Soulslike games changed our understanding of difficulty forever. Where “hard” once meant more enemies or less health, these games offer something far deeper: difficulty as a language the game uses to speak with the player. Every death is a lesson. Every victory is earned. Whether you’re hearing this term for the first time or searching for what to play in 2026 – this article is for you. We’ve analyzed dozens of games, reviewed critical scores, player feedback, and sales data to compile the definitive top 10 best soulslike games ranking.
What Is a Soulslike? A Quick Explanation for Beginners
The term “soulslike” was born with Demon’s Souls (2009) from Japanese studio FromSoftware, but truly cemented itself after the release of the iconic Dark Souls in 2011. Today it’s a fully developed genre with clear defining rules.
The four pillars of every soulslike:
- High cost of failure. Die and you lose progress – experience, resources. You can recover everything, but die again on the way back and it’s gone for good.
- Checkpoint loops and iteration. You learn with every attempt: studying enemy patterns, finding better routes, refining your tactics.
- Progress through mastery, not grinding. Character level helps, but player knowledge and skill are what actually matter.
- Lore instead of story. The world tells its history through item descriptions, architecture, and fragmented dialogue – not cutscenes.
By 2026, the genre has expanded far beyond classic 3D action RPGs: soulslike elements now appear in shooters, 2D metroidvanias, and even roguelikes. Our ranking covers the best across that entire spectrum.
Top 10 Best Soulslike Games in 2026: The Complete Ranking
🥇 1. Elden Ring (2022) – The Game of the Year That Reinvented the Genre
Developer: FromSoftware | Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox | Metascore (PS5): 96/100 | Steam: Very Positive 94%
Elden Ring is not just the best soulslike game. It’s one of the most important games of the decade. Over 30 million copies shipped as of May 2025 speaks for itself – but the numbers are only part of the picture.
The core revolution of Elden Ring is its open world as a difficulty regulation mechanic. Hit a wall? Don’t bash your head against it – go explore another region, find new gear, build your character, and come back stronger. The game doesn’t become easier in doing so. It becomes fair. Brutal, but honest.
The build system is the broadest in the genre: spells, weapon arts, summons, status effects, and countless damage pathways mean the “right” answer to a boss is often a decision you made hours earlier. Legacy dungeons preserve tight Souls-style design inside a massive open canvas. Boss variety is unmatched at this scale.
Why you should play it: the widest build system in the genre, incredible boss diversity, an open world where every corner hides a surprise. If you want to start your soulslike journey – start here.
Weak point: at launch, the PC version suffered from notable frame stutters and performance dips, which were addressed by later patches.
🥈 2. Bloodborne (2015) – The Boldest Soulslike FromSoftware Ever Made
Developer: FromSoftware | Platforms: PS4 (exclusive) | Metascore: 92/100
If Bloodborne had launched on PC and modern consoles, it might be fighting for the top spot. Even confined to PlayStation 4, it remains one of the most singular gaming experiences in history.
The magic of Bloodborne lives in the Rally mechanic. When an enemy hits you, don’t retreat – counter-attack immediately to reclaim lost health. The game physically punishes passivity and rewards aggression. This changes everything: the rhythm of combat, the psychology of decision-making, the raw adrenaline of every fight.
Trick weapons add a unique layer of depth – movesets that morph mid-combo – meaning mastery comes from knowing a few weapons deeply rather than collecting many. Gothic Yharnam is one of the best-designed game worlds in the industry: dense streets fold back onto themselves, shortcuts reveal themselves like hard-won gifts, every corner saturated with Victorian horror lore.
Weak point: technically locked at 30 FPS with documented frame pacing issues that remain unresolved. Sony’s later DMCA takedown of a community 60fps patch became an industry flashpoint.
🥉 3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) – The Purest Combat Statement in the Genre
Developer: FromSoftware | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox | Metascore: 90/100 | Steam: Very Positive 93%
10 million copies sold. GOTY 2019 winner. And arguably the most “pure” combat thesis in the entire soulslike canon.
Sekiro is a game about one skill: the deflect. Not builds, not grinding, not sheer number of attempts – but whether you can feel the rhythm of your enemy and dance in sync with their attacks. The posture-break system reframes soulslike logic entirely: the goal isn’t to drain hitpoints, it’s to shatter an opponent’s will.
The difficulty curve is famously front-loaded. The first few hours can feel overwhelming. But when it clicks – you won’t want to stop. Boss encounters function as skill examinations demanding genuine understanding, not just stat advantage. Major fights are some of the most satisfying in any action game ever made.
Weak point: no multiplayer, no build variety – either this game is for you or it isn’t.
4. Dark Souls (2011) – The Foundation of Everything
Developer: FromSoftware | Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360 + Remastered | Metascore (X360): 89/100
The entire Dark Souls series has shipped over 39 million copies – and for good reason. The first entry laid the foundation on which all modern soulslikes stand.
The level design of Dark Souls is a masterpiece. Lordran isn’t just a beautiful world – it’s a three-dimensional puzzle the player untangles over hours. Shortcuts reveal themselves like revelations: “Wait, this connects to that place?” No other game has replicated that sensation as convincingly. Shortcuts transform dread into relief as players discover they’ve been circling the same spaces from entirely new angles.
Mechanically it’s slower and more deliberate than later entries, with stamina management and animation commitment enforcing honesty in combat. You win by understanding spacing and timing, not reaction speed alone. Boss design is iconic but uneven – the best fights teach clear patterns, weaker ones rely on gimmicks. The innovation is foundational: bonfire checkpoints, “lose resources on death, recover by returning,” and asynchronous online interactions became the genre blueprint.
Weak point: in 2022, PC online servers were taken offline amid a serious security vulnerability investigation – a sobering reminder of legacy online infrastructure fragility.
5. Dark Souls III (2016) – The Most Polished Entry in the Trilogy
Developer: FromSoftware | Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox | Metascore: 89/100 | Steam: Very Positive 94%
If Dark Souls is architecture, Dark Souls III is choreography. The game accelerates pace, makes combat more dynamic, and introduces weapon arts that create initiative swings and genuine surprise in every encounter.
10+ million copies sold. One of the strongest PvP metas across all soulslikes. Legendary bosses. Boss design is a defining strength: encounters blend spectacle with mechanical discipline, demanding exact response patterns rather than gear advantage. If you want a soulslike with the most refined classic combat experience – this is your entry.
Weak point: DSIII was impacted by the same 2022 PC online shutdown tied to critical exploit investigations, directly affecting its multiplayer identity for a period.
6. Demon’s Souls Remake (2020) – Where It All Began
Developer: Bluepoint Games + Japan Studio | Platforms: PS5 (exclusive) | Metascore: 92/100
Bluepoint’s remake is simultaneously a historical artifact and a next-gen technical showcase. It preserves the original’s experimental structure – hub world with discrete “archstones,” healing resource management, world tendency – while delivering modern presentation and responsiveness that make it fully accessible to a 2025 audience.
Mechanically it’s less complex than later Souls entries: builds exist but the system sits closer to “punishing RPG combat” than the intricate ecosystems of Elden Ring. Difficulty here is shaped more by knowledge than reflex: resource discipline and world tendency understanding can define an entire run. 1.4 million copies sold in its first year confirms the audience was hungry for exactly this.
Weak point: longtime fans debated whether art direction changes “polished away” some of the original’s uncanny atmosphere.
7. Nioh 2 (2020) – The Deepest Combat System Outside FromSoftware
Developer: Team Ninja | Platforms: PS4/PS5, PC | Metascore (PS4): 85/100 | Steam: Very Positive 91%
If you want more systems than FromSoftware offers – Nioh 2 is your answer. The stance system (high, mid, low), Ki Pulse rhythm, yokai transformations, and loot-driven buildcraft create a depth ceiling that arguably exceeds any Souls game on a per-fight basis. This is soulslike plus character action plus deep ARPG – all at once.
2.5 million copies shipped. A cult classic with a devoted community. Honest warning though: the first 10 hours can feel like learning a new language. Once the loop locks in, difficulty feels earned rather than arbitrary, and the Ki collapse punishment system makes sloppy aggression genuinely costly.
If you love Nioh 2 and want to know what Team Ninja has been up to since – check out our full Nioh 3 Review 2026. They’ve done something remarkable – and it’s hard to admit just how good it is.
8. Hollow Knight: Silksong (2025) – The 2D Soulslike Revolution
Developer: Team Cherry | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch | Metascore (PC): 90/100 | Steam: Very Positive 93%
The most anticipated indie game in years finally arrived – and justified every second of the wait. 7 million purchases by December 2025. Steam tags it as “souls-like.” That’s entirely fair.
Silksong proves that soulslike tension works brilliantly in 2D: a massive labyrinthine world, hardcore bosses with dense attack patterns, and a mobility system that demands simultaneous platforming precision and combat reaction. The game’s skill profile is uniquely broad – traversal execution and tool selection are as much part of “combat” as any melee timing window.
Boss design is a centerpiece: tight patterns, rapid punishments, and a strong sense of rhythm-learning that makes every clear deeply satisfying. World design is enormous, secret-dense, and engineered to reward persistence above all else.
Weak point: launch demand crashed multiple storefronts, and some players criticize difficulty spikes and long boss runbacks.
9. Lies of P (2023) – The Best Non-FromSoftware Soulslike in Classic Format
Developer: Round8 Studio (Neowiz) | Platforms: PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox, macOS | Metascore (PS5): 80/100 | Steam: Very Positive 93%
A game inspired by Pinocchio, set in a Victorian city where automatons have revolted. Sounds strange. Plays brilliantly. 3 million sales by mid-2025 for a Korean indie project is a genuine triumph.
Lies of P builds its identity around defense with consequences: guard and parry systems where blocked damage partially bleeds through as “disrupted health” – keeping players active and engaged rather than turtling. The weapon modularity system lets you combine blades and handles for unique movesets, broadening viable playstyles without requiring open-world scale.
Boss design is consistently the highlight – fast, theatrical fights that reward pattern learning – and the visual coherence of Krat as a setting is extraordinary for a first major soulslike release.
Worth knowing: Patch 1.2 noticeably nerfed several bosses, sparking community debate over whether soulslikes must remain “brutally fixed.” Even in its adjusted state, the game remains very demanding.
10. Remnant II (2023) – Soulslike in a Co-op Shooter Format
Developer: Gunfire Games | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series | Metascore (PC): 80/100 | Steam: Very Positive 85%
What happens when you take soulslike principles and place them inside a co-op third-person shooter? You get Remnant II – and it’s far better than it sounds.
1 million copies sold in 4 days. 2 million in a quarter. The Archetype system lets you combine classes in meaningful ways – sniper plus medic, berserker plus support – and co-op synergy is genuine rather than cosmetic. The procedurally arranged world means every playthrough is structurally different, reintroducing the “unknown” even for experienced players.
Boss arena design under ranged pressure – managing adds, projectiles, and limited healing simultaneously – absolutely meets soulslike standards. This is the best entry point in the genre for players who prefer shooters or who want a true co-op experience.
Weak point: performance issues including hitching and crashes at launch, which developers addressed through ongoing patches.
Comparison Table: Top 10 Soulslikes by Key Parameters
We rated each game across 7 criteria on a 1–10 scale so you can quickly find the one that fits your playstyle:
| Game | Combat Depth | Difficulty | World Design | Storytelling | Multiplayer | Accessibility | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Bloodborne | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Sekiro | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Dark Souls | 7 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
| Dark Souls III | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| Demon’s Souls (Remake) | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
| Nioh 2 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| Silksong | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Lies of P | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Remnant II | 8 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
Which Soulslike Is Right for You? A Guide for Different Player Types
Choosing from this list can be overwhelming. Here’s a quick guide to cut through the noise:
If you’re new to the genre
Start with Elden Ring. The open world gives you freedom to avoid walls, figure out your playstyle, and progress at your own pace. Alternatively, try Lies of P – its more forgiving balance system and clearer narrative make the initial dive easier.
If you want the ultimate challenge
Sekiro or Nioh 2. Sekiro is for players who want to master one skill until it becomes reflex. Nioh 2 is for those who want to drown in interconnected systems and optimization.
If you play with friends
Remnant II, no hesitation. Co-op is the heart of the game and it scales beautifully for 2–3 players. Elden Ring and Dark Souls III also offer solid co-op through their summon systems.
If you want a unique atmospheric experience
Bloodborne – if you have a PS4 or PS5. Nothing else in the genre comes close. It remains the gold standard for gothic soulslike atmosphere.
If you’re a metroidvania fan
Hollow Knight: Silksong is 2D soulslike at its finest. Exploration, bosses, atmosphere – all in stunning hand-crafted 2D.
Frequently Asked Questions About Soulslike Games
What is the best soulslike game in 2026?
Elden Ring by FromSoftware is the universally recognized benchmark of the genre as of 2026. The game holds a 96 Metascore, has shipped over 30 million copies, and uniquely combines an open world with classic soulslike tension in a way no other title has matched.
Are soulslike games suitable for beginners?
Yes – if you choose the right entry point. Elden Ring and Lies of P have smoother onboarding compared to classics like Dark Souls or Sekiro. The key is accepting that death is part of the learning process, not a failure state.
Are there soulslike games you can play with a friend?
Yes. Remnant II was specifically designed for 1–3 player co-op and is the best option for shared play. Elden Ring and the Dark Souls series also support co-op through their summon systems, though the implementation is more friction-based by design.
What’s the difference between a Soulslike and a Metroidvania?
Metroidvanias focus on exploration and gradually unlocking new areas through new abilities. Soulslikes focus on high-cost failure and iterative learning through death. Hollow Knight: Silksong blends both genres masterfully and is the best example of a “souls-metroidvania.”
Which soulslike has the best combat system?
It depends on what you value. Nioh 2 has the most technically complex and deep combat system – stances, Ki Pulse, yokai transformations. Sekiro offers the most satisfying mastery-driven experience through its deflect and posture-break system. Both are exceptional but reward completely different instincts.
Final Verdict: Soulslike in 2026 – A Genre That Isn’t Going Anywhere
Soulslike games have traveled from a niche Japanese genre to one of the most influential directions in the entire industry. Today their DNA appears in shooters, platformers, indie projects, and blockbusters. And for good reason: the formula – hard but fair, brutal but possible – touches something deeply human. The desire to overcome what seems unovercomeable.
Whether you come for the atmosphere of Bloodborne, the scale of Elden Ring, the purity of Sekiro, or the co-op drive of Remnant II – the genre has something to offer every kind of player. The only thing left to do is stop fearing the first death. Because the second one will already feel a little easier.
What’s your favorite soulslike game? Share it in the comments – and tell us which boss you’re most proud of defeating.
