Are you a fan of the punishing Soulslike genre? If you don’t mind dying and trying again – and repeating the cycle – you’ll love these 10 most underrated Soulslike games that you’ve never heard of.
Unlike the 10 upcoming Soulslike games we shared earlier, most of the titles on this list have already been released, so you can get your Souls fix today.
But first, don’t forget to grab some Razer Gold Pins from OffGamers.
10 Underrated Soulslike Games That You’ve Never Heard Of
We love underrated games because a lot of hard work and energy has been put into them, even though many people may not be playing them. You’ll find a lot of great graphics and storytelling in these games – and a high level of difficulty.
We’re going to start off with a title that has a beautiful environment and is one that people love to replay: Eldest Souls.
1. Eldest Souls
Release: 2021
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Eldest Souls was released in 2021 on a number of platforms. It’s a gorgeous Soulslike game that offers challenges and replayability.
The combat system is impressive, and the gameplay is a mix of traditional Souls games and Hades.
In Eldest Souls, man is rebelling against the Old Gods and imprisoning them in the Citadel’s sacred walls. But the Old Gods aren’t going down without a fight. In a last act of vengeance, the Old Gods released Desolation upon the world.
Mankind is facing its end – until you step in. You play the hero of the story, equipped with the greatsword.
Combat is fast-paced and challenging. Bosses are seriously tough, but the battles are engaging. Each Old God has a challenge that you’ll need to overcome.
But this game is more than just fighting. You’ll also make new friends along the way and engage in intriguing questlines.
2. Salt and Sanctuary
Release: 2016
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Don’t let Salt and Sanctuary’s minimalist design fool you – this game is packed with amazing gameplay. It’s not a AAA title, but it’s still a challenging game. If you’re not on point with every enemy you face, you’re going to be in for a bad time.
True to the Soulslike genre, Salt and Sanctuary has numerous paths you can take. Follow the wrong one, and you’ll find yourself running in circles.
Fast and brutal combat make this title worth playing, and you’ll love the 2D design. There’s also a complex crafting system and more than 600 weapons and gear items to upgrade.
Salt and Sanctuary has a number of New Game Plus playthroughs, which makes each new round even more challenging than the next.
3. Blasphemous
Release: 2019
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Blasphemous has some seriously punishing gameplay and an intriguing theme. It’s fast-paced, and it has the skilled combat of hack-n-slash games. But it also has a great story, and it’s geared towards platformers.
The Blasphemous world is nightmarish and twisted. You play as The Penitent One, the only survivor of the Silent Sorrow massacre. Trapped in an unending cycle of rebirth and death, it’s your job to free the world from its fate.
Use devastating combos and executions to take down monsters and bosses. Harness the power of the heavens through prayer, rosary beads and relics to aid you in your quest.
Blasphemous has some titan-like, horrifying bosses waiting to tear your limbs off in true Soulslike fashion.
4. Lords of the Fallen
Release: 2023
Platforms: PS4, PC, Xbox One, iOS, Android
Looking for a serious challenge? Lords of the Fallen is one of the harder Souls titles. The combat is brutal, making it perfect for players who don’t mind dying and trying over and over again.
The visuals are right on par with other Souls games.
You’ll fight and survive the legions of Adyr, or die trying. How you approach combat will define your legend. The combat system allows you to string together a virtually endless series of combos. Fighting is fast-paced, making gameplay even more exciting.
As you play Lords of Fallen, you’ll journey across two parallel worlds (the living and the dead) in your quest to overthrow Adyr. You can also invite a player to join you through online multiplayer.
Complex character customization and nine character classes add to the immersiveness of the story.
5. Tunic
Release: 2022
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, Mac OS
Tunic is a fun game with an adorable main character and beautiful visuals. But underneath all of that cuteness is a serious challenge. Tunic isn’t as brutal as other Soulslike games, but it will still test your patience and skill. It offers more of a relaxed Souls experience.
In Tunic, you explore a land that’s filled with ancient powers, lost legends and epic monsters. You play a small fox that’s on a big adventure. You’re stranded on ruined land and your only weapon is your curiosity.
Your goal is to reconstruct the game’s manual page by page. You’ll uncover tips, maps, new combat techniques and secrets.
6. Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Release: 2021
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is one of the easier Soulslike games on our list. Some gamers argue that this title really isn’t on par with Souls games, but the gameplay is similar. The story is immersive, and the visuals are stunning.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a fast-paced, action-adventure game that’s story-driven. You’ll play as Kena, a Spirit Guide. Along your journey, you’ll build a team of spirit companions known as the Rot.
Kena’s mission is to uncover the secrets of a forgotten community hidden in an overgrown forest where spirits roam. The Rot you collect will give you powerful abilities, transform the environment and make new discoveries.
7. Thymesia
Release: 2022
Platforms: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, Xbox Series X/S
Are you a gamer who’s a strategist at heart? Thymesia is the Soulslike game for you. Bosses put up a serious challenge, which will leave you analyzing combat mechanics and coming up with your own strategies for tackling each encounter.
It’s a punishing ARPG with fast-paced combat and a complex plague weapon system. As you fight enemies, you’ll steal diseases from them and use them as your weapon. Slinging diseases is the only way you’ll make it out alive, so use them wisely. You can also morph into a raven to move swiftly and tear enemies apart.
In Thymesia, your memories are scattered across the world, and it’s your quest to recover them. Complete challenges and adventures to learn the truth about your past.
The playtime is short, but the combat is enjoyable and one of the best aspects of the game.
8. Ashen
Release: 2018
Platforms: PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch
Ashen puts a twist on the Soulslike genre. Combat is challenging, and the story unfolds the deeper you get into the game. But there’s also a co-op system that’s rare in this genre. It’s a fun game to play with friends.
Ashen is a skill-based action RPG where you face off against creatures of shadow that are determined to plunge the world into darkness. Along the way, you’ll make new friends and fight alongside others.
There are plenty of dungeons to explore, diverse regions to discover and epic bosses to fight. Open-world exploration makes this Soulslike game a ton of fun.
Ashen has a unique art style that you’ll either love or hate. All of the characters are faceless. But the immersive story and challenging gameplay make up for these drawbacks (if you could even call them that).
9. Titan Souls
Release: 2015
Platforms: PC, PS4, Android, OS X, PS Vita
Titan Souls may not have any relation to FromSoft, but it’s arguably one of the best Soulslike titles available. The 2D action RPG is almost reminiscent of the Legend of Zelda series.
You play a lone hero who is armed with nothing but a single arrow. Your quest? To assemble the shards of the Titan Soul to discover truth and power.
Titan Souls makes combat fun. You may only have a single arrow, but you can summon it back to your hand to deliver another forceful strike.
On your journey, you’ll also come across powerful hidden titans that are lurking in the shadows. Your mission is to find them, destroy them and steal their souls. Only then will you discover the true extent of the power that exists in this forgotten ruin.
The indie title is a pure labour of love and offers a massive world to explore that’s filled with secrets. The boss fights are brutal and some of the best in the genre, but you’ll be encouraged to keep trying after every loss. There’s plenty of replay value here.
10. Ender Lilies
Release: 2021
Platforms: PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Original combat, fun gameplay, a stunning soundtrack and an immersive story. These are just a few of the things that gamers love about Ender Lilies. The world-building is superb, and the boss battles will keep you on your toes.
Ender Lilies is a 2D action-adventure RPG that plunges you into a world where friends and enemies alike have become cursed ones. You’re on a quest to discover the mystery of the kingdom that has been destroyed by the Rain of Death.
Main character Lily has no ability to fight, but she can call upon the Spirits and immortal knights to do battle for her. Each spirit has unique skills, and you can equip up to six Spirits that you can switch between during combat.
While Ender Lilies is a challenging game, it’s one of the easier Soulslike titles on this list. Bosses will take a few tries to beat but don’t expect the same level of frustration as Dark Souls.
What is a Soulslike Genre?
“Soulslike” games steal your soul – or it feels like it. These games test the patience of even the most hardcore gamers because they’re intensely difficult. Even when you think that you’re OP, you can be quickly obliterated and remember that you’re but a mere mortal.
With this in mind, the Soulslike genre originated with:
- Demon’s Souls
- Dark Souls
The “Souls” part of the genre name comes from these two games, which are classified as dark fantasy games, but they can diverge from this setting, too. Primarily, a soulslike game has a wonderful environment that focuses on storytelling but a very high level of difficulty.
Elden Ring is a prime example with its stunning environment and yet frustratingly difficult mobs and bosses that will make you feel very underpowered.
Soulslike games are a mix of:
- Action-adventure
- Action role-playing
You’ll need to master the player and environment in these games, which offer tough boss battles and sparse save points.
Elden Ring, for example, is an epic story that brings legends and lore together. You’ll walk into an immersive environment with little guidance and one misstep will see your character die. And when you die, your experience (XP) is left at your death location.
You can go back and pick it up, but if there’s a boss or powerful mob around, you may have just lost all of your XP. I’ve lost countless hours of grinding in Elden Ring due to dying, but it is intensely rewarding when you can manage to stay alive.
Ironically, we named “Wolf” as one of the 7 most overpowered characters in video games even though he’s part of the soulslike game called “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.”
If you’re a fan of Japan’s samurai, you don’t want to miss this title. The game is immersive, and if you have ever played other games from FromSoftware, everyone agrees that this is the most difficult of them all.
If you’re inspired to play any of the 10 games that we listed, be sure to check out others playing them on Twitch and YouTube. You’ll find a lot of great pointers on how to traverse more challenging mobs or what you need to do in the game to progress when all it seems like you’ve been doing is getting killed.
