Summary
Dark Soulsis one of the most important video game trilogies ever made, building upon the foundation ofDemon’s Soulsand becoming a massive hit courtesy of the first game’s unexpected success. Exploring multiple decaying worlds and battling against imposing bosses is a huge part of what makes this series so special.
It’s easy to see why fans would want to check out more games in the same vein, and the existence of the Soulslike genre is proof enough of this. If players want to enjoy some excellent combat, explore a dark fantasy world, or face off against larger-than-life bosses, then these titles will be right up their alley.
The gothic and Lovecraftian horror ofBloodbornehelped differentiate this game fromDark Souls, even ifthe core gameplay loop was similarin many ways. Players explore an interconnected world and fight against nightmarish threats as they aim to end the Nightmare they’re stuck in.
UnlikeDark Souls, the combat ofBloodborneis meant to be faster-paced, and prioritizes aggression over everything else. While knowledge of prior FromSoftware games is valuable, players must discard the passive approach to combat if they’re too used to staying behind a shield inDark Souls.
BeforeSalt & Sanctuarycame out, metroidvania Soulslikes were a novelty that indie gaming hadn’t experimented with. In many ways,Salt & Sanctuaryopened the floodgates for this genre combination to dominate the indie market.
Similar toDark Souls, players can pursue varied builds by investing in certain stats with the Salt they’ve collected. Combat is challenging and deathcauses players to rageas they drop all their Salt, giving them just one opportunity to recover this hard-earned resource before it’s lost forever.
IfSalt & Sanctuaryexperimented with the combination of metroidvania and Soulslike elements, thenHollow Knightperfected it. After all, there’s a reason why fans can’t stop pining forSilksongdespite the lengthy wait.
Hallownest is another decaying world with tragic figures that the player is forced to take down during their travels. Combat and rewarding exploration inHollow Knightare easy things to point out whenhighlighting this indie game’s similarities withDark Souls, but what stands out here is the environmental storytelling that both games nail.
If players love the environmental design ofDark Souls, thenBlasphemous 2will leave them stunned with its amazing visual direction. The pixel art does a great job of conveying the twisted nature of the biblical world players explore.
It helps that this game is a major improvement over its sequel and addresses most of the complaints fans had with the firstBlasphemousgame. IfDark Soulsfans want to immerse themselves in another visually distinct world with tough bosses, thenBlasphemous 2will be right up their alley.
Before the breakout success ofDark Souls, FromSoftware experimented with another hardcore action RPG series. TheKing’s Fieldgames may be dated, butDark Soulsfans who can appreciate these titles as a product of their time will love what FromSoftware has done with this underrated franchise.
Most fans agree thatKing’s Field 4(also known asKing’s Field: The Ancient City) is the best game in the series. The verticality and interconnectedness of the world is something that fans of the firstDark Soulsgame will appreciate, with combat design also being prioritized by the developer despite their limited resources.
It can be confusing to recommendLords of the Fallen, especially since two games exist with the same moniker. However, as long as fans don’t mind some uninspired level design, they’ll love the innovative ideas ofLords of the Fallen.
It may be clunkier thanDark Souls, but fans who don’t mind a bit of jank will have a great time withLords of the Fallen. It has some memorable momentsand challenging fightsthat make up for its lack of polish, even if that may be a critical part of what makes FromSoftware games so engaging to play through.
Players who want to enjoy a unique take on Soulsborne combat that is slightly more forgiving will have a great time withMortal Shell. Players must inhabit one of many Shells in the world that embody different builds and add variety to the gameplay.
If the rigidity of builds in theDark Soulsgames didn’t sit right with experimental players, thenMortal Shellwill be very welcome. Players can try out every Shell in combat and see what suits their playstyl. It helps thatthis Soulslike is notably easier thanDark Souls, courtesy of a forgiving Harden mechanic.
It was only a given thatElden Ringwas going to be a massive success, given FromSoftware’s mastery over designing rich and visually distinct worlds. The Tarnished will struggle numerous times as they explore The Lands Between, but there are always new avenues to explore for the player to get stronger.
This helps ease the repetitive grinding fans had to deal with in other games ifthey were too weak to handle a boss. If anything,Elden Ring’s freedom may cause players to get incredibly strong and take out any enemy standing in their way, which might be cathartic forDark Soulsfans who hated getting flattened by bosses over and over again.
