TheDark Soulstrilogy is one that players absolutely love for its wide range of character customization, gameplay, and astounding attention to detail. The trilogy is one that is loved to be hated by its fans due to its strict learning curve and difficulty. It is no surprise that the trilogy’s tag line is, “Prepare to die.”
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With an ever-increasing fan base of players who love to torture themselves within the series and commit to challenges that make each playthrough harder than the next, there comes a time to step away and seek other games that have the same effect. So this article focuses on some of the amazing games that have been created that share thatDark Souls-like gameplayand aesthetic and some that be avoided at all costs.
10Good: Nioh
Niohis one of the few souls-like games that doesn’t offer the freedom of character customization but still allows players to use a wide variety of weapons, magic, and ninjutsu. Set in Sengoku Era Japan, you play as William and witness his journey along the path of thesamurai.It offers great co-op gameplay that feels extremely similar toDark Soulsand brutal boss fights that will keep you coming back again and again just to face the same fate as before. It is definitely recommended not just for the gameplay style but the art style as well if you are a fan of Japanese culture.
Rune IIcomes in as one of the worst overall souls-like experiences that you can buy. It is an Epic Games Store exclusive that has received tons of negative feedback since its release. This game has combat that you would expect from a souls-like game but ultimately feels more like a badSkyrimmod. There is meticulous crafting in the game as well as resource collection that makes the game feel more and more likeMinecraft.
8Good: Remnant From The Ashes
Described by many people as “Dark Soulswith guns,” isRemnant From The Ashes.This addition to the ranks of good souls-like games brings players to a world where an ancient evil from another dimension has taken over and you are one of the last remnants of humanity that must fight back and retake what was lost. This game was brilliantly crafted by Gunfire Games and hits the nail on the head withgreat gameplayand atmosphere that give a similarly dark feel to theSoulsgames.
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The game offers many different ways to equip your character from crossbows to high powered rifles each with their own special abilities to keep the monsters at bay. There are also various puzzles and side quests for players to discover that further increase the playability of the game.
Immortal Planetis another action RPG that just isn’t there in souls-like quality. It is mainly generic with its combat and doesn’t seem to try anything innovative. As a game, it isn’t too bad and offers moments of great satisfaction as you take down various bosses and progress through a futuristic setting. When compared to due to its souls-like qualities, it ultimately falls short on many of the qualities that make any souls-like game great.
6Good: The Surge
The Surgeoffers the feeling of aDark Soulsgame in a futuristic package where exoskeletons and robots are both your best friend and nightmare. While it may not offer the character customization and riveting multiplayer experience, it still has the brutal gameplay design and difficult boss fights that will leave you begging for more. In this adventure, you make your way across the megacorporation known as CREO. Something goes wrong on your first day and now there are multiple threats that you must deal with. While it doesn’t offer the same dark fantasy atmosphere, the locations you visit do have a great souls-like quality to them.
Sword of Fortress: The Onomuzimis another souls-like game that just misses the mark. While it offers a similar fantasy design, it doesn’t do it in the full dark quality that fans have come to expect from aSouls-like game. Combat is very poor as well with enemies being able to instantly kill players without hesitation. It also offers a wide-open world for players to explore, but it can almost feel too big at times with areas taking what feels like an eternity to reach. Seeing as how this is a Playstation exclusive it is easy to expect more from this game.
4Good: Code Vein
Code Veinis one of the more recent souls-like games that has many mechanics that work extremely well for the genre it is apart of. The game revolves around your character unlocking their past as they traverse through multiple areas that can easily remind fans ofDark Souls.The combat system works in a very similar way with a few twists depending on what type of gear your character is wearing. The character customization is very broad and offers many ways to make your character look however you want them too.
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The gameplay also changes depending on what Blood Code you equip and the type of weaponry you choose as well. This game also offers great co-op gameplay to allow players to invite their friends into their world. Many of the bosses also have a souls-like feel to them and have a great steady increase indifficultyas you progress.
Dark SASIfalls under the dark fantasy genre and has the strong appearance of a souls-like game. It offers a dark atmosphere that hinges on sometimes being so dark that you cannot see the sword you are holding and has atmospheres that could be seen inDark Souls.Ultimately, this game falls into the category of games to avoid due to its clunky boss battles, poor mechanics, and bad textures.
2Good: Let It Die
Let It Dieis a game that appears few people have come across, but fits the souls-like genre well. It offers multiple weapons that break pretty fast so there is a constant need to switch up your playstyle which can keep the game interesting. The atmosphere is dark and is set in a metro style area in Japan. A nice bonus to this game is that it is free, but that only takes you so far since it does have microtransactions in it. It offers fast-paced combat against swarms of enemies as you progress up a dark tower and make it to the 100th floor. It also offers an online mode with invasions that don’t throw off the pace of the game and even though there are paid elements in the game, it isn’t forced upon you and you can receive the premium currency just for logging into the game each day.
This is yet another game that has the appearance of aSouls-like game with dark atmospheres that will make you question if you are actually playingDark Soulsor not. But appearances can be deceiving. This game has extremely clunky boss battles that will leave you questioning how you were killed time and time again. The poor hitbox mechanics also leave most of your attacks hitting air even when they pass through the enemy you are facing. This isn’t a game to take on lightly as it can end up being morefrustratingthan anyDark Soulsgame.
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