In 2011, Dark Souls significantly impacted the gaming industry by introducing a game that tested players’ skill and determination, immersing them in an enigmatic and intricately designed interconnected world.
Now, it’s hard to compete with that, but The Blix Team has created a selection of games that are very similar to the original for Dark Souls fans.
Many fans of the game are constantly looking for new things to learn, ask questions on Reddit. And we think that if you’re one of them, it’s a great reason to read this article.
Contents
Highlights
- A selection of games similar to Dark Souls
- Information about similarities and differences with Dark Souls
What is Dark Souls?
Screenshot from Dark Souls
The Dark Souls series is a series of games developed by FromSoftware Studios under the direction of Hidetaka Miyazaki. The series is revered and infamous for its harsh gameplay and challenging bosses.
However, this style of play adds some tasty rewards for those who are stubborn and skilled enough to endure its challenges.
Because of this, the games have gained many fans who enjoy the challenges of the games.
What is Souls-like?
The gaming community has coined the term “Souls-Like” to refer to games that resemble the Dark Souls franchise.
Games are similar to Dark Souls in gameplay, enemy design, etc. If it has any similarities to Dark Souls, it’s identical to Souls.
However, this label tends to be misused nowadays because the term has become synonymous with insane difficulty. This statement is completely absurd, as there is much more nuance to the term.
TOP-10 Games Like Dark Souls
Elden Ring
FromSoftware purposely made the path to Margit easy and the path to Margit itself challenging
Release Date: 2022
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Rating on Metacritic: 96
Isn’t it funny that even its developers sometimes become Dark Souls imitators? For all the famous love, Elden Ring is widely criticized for being too similar to the series’ games.
At times, FromSoftware is familiar with using opponents in Elden Ring, which have already been shown in the games of nominally different franchises. Exactly what nominally, because Elden Ring is Dark Souls, which has a large open world: in the local combat system, there is almost no divergence from Dark Souls, similar looks and pumps.
However, the interaction with the world is entirely different: if, in Dark Souls, the player walked along a grid of corridors, then now there are huge open spaces in front of him where you can not run to meet the next boss and clean up dungeons or look for other points of interest.
Players invade a dark, difficult-to-understand universe again to defeat local demigods, take possession of the Elden ring shards, and restore balance in the Lands Between. Elden Ring boosted the genre and lowered the entry threshold, but it remained as hardcore and compelling.
In Elden Ring, you can assemble a team of four real players
We have an article about the game Elden Ring Is Cross-Platform? Guide.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Screenshot from Sekiro
Release Date: 2019
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Rating on Metacritic: 90
FromSoftware has abandoned the usual RPG formula and released a Souls-like linear adventure game, rethinking its approach to combat and storytelling.
The game depicts the tale of a fallen dynasty during the violent Sengoku period from the perspective of a Shinobi.
Sekiro’s straightforward narrative is a nice change of pace from Dark Souls in some ways, as much of the story is served up through exposition, dialog, and scenes.
It’s more linear, and while there is an element of choosing your path of progression, there’s much more of a set path here.
Here are some player opinions on Reddit about this game.
Screenshot from Sekiro
Combat and movement are the main innovations of Sekiro that differentiate it from Dark Souls. Instead of combat based on dodging and poking, Sekiro abandoned stamina altogether and implemented their signature “pose break” system.
This mechanic relies on Sekiro and enemies crossing blades until enough damage is dealt “posture-wise,” which opens the opponent up to a lethal strike. This results in a more “realistic” crossing of swords and is by far the best fight on this list.
In many ways, Sekiro feels like FromSoftware’s test project to try out new ideas and systems, but they mostly pay off, making Sekiro a challenging must-play for all Souls fans.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice gameplay
The Surge
Screenshot from the Surge
Release Date: 2017
Developer: Deck13 Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating on Metacritic: 73
This is one of the first open-source copycats of the Souls series. The developers of The Surge decided to keep the familiar gameplay formulas but change the setting. Here, the action unfolds in the future, and the opponents are not monsters or demons but robots that have lost their minds.
The protagonist is not a bad guy, either. He uses an exoskeleton, which seriously increases his strength and allows him to swing melee weapons that are impossible for an average person.
A screenshot of the fight in the Surge
And The Surge also has a trick – you can chop off cyborgs’ limbs in battle. The bloodthirsty mechanics have bonuses. You can take the equipment for yourself if you meet an enemy with a cool helmet and chop off his head. By the way, if you collect many similar items, the armor will be able to pump.
So, Dark Souls differs from it in terms of setting, while Surge 2 is similar in gameplay. Fans love Surge 2, which is a Souls-like game.
We have other exciting game picks: Top 10 Space Games Of All Time.
Lords of the Fallen
A screenshot of the fight in Lords of the Fallen
Release Date: 2014
Developer: CI Games, Deck 13
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Android, IOS
Rating on Metacritic: 68
This particular game is most likely one of the earliest attempts to follow the Dark Souls formula, and it follows that formula most accurately.
The protagonist is Harkyn, an outcast who is humanity’s only hope of stopping the demonic Rhogar and their cruel god, Adyr.
Combat is third-person and stamina-based, where timing still plays a key role, but the pace of combat is slower than in Dark Souls. The game has three starting classes: Warrior, Cleric, and Rogue. These classes follow the general archetypes of Strength, Magic, and Dexterity that characterize the Souls series of games and offer a variety of play styles and equipment.
Lords of the Fallen features a more drawn-out combat system, with the weight of armor and weapons affecting attack speed and power. The bosses are few but enjoyable enough.
A screenshot of the fight with boss
The game features almost all of the mechanics from Dark Souls, altered only by a couple of light touches. It also adds a risk system that increases the reward if the player continues beyond checkpoints.
The game’s main drawback is its length and lack of innovation: it must be longer and deliver a Souls-like experience.
Salt and Sanctuary
Character creation
Release Date: 2016
Developer: Ska Studios
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Rating on Metacritic: 84
It’s Dark Souls in two-dimensional space.
Despite the side view, the enemies in Salt and Sanctuary are just as formidable, the universe is just as gloomy, and the player must keep an eye on his stamina, carefully choose skills, and watch enemies’ actions. Of course, we will only do with battles, which in 2D space sometimes turn out to be even more difficult than in 3D: you can dodge in only two directions, not in any.
Here’s what people think of this game on Reddit.
Do a fist-only run for the extra challenge
There is a muddy plot (again, like in the first Dark Souls), served through skimpy dialogs and the ability to leave messages to others using ready-made templates.
It all sounds like a list of Dark Souls chips, but despite such obvious borrowings, Salt and Sanctuary is made with soul and looks more like a fan tribute than a cynical clone for the sake of money.
Gameplay
Remnant: From the Ashes
Gameplay
Release Date: 2019
Developer: Gunfire Games
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Rating on Metacritic: 78
The developers of this game were the first to realize that the formula of Dark Souls series games applies not only to slashers but also to third-person shooters.
Otherwise, you can curl your fingers: gloomy dystopian universe, complex opponents and unforgiving bosses, an analog of bonfires (checkpoints), and detailed character and equipment upgrading.
Weapons are primarily firearms: players can restore order on the post-apocalyptic Earth captured by monsters with volleys of shotguns, hunting rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and so on.
An important feature is the procedural generation elements: areas of the game appear randomly from a set of pre-created elements; therefore, each playthrough will be unique.
As a nice bonus, there is a cooperative playthrough for two or even three people, and the strength of monsters increases depending on the number of people in the battle group.
Gameplay
You might be interested in: Best Games to Play When Bored: Top Picks for Every Gamer.
Mortal Shell
Gameplay
Release Date: 2020
Developer: Cold Symmetry
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Rating on Metacritic: 76
A small team of 15 people developed Mortal Shell RPG, but even that was enough to create a decent “souls-like” game.
The game is similar to its copycat in many ways, but it does not lack unique mechanics, such as the shell system and unusual pumping.
The player will visit a gloomy fantasy world where, as usual, it is unclear what is happening. But here are the enemies, weapons – go ahead. The combat system boasts smooth animations, enemies – variety, and locations – atmosphere.
Part of the plot
If you are looking for something as similar to Dark Souls as possible, Mortal Shell will satisfy this desire.
Eldest Souls
Gameplay
Release Date: 2021
Developer: Fallen Flag Studio
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Rating on Metacritic: 76
Like many other Souls-likes, Eldest Souls is based on a story about a world destroyed by the gods. You play as a lone knight who travels to an ancient Citadel to give battle to the gods and stop the calamities that descend on the people.
Battles in the game are very similar to Dark Souls and can cause problems, and you will have to think before each blow. Memorize combos of enemies and bosses, and passing will become easier.
Each battle is a fight with a unique boss. Each victory strengthens the hero’s resolve, while each death throws him back.
Gameplay
Bloodborne
Release Date: 2015
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Rating on Metacritic: 92
In concept, Bloodborne differs little from the Dark Souls series. The protagonist ventures into a dangerous realm, where a common foe can swiftly deal with a lethal strike, and formidable bosses cause immense hardship. Blood Echoes took the place of souls here, lamps replaced fires, and locations remained the same and confusing. All this is familiar to gamers, but there are enough differences.
Combat in Bloodborne is by far the fastest and most aggressive game – you are mockingly given a broken shield because there will be no blocking on this journey.
The game encourages aggression and speed. If you’re fast enough, you’ll be able to recover the damage you take by taking more hits, and breaking time with firearms will open up the enemy for a devastating attack.
Here’s an interesting discussion about this game at the link.
The design of the rank-and-file enemies and bosses was impressive, too. Former monster hunters who became monsters themselves turned residents, werewolves, flamboyant creatures – with whom only the hero did not have to fight.
Summary
Finally, we recommend another game we’ve seen frequently on Reddit and agree can be assigned to the souls-like list: Hollow Knight.
This game is more Metroidvania than Soul-like. Be that as it may, the gloomy atmosphere, benches as resting places, and the need to visit the place of your doom to recover lost items make Hollow Knight a faithful follower of Dark Souls. Instead of the reality of doomed knights and nightmarish dragons, there’s a bug-infested underworld.
Of course, according to assurances from players on Reddit, we can also add Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, Thymesia, Code Vein, Blasphemous, Death’s Gambit, Dark Devotion, Nioh, and Darksiders III to our list. However, we have selected the games that are as similar to Dark Souls as possible.
