There are few studios that manage to create an entirely new genre, but that’s exactly what FromSoftware managed in 2009 with the release of Demon Souls and Dark Souls, the first Soulslike games.
The best Soulslike games are characterised by their Metroidvania-style level design, a campfire-based saving system, and often excruciating difficulty. As such, there are plenty of new games that released since the conception of Dark Souls, many of which aim to adapt the genre themselves.
If the Dark Souls games aren’t quite for you, but you’re curious to dip your toes in the Soulslike genre, there are plenty of other best games like Dark Souls for you to try. Keep reading for a comprehensive list of the best Soulslike games you can play right now on PC and console in 2023.
- If you need some relaxation after the chaos of all these Soulslikes, then have a look at our list of the best cosy games for some suggestions
Best games like Dark Souls for PC and console in 2023
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Respawn | Team Cherry | FromSoftware
Dark Souls as a game and Soulslikes as a genre are largely defined by their punishing difficulty, but there are a few other consistencies that have stuck too. Things like losing your experience and resources after death, ‘bonfires’ that you can rest at that restore fallen enemies, challenging but fair combat, a loose narrative, and vast, complex areas interconnected with shortcuts.
While not every game we have chosen on this list will not have all of the features listed above, they will have at least a couple – making them worthy of being called one of the best Soulslike games.
We won’t leave you resting at a bonfire any longer, however, so make sure to keep reading to see our picks for the best games like Dark Souls in 2023:
#11 – Mortal Shell
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Cold Symmetry
Mortal Shell details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2020
- Key features:
- Clear Dark Souls influence
- Intriguing story
- Heavy and deliberate combat
If there was any game that was unashamedly indebted to the Souls series on this list, it would be Mortal Shell, as the developers have not been shy about their adoration for FromSoftware’s work.
This action RPG is one of the best Soulslike games out there purely due to how closely it sticks to the formula, emulating the heavy and deliberate combat that was especially prevalent within Dark Souls.
It also introduces its new core ‘shell’ system, where you take on various lost warriors to gain new abilities and completely change playstyles. If you’re looking for a game with plenty of bite, then Mortal Shell might be the one for you.
#10 – Demon’s Souls
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Image via BluePoint
Demon’s Souls details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5
- Release date: 2020
- Key features:
- Genre-defining game
- Faithful remake with gorgeous visuals
- Showcase for PS5 graphics
When it comes to Soulslike games, one title that should not be overlooked is the progenitor of the genre, remastered in all its glory. Demon’s Souls, the FromSoftware title that preceded Dark Souls laid the blueprint for the Souls series and established the mechanics that would go on to become series staples.
Remade with intricate detail by BluePoint (who also remade The Shadow of the Colossus for the PS4), the Demon’s Souls remake was a launch title for the PS5, and worked as an excellent showcase for the graphical fidelity players could come to expect from the console.
#9 – Blasphemous
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The Game Kitchen
Blasphemous details & key features:
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2019
- Key features:
- Metroidvania with Soulslike influence
- Detailed 2D visuals
- Eerie story and challenging combat
While slightly perhaps more Metroidvania than completely Souls, it is undeniable the influence that games like Dark Souls had on Blasphemous. Set in the deeply religious realm of Cvstodia, Blasphemous offers brutal 2D combat and stunning visuals that you won’t quickly forget, making it easily one of the best Soulslike games you can play right now.
It has many of the hallmarks of a great game like Dark Souls too, with the aforementioned challenging combat, a relatively loose narrative, and checkpoints where you can replenish your health and reset the area.
If you’re looking for something a little different than the standard Soulslike experience, then definitely check out Blasphemous as we’re sure you won’t regret it.
#8 – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
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Respawn
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2023
- Key features:
- Lightsaber combat
- Continues story from Jedi: Fallen Order
- Cinematic performances from the cast
Who would have thought that Dark Souls would make its way into an IP as big as Star Wars? Both Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and its predecessor Fallen Order certainly proved us wrong. Like many of the best Soulslike games, there are fingerprints of Dark Souls on every corner, with the added flavour of Star Wars that makes it even more appealing to many.
Unsurprisingly, it works incredibly well – with lightsaber combat suited perfectly to the conscious action of the genre, making for one of the best games like Dark Souls out there.
Furthermore, these two games have a more traditional narrative approach than what we typically see from FromSoftware, so if you’re wanting a more immediate story with a wide cast of characters then make sure to look Cal Kestis’ way.
#7 – Nioh 2
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Koei Tecmo
Nioh 2 details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2020
- Key features:
- High-difficulty ceiling
- Unique Japanese settings and aesthetic
- Stance-based combat
Bringing the Ninja Gaiden flair to the Dark Souls formula, Nioh 2 is easily one of the best Soulslike games you can play right now on PC and console.
Many might even argue that Nioh 2 is the hardest Souls-like game out there, offering an immeasurably punishing experience to even the most experienced of Dark Souls veterans. You’ll have to balance three different stances and the unique Ki pulse system to overcome Nioh 2’s toughest challenges, and it is certainly not for the faint of heart or mind.
If somehow FromSoft’s games are a bit too easy for you, then buckle up with Nioh 2, as you will likely find the challenge that you’re searching for inside late 16th Century Japan, alongside one of the best Soulslike games too.
- Word games might be harder than Soulslikes sometimes, so why not check out our list of the best games like Wordle for some suggestions
#6 – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
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FromSoftware
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice details & key features:
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2019
- Key features:
- Won Game of the Year
- Rewarding and satisfying combat
- Narrative and character-driven
Speaking of 16th Century Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the first of three games that we’re cheating a bit with, as it is a bit too obvious of a choice. Developed by FromSoftware themselves, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is hands down one of the best games like Dark Souls on PC and console that you can pick up and play.
It is the furthest departure FromSoftware have taken from the formula since the release of Dark Souls back in 2011, featuring no weapon flexibility, a rather rigid combat system, and less punishment upon death.
However, it retains the same exceptional challenge that the series has become known for, with some of FromSoft’s greatest-ever bosses and fan favourite areas featuring within Wolf’s journey, making Sekiro impossible to ignore when considering the best Soulslike-games.
#5 – Hollow Knight
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Team Cherry
Hollow Knight details & features:
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2017
- Key features:
- Lovingly crafted world
- Unique setting and design
- Metroidvania with Soulslike qualities
Offering a hybrid between the Metroidvania and Soulslike genres, Hollow Knight is an absolute must-play if you’ve not had the chance to yet. Featuring stunning maze-like levels, hard-to-master combat, and rest points that restore fallen enemies, Hollow Knight is positively overflowing with Souls influence, and we can’t help but love it.
You’ll visit beautifully varied locales, fight a wide selection of extremely challenging bosses, and piece together a storied history full of myth and legend. It is best to go into Hollow Knight will no knowledge of the game at all if you can, as it truly benefits from the sense of discovery – no matter how daunting it might seem at first.
One thing we can guarantee is that there is a lot that you will be familiar with if you’re a lover of Dark Souls, making Hollow Knight stand out as one of our top picks for the best Soulslike games out there right now.
- Hollow Knight also appears on our list of the best Steam Deck games, so why not check that out for some other suggestions
#4 – Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
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Armored Core 6 details & features:
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2023
- Key features:
- Challenging, fast-paced combat
- Fully customisable mechs
- Soulslike gameplay in a sci-fi setting
Hot off the press, Armored Core 6 is another title from FromSoft – and while it’s not quite your typical Soulslike game, it does borrow a lot of DNA.
For starters, it has a similar stagger mechanic to Sekiro, another Soulsike game from the developer. Here, you’ll need to ensure that you deal enough damage to stagger the enemy before actually piling on the hit points to take them down.
Armored Core 6 opts for a linear level design, but it’s in the mech-building that this game truly shines as a Soulslike RPG. Just like your Dark Souls character, there are endless customization options to truly make your mech your own. Oh, and you can customise the liveries too for that extra personality flair.
Of all the games on this list, Armored Core 6 is likely the biggest departure from the Soulslike genre. However, that might be just what you’re after if you’re looking to play a game that’s similar to Dark Souls, but not quite the same.
#3 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom details & key features:
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2023
- Key features:
- Epic sequel to Breath of the Wild
- Hours of gameplay
- Vast open-world
While it might seem like an odd choice considering the previous entries, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is still one of the best games like Dark Souls even if it might not seem like it at first glance.
The influence of the Zelda series on Dark Souls is clear, and one only has to glance towards Sen’s Fortress to see the clearest manifestation of this. However, the comparisons aren’t just limited to the dungeons, but instead, the way you move through the world, and the secrets you can discover, making this hard not to consider when thinking of the best Soulslike games.
On the flip side, it is also quite clear the influence that Dark Souls had on the two most recent Zelda games, even without the more obvious pulls like bonfires and dropped souls being present. It seems a bit silly to be recommending a game as unanimously loved as TOTK, but if you love the Souls series but have never tried a Zelda game, then this might be the right place to start.
#2 – Bloodborne
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FromSoftware
Bloodborne details & key features:
- Platforms: PS4
- Release date: 2015
- Key features:
- Spooky gothic setting
- Gory fast-based combat
- Deserves a sequel
While it is an incredibly close fight for the top spot, Bloodborne has just been pipped for the number one spot, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s not one of the best Soulslike games you can pick up if you somehow haven’t already.
Taking the Dark Souls format to a gothic world oozing with blood and horrors is a recipe for greatness in of itself, but combining that with a fast-paced, parry-focussed combat that might just be FromSoft’s most enjoyable and you get what many consider to be the best game ever.
If you have somehow never picked up Bloodborne and are looking for a game like Dark Souls, then you should drop everything and play it right now – or at least wait until you’ve read our last entry.
What is the best Soulslike game in 2023?
#1 – Elden Ring
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FromSoftware
Elden Ring details & key features:
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
- Release date: 2022
- Vast open world rife for exploring
- Complete creative control
- Game of the Year winner
This will almost certainly not come as a surprise to many, but our pick for the best Soulslike game you can play in 2023 is Elden Ring.
Many consider Elden Ring to be Dark Souls 4 in all but name, but it is far more than the latest instalment of FromSoftware’s defining series. It truly feels like everything that FromSoft have been working towards is encapsulated within a game, with the move to an open world at the heart of its success.
You are of course getting all of the hallmarks that you would expect from a Soulslike game, with outstanding interconnected areas, top-tier dungeons, monumental bosses, and brutal difficulty, but it somehow tops all of these categories and much more within the context of the series.
- Make sure that you try out this Elden Ring rune farm to upgrade your weapons and level up your character with ease
Much like Bloodborne, you are doing yourself an absolute disservice if you’ve yet to play Elden Ring, but there’s no better time than right now to change that, especially with the Shadow of The Erdtree DLC having been announced.
So, that wraps up this list of the best games like Dark Souls that you can play on PC and console in 2023, giving you some excellent picks to add to your collection if you’re a fan of the punishing game series.
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Categories: Gaming
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