Summary
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice stands out as a gem among 2019 games for its punishing swordplay and stealth emphasis.
- NIOH offers a challenging action rollercoaster with historical references, innovative combat stances, and a unique parry system.
- Wo Long, Thymesia, and Lies of P all provide varying degrees of Sekiro-inspired combat systems and challenging gameplay.
Depending on who is asked, 2019 was either a lackluster year for games or a downright terrible one. However, there is unanimity in the fact that there was one gem from the selections for 2019 in the form of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
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The game, developed by the legendary FromSoftware, was a beauty to behold, and even years later, players are still replaying the game and consider it one of the best FromSoftware offerings. Among other things, Sekiro made a name for itself with its punishingly difficult swordplay and parry system, along with its emphasis on stealth. Thankfully, many other Soulslike titles can scratch the Sekiro itch if players want to take a break from the Dark Souls games.
Updated February 4, 2025, by Famutimi Oluwafemi: The term 'soulslike' has become a staple in the gaming industry, and there are always new titles and even old that fall into this category. That said, with how revolutionary Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was, there is a growing demand for games that are closer to the Japanese action adventure than to the more brooding Lovecraftian surroundings of Dark Souls. Here are some of the best of such games.
13 NIOH
A Great Soulslike With A Dash Of History Just Like Sekiro
Nioh
- Released
- February 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Team Ninja’s NIOH is an action rollercoaster that features real historical references, which might be fascinating for anyone with a passing interest in history. The player controls William, a character based on William Adams, an Englishman who is considered one of the only Western samurai.
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NIOH might not be as hard as Dark Souls or Sekiro, but it is certainly challenging. It also makes use of a parry system, and the player can choose between stances, which makes combat more innovative and engaging.
12 Kristala
If Cats Were Warriors
|
Platform |
Microsoft Windows, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S |
|---|---|
|
Developer |
Astral Clocktower Studios |
|
Genres |
Action game, Indie game |
|
Publisher |
Astral Clocktower Studios |
|
Released |
June 2024 |
Kristala is a game from developers Astral Clocktower Studios, where the player takes control of their own anthropomorphic character (in this case, cats) and sets off on an epic adventure. It was released in 2024 and is a mix between a soulslike and Sekiro. The oppressive surroundings are certainly more akin to the Souls games.
But the combat is where it takes more inspiration from Sekiro, as players have to parry when fighting enemies. Not only that, but there is a lot of rolling and dodging involved, too. Furthermore, the traversal skills are also more akin to Sekiro, as the player moves like a cat, jumping from building to building with great agility, and the absence of fall damage (the player is a cat afterall) just adds to the realism.
11 Hollow Knight
An Indie Darling In Every Sense Of The Word
Hollow Knight
- Released
- February 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux
Hollow Knight is the indie version of a Dark Souls game. It features a deep and interesting story, gloomy backgrounds and areas, and satisfying boss battles. Hollow Knight incorporates beautiful animation and very innovative gameplay, which means that each victory feels earned, something that should feel familiar to fans of Soulslikes.
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It has a lot in common with a game like Sekiro, but it also differs, with players having to think of the platforming aspect of the game, which can also be difficult to grasp. A lot of Hollow Knight’s difficulty is found in the DLC content, where boss rush battles can be maddeningly challenging. So, anyone looking to pick this game up should be ready for a tough time.
10 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Get Ready To Parry
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Released
- March 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood & Gore and Violence.
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Released in 2023, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is sometimes called the Chinese Sekiro, mostly because of its feudal Chinese setting. Where Wo Long misses in terms of an engaging story, it more than makes up for with its combat system.
In Wo Long, the player has access to a bevy of weapons, which makes combat varied. The parry mechanic is also reminiscent of Sekiro, but unlike the latter, where fans can’t parry and counter certain enemies, Wo Long integrates the parry system in every encounter. It has good replay value and is certainly a great "Sekiro-like" for those looking for something similar.
9 Thymesia
The Combat Leans More Toward Sekiro
Thymesia
- Released
- August 15, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- OverBorder Studio
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Set in a plague-ridden world, Thymesia requires the player to figure out what is causing the plague and bring an end to it. The story itself is vague and not the most compelling, but the bright spot is the very fun combat system.
While the atmosphere, story beats, and characters make this feel more like a soulsborne game, the combat leans more towards Sekiro in the fighting style, which allows the player to dodge attacks or deflect them, and enemies need to have both their white life bar and green "wounds" bar depleted to die. While not the most challenging game, it still offers a good time.
8 Steelrising
The French Revolution But With Robots
Steelrising
- Released
- September 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Spiders
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Steelrising was developed by Spiders, a France-based outfit, and fittingly, the game is set during the French Revolution. The story is a lot more straightforward than a lot of these kinds of games, and while the atmosphere and gameplay feature a lot of soulslike elements, it does differentiate itself in a number of ways.
For one, the protagonist, Aegis, is wonderfully designed and is definitive, which isn't always the case with other souls-like games that feature indecipherable protagonists. Also, traversal borrows some things from Sekiro, as the character has something of a grappling hook and is also equipped with an air dash. The bosses are fun to fight, the weapon variety is impressive, and the world is likely to delight history fans.
7 Code Vein
Features A Detailed Combat System For Players To Master
Code Vein
- Released
- September 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Code Vein was developed by Bandai Namco, who is also the publisher of Elden Ring, one of FromSoftware's more recent games. Code Vein is unabashedly a soulslike, boasting a lot of the mechanics linking it to the classic FromSoftware title.
Its similarity to Sekiro lies largely in its deliberate combat system, which revolves a lot around recognizing enemy patterns and responding appropriately, whether it's to dodge, block, or attack. The game isn’t too challenging, and while the enemy variety is lacking, it does feature some awesome boss battles and enables the player to customize their character to their heart’s content.
6 Nine Sols
Nine Sols Features All The Awesome Sekiro Gameplay Coupled With Beautiful Hand-Drawn Animation
Nine Sols
- Released
- May 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Blood and Gore, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- RedCandleGames
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer, Metroidvania, Soulslike
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Nine Sols is an underrated gem from 2024 from RedCandleGames, where players take control of the vengeful Yi who is after the Nine Sols of the Tiandao Council. The game immediately stands out with stunning 2D visuals that are similar to Hollow Knight - just with a lot more color.
Nine Sols has surprisingly deep lore that the player can learn all about as they progress in the story. There is a fair bit of platforming, and the combat is incredible, featuring smooth animations and a parry mechanic that can make taking down enemies feel extremely satisfying. Enemy variety is top-notch, too, and taking control of a badass like Yi is just great.
5 Lords Of The Fallen (2023)
Features A Resurrection System Similar To Sekiro
Lords of the Fallen
- Released
- October 13, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- HEXWORKS
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PC
The Lords Of The Fallen is the reboot of an earlier game simply called Lords of The Fallen, which was released in 2014. The Lords Of The Fallen is a different kettle of fish in that it gets the soulslike trope really well with a few innovations.
It compares to Sekiro in how it utilizes the world of the dead, which is an alternate realm that the player can access by way of a lantern. If the character dies, he can be revived, similar to how Sekiro can be revived by Kuro's Dragon Heritage.
4 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
A Soulslike With A Little More Jank
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Released
- April 28, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Soulslike, Sci-Fi
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to the highly successful Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The game takes place quite a while after the first game, and though it would be a good idea to check out the first game before playing this one, doing so is not mandatory.
Survivor has the player hop planets while fighting different enemie. While some might bristle at its comparison to Dark Souls, it is totally a soulslike. The difficulty is right up there, especially when playing on the Grandmaster difficulty, and it leans into the style of Sekiro with some of the parry mechanics and the intricate fighting style. The game also includes stances that help to vary the fighting style quite a bit and keep things interesting for the player. Survivor is an amazing sequel to a game that took many by surprise, and it’s a great game to try out for fans of Sekiro.