5 Best Video Games Like Dark Souls

Among the franchises that have helped define the modern gaming industry is the “Dark Souls” series that began in 2011. Developed by FromSoftware, the series popularized soulslike games, also known as the soulsborne genre, with their heightened difficulty and emphasis on timing in combat. With a trilogy of titles released in the series so far, the entire “Dark Souls” story is set in a medieval dark fantasy world overrun by monsters. The player character is an undead warrior destined to either save the Age of Fire or bring about the Age of Dark across the realm.

Of course, there have been soulslike games before “Dark Souls” and countless similar titles that have been released afterwards. Today, we’re picking our personal favorites, each presenting players with a healthy fantasy combat challenge that isn’t for the faint of heart. While many of these games are also developed by FromSoftware, there are plenty of titles created by outside developers. Here are the five best video games like “Dark Souls” that you can play to test your skills.

Bloodborne

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Between producing “Dark Souls” titles, FromSoftware produced a visibly different kind of soulslike game with “Bloodborne.” Released for the PlayStation 4 in 2015, the game takes place in a world resembling Victorian England where a strange contagion has transformed the infected into monsters. The player character is a hunter dispatched to eliminate the infected and the Lovecraftian beasts linked to the roots of the plague. The game also incorporates online multiplayer features, including the option to visit other players’ worlds and fight them or help them against the monsters.

While there were always horror elements in the dark fantasy worlds and enemies that FromSoftware created, “Bloodborne” goes full tilt with the genre. This is enhanced by the lore found throughout the game, including the tragic details packed in “Bloodborne” revealing how twisted this world is. The gameplay itself is well within FromSoftware’s familiar wheelhouse while gently redefining what a soulslike game can be. Over a decade later, we’re still hoping for a modern remaster of the game, but we’ll still take “Bloodborne” as it currently exists.

Demon’s Souls (2020)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Before launching the “Dark Souls” series, FromSoftware developed “Demon’s Souls” for the PlayStation 3 in 2009. The original version of the game showcases what would become the gameplay and aesthetic foundations for the studio’s subsequent franchise, while standing distinctly on its own. The game was remade for the PlayStation 5 as a launch title in 2020, with development on the project handled by Japan Studio and Bluepoint Games. A largely faithful remake, the PS5 version retells the tale of a warrior trying to defend their medieval kingdom from monsters and the sinister fog they’re spreading.

Other than a vastly improved technical presentation, the major ways the PS5 “Demon’s Souls” differs from the original mainly boil down to a wealth of new features to enjoy. This is why we’re personally recommending the 2020 version, as it brings more to the table than its source material. It also feels like an iteration of the game that’s more friendly to “Dark Souls” players who were introduced to FromSoftware’s later franchise first. Smoother and better presented, along with loads of quality of life improvements, the “Demon’s Souls” remake is well worth checking out.

Elden Ring

The most ambitious soulslike game that FromSoftware has made to date is 2022’s “Elden Ring,” an open-world dark fantasy adventure. The game takes place in a world where its champions have been corrupted by the shards of the titular Elden Ring. There is a greater emphasis on player freedom compared to prior FromSoftware titles, not just in exploration but how to hone your combat. In 2024, the game received the massive expansion “Shadow of the Erdtree,” giving players another epic world to explore and even more formidable enemies to vanquish.

“Elden Ring” is a bit easier now than it was during the launch, but it still provides plenty of challenging enemies and boss battles. That makes the game something of a good entry point to soulslike titles for newcomers to the genre, though veteran fans will still enjoy it quite a bit. The expansion is where the true challenge lies, though it’s also the most rewarding experience, featuring some of the most gorgeous environments FromSoftware has ever made. FromSoftware’s sweeping masterpiece, “Elden Ring” is worth all of the accolades it’s received since its launch.

Lies of P

Arguably the best soulslike game not made by FromSoftware, “Lies of P” proves there’s plenty of room within the genre. The 2023 game is a horror-tinged take on the classic fairy tale “Pinocchio,” with the puppet now an automaton searching for his father, Gepetto. This takes P, as the protagonist is known, to a haunted city that has been overwhelmed by killer automatons. In addition to the main campaign, the game is packed with side quests, puzzles, and its own morality system based on Pinocchio’s reputation for telling lies.

“Lies of P” finds a surprising amount of organically narrative mileage from its fairy taleme is relatively linear, just like “Dark Souls” versus “Elden Ring.” If anything, the game hews a bit closer to “Bloodborne” aesthetically, but its gameplay similarities are undeniable. Bringing its own intense thrills and moody atmosphere, “Lies of P” is a must-play for any soulslike fan

Mortal Shell II

When it comes to a soulslike title with medieval dark fantasy aesthetics like “Dark Souls” not made by FromSoftware, “Mortal Shell II” is a solid contender. A standalone sequel to 2020’s “Mortal Shell,” the 2026 follow-up has players control the bodies of eight fallen warriors, or shells. Just like classic RPG character classes, each of these shells have their own unique abilities and can be customized further to fit a given player’s favored style. The game progression places a heavy emphasis on dungeon-crawling while maintaining an intense soulslike combat system.

“Mortal Shell II” is perfectly approachable even if you’ve never played the first game before, presenting a more RPG-oriented take on soulslike titles. The game’s shell premise lends to plenty of replayability as gamers get to experience the adventure in fresh ways based on the shells they choose and how they customize them. The variety in enemies and dungeons also keeps players coming back for more, with some appropriately moody level designs. A sleeper soulslike title released in a year full of great games, “Mortal Shell II” deserves more attention.