Dark Souls is known for many things. Kickstarting the soulslike wave, brutally punishing combat, but perhaps above all else is the iconic list of bosses that keep players coming back for more time and time again, despite being well over a decade old at this point.
8 Best Multiplayer Soulslike Games, Ranked
Many Soulslike games let players team up with one or more friends, but these multiplayer games do it the best.
However, despite having some incredible fights, like Artorias, and Ornstein and Smough, there are quite a few soulslike games that deliver a slightly better boss-fighting experience. Some go for sheer numbers, while others focus on creating cinematic moments that will have players gripped to their screens right up until the fight ends.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Best In The Genre
Details:
- A combination of duel-style samurai battles and larger opponents
- Each fight offers a unique style, and all are incredibly fast and satisfying
Sekiro is widely considered to be one of, if not the best, soulslikes ever made, and a large part of that acclaim comes from the bosses. Right from the start, players are pushed to their limit against Gyoubu, but things don't get any easier from there on out.
What makes the bosses so great is how well they handle the different mechanics of the game. Certain attacks can be parried or countered, while others need to be dodged and leaped over, creating a perfect rhythm that ensures that no two fights are the same, and that players are constantly tested at every stage of their playthrough.
Lies Of P
Mechanical Giants And Master Swordsmen
Details:
- Combat allows even larger enemies to be parried consistently
- Good range of fight types, like interesting gank fights and multistage encounters
Lies of P has quickly become a fan favorite in the soulslike community, with many praising its unique combat style and gorgeous aesthetic that stands out from the rest of the crowd. But in terms of bosses, the game sets a new standard for difficulty and progression, easing players in with a few lumbering giants and quickly ramping up to some of the hardest opponents in the genre.
Best Soulslike Games On Xbox Game Pass
Whether it's the punishing difficulty or epic boss encounters, these are the best Soulslike games on Xbox Game Pass.
The first hurdle for many will be the King of Puppets, and from there, the fights become harder, more punishing, and deeply engaging. The parry style really helps make the fights feel weighty, as players aren't forced to approach the encounters in a specific way and can instead choose to dodge, parry, or shoot their way through the wide range of opponents that are ready to take them on.
The First Berserker: Khazan
Not A Moment To Breath
Details:
- Challenging bosses that constantly push players to adapt
- Huge range of moves, attacks, and counters to be used against each enemy
Khazan came out of virtually nowhere and completely subverted all expectations surrounding an indie soulslike. Its unique art style and challenging combat made it an instant hit, and the level of boss quality stands far above that of the original Dark Souls.
There is no right or wrong way to approach each fight, and rather than having a few set moves, bosses can instead chain together different attacks that each need to be learned, giving the player more things to avoid but also more chances to counter. There's a good amount of enemy variety as well, with some bosses being towering dragons, and others pitting players against an equal with just as much speed and power as themselves.
Black Myth: Wukong
Cinematic Doesn't Even Begin To Describe It
Details:
- Fights are positioned at meaningful points of progression
- Larger battles that take the fight into the skies and far across the battlefield
Black Myth: Wukong is an exceptional soulslike with an absurd amount of bosses that each pose a different challenge to the player. Across the six chapters, players will face everything from giant bears to trained samurai, having to adapt to different damage types, status effects, and absurd moves that can often come out of nowhere.
Because of all the different moves and abilities players can cast, the fights turn into breathtaking duels full of crazy effects and constant motion, making each battle feel like a dance of strikes. Later on, the bosses get pretty absurd, having a different kind of scale that very few games have ever even attempted.
Nine Sols
Challenging And Stylish At The Same Time
Details:
- One boss to represent each area/attack kind
- Fairness throughout, i.e., player skill takes precedent
Nine Sols takes heavy inspiration from Sekiro, but puts a unique spin on the parry-based combat, allowing players to fluidly move around each arena, all while countering each and every attack that comes their way. Each fight has a meaningful place in the world and marks a transition into the next section, letting the short list feel more impactful than other games with a wider range of fights.
Soulslike Games With Faster, More Aggressive Combat Than Elden Ring
For players who found Elden Ring's combat lacking in speed and ferocity, visceral action is what these soulslikes are all about.
Despite being two-dimensional, the fights manage to make use of the space so well, forcing players to dash from end to end over and over just to have a chance of surviving. And those final few fights will have even veterans feeling out of their depth, punishing tiny mistakes severely and requiring an unmatched level of concentration from the player.
Nioh 2
Brutal Fights From Creatures To Spellcasters
Details:
- A huge list of bosses of completely different kinds
- Absurd list of styles to approach each fight with
Nioh 2 delivers one of the most dense collections of bosses in any soulslike, with players being pitted against a towering Yokai one minute and a lightning-fast swordsman the next. The rhythm constantly shifts and, unlike Dark Souls, where stamina and positioning matter most, players instead need to master a much larger list of systems in order to compete with the toughest foes.
The sheer flexibility of its combat system means no two players tackle bosses the same way. The different abilities, counters, and build synergies allow fights to be approached aggressively, defensively, or a combination of the two, giving an unmatched sense of freedom that turns even easy bosses into engaging encounters.
Remnant 2
Blending Horror Into A Shooter
Details:
- Bullet-hell style fights
- Tactical repositioning demands constant focus
Remnant 2 takes a completely different approach to soulslike boss design, trading swords and shields for guns and grenades, and placing players in nightmarish scenarios where the only way out is to shoot. The fights are designed more like complex bullet-hells that combine barrages of ranged attacks with fast melee blows, creating a nice balance of dodging styles that players need to adjust to.
Rather than just being sponges for shots, the bosses are far more mechanically intense, demanding that players constantly move around rather than holding a single spot. The range may make things seem easy at first, but players will quickly wish they were back dodging slow-moving skeletons rather than giant ghouls from another dimension.
Hollow Knight
Fighting Your Way To Freedom
Details:
- Distinctive enemies that require prolonged attention to take down
- Hidden HP adds a huge amount of tension
Hollow Knight's bosses thrive on precision and unpredictability. With no visible health bars, every clash becomes a battle of endurance, where players only get to make a few mistakes before having to run back and retry the entire fight.
Each major enemy introduces unique movement patterns and overlapping attack strings, forcing players to balance aggression with restraint. Unlike Dark Souls, where shield usage and stamina management often dictate pacing, Hollow Knight relies on flawless positioning and aerial control, making every tiny input feel meaningful right up until the final blow lands.
Elden Ring
A New Foe Around Every Corner
Details:
- Over 100 unique boss types
- Main story encounters feel exhilarating and genuinely meaningful in the world
Elden Ring sets a new standard for the soulslike genre, gifting players with an open world full to the brim with challenging bosses of virtually every kind imaginable. There are dozens of dragons, knights, and abominations of all kinds, with many of the best fights actually being found away from the beaten path.
The reason the bosses feel so good is because of where they are positioned and how players approach them. Main fights, like Godfrey, are placed at the top of a long climb, letting the build-up speak to the grandeur of the battle, and the level of challenge is only dictated by the player's own build, creativity, and ability to adapt to the near-endless list of attacks and blows heading their way.
5 Soulslike Games With Better Combat Than Elden Ring
FromSoft's tried and tested combat system shines in Elden Ring's open world, but these Soulslike games do just enough with their combat to top it.