Best Soulslikes for Beginners, Ranked

FromSoftware's meteoric rise to fame and prosperity was triggered after the legendary launch of Dark Souls, with Elden Ring further elevating the company's status to a whole new level. This has prompted many other studios to try and emulate the gameplay of the Soulsborne series with a few twists of their own, leading to the rise of the popular Soulslike genre.

There is a wealth of Soulslikes out on the market right now, and players who want to check out this genre for themselves may be genuinely confused because of the sheer number of options at their behest. If a beginner wants to try out a Soulslike, then it's better to check out something that isn't soul-crushingly difficult.

Updated on January 23, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Most people assume that FromSoftware's hardcore gameplay loop is only reserved for seasoned action gamers with the skills to pay the bills. This couldn't be further from the truth, with many Soulslike games making it a point to make their titles as accessible as possible. This ensures that players can enjoy the many other strengths of these titles without feeling like the combat is punishing them every step of the way.

10 Blasphemous

A 2D Side-scrolling Soulslike With A Haunting Aesthetic And Challenging Yet Fair Combat

The allure of Blasphemous and its dark, gothic atmosphere can't be stated enough. The pixel art in this game is truly engrossing and goes a long way in ensuring that players will be engaged every step of the way in this engrossing experience.

It helps that Blasphemous' combat rewards skill without being too punishing. Rolling is a get-out-of-jail card for almost every attack, and timing this move to perfection ensures that players can defeat most enemies without breaking a sweat.

9 Code Vein

Presents A Unique World And Satisfying Combat That Doesn't Get Too Oppressing

Code Vein was labeled by many as an anime Soulslike, which isn't the most unfair comparison, to be fair. The game's aesthetic is quite engrossing and the story surrounding the events of the game is certainly quite engrossing.

The game itself has some rough edges, but combat on a whole is pretty enjoyable. Players can whip out a ton of powerful moves in combat and employ the help of their friends to take out tough enemies and bosses in a few tries.

8 Steelrising

One Of The Easier Soulslikes To Have Come Out In Modern Times

Spiders is a company that has developed some great and mediocre games, with Greedfall being one of their best offerings by a country mile. So, players were expecting Steelrising to continue this golden form, only for the game to be somewhat disappointing when it eventually launched.

However, most of the game's shortcomings stem from the fact that the game is a bit too easy for veterans of this combat style. This shouldn't be a problem for beginners who'll find Steelrising to be a perfect title to pop their Soulslike cherry before stepping into the big leagues.

7 Darksiders 3

Emulates Soulsborne Combat Without Being Too Overwhelming

The evolution of the Darksiders series was great, even if the series didn't sell as many titles as it deserved. However, it was Darksiders 3 that truly split fans down the middle with the changes it made to the formula, the vast majority of which were not positively received.

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One of the biggest changes was how the game abandoned the combat system of past games to focus on a more Soulslike experience instead. While the arguments put forth by critics are understandable, players who look past this issue will enjoy Darksiders for its approachable nature, with most of its bugs ironed out now.

6 Mortal Shell

The Harden Mechanic Lets Players Negate Any Damage, Even In The Middle Of A Combo

There aren't too many people who know a lot about Mortal Shell, which is a shame since this Soulslike has some cool concepts that can interest fans of this genre. The best part about Mortal Shell is how accessible it is, with players new to this kind of gameplay still having the means to power through enemies with the unique Hardening mechanic.

The fact that players can trigger this move at any time makes for a great time in combat as players bamboozle their foes over and over again. Mortal Shell isn't a very long game either, meaning that fans will have a blast powering through this title and enjoying everything it has to offer.

5 The Surge 2

A Sci-Fi Soulslike With Engaging Combat That Isn't Too Punishing

The Surge was a decent sci-fi Soulslike by Deck13, but something was missing from this game that made it harder to enjoy for some fans. Thankfully, the sequel understood that the first title had some issues that were promptly rectified in The Surge 2.

The combat is more responsive than before, with the exploration in this game being top-notch. Bosses may still be of less-than-desired quality, but players who want to enjoy a decently approachable Soulslike will be more than happy with what The Surge 2 brings to the table.

4 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

A Fun Combat System Inspired By Soulsborne Games Without Being Too Overwhelming

Respawn Entertainment was given the hefty job of developing a new single-player Star Wars game, and they achieved their goal with the release of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. There's no denying that the game was extremely buggy at launch, but players can check this title out if they want to enjoy a more competent game now.

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There's a lot to love about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and if players enjoy it, they should check out the sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Both feature exciting Soulslike combat and a satisfying lightsaber parry system.

3 Tunic

Zelda-esque Exploration With Soulslike Combat That's Challenging Without Being Too Much To Handle

Tunic is a unique indie gem that tries to replicate the golden years of gaming, back when the internet wouldn't spoil everything for the player and negate any sense of challenge altogether. The act of trying to decipher symbols and solving puzzles is one of Tunic's strongest aspects, with its unique visual design also being a treat for the eyes.

On top of all this, Tunic features combat that is inspired by the Souls series. However, players who may be worried about the difficulty factor don't need to fret — many accessibility options tone down the difficulty of Tunic's combat if it's becoming too overwhelming for players.

2 Hollow Knight

A Haunting Metroidvania With Souls-esque Combat That's Pretty Approachable

The environmental storytelling in Hollow Knight is some of the very best that players will ever see in gaming. Watching Hallownest waste away as its residents either succumb to the Infection or try to deal with this epidemic makes for a harrowing time and lends itself to some pretty emotional moments.

There's a reason why so many people are hyped to the moon and back for the sequel to this indie gem. The game is more than just a Soulslike, allowing players to engage with a wasting world and immerse themselves in a narrative that is brilliant despite the title not being story-focused like most people would expect.

1 Elden Ring

The Easiest And Most Welcoming FromSoftware Game

It's weird to call Elden Ring a Soulslike, especially with this game serving as a spiritual successor to the Dark Souls series. However, in terms of games with Soulsborne combat that are pretty accessible, Elden Ring is a viable candidate in this regard.

Players can explore every inch of the map and check out new content if they ever face a roadblock in the game. Overleveling is easier than ever before, and the sheer number of summons and build varieties that players can use in combat makes it easy to see why Elden Ring is one of FromSoftware's easiest games by a country mile.

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Elden Ring

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10 /10

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Released

February 25, 2022

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Developer(s)

From Software

Platform(s)

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X

Genre(s)

RPG, Action

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