Curious about the best soulslike games? This popular action RPG subgenre first emerged with Demon’s Souls in 2009. However, it was its legendary spiritual successor, Dark Souls, released two years later, that truly captivated players and cemented the genre’s enduring appeal. Dark Souls remains a landmark title, with the soulslike genre being its most significant contribution to gaming.
While developers have diversified soulslike games in recent years, the core principle remains: triumphing over adversity through sheer persistence. Characterized by demanding stamina-based combat, strategic risk-reward currency systems, and infamously challenging bosses, success in a soulslike game opens the path through rich, often dark fantasy worlds. Whether you’re a newcomer unsure where to begin or a seasoned RPG enthusiast seeking a fresh trial, we’ve gathered the absolute best soulslikes you can experience right now.
Our Top Soulslike Picks for 2025:
- Elden Ring
- Nioh 2
- Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
- Elden Ring Nightreign
- The First Berserker: Khazan
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Dark Souls Trilogy
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Black Myth Wukong
- Lords of the Fallen
- Lies of P
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Hollow Knight
- Blasphemous 2
- Thymesia
- Nine Sols
- Ashen
- Remnant 2
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Elden Ring
It’s impossible to discuss soulslikes without mentioning Elden Ring, so let’s address it first. Like many gaming critics, PCGamesN awarded it Game of the Year in 2022. If you still haven’t ventured into FromSoftware’s masterpiece, you won’t find a better soulslike to start with—though its sprawling open world can be a bit intimidating. From the moment you complete the tutorial, the Lands Between beckon as one of the most captivating and stunning fantasy worlds ever crafted. Whether descending on a massive elevator into the star-speckled Siofra River or gazing upon the vast panorama of Liurnia of the Lakes beyond Stormwind Castle, it’s easy to lose hours simply exploring and marveling at the breathtaking scenery. Formidable bosses, enigmatic lore, diverse character builds, and countless secrets encourage multiple playthroughs. While you might not truly need another soulslike after Elden Ring, if open-world exploration isn’t your preference, the other titles on this list offer more focused, linear experiences.
And if you thought it couldn’t get any better, its expansion continues to set incredibly high standards for the genre. While some players found the DLC needlessly difficult, preparing with the right character builds and diligently collecting Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes can significantly ease the challenge.
Nioh 2
Nioh leans into the “masocore” side of the soulslike genre, with its rapid-fire combat positioning it as an action-soulslike, rather than the more deliberate pace of Dark Souls or Mortal Shell. While this might not appeal to everyone, Koei Tecmo’s willingness to break from tradition is what elevates Nioh into one of the best soulslike games. Its intricate combat system offers astonishing depth, extending beyond typical weapon and build variety to incorporate mechanics like stance-switching and burst counters, emphasizing player skill over equipment. As a technical prequel, Nioh 2 transports players to an alternate-historical Sengoku period Japan, plagued by Yokai. Our protagonist, Hidechiyo, a half-yokai, embarks on an epic quest to master their supernatural abilities and serve the legendary Oda Nobunaga. We highly recommend the Complete Edition for immediate access to Nioh 2’s DLC, which plunges you into the Heian period to navigate the conflict between the Genji and Heike clans and face a final confrontation against Otakemaru.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Wuchang Fallen Feathers is another soulslike drawing deep inspiration from Chinese history and culture. Players embody the titular Wuchang, journeying across the plague-ravaged ancient Shu region to find her sister. All the hallmarks of FromSoftware’s intricate level design are present, alongside welcome innovations to the established formula. The game’s diverse array of character builds, achievable with just a few unlocked skills, showcases the depth of playstyles available.
In its glowing review, Nat declared Wuchang “exceeds all expectations” as a soulslike that is “not content to settle for a pale imitation of FromSoftware.” While Wuchang did face some initial performance issues, subsequent post-launch patches have provided significant improvements, and the developers are committed to further addressing player feedback.
Elden Ring Nightreign
Swapping Limgrave for Limveld, Elden Ring Nightreign presents a PvE roguelike twist on its renowned sibling, tasking up to three players with surviving three relentless nights of combat. The initial nights are spent looting the region before facing off against fearsome Nightreign bosses – many of whom will be familiar faces to veteran Souls players. The grand finale pits your group against one of several almighty Nightlords, offering the ultimate test of skill.
While its launch experience had some rough edges, FromSoftware swiftly adjusted game balance for solo players, resolved major issues, and introduced the highly anticipated duos mode. If multiplayer Elden Ring sounds appealing, delve into guides on the best Nightreign classes and other strategies to quickly get up to speed.
The First Berserker: Khazan
The soulslike genre draws heavily from several influences, with Kentaro Miura’s Berserk being perhaps the most prominent. This iconic manga established the grimdark fantasy tone echoed throughout FromSoftware’s mainline series, so it’s no surprise that its spirit thrives in The First Berserker: Khazan. Set within the Dungeon Fighter Online universe, this aptly named soulslike follows the disgraced General Khazan on a quest for vengeance after a brutal betrayal.
The cel-shaded world of Arad is teeming with ferocious Khazan bosses, from skilled warriors to plague-ridden beasts. Each encounter presents a new challenge, demanding mastery of the best Khazan weapons and skills to suit your playstyle. You must also learn to wield the strange powers granted by the Blade Phantom, a mysterious entity forming an unlikely alliance with our berserker. Bold, bloody, and violent, The First Berserker: Khazan is sure to satisfy most soulslike fans, even offering an easy mode for newcomers. Dave Irwin’s review praises Neople’s soulslike adventure for its compelling gameplay.
Another Crab’s Treasure
Aggro Crab scuttled into our hearts and conquered the indie seas with Another Crab’s Treasure, an underwater soulslike that feels like a delightful fusion of Dark Souls, Finding Nemo, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Kril the hermit crab finds himself unceremoniously evicted from his beloved mollusc shell. Tin cans and plastic cups become his meager protection as he navigates the perilous depths of the ocean, where human trash transforms into, well, treasure.
Explore garbage-strewn coral reefs, scavenge curious trinkets to enhance your stats, and forge alliances (or, more often, rivalries) with the myriad undersea inhabitants. This soulslike is an excellent entry point for new players, offering minimal frustration, while its humorous and inventive charm will keep seasoned players engaged until the very end. Another Crab’s Treasure uniquely pits you against a giant crab wielding a tea strainer like a flail, delivering its environmental message with genuine wit and without pretension.
Dark Souls Trilogy
Good news! All three Dark Souls games are available on PC, and much like Elden Ring, you’re truly missing out if you haven’t experienced them. Dark Souls: Remastered boasts some of the genre’s most tightly designed levels and offers an ideal way to play the game that popularized it. While Dark Souls II takes a slight step back in level design, it compensates with welcome quality-of-life improvements, fresh gameplay ideas, and fantastic DLC – if you’re willing to invest a little more. Of course, Dark Souls III delivers incredibly fluid gameplay, the most challenging and expertly crafted bosses, rich lore, and even better art design. You can’t go wrong booting up any of the three and immersing yourself for dozens of hours in their dark, captivating worlds. If you could only pick one, the remastered original is unmatched. From the Undead Parish to the Kiln of The First Flame, it perfectly embodies every aspect of the genre.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Just one more FromSoftware game, I promise! While the Dark Souls series birthed the genre and Elden Ring expanded it into an open world, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice leans more towards an action game. Sekiro’s gameplay revolves around using the protagonist’s katana to break enemy posture, deflect attacks, and create openings for a decisive blow. With the addition of genuinely fun tools attached to Sekiro’s prosthetic arm—like a grappling hook, a metal umbrella-shield, and even a flamethrower—you get a soulslike experience that feels distinctly different from FromSoftware’s other works.
What remains consistent? Aside from Sekiro’s ability to sometimes revive after defeat, you still collect ‘souls’ in the form of skill points, which you can spend in various skill trees, with the risk of losing progress towards the next point upon death. You’ll also explore a vast world filled with formidable foes in a Japan inspired by both mythology and history.
Black Myth Wukong
Black Myth Wukong masterfully balances the fine line between soulslike and action game, making its inclusion on this list both exciting and perhaps a touch contentious. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that this stellar adaptation of Journey to the West embodies everything we cherish in a great soulslike. Its bosses are an adrenaline-fueled spectacle, drawn directly from Chinese folklore, and they certainly won’t fall easily. As a humble monkey man striving to follow in the footsteps of the mythical Sun Wukong, you must overcome impossible odds with your cunning, a robust character build, and a dash of magic.
Its review hails it as a “GOTY contender of epic proportions” that “looks to iterate upon FromSoftware’s legacy rather than use it as a crutch.” What might have once seemed too good to be true, this debut action RPG from Game Science has emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the top PC games in recent memory.
Lords of the Fallen
With the FromSoftware games covered, the most recent high-profile soulslike release is Lords of the Fallen. This reimagining of a 2014 title shares a striking resemblance to the original Dark Souls; its movement and visuals alone might lead you to believe you’re once again journeying through Lordran. In reality, Lords of the Fallen is set in Mournstead and introduces several unique twists. Chief among them is the Umbral mechanic: upon your fully customizable character’s death, you enter an alternate Umbral realm that mirrors the real one, revealing new enemies, secrets, and items. The Umbral mechanic elevates exploration to another level. With several post-launch updates, it has matured into one of the better, unashamed Dark Souls-inspired games, even if the enemy density remains quite high. Be sure to consult a guide on the best Lords of the Fallen builds to aid your perilous adventure.
Lies of P
While Bloodborne isn’t yet on PC (though we eternally hope for a 4K remaster!), Lies of P serves as an excellent substitute. The ‘P’ in Lies of P, surprisingly, stands for Pinocchio. Yes, developers Neowitz Games and Round8 Studio crafted a soulslike starring Geppetto’s puppet. It shares a similar Victorian Gothic aesthetic with Bloodborne and borrows several other visual and gameplay elements from Sekiro and Dark Souls. However, it places a stronger emphasis on animatronic enemies rather than purely fantastical or nightmarish ones.
Where Lies of P truly shines is its narrative. No one explicitly asked for a Bloodborne-esque Pinocchio story, but Lies of P delivers a tale well worth experiencing, complete with multiple endings. For a genre often known for obtuse lore rather than explicit plots, Lies of P stands out as one of the better soulslikes in recent years. Our review explains why Lauren Bergin proclaimed this game the best since Elden Ring.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
If you’ve played Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and crave more Japan-inspired settings, Wo Long’s Han Dynasty China will definitely satisfy that urge. Developed by Team Ninja, known for Nioh and Ninja Gaiden, few games can match Wo Long’s tight, fast-paced combat. Wo Long also deviates from the genre’s typical interconnected world, opting instead for separate, story-driven missions that can be replayed for better loot, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy grinding for stronger gear. It offers a great sense of progression—revisiting earlier levels to clear difficult enemies or uncover hidden items truly showcases how powerful your character has become.
That said, it adheres to many other soulslike staples: failure is integral to progress, and “Genuine Qi” functions as its version of the ‘soul’ currency. Team Ninja has also released several excellent expansions, making it a solid choice for players who prefer lengthy gaming experiences.
Hollow Knight
While we eagerly await the Hollow Knight Silksong release date, those who haven’t played the original should absolutely dive into one of the greatest indie games ever created. Both atmospheric and challenging, you take on the role of the titular knight as he descends into the insectoid Kingdom of Hallownest. As a 2D game, Hollow Knight incorporates more mechanics from Metroidvania titles than traditional soulslikes. To advance through its dense world map, thorough exploration is key to discovering new abilities that unlock previously inaccessible areas. However, it embraces core soulslike features, offering demanding combat and a ‘souls’ currency that can be lost upon defeat. Hollow Knight also follows in FromSoftware’s footsteps with obscure, intriguing lore that players must piece together themselves, solidifying its place as a soulslike in more than just spirit.
Blasphemous 2
Like Hollow Knight, Blasphemous 2 (and its predecessor) shifts the typical third-person action RPG perspective of a soulslike to a 2D platforming adventure, rendered with gorgeously animated pixel art. It maintains the nightmarish fantasy atmosphere of the original FromSoftware games, though with an added layer of grotesque religious iconography. While the first Blasphemous primarily emphasized combat, the sequel places much greater focus on puzzles, facilitated by new weapons, creating a far less repetitive experience.
Perhaps the least conventional soulslike on this list, it still borrows heavily from the genre’s mechanics. These include a limited-use healing item that refills at the cost of all enemies respawning, challenging bosses that gate progress, and sparse storytelling requiring player effort to decipher. Our review delves into the depths of this Catholic horror sequel.
Thymesia
Modern soulslikes often push the boundaries with innovative mechanics and aesthetics, challenging the genre’s very definition. While some titles on this list offer fresh takes, Thymesia returns to basics with a dark fantasy aesthetic plucked straight from FromSoftware’s finest, infused with a Victorian Gothic flair that rivals Bloodborne.
Players arrive in the Kingdom of Hermes in the wake of a catastrophic alchemical plague that has transformed its inhabitants into monstrous beings. The key to ending this chaos lies within the lost memories of Corvus, the shapeshifting protagonist, who can harness the plague for his own purposes. Thymesia is a concise yet brutal soulslike that demands precise execution of complex attack combos, perfectly timed parries, and unwavering resolve to conquer its intimidating procession of bosses.
Nine Sols
If you find yourself torn between the likes of Hollow Knight and Sekiro, Nine Sols offers the perfect blend. This 2D action-platformer adopts the Metroidvania framework of interconnected maps brimming with secrets, then combines it with deflection-focused combat against a gauntlet of ferocious bosses. Its unique “Taopunk” setting is a vibrant contrast to the prevalent grimdark fantasy soulslikes, but don’t let the colorful visuals lull you into a false sense of security. Developer Red Candle Games, known for its horror titles, showcases that heritage with flashes of gore and brutal violence splashed across its hand-drawn environments. Nine Sols is a relentless soulslike fueled by vengeance, featuring a compelling story well worth experiencing to its conclusion.
Ashen
Ashen is likely the least known and most underrated soulslike on this list, and certainly one of the most unique with its striking muted, cel-shaded graphics. Heavily borrowing gameplay elements from Dark Souls, it incorporates a passive multiplayer system where other players can appear in your world as NPCs, offering cooperation if you’re playing online. This is a genuinely cool mechanic that makes Ashen’s semi-open world more manageable and enjoyable to explore. And like other soulslikes, its world is steeped in a dark lore (quite literally, as Ashen’s world once had no sun) waiting to be uncovered as you play.
Otherwise, everything you’d expect from a typical soulslike is here: third-person action RPG combat, light RPG mechanics to improve your character, and an array of better weapons and gear to discover as you delve into more dangerous areas and defeat challenging bosses.
Remnant 2
Craving more shooting in your soulslike experience? While many soulslikes include bows and other ranged weapons, Remnant 2 is a full-fledged third-person shooter heavily inspired by the genre. Furthermore, it’s a massive improvement over the original Remnant in nearly every aspect – offering smoother combat, better bosses, deeper build development, and several distinct worlds to explore. A hallmark of Remnant 2 is its procedurally generated levels, which provide an incredible amount of replayability.
It might not possess the same staggering difficulty as some other soulslikes – and whether that’s a positive or negative is up to you – but Remnant 2 is undeniably a unique and worthy addition to the genre. To learn more, our review highlights why this game earned its spot on our list.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
While Star Wars Jedi Survivor might be considered a “soulslite” rather than a full-blown soulslike, there’s no denying that Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi series draws its combat inspiration from FromSoftware’s challenging ARPGs. In his review, Will Nelson noted that the latest installment “aspires to be bigger in almost every way,” but its choice-driven scope can “undermine the flow and variety of combat.” Nevertheless, Jedi Survivor is an undeniable victory for fans of Cal Kestis and a galaxy far, far away.
And there you have it – the best soulslike games available on PC. Expect both FromSoftware and other developers to continue innovating upon the core mechanics, not just in typical third-person action RPGs but across various other genres as well. If you’re looking for the greatest games available, check out our comprehensive list of the best PC games to discover what else you might be missing out on.