What to play during the long wait for the Elden Ring DLC.
I admit, Dark Souls is an obvious choice in this context, but we can't ignore the series that paved the way for the genre's success. If you've delved into the world of soulslikes with Elden Ring, it's the perfect time to catch up on these titles anyway. For an Elden Ring-like gameplay experience, start with Dark Souls 3. If you're curious about one of the genre's origins, give Dark Souls 1 a try. As for Dark Souls 2... you can skip it if you want... | © Bandai Namco
If you haven't played Nioh 1 & 2 yet, the wait for Shadow of the Erdtree is the perfect time to catch up. In the first part, you carve your way as William Adams through the Japan of 1600, and in the second part, you send your own protagonist into battle against Yokai. The wide range of weapons and fighting styles, as well as the fast-paced combat, are a lot of fun and make the games sometimes even a bit tougher than Dark Souls. | © Koei Tecmo/Sony
This title is a reboot of Lords of the Fallen from 2014. With melee combat and magic, you face your enemies in a dark fantasy world in typical Soulslike fashion. The good news: you can also play the campaign in co-op with a friend, so you don't have to suffer alone. In the reboot, you can not only create your own character with one out of 9 classes, but also have a much larger world to explore than in the original. | © CI Games
The Surge 1 & 2 were developed by the studio that originally created Lords of the Fallen and Deck13. They took Lords of the Fallen and put it in a sci-fi universe (basically). Sci-fi Soulslikes are still extremely rare and something that FromSoft fans have been wanting for years. If you're in the market for that, you need to play The Surge. | © Focus Entertainment
Mortal Shell is a game that owned up to its influence since day one. It is one of the best ones, though, especially for its unique style and focus on a shorter, streamlined action experience. If you mainly like the tough fights in Souls games and don't care too much about the RPG aspects, this is a great one to look into. | © Playstack
What a crazy and unique game. At least in its style and scenario. Blasphemous is a positively crazy game that plants Soulslike features such as losing your currency on death and the tough difficulty into a 2D Metroidvania format. Unfortunately, the gameplay is not quite as tight as in other games on this list. But still, very much worth trying out. Blasphemous 2 also provides you with a larger arsenal of weapons. Here, you can switch between three different melee weapons, adding more variety to the combat. | © Team17
Remant is one of the most unusual games in this list. Remnant is an online-coop-shooter, but instead of being an action RPG or Metroidvania, it's a Soulslike. Often dubbed "Dark Souls with Guns" by fans (that's actually Bloodborne, but ok), the game is an extremely fun, confusing, hard-as-nails experience. With Remnant 2, the journey continued and enthralled even more fans, as it further improved upon the gameplay of its predecessor. | © Perfect World
Big shoutout to Respawn Entertainment for delivering the only truly exceptional Star Wars games under EA. These games are challenging, featuring a combat system reminiscent of Dark Souls, where you respawn at specific checkpoints upon death. Fallen Order was a standout title, offering a fantastic Soulslike experience. While the sequel Jedi: Survivor didn't receive as much acclaim, it still holds its ground. The main issues seemed to stem from the technical implementation of the PC port, so consider yourself warned. | © EA
Ugh, I could talk about this game all day. But I'll keep it short. Hollow Knight is one of the best Soulslikes and Metroidvanias ever made. A beautifully melancholic world, obscure and indirect storytelling, super tough bosses and losing your currency upon death. The DNA of Dark Souls runs all through this game. And it's amazing. Also, there will be a successor called Silksong, that you shouldn't miss out either. | © Team Cherry
Hey, another FromSoft game in this list! They do make the best Soulslikes, what can I say? Bloodborne thrusts you into a Victorian setting as a Hunter, adding a spin of gothic and cosmic horror. Despite the 30 fps, the game has a solid fanbase, still hoping for a sequel or a remake. If I had one wish, that would be it. | © Sony Computer Entertainment
Lies of P is often described as the Bloodborne for PC that we never got. This Korean action RPG combines the classic story of Pinocchio with the challenging gameplay of a Soulslike, attracting not only seasoned souls fans but also newcomers to the genre. The way it translates a children's fairy tale into a dark steampunk aesthetic while offering demanding gameplay is impressive and saves Lies of P a spot in our list. Also, you can become friends with a cat, what else do you want? | © Neowiz Games
FromSoftware's Sekiro must not be missing from this list. The pioneers of the Soulslike genre altered the formula with this entry into their portfolio, definitely showing courage. You here take on the defined role of the shinobi Sekiro, who endeavors to protect the young Kuro, who carries divine blood within him. In feudal Japan, you carve your way through a fantastical world and battle against even more fantastical foes. But be warned: Sekiro is tough. If you're a Dark Souls veteran, forget everything you've learned and brace yourself. | © Activision
In Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, set during the Later Han Dynasty in China, you assume the role of a nameless militia soldier fighting against demons and enemy forces. Inspired by Chinese martial arts, you use swordplay to survive and uncover their true power. The game follows the journey of officers destined for greatness, as well as the protagonist's rise from obscurity to heroism in a turbulent era of chaos and destruction. | © KOEI TECMO GAMES
Yeah, you caught us. The best way to pass the time until the Elden Ring DLC is simply to play Elden Ring again. It offers so much content that it's always worth starting a new run or the 10th New Game+. And if you don't like that, just try out a few mods. The possibilities are almost endless. And if you're waiting for Shadow of the Erdtree, you're probably in the mood for Elden Ring anyway. | © Bandai Namco
Elden Ring is FromSoft's latest hit, which elevated the genre with its open-world approach. In June, the first DLC, 'Shadow of the Erdtree,' will finally be released, and we've put together a list of games for you to play until then, from big budget releases to the smallest indie titles. These are 14 of the best Soulslikes (in no particular order).
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