The Best Soulslike Games

Best Soulslike games at a glance

How these Soulslike games were selected

The ranking considers:

• Quality and clarity of combat
• Boss and enemy design
• Build and weapon variety
• Exploration and level design
• Consequences for mistakes
• Solo and co-op options
• Accessibility for newcomers
• How much each game adds to the formula

Not every selection copies the same structure. ELDEN RING uses an open world, Blasphemous 2 and Hollow Knight use side-scrolling exploration, and STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor places Soulslike ideas inside a cinematic action adventure. Each game still rewards learning enemy patterns, managing resources and improving through repeated attempts.

1. Lies of P

Best focused Soulslike

Lies of P transforms the story of Pinocchio into a dark action RPG set against a Belle Époque-inspired city.

Combat rewards careful guarding, dodging and aggressive counterattacks. Enemies often change timing between attacks, so reacting too early can be as dangerous as reacting too late.

Its weapon system allows blades and handles to be combined, changing reach, attack patterns and scaling. That flexibility supports experimentation without requiring a completely new character.

Levels are more directed than ELDEN RING’s open world, making progression easier to follow while preserving shortcuts, secrets and threatening encounters.

Lies of P is single-player with full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for a polished, concentrated Soulslike where combat and weapon design remain central from beginning to end.

2. ELDEN RING

Best overall Soulslike adventure

ELDEN RING places demanding combat inside the open Lands Between.

Landmarks, roads and enemy placement guide exploration without forcing one route. If a boss becomes overwhelming, another region may contain equipment, upgrade materials or experience that changes the encounter.

Weapons, spells, attributes and special abilities support many builds. Optional online co-op can help with difficult areas, while competitive invasions add a different kind of pressure.

The story is fragmented across characters, items and locations, rewarding players who enjoy reconstructing a world’s history.

It supports single-player, online co-op, online PvP, full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for freedom, scale and the broadest range of viable play styles in this list.

3. Lords of the Fallen

Best traditional co-op Soulslike

Lords of the Fallen is a dark fantasy action RPG built around the connected worlds of the living and the dead.

The Umbral realm changes exploration by revealing routes and threats that are hidden in the ordinary world. Moving between the two layers can solve navigation problems but may also increase danger.

Combat follows a familiar Soulslike rhythm of stamina, positioning and committed attacks. Weapons and magic provide room for different builds.

Online co-op supports players who want to explore and fight bosses together, while online PvP introduces opposing players.

It supports single-player, online co-op, online PvP, full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for a close alternative to traditional dark fantasy Soulslikes with a strong co-op option and an unusual dual-world structure.

4. WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers

Best Chinese dark fantasy Soulslike

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is set in the land of Shu during the turmoil of the late Ming Dynasty.

The setting combines historical conflict with a mysterious illness and supernatural creatures. Villages, temples and ruined areas create a world shaped by both human factions and spreading corruption.

Combat emphasizes third-person action, weapon choice and demanding enemy patterns. Exploration provides opportunities to change equipment and prepare for later encounters.

Its mythology and historical inspiration give the game a different visual and narrative identity from medieval European dark fantasy.

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is single-player with full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for a fast action RPG rooted in Chinese history and mythology, especially if Black Myth: Wukong’s setting interests you.

5. Black Myth: Wukong

Best mythology-focused action RPG

Black Myth: Wukong follows the Destined One through an adventure rooted in Chinese mythology.

Combat uses staff techniques, spells, transformations and carefully timed defensive actions. Boss encounters form a major part of the journey and demand adaptation to different attack patterns.

The structure is more directed than ELDEN RING’s open world, allowing environments and encounters to maintain a stronger sequence.

Death does not reproduce every punishment associated with traditional Soulslikes, making progression less discouraging for players entering this style of action RPG.

It supports single-player, full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for mythology, visual spectacle and boss-focused action with fewer genre conventions to learn at once.

6. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Best deflection-focused combat

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty combines dark fantasy with a setting inspired by the Three Kingdoms period.

Its combat rewards aggressive deflections that turn enemy attacks into opportunities. Success depends on understanding rhythm and maintaining pressure rather than relying only on defensive distance.

The Morale system changes strength within each mission. Exploring for flags raises the player’s position and can make later encounters more manageable.

Weapons and magical abilities support different approaches, while online co-op gives players another way to face difficult missions.

It supports single-player, online co-op, online PvP and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for responsive combat built around timing and forward momentum rather than cautious shield play.

7. CODE VEIN

Best anime Soulslike

CODE VEIN combines Soulslike combat with anime-inspired characters, vampires and extensive appearance customization.

Its Blood Code system allows abilities and character roles to be changed without starting over. Players can experiment with different weapons, gifts and stat combinations as new options become available.

An AI companion can support solo exploration, reducing some of the pressure associated with facing every encounter alone. Online co-op is also available.

The story is more direct and character-focused than the fragmented storytelling common to many Soulslikes.

It supports single-player, online co-op, multiplayer and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for customization, flexible builds and a more openly told story within a dark action RPG.

8. Another Crab’s Treasure

Best Soulslike for newcomers

Another Crab’s Treasure places a hermit crab inside a colorful underwater kingdom threatened by collapse.

Discarded objects become shells, giving the protagonist defensive tools with different properties. The system turns exploration into a search for both protection and tactical options.

Combat still asks players to observe enemies and learn timing, but the brighter presentation and flexible tools make the experience easier to approach than many dark fantasy Soulslikes.

Humor and environmental themes create a different tone without removing meaningful challenge.

Another Crab’s Treasure is single-player with full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it as an entry point to the genre or as a refreshing alternative to bleak medieval settings.

9. Blasphemous 2

Best 2D Soulslike

Blasphemous 2 combines difficult side-scrolling combat with Metroidvania exploration.

Different weapons provide distinct attacks and traversal abilities, connecting character growth to access through the world.

Its religious imagery, pixel art and oppressive atmosphere create a strong identity that does not depend on imitating a 3D Souls game.

Bosses reward pattern recognition, while interconnected areas encourage returning with new movement options.

Blasphemous 2 is single-player with full controller support and Steam Family Sharing. Its modest storage requirements also make it one of the lighter installations here.

Choose it for a focused 2D challenge with stronger weapon variety and exploration than a linear action platformer.

10. Hollow Knight

Best Soulslike-adjacent platformer

Hollow Knight explores the ruined insect kingdom of Hallownest through platforming, combat and nonlinear discovery.

It is primarily a Metroidvania, but its difficult bosses, recovery after defeat and quiet environmental storytelling appeal to many Soulslike players.

Charms allow the player to adjust movement, defense and combat effects. New abilities gradually open routes through previously inaccessible areas.

The hand-drawn world balances melancholy atmosphere with unusual characters and hidden spaces.

Hollow Knight is single-player with full controller support and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for exploration and boss mastery, but expect platforming and Metroidvania progression to matter more than RPG equipment systems.

11. STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor

Best story-led Soulslike adventure

STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor continues the story of Cal Kestis in a third-person science-fiction adventure.

Combat combines lightsaber stances, Force abilities, dodging and parrying. Difficulty options allow players to adjust how demanding those systems become.

Large areas support exploration, traversal and optional encounters, while the central story provides clearer direction than most traditional Soulslikes.

The game also includes platforming and puzzle-solving, making combat one part of a broader cinematic adventure.

STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor is single-player with full controller support.

Choose it for character-driven storytelling and Soulslike-inspired combat in a familiar science-fiction setting.

12. STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN

Best mission-based co-op Soulslike

STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN combines difficult action combat with Final Fantasy jobs, equipment and creatures.

Jobs change available abilities and encourage players to switch roles according to the mission or enemy. Loot provides frequent opportunities to adjust statistics and builds.

Its mission-based structure is more direct than the interconnected worlds of Lies of P or Lords of the Fallen.

Online co-op lets players tackle missions together, making it a strong option for groups who also enjoy collecting equipment and refining builds.

It supports single-player, online co-op, multiplayer and Steam Family Sharing.

Choose it for fast combat, extensive job switching and a Soulslike-adjacent structure built around replayable missions.

Which Soulslike game should you play first?

Match the game to the experience you want:

• Focused traditional Soulslike: Lies of P
• Open-world exploration: ELDEN RING
• Dark fantasy co-op: Lords of the Fallen
• Chinese historical fantasy: WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
• Mythology and boss encounters: Black Myth: Wukong
• Deflection-heavy combat: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
• Anime style and customization: CODE VEIN
• A more approachable entry point: Another Crab’s Treasure
• 2D combat and exploration: Blasphemous 2
• Metroidvania challenge: Hollow Knight
• Cinematic science-fiction story: STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
• Mission-based jobs and co-op: STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN

Lies of P is the strongest introduction to the focused 3D formula. Another Crab’s Treasure is easier to approach, while ELDEN RING gives struggling players more freedom to explore elsewhere and return later.

Best Soulslike games for beginners

Another Crab’s Treasure is the most welcoming option because its presentation is less intimidating and its shell system provides flexible defensive choices.

STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor offers difficulty settings and a clearly presented story, making it useful for players who want to learn parrying and stamina-aware combat without giving up cinematic structure.

Black Myth: Wukong is less punishing after defeat than many conventional Soulslikes, although its bosses still demand careful learning.

ELDEN RING remains difficult, but its open world allows players to find other challenges instead of repeatedly confronting one obstacle.

Lies of P is more concentrated and therefore gives players fewer ways to avoid a difficult encounter. It is better after learning the genre’s basic rhythm.

Best co-op Soulslike games

Lords of the Fallen is the strongest recommendation for players who want a traditional dark fantasy Soulslike with online co-op.

CODE VEIN supports online co-op and also provides an AI companion for solo players.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty combines co-op with fast deflection-based combat and mission progression.

STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN is ideal for groups that enjoy replayable missions, equipment and changing jobs.

ELDEN RING includes online co-op for areas and bosses, but its open-world structure and multiplayer rules differ from a continuous shared campaign.

Best 2D Soulslike games

Blasphemous 2 is the clearest 2D Soulslike in this list. Its weapon systems, difficult encounters and dark world fit the genre while Metroidvania abilities shape exploration.

Hollow Knight is more accurately described as a Metroidvania with Soulslike elements. It emphasizes platforming, interconnected exploration and charm-based customization.

Choose Blasphemous 2 when combat and dark imagery matter most. Choose Hollow Knight when exploration, movement and atmosphere are the priority.

Soulslikes versus action RPGs

Soulslikes are action RPGs or action adventures that emphasize deliberate combat, dangerous exploration and learning through failure. However, not every difficult action RPG is structured the same way.

Lies of P and Lords of the Fallen closely follow the familiar formula of checkpoints, resource recovery and committed attacks.

Black Myth: Wukong and STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor borrow selected ideas while placing more emphasis on cinematic action and directed progression.

Hollow Knight and Blasphemous 2 translate some of the same principles into 2D exploration.

The label is useful when it explains how a game approaches combat and failure. It becomes less useful when every difficult action game is treated as identical.

What makes a good Soulslike boss?

A strong boss communicates enough information for players to improve after failure.

Animations, sound and positioning should help distinguish attacks even when timing is deliberately deceptive. Difficulty feels more rewarding when the player can identify why an attempt failed.

The arena also matters. Space, obstacles and camera behavior can change whether an encounter tests skill or creates frustration.

Build variety should remain meaningful without allowing one strategy to erase every mechanic. Lies of P, ELDEN RING and Wo Long approach this balance differently, but all reward understanding over random aggression.

Choosing between solo and co-op play

Solo play makes every mistake and victory personal. Lies of P, Black Myth: Wukong, Blasphemous 2 and Hollow Knight are designed around that focused experience.

Co-op can make difficult encounters more manageable and creates room for complementary builds. Lords of the Fallen, CODE VEIN, Wo Long and STRANGER OF PARADISE support this approach.

ELDEN RING sits between the two, offering a complete solo journey alongside optional online assistance and competition.

Choose solo when learning boss patterns is the main attraction. Choose co-op when coordinating roles and sharing difficult encounters matters more.

More Soulslike games and coverage

Players interested in FromSoftware’s series and its closest relatives can continue with the best Dark Souls games and Souls-likes.

For a closer look at one of the newer Chinese dark fantasy entries, read the WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers combat preview.

Final recommendations

Lies of P is the best focused Soulslike, while ELDEN RING offers the broadest world and the greatest build freedom. Choose Lords of the Fallen for traditional co-op or WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers for Chinese dark fantasy.

Choose Another Crab’s Treasure as a more approachable starting point, Blasphemous 2 for a 2D Soulslike or Hollow Knight for Metroidvania exploration with Soulslike elements.

Players who prefer clearer storytelling should choose STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, while groups interested in jobs and loot should consider STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN.

The best Soulslike is not simply the hardest game. It is the one that turns failure into useful information and makes the next attempt feel earned rather than repeated.