⚔️Best Souls-Like Games Ranked
Souls-likes deliver punishing combat, intricate level design, and hard-won victories that define the genre. From FromSoftware masterpieces to inventive indies, these titles test player skill and persistence. Vote to rank your favorites and shape the list.
What counts: Best means highest combination of critical acclaim, innovative mechanics, replayability, and faithful adherence to Souls-like difficulty and exploration; figures are approximate averages from public data.
Elden Ring▲ Rising
Elden Ring expanded the formula with an open world that rewarded exploration and player choice like no prior Souls title. Its 2022 launch redefined expectations for scale while keeping signature brutal boss fights and cryptic storytelling intact.
Release Year: 2022Metacritic: 96Difficulty: 8.5/10Avg Playtime: 80 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRin 15 rankingsElden Ring
54Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice▲ Rising
Sekiro replaced stamina management with posture and deflection, creating a rhythm-based swordfight system that demanded perfect timing. Its focused narrative and vertical exploration set it apart from other entries.
Release Year: 2019Metacritic: 90Difficulty: 9.2/10Avg Playtime: 35 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJRin 5 rankingsSekiro: Shadows Die Twice
24Dark Souls II▲ Rising
Dark Souls II introduced power stancing and greater build experimentation despite its troubled development. Its many areas and flexible leveling keep it a fan favorite for theory-crafting.
Release Year: 2014Metacritic: 80Difficulty: 7.5/10Avg Playtime: 55 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRDark Souls II
23Bloodborne shifted the focus to aggressive, rally-based combat and gothic horror atmosphere that still feels unmatched. Its 2015 release proved the formula could thrive with faster pace and unique weapon transformations.
Release Year: 2015Metacritic: 92Difficulty: 9/10Avg Playtime: 40 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRin 7 rankingsBloodborne
22The original Dark Souls established the core loop of interconnected world, punishing death, and deliberate combat that every later Souls-like emulates. Its 2011 debut remains the benchmark for atmospheric exploration.
Release Year: 2011Metacritic: 85Difficulty: 8.8/10Avg Playtime: 50 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRin 8 rankingsDark Souls
16Salt and Sanctuary▲ Rising
Salt and Sanctuary brought 2D pixel-art Souls gameplay with deep skill trees and co-op support. Its 2016 debut proved the formula works brilliantly in side-view.
Release Year: 2016Metacritic: 77Difficulty: 7.8/10Avg Playtime: 20 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRSalt and Sanctuary
16Code Vein▲ Rising
Code Vein added anime-style character creation and partner AI to the formula, letting players customize both appearance and playstyle heavily. Its blood code system offered extensive build options.
Release Year: 2019Metacritic: 69Difficulty: 6.5/10Avg Playtime: 30 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRin 2 rankingsCode Vein
12Dark Souls III▲ Rising
Dark Souls III refined the series' combat into its most fluid form and delivered a climactic finale to the original trilogy. Its fast-paced encounters and interconnected world cemented its place among the genre's peaks.
Release Year: 2016Metacritic: 89Difficulty: 8.7/10Avg Playtime: 45 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRDark Souls III
10Lies of P▲ Rising
Lies of P brought a Pinocchio-themed narrative and weapon assembly system that added meaningful customization to the formula. Its 2023 release showed how polished indie Souls-likes can feel.
Release Year: 2023Metacritic: 82Difficulty: 8/10Avg Playtime: 30 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJRLies of P
9Nioh introduced its stance-switching combat and deep loot systems that gave players constant reasons to experiment. Its 2017 debut proved the genre could thrive outside FromSoftware.
Release Year: 2017Metacritic: 84Difficulty: 7.8/10Avg Playtime: 50 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRin 2 rankingsNioh
9The 2020 remake modernized the 2009 original that started the entire genre while preserving its punishing world tendency system. Its atmospheric Boletaria remains a masterclass in tension.
Release Year: 2020Metacritic: 92Difficulty: 8.3/10Avg Playtime: 35 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRin 5 rankingsDemon's Souls
7Nioh 2▲ Rising
Nioh 2 expanded the first game's stance system with Yokai abilities and deeper character creation, delivering some of the most satisfying combat loops in the genre. Its mission structure rewards repeated runs.
Release Year: 2020Metacritic: 85Difficulty: 8/10Avg Playtime: 60 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRNioh 2
5Lords of the Fallen (2023)▲ Rising
The 2023 Lords of the Fallen delivered a large interconnected world with dual-realm mechanics that encouraged backtracking and discovery. Its scale showed ambition beyond typical indie efforts.
Release Year: 2023Metacritic: 73Difficulty: 7.5/10Avg Playtime: 45 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJR
5Mortal Shell emphasized deliberate, weighty combat and unique shell-swapping mechanics that changed playstyles mid-fight. Its compact world rewarded mastery over speed.
Release Year: 2020Metacritic: 72Difficulty: 8/10Avg Playtime: 15 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJRMortal Shell
2Chronos: Before the Ashes
Chronos brought third-person action with aging mechanics that permanently altered stats, adding risk to every death. Its 2020 release emphasized thoughtful progression.
Release Year: 2020Metacritic: 70Difficulty: 7/10Avg Playtime: 15 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJR
0Blasphemous
Blasphemous merged Souls-like combat with Metroidvania exploration and striking religious horror art. Its 2019 release created a memorable grim world full of secrets.
Release Year: 2019Metacritic: 76Difficulty: 7.5/10Avg Playtime: 15 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJR
-1Remnant blended Souls-like combat with procedural worlds and gunplay, creating fresh runs every time. Its co-op focus made challenging bosses more approachable with friends.
Release Year: 2019Metacritic: 75Difficulty: 7/10Avg Playtime: 25 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRRemnant: From the Ashes
-4Wo Long replaced stamina with a morale and deflection system inspired by Sekiro, set in a Three Kingdoms fantasy. Its fast-paced battles and co-op made it stand out.
Release Year: 2023Metacritic: 76Difficulty: 7.2/10Avg Playtime: 30 hrsMultiplayer: ✓
added by IJRWo Long: Fallen Dynasty
-5Another Crab's Treasure used a colorful underwater world and shell-based defense to soften the Souls formula while keeping tough bosses. Its 2024 release brought accessibility.
Release Year: 2024Metacritic: 80Difficulty: 6/10Avg Playtime: 15 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJRAnother Crab's Treasure
-5Jedi: Fallen Order▼ Falling
Jedi: Fallen Order brought Souls-like combat and exploration to the Star Wars universe with strong narrative focus. Its 2019 release showed the formula's flexibility.
Release Year: 2019Metacritic: 79Difficulty: 6.5/10Avg Playtime: 20 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJR
-12Steelrising▼ Falling
Steelrising placed clockwork automatons in revolutionary France with customizable weapons and elemental effects. Its 2022 debut offered a historical twist on the genre.
Release Year: 2022Metacritic: 68Difficulty: 6.8/10Avg Playtime: 20 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJRSteelrising
-12Hollow Knight▼ Falling
Hollow Knight combined Metroidvania exploration with punishing combat and a massive interconnected world that many consider Souls-like in spirit. Its 2017 release set a high bar for indie depth.
Release Year: 2017Metacritic: 90Difficulty: 7.5/10Avg Playtime: 40 hrsMultiplayer: —
added by IJRin 15 rankingsHollow Knight
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