There's been no shortage of soulslikes over the years, from lesser-known indies onwards Steam to AA release which Mortal Shell to soulful titles such as Star Wars Jedi. Practically everyone wants a piece of the pie that FromSoftware created the recipe for, especially after the wildly successful one Fire Ring proved how popular the genre is. But few soulslikes have received the attention that Lies by P has, as it is arguably the best soul-like non-FromSoft to date. So it's only natural that indie developers take inspiration from Round8's hit, with just one example being what Vapor World: Over The Mind seems to do.
Obviously, there are some distinct differences between a side-scrolling platformer and a third-person soul-like that puts a dark spin on Pinnocchio story. Still, there are some clear similarities, especially when it comes to the main character's appearance and the overall mood of the world. If you're someone who digs games that offer souls-style gameplay from a different perspective, for example Hollow Knight series, Vapor World: Over The Minds challenging metroidvania gameplay can definitely make it worth a spot on your Steam wishlist.
Brand new Soulslike game on Steam launches to 97% highly positive reviews
The latest Soulslike game to launch on Steam is already a verifiable hit, instantly earning hidden gem status as a 2026 Soulslike game.
Vapor World: Over The Mind Features at a Glance
-
Experience an interesting story about a boy with memory loss who is trapped in a disturbing dream world.
-
FIGHT against a variety of basic enemies and endure increasingly challenging boss battles.
-
ATTACK directly or by taking advantage of the stealth system.
-
UPGRADE your character as you go and discover new abilities as you explore the world.
-
TAKE IN A stunning, hand-crafted 2D experience, promising beautiful art from start to finish.
Lost in the dark, a boy caught in a twisted dream, no way out. Vapor World is a story-driven soul-like platformer focused on deflection combat set in an atmospheric dream world. Descend into a shattered mind and search for lost memories. Face dark, beautiful world born of anxiety and regret.
What kind of weapon is that?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
What kind of weapon is that?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
Vapor World: Over The Mind's Lies of P Vibes are as obvious as its unique qualities
It takes a look at the narrative synopsis available at Vapor Worlds Steam page to make some connections to Lies by P. A young amnesiac boy trapped in a dark world with a variety of entities trying to kill them? Yep, that sounds pretty much like Pinnochio's problem, and when you factor in the character's wardrobe, pale face, and dark hair, the similarities are only more apparent. The architecture and environments of this Metroidvania's setting only strengthen that connection, and with challenging soul-like gameplay that throws tough fights at you at every turn, there's no denying that the similarities are many.
Still fans of Lies by P the universe will still find its fair share of differences in this game. The doctrine of Vapor Worldfor example, swaps twisted dolls and machines for a dream world, into which humanity has been thrown as a last ditch effort to survive. But this dream world went wrong due to humanity becoming “stained with wounds” from an unknown event, and people's nightmares began to invade the new world. This means you'll encounter all kinds of threats as they evolve – giant spider bosses, creepy lantern-wielding figures and shadowy humanoid guards are just a few examples of what you'll have to fight.
The mysterious boy who has forgotten who he is will be able to combat these threats directly using upgrades found through exploration – like many platformers and metroidvanias, it pays to look around – or by using stealth. Hiding places will allow the main character off Vapor World to attack from the shadows, take a stealthy approach to certain encounters. When you need to speak loudly, you can use Projections, unleash fiery attacks on your opponents, blind them or electrocute them (hey again, Lies by P's Electric Blitz). These options should keep the battles varied, and they all look great in action due to the hand-drawn 2D world that developer ALIVE inc. have been tinkering.
Early access means Vapor World will get deeper over time
Unlike some other early access Steam games, Vapor World is set to offer all of its core mechanics when it launches in the second quarter of 2026. Instead, it will only save the last half of the story for the entire launch, using the first two of three episodes as a way to take in feedback and further polish the rest of the game. While an exact window for the rest of the content is not yet available, ALIVE inc. is shooting to complete the game by the end of 2026. With only 5 hours available in the early access version, it's only natural that it's a bit cheaper than the final 12 hour version, so those who are already sold on this handcrafted soulsvania game might want to buy it sooner rather than later.
