The 10 best Soulslike games for life-or-death parries, crushing huge bosses, and bouncing back from defeat

The best Soulslike games understand just why games like Dark Souls became such a phenomenon in the first place. They have mysterious worlds worth exploring, deadly combat that rewards considered play, and truly awe-inspiring massive boss fights.

But, how do you define a Soulslike, anyway? Few action RPGs have such obvious, modern sources of inspiration. Drawing from Dark Souls and Demon's Souls, the best FromSoftware games provide the basis for the definition, though some games focus on vastly different aspects of that experience. Soulslikes that stumble can get the balance wrong, focusing too hard on insurmountable challenges, or having combat that feels clunky rather than careful. No, the best manage to balance a bit of it all.

Read on, and you'll find my best Soulslike games recommendations from 100s of hours spent playing the genre. With some of the best ARPGs from the realms of 2D to 3D, across a range of difficulties, and different settings, there's plenty of experiences to have here – and I've deliberately not overwhelmed the list with FromSoftware's own games (after all, is Dark Souls really a Soulslike?). I've also included the kind of vibe you can expect from each, which you can learn more about in our FAQ section. If you have more favorites, please let me know in the comments!

The 10 best Soulslike games, starting with...

10. Blades of Fire

MercurySteam has brought us some excellent Metroidvanias, having worked on both Castlevania and Metroid. The developer brings that knowledge of crafting dense, labyrinthine spaces to the fore in Blades of Fire, as well as new twists on the Soulslike genre formula in which many struggle to make innovations stick. In our Blades of Fire review we said it's "full of inventive ideas that I find delightfully infectious".

Chief among them is a weapon forging and hot-swapping mechanic that combines with an intricate enemy weakness system (spread across foes' limbs and even what they're in the middle of doing) to create non-stop situations in which you're encouraged to embrace a variety of playstyles. Environments are inventive but don't overstay their welcome, such as one gnarly castle early on, where you're constantly pursued by a respawning and gigantic enemy.

9. Another Crab's Treasure

Most Soulslikes can be more than a little grimdark – excellent when it works, but a little cringe when it doesn't. Another Crab's Treasure is a Soulslike full of wonderful, fresh ideas – and perhaps its biggest is being set in a colorful undersea world with googly-eyed characters (though the presence of a rot does still factor in). "If anything is going to convert you to the world of dodge rolls and brutal bosses," we say in our Another Crab's Treasure spotlight, "it’s this gloriously creative entry point."

Another Crab's Treasure simply has a terrific sense of humor. Playing as hermit crab Kril means you're constantly swapping loadouts, scurrying into all manner of forgotten trash and objects that'll fit your body to grant special attacks and buffs. Life can be tougher down where it's wetter, but take it from me that using a shot glass shell to shoot glass shards at enemies, or a coconut to roll over them is excellent.

8. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

For the beginning of Cal Kestis' adventure across the galaxy (far, far away) you don't even think about it as a Soulslike. But, when you notice the presence of the genre's hallmarks in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, you can't stop noticing it. Lightsaber in hand (be that solo, dual, alongside a blaster, or a heavier, two-handed version), Cal uses it to parry electric weapons and lasers alike, all while either cleaving through weak foes or bashing away at stagger bars.

At points, long, jumping challenges can feel less Soulsy, and are great moments in their own right, but is why this is a bit lower on this list as a Soulslike specifically. Predecessor Fallen Order is much the same, but in Survivor especially, there's heaps of shortcuts back to past areas, and a huge map in Koboh to explore as a massive, mazey hub. In our Star War Jedi: Survivor review, we called it "ambitious, confident, and heartfelt".

7. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

There's definitely plenty of strange about Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and the very concept of a Soulslike spin-off of this iconic JRPG series from the Nioh developer is only the start. Stranger of Paradise is also a pseudo-remake of the very first Final Fantasy from the '80s, merges grimdark fantasy with party members who look like they are wearing modern-day streetwear, and has multiple needle drop moments.

Odd though it may be, in action it sings. A real-time job-switching system means that hero Jack can mix-and-match combat styles even mid-combo. Each level can feel a bit linear, despite having Souls-y shortcuts, but striking visuals that textually riff on every single numbered Final Fantasy (because of timey wimey multiverse business) carry you through some memorable fights. To some, it may grate. But, for others, that roughness makes it stand out as a truly singular and suitably strange licensed action RPG.

6. Death's Door

Soulslikes might get you used to seeing "you are dead" messages. But, really, what is death to a reaper? Death's Door has you playing as the soul-collecting Crow, where the afterlife is monotonous and corporate, thrown into a deadly adventure when their latest assigned soul is stolen away.

Tracking down the escaped soul means Crow must travel between doors to realms where death has stopped, meaning the foes within have grown beyond natural means. Death's Door has a wonderful cartoon aesthetic with chunky designs that play well in this top-down, isometric adventure (which feels pretty unique for the genre). Exploring each world feels a bit Demon's Souls in nature, and it's exciting to see what you'll encounter and have to defeat next, with special mention to the iconic, gigantic, cauldron-mixing witch. There's a reason Death's Door is a Best Indie Game Golden Joystick winner.

5. Lies of P

Lies of P finally answers the age-old question: 'What if Pinocchio was even scarier than it already was?' The uncomfortable classic fairytale vibes this is based on pair really well with exploring Krat, a Steampunk-like city that's become a puppet-strewn wasteland. In our Lies of P review, we said that it "innovates the genre while still feeling familiar".

Created by Geppetto, you're a puppet yourself, but uniquely human-like in nature, and also armed with the capability to use and customize an array of powerful melee weapons. From Lies of P's dense city to its trick weapons and emphasis on offense, this exciting Belle Epoque-inspired adventure almost feels more like a Bloodborne-like than just a Soulslike, and it's exciting to see this kind of focus in a genre that can sometimes bat a little wide. It's also, in our opinion, one of the best ARPGs of all time as well.

4. Steelrising

Yes, Steelrising is another European history-inspired Soulslike based around puppets – but it's also just so good. Set in 1789 Paris, Steelrising imagines a history where the French Revolution failed – all thanks to Louis XVI's mechanical army of automaton monsters, of course.

Playing as Aegis, Queen Marie Atoninette's bodyguard (and dancer, for my starting class), she sends you out to clean up the King's bloody mess. What I really love about Steelrising is how it plays with movement, and I'm not just talking about Aegis' grappling hook that allows for lots of vertical exploration throughout Paris' streets. Combo moves with the large variety of weapons feel like elegant steps in a dance, and whether it's using twin swords, or a bladed, fold-up fan, spinning around enemies feels fantastic. This is also one of the earlier Soulslikes I played that offered detailed difficulty adjustments, meaning I've long been able to recommend it to just about anyone.

3. Hollow Knight: Silksong

In this list, I've mostly focused on 3D Soulslikes, as exploring spaces in this way makes them the most Soulslike to my mind. But it's Hollow Knight: Silksong (and its predecessor) that most effectively blurs that line. In our Hollow Knight: Silksong review, we called it "an evolved, spindly beast all its own".

Pharloom is a huge and dangerous space with multiple routes to weave through as you ascend towards an ominous castle, filled with a variety of boss fights that challenge Hornet's acrobatic fighting skills in unique ways. Often, I've spoken with other players who have drastically harder times with completely different boss fights because of this, and it means Silksong is a dish of constantly richer, deeper flavors, whether that's getting the timing down to battle clockwork knights, or going thread-to-thread with the lightning-fast Widow.

2. Nioh 2

Nioh 2 is a "masocore" action RPG that applies Team Ninja's penchant for over-the-top action from Ninja Gaiden 2 to more considered Soulslike action, while still allowing for some really fast-paced clashes. A ki system means that careful timing can restore energy spent on hits to keep combos going, while each of the game's many weapons has their own in-depth skill trees to master. In our Nioh 2 review, we said "the fluidity, depth and intensity of its combat is incredible."

The real icing on the cake in this sequel is you play as a half-demon yourself, meaning you can collect and use the powers of the yokai you defeat like a demonic Kirby. Even huge boss attacks can be parried by quickly using your yokai form, meaning you can feel like you're going toe-to-toe with the power of even the biggest enemies in a way other Soulslikes sometimes struggle to do. Nioh 3 is great as well, but the level-based focus of Nioh 2 just edges it out for me.

1. Bloodborne

Is it fair to even call FromSoftware's portfolio of action RPGs Soulslikes, considering the genre originates from their very own Demon's Souls? They might not be so much 'likes' as they are simply the thing itself. I say: yes. Especially when it comes to Bloodborne, which is so defined by being like Dark Souls but definitely not the same. It's the main reason I allowed myself to willingly dismiss Elden Ring from this list.

Players rely heavily on shields? Add a single, bad one as a joke. Too cautious? Reward offense with a health recovery mechanic. Lost in the weeds of weapon stats? Focus on heavy-hitting trick weapons instead. Bloodborne is steeped in a thick Gothic atmosphere of blood and moonlight that nothing since has managed to match up to. The sprawling city of Yharnam, besieged by weird nightmares, still intrigues no matter how many times I play it.

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