Over the years, players have seen a wide variety of environments get the soulful treatment. FromSoftware has explored various medieval periods as well as gothic horror through the genre it pioneered. Anime soulslikes like Code Vein have been released, as well as futuristic ones like The Surge. Also Star Wars has played with some soul-like elements in the excellent Jedi series. And then there's what is arguably the most impressive attempt at a soul-like game yet by a studio other than FromSoftware: Lies by Pwhich puts a terrifying spin on Pinnochio's lore. All of these games have unique aspects, but they all have one thing in common: a dark tone yet Steampp Johan seeks to subvert.
With so many soul-like games offering dark atmospheres, from Steam titles to AAA or AA efforts, it wouldn't be surprising if some gamers saw it as part of the genre at this point. A darker world allows for interesting boss designs while supporting the genre's staples of arcane lore that players need to piece together, so it's easy to see why it's become the norm. Plus, FromSoftware has always done it, so for those looking to create a beloved masterpiece like the studio's game, it's no surprise that many stick to the tried and true method of grimdark worlds. However, Johan Bucking this trend is exactly what makes this particular soulful game stand out from the crowd.
Johan Developer Vercors Studio has yet to share a release date for the game on its Steam page.
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Johan functions at a glance
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EXPLORE a colorful and fantastical world as a medieval rabbit.
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PARRY attacks to unleash deadly finishers with your sword.
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SUMMON an array of creatures mid-battle to fight alongside you using manuscript pages discovered in the world.
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CROSS the world with rabbit agility and a grappling hook.
Johan is a zombie where you play as a medieval rabbit in a colorful, fantastical medieval world. Use the power of illuminated manuscripts to summon strange creatures from medieval folklore and face powerful foes.
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Johan's recipes include Elden Ring Exploration and Sekiro Combat
Perhaps the most entertaining part of Johans short trailer and the screenshots available on the Steam page for this particular soul-like game is how clearly a few images resemble Fire Ring. The initial reveal of the big rabbit in a medieval outfit and with his sword at his side is obviously silly, but the epic way it's framed feels like promotional material for FromSoftware's modern classic. Even more comparable is the image of going out in the image above and in the trailer, where the rabbit stares at a large world to explore in a way that players would have done countless times during their journey through The Lands Between.
Johan seems to strive to offer rewarding exploration that Fire Ring likewise, as players will be able to use their “innate rabbit agility” and a grappling hook to reach hidden locations in the world. Said locations may contain manuscript pages, which essentially act as Fire Ring's Spirit Ashes. But instead of summoning an ally next to you every time – this can still happen here and there, as an alien human body without a head and a face on its chest fights alongside Johan near the end of the existing movie – sometimes the rabbit itself will change shape. An example shown of this is the killer rabbit becoming an equally deadly slug that rushes through its opponents.
mechanical, Johan also leans on another beloved FromSoftware game, like the iconic Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is clearly noticeable in his usual battle. Whether it's a knight or an enemy porcupine, players must approach Johan as a rhythm game and parry multiple attacks to stun their enemy. If done successfully, the enemy will be stunned and can then be finished with a flashy animation. The mind-numbing sound and visual of enemies collapsing is very reminiscent of what happens in FromSoftware games, and when paired with Johan borrowing the stealth kills Sekiro's Wolf could do, the comparison seems apt.
Humor and vibrant colors make Johan different from Bloodborne and Lies by P
Fire Ring exploration and Sekiro combat is a very strong approach on paper, but it's important not to ignore the elephant (or, more accurately, the rabbit) in the room. Controlling a large, humanoid rabbit who is out for revenge for an unknown reason is fun from a conceptual standpoint, and when paired with the colorful world, enemies, and presentation, it's clear that the game will have a very different feel than the typical soul-like. The light-hearted edge might not work for everyone, but it can attract soul-like fans who are burnt out on the same kind of tone, as well as gamers who just want to laugh at obliterating everything in front of them like a humanoid rabbit. While Vercor's Studio still needs to show off bosses, provide more information on how its world approaches, and confirm or deny upgrade paths for Johanwhat has been shown so far has tons of potential.
