Best Souls-like Games, A Subgenre Of Action Role-playing Games in 2025

Elden Ring isn't just a Souls-like; it's the culmination of FromSoftware's decades of action RPG design, expanded into an ambitious open-world setting. It takes the punishing yet rewarding combat, intricate build variety, and veiled lore of its predecessors and grafts them onto a vast, beautifully desolate landscape. The sense of discovery is unparalleled, with every new ruin, cave, or catacomb promising unique challenges and valuable loot. Combat is as refined as ever, offering a staggering array of weapons, spells, and Ashes of War that allow for unprecedented player expression and strategic depth. Boss fights are a highlight, ranging from epic demigod confrontations to hidden, often-optional, terrors that push players to their absolute limits. Despite its massive scale, the world remains cohesive and densely packed with meaningful encounters, ensuring that exploration rarely feels like busywork. Elden Ring maintains the tight, fair challenge that defines the genre while inviting a broader audience through its more forgiving exploration and spirit summons. It truly sets a new standard for open-world action RPGs.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice stands apart from other FromSoftware titles by eschewing traditional RPG elements for a more focused, skill-based experience rooted in parrying and posture breaking. Set in a fantastical rendition of Sengoku-era Japan, players control the 'Wolf,' a shinobi on a quest for revenge. The combat system is a rhythmic dance of deflections, counter-attacks, and stylish prosthetic tools, demanding razor-sharp reflexes and pattern recognition. Failure to master the parry system is met with swift and brutal consequences, but success feels incredibly empowering. The world design, while linear in parts, is ingeniously interconnected, with multiple paths and verticality encouraging exploration. Boss fights are a particular standout, often feeling like one-on-one duels that test every facet of the player's newfound skills. Sekiro's departure from traditional RPG stats means that player progression is tied solely to skill mastery, making every victory feel earned. It's a challenging but ultimately fair game that rewards dedicated practice.

Dark Souls is not just a game; it's a phenomenon that cemented the Souls-like genre in the mainstream. Its unparalleled interconnected world, Lordran, is a masterclass in environmental storytelling and level design, seamlessly weaving together disparate areas into one cohesive, labyrinthine whole. The combat is deliberate and impactful, forcing players to think strategically about every swing, block, and dodge. Death is a constant companion, but it serves as a teacher, pushing players to learn enemy patterns and explore different tactics. The game's cryptic lore, delivered through item descriptions and ambiguous NPC dialogues, encourages player interpretation and fosters a strong community discussion. Boss fights are epic and often overwhelming, but overcoming them provides immense satisfaction. Dark Souls is widely regarded as one of the most influential games of all time, offering a brutal yet incredibly rewarding experience that has inspired countless imitators. The Remastered version brings it closer to modern fidelity, making it the ideal way to experience this classic.

Bloodborne takes the Souls formula and injects it with a heavy dose of gothic horror and Lovecraftian cosmic dread, demanding a more aggressive playstyle. Set in the decaying city of Yharnam, plagued by a mysterious illness, the game encourages players to embrace offense – regaining health by retaliating quickly after taking damage, and utilizing 'trick weapons' that transform between two distinct forms. The combat is fast-paced, visceral, and incredibly satisfying, prioritizing evasion and counter-attacks over shield-based defense. Lore is deeply embedded in the environment and grotesque enemy designs, creating a pervasive sense of unease and profound mystery. The world of Yharnam is a tightly wound maze of shortcuts and hidden paths, each teeming with horrific abominations. Bosses are some of FromSoftware's most memorable, combining striking visual design with challenging mechanics. Bloodborne is a unique beast within the Souls-like ecosystem, offering a distinct aesthetic and combat philosophy that makes it a must-play for fans of the genre and horror aficionados alike.

Nioh 2 builds upon the strong foundation of its predecessor, delivering a supremely deep and challenging action RPG set in a fantastical Warring States period of Japan. Its core combat system, which introduces a 'Burst Counter' mechanic and the ability to transform into a Yokai (demon), offers unparalleled depth and strategic options. Players can fluidly switch between three stances (high, mid, low) to adapt to different enemy types, creating a dynamic and continuously engaging combat experience. The game boasts an astonishing array of weapons, armor sets, and magical abilities, allowing for incredibly diverse character builds and playstyles. While not having a completely interconnected open world like Dark Souls, its mission-based structure still offers extensive exploration within each detailed level, often featuring hidden paths and powerful Yokai. Boss fights are intense, often requiring mastery of the Burst Counter mechanic and precise timing. Nioh 2 is a strong contender for those who appreciate complex combat systems and deep customization, offering hundreds of hours of challenging content.

Lies of P is a striking example of a non-FromSoftware studio perfectly capturing the essence of the Souls-like genre while forging its own unique identity. It brilliantly reimagines the classic tale of Pinocchio in a grim, Belle Époque-inspired world filled with grotesque mechanical puppets and a chilling atmosphere. The game's combat is highly polished, combining the precision of parrying found in Sekiro with a stamina-based system more akin to Dark Souls. Unique mechanics like the 'Legion Arms' (prosthetic tools) and weapon assembly (allowing players to mix and match blades and handles) provide a deep level of combat customization. Lies of P excels in its visual design, crafting a genuinely unnerving and beautiful world, complemented by exceptional enemy and boss designs. These boss encounters are tough but fair, often requiring players to master the perfect guard mechanic. The narrative, while dark, is surprisingly compelling, with player choices impacting the 'humanity' system and the game's ending. It's a fantastic entry that proves the genre's versatility beyond its creators.

Remnant II carves out its own unique space in the Souls-like genre by blending its challenging combat and boss design with third-person shooting and procedural generation. Players choose from distinct archetypes and explore dynamically generated worlds, ensuring high replayability. The game focuses heavily on ranged combat, offering a vast array of firearms and mods, though melee is a viable secondary option. What truly sets Remnant II apart is its robust co-op experience, which makes tackling its challenging encounters much more manageable and enjoyable with friends. The game retains the signature punishing difficulty, with intense boss fights that require precise dodging and strategic use of abilities. Its world design is impressive despite its procedural nature, with distinct biomes and often unsettling creature designs. For those who enjoy the core challenge of Souls-likes but prefer gunplay over swords and sorcery, Remnant II is an exceptional choice, especially when played with a squad.