99 € 92 % positive

A challenging sci-fi action RPG in the Soulslike mold, where you play the immortal blade-wielder Arrisa exploring the ruins of a post-apocalyptic city. Combat emphasizes precise parrying and dodging.

25 Enotria: The Last Song

Distinctive, stylised art style

2024 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable −60 % 34.99 € 13.99 € 5 days left 69 % positive

A soulslike set in a vivid land inspired by Italian folklore and commedia dell'arte. Swappable masks reshape your playstyle and abilities as you fight through demanding duels and bosses.

26 Salt and Sanctuary

Strong character progression

2016 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 17.99 € 89 % positive

A 2D Soulslike wrapped in Metroidvania design: stamina-driven combat, punishing bosses and a huge skill tree in a grim, interconnected world. Its hand-drawn look and rewarding exploration set it apart.

27 The Surge

Sci-fi setting

2017 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable 14.99 € 75 % positive

A sci-fi Soulslike where you fight through a decaying industrial complex in an exoskeleton. Its hook is targeting and severing specific limbs to loot the exact gear and upgrades you want.

28 Salt and Sacrifice

Strong character progression

2022 PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 19.50 € 62 % positive

A 2D soulslike where you play an Inquisitor hunting powerful mages across several regions and claiming their gear and abilities. Combat is demanding, builds are varied, and you can also play it cooperatively.

29 Death's Gambit

Pixel art

2018 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 19.99 € 81 % positive

A punishing 2D Soulslike action RPG in Metroidvania clothing: you serve Death, battle towering bosses in a grim world, and build your character through classes and abilities.

30 The Surge 2

Sci-fi setting

2019 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 29.99 € 75 % positive

A dark sci-fi soulslike set in a ruined city where you target and sever specific enemy limbs to loot armor and parts for your exosuit. Brutal, demanding combat and interconnected level design drive the loop.

31 The Last Faith

Pixel art

2023 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck playable 26.99 € 83 % positive

A dark, gothic pixel-art Metroidvania that blends Soulslike combat with sprawling interconnected exploration and plenty of weapon and build options. You fight through a decaying world ravaged by plague and a corrupt religion as Eric.

32 Immortal Planet

Sci-fi setting

2017 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 14.99 € 80 % positive

A punishing sci-fi soulslike with an isometric view where patience, dodging and precise timing decide every fight. You explore a decaying world of immortals and uncover the mystery behind its curse.

33 False Hero

Fantasy setting

2026 PC, Steam Deck playable −20 % 19.99 € 15.99 € until tomorrow 89 % positive

A fast-paced soulslike where you steal enemy attacks and chain them into your own combos. You explore a corrupted land of the gods and face demanding boss fights.

34 Eldest Souls

Pixel art

2021 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 19.99 € 76 % positive

A dark pixel-art boss-rush soulslike where a lone knight takes on fallen gods one after another. It's all about precise dodging, learning attack patterns and experimenting with abilities.

35 Titan Souls

Pixel art

2015 PC, PlayStation, Steam Deck playable 14.79 € 82 % positive

A minimalist boss-rush adventure where you have a single arrow and one hit point. Each titan is a puzzle of timing, positioning and trial and error, set in a quiet pixel-art world.

36 Tunic

Puzzles and brain teasers

2022 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 28.99 € 91 % positive

A tiny fox explores a mysterious Zelda-like world with demanding, Souls-inspired combat. Its true heart is a scattered in-game manual written in an unknown script, whose pages gradually reveal layered secrets and brain-bending puzzles.

37 Bleak Faith: Forsaken

Sci-fi setting

2023 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable 28.99 € 75 % positive

A bleak open-world soulslike action RPG blending sci-fi and dark fantasy. You play one of the Forsaken, fighting through oppressive, eerie ruins against the horrors of the Omnistructure.

38 Moonscars

Pixel art

2022 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck playable 19.99 € 82 % positive

A grim 2D Metroidvania with soulslike combat in which you play a warrior shaped from ash exploring a decaying, macabre world. Punishing boss fights and oppressive pixel-art atmosphere define the experience.

39 Mistfall Hunter

Co-op or multiplayer

2026 PC, PlayStation, Xbox −20 % 24.99 € 19.99 € 10 days left 52 % positive

A dark fantasy action RPG built around extraction gameplay: you fight monsters and rival players solo or with a team, and only a successful escape lets you keep your loot. Classes, combos and skills add variety.

40 Immortal: Unchained

Shooting and gunplay

2018 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck playable 8.99 € 64 % positive

A punishing third-person action RPG that blends Soulslike combat with firearms. Its grim world mixes Norse mythology with science fiction and demands precise dodging and aiming.

41 Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption

Boss fights as highlights

2018 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 17.99 € 65 % positive

A pure boss-rush action RPG where you face bosses themed on the deadly sins. Before each duel you sacrifice a stat and drop a level, so every fight gets harder and your choice of what to give up shapes your build.

42 Loot River

Runs that play out differently every time

2022 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 24.99 € 69 % positive

You fight through procedurally generated labyrinths where you shift floating blocks across a river, shoving enemies into the abyss. Tough, Souls-inspired combat with dodging and parrying meets a dark roguelike loop.

43 Hellpoint

Sci-fi setting

2020 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck playable −80 % 33.99 € 6.79 € 3 days left 76 % positive

A grim sci-fi soulslike set on a decaying space station where dimensions bleed into each other. Interconnected areas, punishing combat and co-op play define the experience.

44 Dark Devotion

Pixel art

2019 PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck playable −90 % 19.99 € 1.99 € 5 days left 74 % positive

A grim 2D soulslike with metroidvania touches, set in a cursed temple full of merciless enemies and tough bosses. Precise dodging and timing decide whether you survive.

45 Tyrant's Realm

Runs that play out differently every time

2025 PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck verified 9.75 € 83 % positive

A tough soulslike-flavoured action roguelike set in a grim fantasy world. Weapons and armor each bring their own mechanics, keeping every run varied and dangerous.

46 Lords of the Fallen (2023)

Fantasy setting

2023 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 29.99 € 69 % positive

Lords of the Fallen pits you against brutal melee combat in a grim fantasy world split between the living and the dead. A lantern that moves you between both realms gives exploration and the consequences of your choices a distinctive twist.

47 Mana Spark

Runs that play out differently every time

2018 PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch 9.99 € 80 % positive

A punishing action RPG dungeon crawler mixing souls-like combat with roguelike elements. Enemies coordinate with each other, forcing you to fight carefully and smartly.

48 The Tarnishing of Juxtia

Pixel art

2022 PC, Steam Deck verified 22.69 € 66 % positive

A 2D dark fantasy action RPG with Soulslike combat: as the Goddess's final creation, you fight through the ruins of two divine kingdoms. Demanding fights, a bleak mood and a haunting score define the experience.

49 Pharaonic

Pixel art

2016 PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam Deck verified 14.99 € 77 % positive

A punishing side-scrolling action RPG set in ancient Egypt, where dodging, blocking and the choice between light and heavy gear decide fights against brutal enemies while you uncover the truth about the Red Pharaoh.

50 Unworthy

Lots to discover

2018 PC, Nintendo Switch 81 % positive

In Unworthy you fight through a grim metroidvania world where you have no jump at all, so combat has to be precise. Death is frequent and part of the design, and each attempt takes you a bit further.

What matters: Soulslike games

Soulslikes hook players with a simple loop: you die, you learn the enemy's patterns, and eventually you win through skill rather than luck. Checkpoints are sparse, mistakes are punished, and progress feels earned. Most also hide their story in item descriptions and environmental details, so exploration and lore-hunting become part of the reward.

When choosing, think about pace and combat style. Elden Ring is the most flexible starting point, because its open world lets you leave a tough boss and come back stronger later. Dark Souls: Remastered offers the original interconnected world of Lordran with its clever shortcuts, plus the Artorias DLC. Bloodborne, available on PlayStation, pushes you to stay aggressive instead of hiding behind a shield and leans into gothic and cosmic horror. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice drops most RPG systems in favor of parrying and posture, which makes it feel more like a pure sword-fighting test. Lies of P is a strong pick if you want a newer, story-rich take with a parry focus and a Belle Époque setting.

The list also includes difficult games that are not soulslikes, such as Cuphead, a hand-drawn boss rush with local co-op, and Hotline Miami, built on instant restarts. They scratch a similar itch of trial and error mastery, but in very different genres. Counter-Strike and Devil Daggers are demanding too, though they are competitive or score-chasing shooters rather than soulslikes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best soulslike for beginners?

Elden Ring is often recommended because its open world lets you explore elsewhere and level up when a boss feels too hard. Dark Souls III is another good entry point with a more linear structure.

Should I play Dark Souls or Dark Souls: Remastered?

Dark Souls: Remastered is the easier recommendation, since it keeps the original world of Lordran while adding sharper visuals, smoother framerates and the Artorias DLC.

Which soulslike focuses most on parrying?

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice builds its combat around parrying and breaking enemy posture. Lies of P also puts a strong focus on parrying within a more traditional soulslike structure.

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