Best soulslike masterpiece of all time, ranked

Most genres have been around since the 80s, including RPGs, platformers, puzzle games, and more. While every genre evolves over time, including subgenres, there is a newer one that has seemingly dominated conversations since 2009: Soulslikes.

What began as a niche sub-genre within the action RPG fandom has now blossomed into something so overwhelmingly dominant that it can be difficult to tell what is and isn't a Soulslike game. The following games are pure Soulslike experiences with levels on stats, grab loot and face immeasurable challenges, so no close approximations will do Hollow Knight. The games will be ranked based on importance, their mechanics, worlds and how fun they are.

8

Salt And Sanctuary

A 2D mystery

Salt and sanctuary is an amazing 2D example of a Soulslike that looks hand drawn from someone's high school notebook that was then turned into a video game. The gritty nature of the world and its characters is endearing, giving the game an overall homemade quality as if it was created by a true fan who wanted to make their own experience.

Players can expect the same traits of 3D Soulslikes, complete with traps, a variety of weapons, leveling up, and harder-than-nails bosses. Thanks to the 2D nature, enemies can be easier to read and therefore avoid, but it's a double-edged sword because there's less room to move around in. While not perfect, Salt and sanctuary does enough to give Soulslike fans something interesting to play in 2D.

7

The First Berserker: Khazan

Beyond hard, but deeply rewarding

The First Berserker: Khazan was seemingly made as a challenge to Soulslike fans, as if the genre wasn't difficult enough overall. This game requires a true warrior to play, as even the first snowy area is tougher than most final areas of games. Players can grind to get this game's version of souls to raise stats, or they can try to find new gear from kills, but at the end of the day, what matters most is the player's skill.

If they don't learn every attack pattern or aren't skilled enough to dodge and react, then The First Berserker: Khazan will be impossible. As devastating as the game can be, the brutality of the combat and the deep sense of reward can be much greater with a little patience.

6

Demon's Souls (2020)

A new way to enjoy the origin

Demon's Souls is the game responsible for kick-starting the Soulslike trend in 2009. It was rough around the edges and unlike any game that came before it, but it was deeply engrossing. Exploration was more interesting as players had to be more careful where they went, as an enemy or trap could be waiting. Items and equipment also made a difference, and overall this created a community.

There are reasons why the PS3 original is superior, but the PS5 remake is a more accessible version. The game keeps all the secrets, but it's a more polished experience all around, with fewer bugs and clearly a better visual style. These are two great games that are still fun to play and are important to the genre and FromSoftware as a company.

5

Dark souls

To perfect the formula

Dark souls was a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls which was released two years later in 2011. It was a similar experience involving a character creator and class selection, but two things set it apart. First, the level design was more Metroid-based as players started in an area and had multiple turns they could take, all of which would ultimately connect in some way.

Then, instead of finding random items, players could upgrade an Estus Flask, which was refilled at bonfires. The design choice aided exploration, and the Estus Flask eliminated the need to grind for items. By and large, Dark souls is as important to the genre as Demon's Soulsperhaps even more so, as it made the formula more streamlined while not going back on the challenging nature.

4

Lies by P

A world of automation

Lies by P proved that fairy tales still have a place in modern culture because the developers had an imaginative idea of ​​how to use Pinocchio real estate in a fun way. Set in a dystopian steampunk society where everything has erupted after a robot uprising, players take on the role of a mechanical puppet that is essentially Pinocchio.

Players can upgrade their character's stats and find weapons like swords, but the coolest feature is the detachable arms. Different arms can give players new ways to attack, including ways to stun, burn, or slice through enemies with detachable blades. The world building also sets Lies by P except, because there aren't many Soulslikes with creepy dolls and giant robots.

3

Nioh 3

An open area Samurai RPG

Nioh 3 is the latest Soulslike, and just like the previous two entries, this game is set in ancient Japan, where demons run amok and there are samurai out there trying to help the people. Here's the twist: after failing to stop a certain demon, players are sent through time, and will continue to do so through chapters of the game. Each area they travel to is huge, with a semi-open world to explore.

Players can also freely switch between a ninja build for less powerful blows but be faster, or they can be stronger and slower with their samurai build. Each class has positives and negatives, but overall combat is polished to a T. On top of that, the co-op makes the game incredibly accessible more than most Soulslikes, while not breaking tradition too easily.

2

Blood borne

Castlevania in all but name

Blood borne is another Soulslike that is unique in its world design, and in many ways feels like a gothic fantasy set in the same world as a Castlevania game, but darker. Player is a hunter tasked with eliminating beasts and infected citizens in a corrupt city that has fallen into ruins. As Dark soulsthe game primarily takes place in an expanding world that all connect outside of the hub world, where players can purchase items, upgrade their character, and fast travel to certain locations.

This game is all about being offensive, as there are no shields, but countering is incredibly effective. Weapons are now stand-ins for shields, ranging from pistols to flamethrowers, but the best feature of all is the weapons that can switch between two modes. For example, a simple stick can become a chained whip, while a sword can become a hammer. All of these mechanics and more are why fans are desperate to see Blood borne get off PS4 and into more hands.

1

Fire Ring

A new era for the genre

Fire Ringto date, has not been surpassed since its launch in 2022. Nioh 3 has come close with its open spaces, but the true seamless nature of Fire Rings the world is incredible. The horse, Torrent, is also amazing and surpasses any horse in any video game because it can double jump and appear on a dime. Exploration is engrossing, with paths always leading to secrets, NPCs or incredible boss fights.

Best of all, the open world design made it more approachable for a FromSoftware game, as players had the freedom to try a new area if a particular area proved too challenging. The weapons, class loadouts, deep lore, boss fights and so much more made this game incredible. It's hard to imagine a better Soulslike experience or FromSoftware topping themselves because Fire Ring is true perfection.