Indeed, developerFromSoftwaredidn’t predict the magnitude of their creation after numerous games stemmed fromDark Souls.TheDark Souls-like subgenre is characterized by unforgiving gameplay, colossal boss fights, andRPG elements.You start from virtually nothing, building a character into an inexorable force.
RELATED:Ranked: 10 Most Powerful Weapons In Dark Souls
The list ofDark Souls-like games that have shaped the industry continues to grow. It was once debatable whether the subgenre exists, but all doubt has since been cast out. The following games take after theDark Soulsseries. With so manyDark Souls-like games flooding the gaming channels, which ones are the best?
10Ashen
Now and then, aDark Souls-like game swings for the fences, butAshenis neither bold nor an exceptional example of aDark Souls-like game. It’s a game that not everyone will appreciate, although its co-op RPG elements aren’t terrible. You’ll encounter other players in this game’s open-world. The visual details might be the high-points of the adventure. The title of the game is a reference toDark Souls, which serves as the basis forAshen.
9Titan Souls
Although it’s not the best example of aDark Souls-like game,Titan Soulswarrants the playthrough. The game’s grueling boss fights are something that will have you returning.Titan Soulsis much like aDark Soulsgamefrom a top-down 2D perspective. It contains an open-world, adding to the resemblance to aSoulsgame. Whether you’re into indie games or not,Titan Soulsis bound to surprise because of its sprawling world.
8Nioh
One gripe about the game is that theboss fights might be too hard.Yes, even for aDark Souls-like, bosses can be too hard. When a game has “Ready to die?” in its description, players know what they are getting into.
RELATED:5 Reasons Why Sekiro Is Better Than Nioh 2 (& 5 Why It Isn’t)
Team Ninja was the developer behind theNinja Gaidenseries and one of two developers behindNioh.The combat is the high-point, which brings combos to theSouls-like subgenre. The options provided for beating a section is whyNiohis a knockout.
It’s a rinse and repeat type of game, where players will be forced to start over when they die. Expect to die, but know that there aren’t any checkpoints in the game like a typicalSouls-like.Dead Cellstakes aspects of theDark Soulstrilogy, addsMetroidvania and platforming,and sticks it all in a blender for one seamless game. If you only play one newDark Souls-like this year,Dead Cellswould be a worthy choice.
6Demon’s Souls
BeforeDark Souls,Demon’s Soulswas an action role-playing game from developer FromSoftware. Naturally, the game is more unrefined than its successor, but it did introduce many gameplay mechanics that were pivotal for the subgenre. Whether theDemon’s Soulsremakewill live up to the reputation ofDark Soulsis yet to be seen. For now, we can say that the originalDemon’s Soulsis the game that started it all.
5Remnant: From The Ashes
DeveloperGunfire Games' foray into theDark Soulsrealm wasn’t a misfire.Contrasting from otherSouls-likes,Remnant: From the Ashesis a third-person shooter. One might wonder how somebody can compare this shooter toDark Souls.Well, the tone of the game is an instant resemblance with grueling boss fights and enemy difficulty. You’ll need to continuously up your game for the chance to persevere through this gloomy story campaign.
4Nioh 2
Few games have accomplished whatNioh 2has done. It usesDark Soulsas inspiration, yetNioh 2brings enough new content to the table to be considered relevant as a standalone.Nioh 2introduces three-player co-op to theSouls-like subgenre, creating fights against bosses that are arduous and rewarding. Relying on your friends is not recommended inNioh 2, as it will take effort from both players to get through a boss battle.Yatsu-no-Kami, the poisonous snake,is one of the most memorable boss fights inDark Souls-likes history.
3Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Few could’ve predicted the effectiveness ofStar Warsas aDark Souls-like game.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Ordercomes in different difficulty levels, making it an atypicalDark Souls-like, but the game works regardless.
RELATED:10 Hidden Secrets Many Still Haven’t Found In Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Some of the game’s boss battles are optional and provide a reason for players to backtrack at any point in the game.Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderwill go down as one of the bestDark Souls-likes, and we are eagerly waiting to see what developerRespawn Entertainmentcan conjure with the sequel.
2Bloodborne
The gothic horror elements ofBloodbornegive us pause. This game is closely related toDark Soulssince it is from the same developer, From Software. Evendarker thanDark Souls(if that was possible),Bloodborne’sgrueling boss fights and enemies make it one of the bestDark Souls-likes in the subgenre’s history. This is a game with a substantial online component, like the Dark Souls games. The story lacks in some areas, but the gameplay hits the mark.
1Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
AlthoughDark Soulsdid it first,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceimproved on the formula in many ways. The game follows the protagonist Wolf as he serves the Divine Heir, Kuro. There are layers of detail densely packed into each area. It was tough to fight oneheadless gorilla boss,but it was even more so when there were two gorillas.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicewon awards for the game of the year during its year of release. Subtle additions like a grappling hook add variety. It’s not only the bestDark Souls-like, but it might be better than the game it’s based on.
NEXT:Sekiro DLC: 10 New Things To Check Out After The Update
