Summary
FromSoftware’s meteoric rise to fame and prosperity was triggered after the legendary launch ofDark Souls, withElden Ringfurther elevating the company’s status to a whole new level. This has prompted many other studios to try and emulate the gameplay of theSoulsborneseries with a few twists of their own, leading tothe rise of the popular Soulslike genre.
There is a wealth of Soulslikes out on the market right now, and players who want to check out this genre for themselves may be genuinely confused because of the sheer number of options at their behest. If a beginner wants to try out a Soulslike, then it’s better to check out something that isn’t soul-crushingly difficult.
Updated on Jun 06, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Most people assume that FromSoftware’s hardcore gameplay loop is only reserved for seasoned action gamers with the skills to pay the bills. This couldn’t be further from the truth, with many Soulslike games making it a point to make their titles as accessible as possible. This ensures that players can enjoy the many other strengths of these titles without feeling like the combat is punishing them every step of the way.
Theallure ofBlasphemousand its dark, gothic atmospherecan’t be stated enough. The pixel art in this game is truly engrossing and goes a long way in ensuring that players will be engaged every step of the way in this engrossing experience.
It helps thatBlasphemous' combat rewards skill without being too punishing. Rolling is a get-out-of-jail card for almost every attack, and timing this move to perfection ensures that players can defeat most enemies without breaking a sweat.
Code Veinwas labeled by many as an anime Soulslike, which isn’t the most unfair comparison, to be fair. The game’s aesthetic is quite engrossing and the story surrounding the events of the game is certainly quite engrossing.
The game itself has some rough edges, but combat on a whole is pretty enjoyable. Players can whip out a ton of powerful moves in combat and employ the help of their friends to take out tough enemies and bosses in a few tries.
Spiders is a company that has developed some great and mediocre games, withGreedfallbeing one of their best offerings by a country mile. So, players were expectingSteelrisingto continue this golden form, only for the game to be somewhat disappointing when it eventually launched.
However, most of the game’s shortcomings stem from the fact that the game is a bit too easy for veterans of this combat style. This shouldn’t be a problem for beginners who’ll findSteelrisingto be a perfect title to pop their Soulslike cherry before stepping into the big leagues.
The evolution of theDarksidersseries was great, even if the series didn’t sell as many titles as it deserved. However, it wasDarksiders 3that truly split fans down the middle with the changes it made to the formula, the vast majority of which were not positively received.
One of the biggest changes was how the game abandoned the combat system of past games to focus on amore Soulslike experience instead. While the arguments put forth by critics are understandable, players who look past this issue will enjoyDarksidersfor its approachable nature, with most of its bugs ironed out now.
There aren’t too many people who know a lot aboutMortal Shell, which is a shame since this Soulslike has some cool concepts that can interest fans of this genre. The best part aboutMortal Shellis how accessible it is, with players new to this kind of gameplay still having the means to power through enemies with the unique Hardening mechanic.
The fact that players can trigger this move at any time makes for a great time in combat as players bamboozle their foes over and over again.Mortal Shellisn’t a very long game either, meaning that fans will have a blast powering through this title and enjoying everything it has to offer.
The Surgewas a decent sci-fi Soulslike by Deck13, but something was missing from this game that made it harder to enjoy for some fans. Thankfully, the sequel understood that the first title had some issues that were promptly rectified inThe Surge 2.
The combat is more responsive than before, with the exploration in this game being top-notch.Bosses may still be of less-than-desired quality, but players who want to enjoy a decently approachable Soulslike will be more than happy with whatThe Surge 2brings to the table.
Respawn Entertainment was given the hefty job of developing a new single-playerStar Warsgame, and they achieved their goal with the release ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. There’s no denying that the game was extremely buggy at launch, but players can check this title out if they want to enjoy a more competent game now.
There’s a lot to love aboutStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and if players enjoy it, they should check out the sequel,Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Both feature exciting Soulslike combat and a satisfyinglightsaber parry system.
Tunicis a unique indie gem that tries to replicate the golden years of gaming, back when the internet wouldn’t spoil everything for the player and negate any sense of challenge altogether. The act of trying to decipher symbols and solving puzzles is one ofTunic’s strongest aspects, with its unique visual design also being a treat for the eyes.
On top of all this,Tunicfeatures combat that is inspired by theSoulsseries. However, players who may be worried about the difficulty factor don’t need to fret — many accessibility options tone down the difficulty ofTunic’s combat if it’s becoming too overwhelming for players.
The environmental storytelling inHollow Knightis some of the very best that players will ever see in gaming. Watching Hallownest waste away as its residents either succumb to the Infection or try to deal with this epidemic makes for a harrowing time and lends itself to some pretty emotional moments.
There’s a reason why so many people are hyped to the moon and back for the sequel to this indie gem.The game is more than just a Soulslike, allowing players to engage with a wasting world and immerse themselves in a narrative that is brilliant despite the title not being story-focused like most people would expect.
It’s weird to callElden Ringa Soulslike, especially with this game serving as a spiritual successor to theDark Soulsseries. However, in terms of games withSoulsbornecombat that are pretty accessible,Elden Ringis a viable candidate in this regard.
Players can explore every inch of the map and check out new content if they ever face a roadblock in the game. Overleveling is easier than ever before, and the sheer number of summons andbuild varieties that players can use in combatmakes it easy to see whyElden Ringis one of FromSoftware’s easiest games by a country mile.
