Best underrated soulslikes on Steam

Time really flies, as it feels like it was only yesterday that the players jumped in Fire Ring for the very first time, but now, after a DLC, a spin-off and a movie in the works, the days of The Land Between may finally be in the past. After experiencing such an incredible game, it's common to have a sense of emptiness that no other title can fill, and in this case, the space left behind is quite large.

But given how popular the soul-like genre has become over the years, there are so many great games out there that could easily satisfy the need many gamers have, even if they may not live up to the acclaim of FromSoftware's magnum opus. For those looking for something to satisfy their soul-like hunger, they have plenty of ways to satisfy it, whether they're looking for a futuristic sci-fi universe, a gothic metroidvania nightmare, or something a little more old-school.

The Last Faith

About as gothic as it gets

Details:

• Metroidvania exploration merged with soul-like battles.

• Great construction flexibility

The Last Faith is a gritty, beautiful and downright impressive soul-like that manages to translate all that mechanical intensity into a two-dimensional plane, without losing any impact. The combat follows the standard formula of endurance, requiring precise escapes and time windows, but something that makes it incredibly fun is the sheer number of weapons and playstyles available.

When it comes to world design, the game once again reflects another of the genre's core philosophies, presenting players with an interconnected and layered environment that feels incredibly hostile at first but surprisingly accessible over time. The base game already has a huge amount of content to absorb, but thankfully there's now a free DLC update that adds even more enemies and bosses to tackle for those who just can't get enough of it.

Verho – The Curse of the Faces

Taking a step into the past

Details:

• Minimalist aesthetics and design

• Abstract world building

Verho stripping away excess to focus entirely on the fundamentals of combat. Visually, it seems very reminiscent of its early soul-like predecessors like King's Field, only in this case the mechanics have been updated and improved, and as a result, the fights play out in a much more satisfying way, thanks to the lack of clutter and the clarity of each attack.

Turning to the wider experience outside of combat, players will find a much more abstract and non-restrictive style of exploration that encourages them to go out and find adventure on their own. Aiding that approach is the lack of hand-holding and the inclusion of several intriguing NPCs who act as intermittent purveyors of knowledge and little guides at times, making the world feel alive and alive, while keeping things mysterious.

AI FRONTIER

Electricity in every strike

Details:

• Fast-paced combat with multiple layers of depth

• Multiple play styles and sustainable strategies

Many soulslikes have attempted to create a new type of meter or stamina system, and many of the attempts seem good, but one of the more unique takes is found in AI FRONTIER. Its Sync Rate system replaces traditional endurance, building slowly and falling over time, encouraging continuous engagement while severely punishing overextensions.

This creates a faster pace without abandoning the genre's emphasis on precision, and it also means that there are opportunities for plenty of new fighting styles and approaches, all of which serve to keep the game fresh. It's a new face on the block pushing in several interesting directions, without losing sight of why people play soulslikes in the first place.

Moon scar

Brutality In A Fragmented World

Details:

• High risk battle loop

• Cryptic story and atmospheric storytelling

Moon scar is gory, visceral and just about everything a soulful fan could want in a game. Set in a bleak yet wonderful world, players must learn to react quickly and push through the pain, because with so many enemies to kill and attacks to avoid, the only way forward is by dying over and over again until it finally clicks.

Despite having a pixel art style, the animations and movements look incredibly crisp and fluid, allowing players to feel the full weight of every blow on both sides of the fight. Once players have conquered the enemies in an area, there are so many different paths to explore and discover, with each corner hiding a new route and each location having dozens of paths that are all sure to lead to more mayhem and carnage.

DIRT

Absorbing the world

Details:

• Unique mechanics allow players to absorb enemies mid-fight

• Surreal world design

DIRT differs from other side-scrolling soul-likes by leaning heavily into a single mechanic that fundamentally dictates how players progress and engage with the world around them. The absorption mechanic turns defense into offense, giving players the chance to turn perfectly timed parries into a consumption attack that integrates their progression directly into their ability to execute combos mid-fight.

Because of how intertwined combat and actual forward movement are, a loop is created that ties the player's mechanical abilities to their ability to move around the world. The combination of rewarding gameplay and complex map design makes the whole experience flow in a much more natural way, allowing players to step into the next location only when they are literally ready to do so.