Ever for the reason that one-two punch of FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls in 2009 and Darkish Souls in 2011, the Soulslike style has progressively grown in reputation. Current years have given parry aficionados loads of drab environments, grotesque enemies, and opaque tales to take pleasure in. After all, not each Soulslike is stuffed with darkness; drenching its world in solar is what made 2024’s Enotria: The Final Track stand out, for instance.
With Elden Ring’s arrival on Nintendo Switch 2 and FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods proper across the nook, now’s nearly as good of a time as any to replicate on the style of video games FromSoftware helped construct by wanting on the 10 finest Soulslikes of the previous 10 years.
After all, defining what precisely is a “Soulslike” is usually a difficult endeavor, particularly when so many latest video games mix components from varied genres. We’re searching for video games which can be excessive on problem, encourage exploration, have bonfire-like checkpoints, and often punish the participant for dying. We’re limiting the record to at least one recreation per sequence, and excluding FromSoftware’s Soulsborne output. You already know Elden Ring is the very best this style has to supply this facet of Bloodborne (the true GOAT).
First, an honorable point out: Mortal Shell 2. Chilly Symmetry’s second Soulslike stab is certainly one of the best-reviewed Soulslikes of the year. It’s solely been out a few days on the time of this publication, however gamers have been jiving with it based mostly on its Very Positive Steam player rating. However similar to with our best games of 2026 list, we need to let video games settle in for just a few weeks earlier than making any definitive declarations about them.
10
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (2025)
The place to play: PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers excels in making its players feel powerful. Whereas some (OK, possibly most) Soulslikes enjoy beating a participant down, Wuchang delights in giving gamers instruments to create their very own energy fantasies. As a substitute of hits from bosses abruptly ending combos, Wuchang’s conflict mechanic permits gamers to hit by assaults, and even acquire well being again on every hit with the best buffs geared up. There are quite a lot of nice concepts in Wuchang, like its magic system and Insanity mechanic, that can absolutely get iterated on in a sequel, though how that performs out is but to be seen after Wuchang’s developer reportedly disbanded.
9
The First Berserker: Khazan (2025)
The place to play: PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
The First Berserker: Khazan combines the darkish and dreary look of a Darkish Souls recreation with a cel-shaded anime aesthetic to make for a novel visible model. Whereas a prequel to the Dungeon & Fighter sequence, it’s set 800 years earlier than the primary recreation, so that you’re good to go hacking and dodge-rolling with out doing any homework. You’ll step into the boots of Common Khazan for bloody and brutal boss battles, a spotlight of the underrated 2025 Soulslike.
8
One other Crab’s Treasure (2024)
The place to play: Nintendo Change, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
Another Crab’s Treasure is without doubt one of the most unusual Soulslikes round for starring, nicely, a crab! It’s a visible deal with, pulling on a big shade palette for its vivid underwater environments. Your poor crab’s shell has been repossessed, which means your Fashion Souls match comes by means of discarded trash within the ocean, like a gacha capsule or a crimson solo cup. One other Crab’s Treasure threads the needle between problem and attraction, and its accessibility settings (you may PAUSE the sport!) definitely assist in that regard.
7
Remnant 2 (2023)
The place to play: PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
Remnant 2 and its predecessor are a few of the few Soulslikes that don’t primarily concentrate on melee fight. As a substitute, you’ll have a large arsenal of firearms to shoot your monstrous foes within the face. It options ever-changing, procedurally generated ranges to continually hold you in your toes, a departure from the style’s sometimes extremely structured and related stage design. And if Remnant 2 begins getting too tough, seize a buddy for the post-apocalyptic journey, as the sport helps cooperative multiplayer.
6
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty (2023)
The place to play: Nintendo Change 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
FromSoftware stands out as the undisputed King of the Soulslike, however Crew Ninja has given it a run for its cash. Recognized for the NInja Gaiden video games, Crew Ninja has additionally launched the Soulslikes Rise of the Ronin, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and the Nioh sequence (extra on that in a second). Wo Lengthy is as tough as they arrive, and expertly blends together wuxia action and Sekiro-like parrying. It calls for persistence and follow, and thru that you simply’ll develop into an professional demon slayer.
5
Black Fable: Wukong (2024)
The place to play: PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
At occasions, Black Myth: Wukong feels extra like a boss rush recreation than something because it showcases over 100 bosses to take down. It’s stuffed to the brim with gross insect creatures, big monsters, rat enemies, and extra impressed by Journey to the West. Wukong is a little more forgiving than most Soulslikes, however it nonetheless supplies sufficient problem over the course of 60 or so hours. Although you solely use Wukong’s customizable employees as a weapon with a restricted moveset, magical spells, transformations, and spirit abilities hold fight diverse and enjoyable all through.
4
Hell Is Us (2025)
The place to play: Nintendo Change 2 (out Oct. 8), PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X
Hell Is Us strikes a fantastic stability between guiding a participant on their journey and letting them determine issues out on their very own. Its war-torn world is price spending the additional time to discover and chat it up with NPCs, a few of whom are vile and a few of whom are simply attempting to outlive a brand new day within the midst of a civil battle. Whereas you would possibly play an Elden Ring and are available out the opposite facet probably not understanding what’s occurring in its world, Hell Is Us’ storytelling and mysteries are its strengths.
3
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023)
The place to play: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel Survivor are a few the very best Star Wars video games ever made. They expertly combine lightsaber fight with Soulslike parrying, whereas combining these components with puzzle-solving and Metroidvania-inspired exploration. Get pleasure from hacking away at Stormtroopers and getting your butt handed to you by powerful bosses. Each video games are top-notch, however Survivor’s expanded lightsaber arsenal and its nice third act twist villain place it above Fallen Order. Well, that’s if either of them are even Soulslikes.
2
Nioh (2017)
The place to play: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC
All three Nioh video games are a few of the finest Soulslikes round. (They’re additionally a few of the hardest.) Nioh 3 may be the highest-rated Soulslike of 2026, however it’s not the very best in its sequence. That crown goes to the unique, 2017’s Nioh, a brutal recreation that takes gamers to 1600 Japan, which is plagued by yokai to slay. They’re gonna slay you first, nonetheless, as Nioh has you dealing with terribly tough common enemies, and that’s earlier than we get to its demonic bosses. However no less than Nioh offers you loads of selection in the way you need to take these foes down — there are too many customizable armor, weapons, guardian spirits to rely.
1
Lies of P (2023)
The place to play: Nintendo Change 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X
Lies of P is the best Souslike crafted by fingers that aren’t working at FromSoftware. Co-developed by Neowiz and Nough (previously Round8 Studio), Lies of P places a really violent and parry-focused twist on the traditional story of Pinocchio. Simply known as P, the puppet wakes up within the metropolis of Krat after puppets (assume robotic servants) went mad and revolted, slaughtering Krat’s inhabitants within the course of. P investigates the Puppet Frenzy whereas pushing the bounds of his humanity; the extra you lie to others, the extra human he turns into. Storytelling is a energy of Lies of P (and its Overture expansion), however that doesn’t imply its fight isn’t any slouch. Weapon components could be blended and matched to change movesets, and P has a swappable prosthetic arm that can be utilized as a flamethrower, shotgun, and extra. Most significantly, Lies of P additionally has one of many best parries round.
A sequel is within the works that can presumably discover different fairy tales and tales, like The Wizard of Oz. FromSoftware’s Soulsborne video games solely obtained higher with every entry. I can solely hope the identical occurs for Neowiz and Nough.