Soulslike Games: A Deep Dive into the Challenging Genre

For many gamers, “Soulslike” is a popular term that quickly describes a certain style of game. It covers the main features you’d expect from that type of game.

But if you’re not familiar with it, the term might seem unclear and doesn’t explain what makes a game “Soulslike.” So, what exactly does it mean for a game to be labeled as Soulslike? What are key elements that set it apart from other games?

From Demon’s Souls to Dark Souls

Soulslike subgenre began with FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls in 2009. This game was known for its tough difficulty similar to older games that were designed to be challenging. Developers intentionally included many enemies & dangerous environments that could kill players at any moment.

In 2011, Dark Souls was released as spiritual successor to Demon’s Souls. It took core ideas of the original game & improved upon them. Dark Souls introduced refined game mechanics and a connected game world that focused on exploration. Players had to learn from their mistakes and adapt to overcome obstacles.

Since then, FromSoftware has created several other games inspired by this original style known as Soulslike games. But what makes a game a Soulslike? What common features do these games share?

Dark Fantasy Setting and Environmental Storytelling

In Soulslike games such as corrupted kingdom of Boletaria in Demon’s Souls and blood-soaked streets of Yharnam in Bloodborne, dark fantasy settings are a key element. These worlds are often plagued by disease or transformed by dark magic, creating eerie & dangerous environments.

You typically start out in these planets with little more than a broken sword for defense and little understanding of the area. Players are left to explore and find better equipment to fortify their character and increase their chances of survival; there is no handholding involved.

Storytelling in Soulslike games is subtle & hidden. Game has dispersed lore rather than a cohesive story. It can be found via talking to NPCs, looking through journals or reading the descriptions of the items in your inventory. With this approach, players are encouraged to put together the tale on their own.

This design decision allows players to freely play how they choose. While some choose to concentrate on eliminating opponents and making game progress others would prefer to examine every aspect and learn the entire tale. One of reasons Soulslike games are popular with a diverse group of players is their adaptability.

Challenging Difficulty and Diverse Character Builds

If you look at the comments on any forum, gameplay stream or video about Soulslike games, you’ll quickly come across the phrase “Git Gud” (meaning “get good”). This saying comes from the tough nature of Soulslike games, which can be very challenging, especially for casual gamers. Unlike easy hack-and-slash games, Soulslike games demand patience & skill.

When players seek for help during a challenging boss battle or other aspect of the game, “Git Gud” is frequently used as guidance. There is some truth to what may sound like a harsh statement. Soulslike games usually have only one difficulty level—there’s no option to make things easier. Your success relies on mastering the game’s trial-and-error mechanics. You need to learn enemy attack patterns, figure out when to block, dodge, or counterattack, and keep practicing until you get it right.

Way your character develops is a major component in winning Souls-like games. With the exception of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, majority of these games allow you to fully modify the talents and abilities of your character. To succeed in the game, you must, however, know how to efficiently grow your character.

Learning these strategies—mastering gameplay and building your character—is the key to “getting good” at Soulslike games.

The Role of Bonfires and Checkpoints

In most action-adventure games, save points or checkpoints are scattered around to help players save progress and respawn if they die. However, in Soulslike games, checkpoints work a bit differently.

Demon’s Souls, first of Soulslike games, introduced concept of bonfires. Bonfires serve as a momentary safe haven where you can save progress, heal and refill your Estus Flasks (which restore health). At bonfires, you can also repair equipment, spend souls (the in-game currency) to level up your character, and fast travel to other unlocked bonfires.

However, resting at a bonfire comes with a cost. When you rest, all the enemies you’ve defeated in the area will respawn (except for bosses). This adds a layer of strategy, as you’ll need to decide when it’s worth resting, knowing that the area will refill with enemies. If you die, you respawn at the last bonfire you rested at so not resting for while could mean starting far back in game, with fresh wave of enemies waiting for you.

When you die, you also lose all the souls you’ve collected. You have one chance to return to the spot where you died and retrieve them. If you die again before recovering them, they’re lost forever.

Bonfires (or similar checkpoints in other Soulslike games) are the only places where your character is truly safe. They offer brief comfort in an otherwise dangerous world, making them a unique and essential part of Soulslike gameplay, enhancing the sense of immersion and challenge.

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Soulslike Games

FromSoftware has a strong lineup of Soulslike games including Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring. But the popularity of this genre has inspired many other developers to create their own Soulslike titles.

Games like Nioh, Lords of the Fallen, Mortal Shell, Lies of P and Black Myth: Wukong follow same challenging gameplay style that FromSoftware made famous.

With more Soulslike games coming out every year, this genre is here to stay. If you’re curious about these games, now is a great time to try one out.