Dark Souls leaves a lasting impression through its demanding battles, mysterious worlds, and rewarding exploration. Every shortcut discovered and difficult boss defeated feels meaningful because progress depends on observation, patience, and better decisions. Once you finish the adventure, finding another game that delivers the same satisfaction can become a challenge of its own.

Fortunately, several games like Dark Souls offer exciting ways to experience that familiar tension. Some focus on deliberate sword combat and detailed character builds, while others introduce faster action, cooperative shooting, or dangerous worlds presented in two dimensions. The right choice depends on whether you enjoy exploring hidden paths, mastering enemy patterns, collecting equipment, or uncovering stories through your surroundings. This guide explores fifteen worthwhile alternatives, highlights their strengths and limitations, and compares their main features. Whether you want a close Soulslike experience or a fresh interpretation of its ideas, these recommendations will help you choose an adventure that matches your interests, preferred combat style, and appetite for discovery without relying on difficulty alone to make the decision.

Quick Answer: What Are the Best Games Like Dark Souls?

Elden Ring is our strongest overall recommendation for players seeking games like Dark Souls, particularly for exploration and character builds. Lies of P suits focused combat, Bloodborne offers gothic horror, and Nioh 2 rewards technical mastery. Choose Salt and Sanctuary for a familiar experience in two dimensions, or Remnant II when cooperative shooting appeals more than traditional sword fighting encounters.

What Makes a Game Similar to Dark Souls?

Games similar to Dark Souls usually combine challenging encounters with exploration, progression, and consequences for mistakes. Their appeal comes from understanding systems and making better decisions over time. Difficulty alone does not create the same experience. Meaningful checkpoints, interesting equipment, dangerous environments, and satisfying discoveries help turn repeated attempts into a rewarding journey that encourages curiosity as much as persistence.

Challenging Combat and Resource Management

Combat becomes engaging when every action carries a cost. Attacking, defending, dodging, and healing require careful timing. Games that reward observation and resource management often recreate the tension Dark Souls fans enjoy, especially when careless decisions leave players dangerously exposed.

• Learn enemy attack patterns.
• Manage stamina or equivalent resources.
• Recognize safe healing opportunities.
• Avoid attacking without an escape plan.

Exploration, Shortcuts, and Progression

Exploration feels rewarding when discoveries change your journey. A shortcut can reduce repeated travel, while an unfamiliar weapon can introduce another playstyle. Connected environments and meaningful upgrades encourage players to investigate carefully instead of simply following a marker toward objectives.

• Search for hidden routes.
• Unlock useful shortcuts.
• Experiment with equipment.
• Revisit areas with new abilities.

Boss Battles and Environmental Storytelling

Memorable bosses test skills developed throughout an adventure. Meanwhile, environments, dialogue, and item descriptions can reveal a world’s history gradually. This combination gives players reasons to study both enemies and surroundings, making discovery an important part of the overall challenge.

• Observe before committing to attacks.
• Read relevant item descriptions.
• Notice environmental details.
• Connect discoveries with character dialogue.

15 Best Games Like Dark Souls to Explore

These fifteen games offer different interpretations of the experiences Dark Souls players often enjoy. Some closely resemble its combat and character progression, while others share its atmosphere, exploration, or demanding encounters. For studios offering game development services, these titles provide useful examples of combat design and player progression. Each selection below highlights its main attraction and limitations, helping you choose according to your preferences.

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring expands familiar Souls combat into an enormous world filled with discoveries. Weapons, spells, and varied routes encourage experimentation. It suits players who want freedom to explore elsewhere when an encounter becomes frustrating, although its scale can feel overwhelming.

• Why it fits: Tactical encounters, character builds, and rewarding exploration.
• Best for: Players who enjoy freedom and discovery.
• Pros: Many ways to approach combat and progression.
• Cons: Its size can make choosing a direction difficult.

2. Bloodborne

Bloodborne brings Souls-style tension into a gothic city filled with disturbing creatures and hidden history. Its aggressive combat encourages confident decisions. Choose it for atmosphere and unusual weapons, especially if you want a faster rhythm than defensive Dark Souls play.

• Why it fits: Dangerous exploration and a mysterious world.
• Best for: Gothic horror enthusiasts.
• Pros: Distinctive weapons and a memorable setting.
• Cons: Less suitable for players who prefer shield-based defence.

3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro replaces broad character building with a focused sword-fighting experience shaped by timing, stealth, and movement. Its demanding encounters reward practice. Players seeking personal combat mastery may love the approach, while those wanting extensive equipment builds should consider other alternatives.

• Why it fits: Demanding bosses and improvement through practice.
• Best for: Players who enjoy precise combat.
• Pros: Strong satisfaction from mastering encounters.
• Cons: Fewer options for solving problems through different character builds.

4. Lies of P

Lies of P places challenging combat within a dark reinterpretation of Pinocchio. Weapon combinations and Legion Arms support experimentation throughout its focused adventure. It suits players seeking demanding encounters and a distinctive setting without committing to a sprawling open-world journey.

• Why it fits: Challenging encounters and equipment experimentation.
• Best for: Players who prefer focused progression.
• Pros: Strong atmosphere and an unusual storybook setting.
• Cons: No player co-op for those seeking help from friends.

5. Nioh 2

Nioh 2 builds its combat around weapon stances, stamina recovery, and supernatural abilities. Learning these systems creates considerable room for improvement. It is particularly appealing if you enjoy technical experimentation, although its complexity can demand patience during the opening hours.

• Why it fits: Resource management and challenging encounters.
• Best for: Technical combat enthusiasts.
• Pros: Deep systems with plenty to practise.
• Cons: Multiple mechanics can overwhelm newcomers.

6. Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen, released in 2023, combines dark fantasy with exploration across overlapping realms. Its lantern changes how players inspect environments and discover routes. Choose it for character builds and unsettling locations, particularly when interconnected exploration interests you most.

• Why it fits: Dark fantasy, character progression, and connected environments.
• Best for: Players who enjoy investigating complex locations.
• Pros: Parallel realms add an interesting exploration mechanic.
• Cons: Layered environments can make navigation confusing.

7. The Surge 2

The Surge 2 exchanges medieval fantasy for a devastated science-fiction city. Targeting enemy limbs connects combat decisions with equipment collection. This makes encounters interesting beyond survival, especially for players who enjoy planning upgrades and choosing between immediate safety and rewards.

• Why it fits: Tactical melee combat and equipment progression.
• Best for: Science-fiction fans.
• Pros: Combat choices directly influence obtainable equipment.
• Cons: Its industrial setting may disappoint fantasy-focused players.

8. Mortal Shell

Mortal Shell offers a smaller, atmospheric variation on deliberate Soulslike combat. Its shells and hardening mechanic encourage a different defensive approach. Consider it when you want a focused adventure, rather than the extensive equipment variety and scale of larger RPGs.

• Why it fits: Deliberate encounters and an oppressive atmosphere.
• Best for: Players seeking a compact Soulslike.
• Pros: A distinct defensive mechanic.
• Cons: Less breadth than larger action RPGs.

9. Code Vein

Code Vein combines anime presentation with challenging encounters, flexible builds, and companion support. Blood Codes encourage experimentation without committing permanently to one approach. It suits players who enjoy character customization and prefer exploring dangerous environments alongside an AI or friend.

• Why it fits: Boss battles, character progression, and dangerous exploration.
• Best for: Anime fans and build enthusiasts.
• Pros: Flexible playstyles and companion options.
• Cons: Its presentation may not appeal to every Dark Souls fan.

10. Remnant II

Remnant II adapts challenging encounters to ranged combat, character abilities, and cooperative teamwork. Its varied areas encourage repeat exploration. Choose it if you enjoy aiming and positioning, especially with friends, rather than expecting a close replacement for traditional sword combat.

• Why it fits: Challenging bosses and equipment-based progression.
• Best for: Groups that enjoy cooperative shooting.
• Pros: Strong emphasis on teamwork and complementary abilities.
• Cons: A substantial departure from traditional melee-focused Souls games.

11. Salt and Sanctuary

Salt and Sanctuary translates many familiar Souls ideas into two dimensions. Equipment builds, dangerous exploration, and interconnected routes remain central. It is an excellent option for players seeking recognizable RPG systems, provided they also enjoy navigating platforming challenges alongside combat.

• Why it fits: Character builds, sanctuaries, shortcuts, and environmental lore.
• Best for: Players seeking a close 2D alternative.
• Pros: Familiar RPG decisions in a different perspective.
• Cons: Platforming adds another type of challenge.

12. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight offers a ruined kingdom, demanding encounters, and rewarding exploration through a hand-drawn world. It primarily follows Metroidvania design, so expect differences in progression. Choose it for discovery and atmosphere rather than extensive weapon collections or traditional RPG builds.

• Why it fits: Mystery, challenging encounters, and rewarding discovery.
• Best for: Exploration-focused players.
• Pros: A distinctive world with strong atmosphere.
• Cons: Less equipment-based customization than Dark Souls.

13. Blasphemous 2

Blasphemous 2 combines unsettling imagery with weapon-based combat and exploration. Its bosses reward learning attack patterns, while mysterious characters enrich the setting. It suits players drawn to dark worlds, although its platforming structure differs significantly from a conventional Souls RPG.

• Why it fits: Dark themes, demanding bosses, and environmental mystery.
• Best for: Fans of atmospheric 2D adventures.
• Pros: Strong artistic identity and distinct weapon approaches.
• Cons: Limited appeal for players seeking extensive stat-based builds.

14. Another Crab’s Treasure

Another Crab’s Treasure brings Soulslike encounters into a colourful underwater setting. Improvised shells shape defence, while assistance options let players adjust specific challenges. It is a useful starting point for newcomers who want room to learn without abandoning the adventure.

• Why it fits: Defensive decisions and learning enemy behaviour.
• Best for: Newcomers who value adjustable assistance.
• Pros: Helpful options and a playful setting.
• Cons: Its tone differs considerably from grim fantasy.

15. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty blends historical fantasy with demanding combat and supernatural abilities. Its encounters reward confident responses and careful timing. Consider it when you want faster action in a different setting, particularly if practising combat reactions is your priority.

• Why it fits: Challenging encounters and improvement through repetition.
• Best for: Players who enjoy reaction-based fighting.
• Pros: Distinctive setting and cooperative assistance.
• Cons: Less suitable for those seeking slower, defensive combat.

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Best Dark Souls Alternatives Compared

Comparing games by their main strengths is more useful than assigning a universal difficulty ranking. Your experience will depend on preferred controls, combat habits, and willingness to experiment. This table highlights each title’s central appeal and exploration style, making it easier to identify suitable options before investigating platform compatibility, available editions, and any multiplayer features that matter to your purchase.

Game	Main combat appeal	Exploration style	Best suited to
Elden Ring	Varied weapons, magic, and builds	Open world and dungeon areas	Freedom and discovery
Bloodborne	Aggressive melee encounters	Gothic streets and connected locations	Horror enthusiasts
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice	Precise sword fighting	Vertical routes and stealth opportunities	Combat mastery
Lies of P	Weapon combinations and defensive timing	Focused progression	Concentrated challenges
Nioh 2	Stances, Ki management, and abilities	Mission-based areas	Technical experimentation
Lords of the Fallen	Weapons, spells, and tactical encounters	Overlapping realms	Dark fantasy exploration
The Surge 2	Limb targeting and directional parrying	Devastated urban environments	Science-fiction fans
Mortal Shell	Deliberate attacks and hardening	Compact, hostile locations	A smaller Soulslike adventure
Code Vein	Blood Codes, Gifts, and companions	Dungeon exploration	Anime and build enthusiasts
Remnant II	Shooting, abilities, and teamwork	Varied, replayable areas	Cooperative groups
Salt and Sanctuary	Weapons, spells, and RPG builds	Interconnected 2D environments	Traditional Souls systems in 2D
Hollow Knight	Precise attacks and movement	Metroidvania exploration	Discovery and atmosphere
Blasphemous 2	Different weapons and abilities	2D exploration and platforming	Dark artistic worlds
Another Crab’s Treasure	Shell-based defence	Underwater exploration and platforming	Beginners seeking assistance
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty	Fast responses and supernatural abilities	Battlefield-style areas	Timing-focused action

Which Games Like Dark Souls Match Your Playstyle?

Start with the experience you would most like to repeat. Exploring unfamiliar paths, refining a build, mastering defensive timing, and overcoming challenges with friends can lead to different recommendations. The categories below group games by these interests. Use them to narrow your shortlist, while remembering that atmosphere and presentation also influence whether a demanding adventure remains enjoyable over many hours.

Best for Exploration and Character Builds

Choose Elden Ring for freedom and extensive experimentation, or Lords of the Fallen for layered dark fantasy exploration. Code Vein also deserves consideration when flexible builds matter. These options suit players who enjoy changing their approach through equipment and abilities.

• Elden Ring: Freedom to investigate different routes.
• Lords of the Fallen: Exploration across overlapping realms.
• Code Vein: Flexible character development.

Best for Fast Combat and Precise Timing

Sekiro suits players interested in focused sword mastery, while Nioh 2 adds layered systems and technical decisions. Bloodborne encourages aggressive encounters, and Wo Long offers another timing-focused alternative. Choose according to whether you prefer simplicity of purpose or mechanical complexity.

• Sekiro: Focused sword-fighting mastery.
• Nioh 2: Detailed combat systems.
• Bloodborne: Aggressive encounters.
• Wo Long: Fast defensive responses.

Best for 2D Exploration and Platforming

Salt and Sanctuary is the strongest fit when traditional Souls-style RPG systems matter most. Hollow Knight emphasizes discovery and movement, while Blasphemous 2 offers dark imagery and distinct weapons. Each combines combat with navigation, but their progression systems differ considerably.

• Salt and Sanctuary: Familiar builds and equipment choices.
• Hollow Knight: Exploration and gradual discovery.
• Blasphemous 2: Atmosphere and weapon-based action.

Best for Cooperative Adventures

Remnant II is a strong choice for friends who enjoy shooting and complementary abilities. Code Vein offers companion-focused action, while Lords of the Fallen provides dark fantasy cooperation. Salt and Sanctuary deserves consideration when local cooperative play is your preference.

• Remnant II: Cooperative ranged combat.
• Code Vein: Companion-supported encounters.
• Lords of the Fallen: Dark fantasy adventures.
• Salt and Sanctuary: Local co-op.

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Final Thoughts

The best games like Dark Souls combine challenging combat, rewarding exploration, and worlds that encourage curiosity. Whether you prefer Elden Ring’s freedom, Bloodborne’s atmosphere, or the focused encounters of Lies of P, each adventure offers something different. At Coherent Lab, these experiences inspire conversations about thoughtful game design, meaningful progression, and creating challenges that keep players engaged.

Choosing your next adventure starts with understanding what you enjoy most: mastering bosses, discovering secrets, experimenting with builds, or playing alongside friends. If these ideas have sparked a game concept of your own, contact us today to discuss your vision and explore how it could become an engaging experience built around your players’ expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Are Games Like Dark Souls Called?

Ans: Games influenced by Dark Souls are commonly called Soulslikes. The term usually describes demanding combat, checkpoints, consequential failure, and progression through practice. However, individual games combine these ideas differently, so checking actual mechanics is more useful than relying on labels.

Q2. Which Game Is Most Similar to Dark Souls?

Ans: Lords of the Fallen is a strong choice for dark fantasy, character builds, and interconnected exploration. Elden Ring is our broader recommendation, while Lies of P suits focused progression. The closest match depends on which Dark Souls features you value.

Q3. What Is the Difference Between Souls Games and Soulslikes?

Ans: “Souls games” generally refers to FromSoftware’s Souls titles, including Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. “Soulslike” describes games influenced by their design. Community usage varies, so compare combat, exploration, and progression directly rather than assuming either label guarantees a particular experience.

Q4. Which Games Like Dark Souls Are Best for Beginners?

Ans: Another Crab’s Treasure offers adjustable assistance, making it a useful starting point. Elden Ring provides exploration freedom, while Code Vein includes companion support. Choose according to the systems that help you learn, rather than expecting one universally easy introductory game.

Q5. Are There Open-World Games Like Dark Souls?

Ans: Yes. Elden Ring combines Souls-style combat with open-world exploration. Its landscapes and dungeon areas support different routes and approaches. Choose it when freedom appeals to you, but consider a focused alternative if a tighter progression structure better matches your preferences.

Q6. Which Dark Souls Alternatives Support Cooperative Play?

Ans: Remnant II, Code Vein, Lords of the Fallen, Elden Ring, and Wo Long support online cooperation. Salt and Sanctuary offers local co-op. Check each game’s multiplayer rules before purchasing, particularly supported group sizes, platform restrictions, and how shared progression works.

Q7. Are There 2D Games Similar to Dark Souls?

Ans: Yes. Salt and Sanctuary combines two-dimensional combat with Souls-style equipment builds and exploration. Hollow Knight and Blasphemous 2 share atmosphere and challenging encounters, although their Metroidvania structures introduce important differences in movement, progression, character customization, and world navigation.

Q8. Can You Play Soulslikes Without Playing Dark Souls First?

Ans: Yes. Standalone Soulslikes introduce their own worlds and systems, so playing Dark Souls beforehand is unnecessary. Choose a setting and combat style that interests you, follow tutorials, and allow time for practice instead of treating prior experience as a requirement.