Best Soulslike Games Without Traditional Stats

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the soulslike genre has been a game changer for me. These games have pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible in terms of storytelling, difficulty, and immersion.

Games belonging to the souls-like genre have produced some of the most captivating titles from the past ten years. While these games often draw heavily on established concepts, they excel by introducing fresh elements that significantly contribute to the current gaming culture. Typically, these games are challenging and immersed in a dark narrative, offering a balanced dose of difficulty and haunting backstory.

Instead of concentrating heavily on player statistics as seen in games such as Elden Ring, numerous soulslike games alter the traditional Dark Souls formula to provide players with diverse methods of engaging with the game or enhancing their power by offering alternative approaches to growth and experience.

5 Ashen

Does Away With Stats To Focus On Exploration

In contrast to traditional games like Dark Souls, the game Ashen offers a distinctive cooperative experience that deviates from its roots in numerous ways. Instead of progressing by grinding or achieving specific story objectives, enhancements in this game are primarily unlocked through exploration. This approach adds an original twist to Ashen’s open world, setting it apart from other soulslikes and encouraging players to delve deeper into the game’s expansive landscapes.

In Ashen, you won’t find conventional stats because there’s no grinding mechanic in place. Instead, delving into the world will lead you to discover permanent boosts to your health and stamina as you complete both main and side quests for characters scattered throughout the game. This sets Ashen apart from other games in its genre, making it an intriguing choice for those eager to explore a cooperative souls-like experience.

4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A Unique Entry In The Soulsborne Series

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice offers a captivating reimagination of FromSoft’s esteemed Dark Souls series, preserving its fundamental principles while giving them a fresh spin and transforming the gameplay experience significantly. Instead of focusing on a myriad of stats, the protagonist’s overall combat proficiency is crucial. Key factors like posture determine how many consecutive strikes can be blocked or parried before the character tires – contrasting with traditional Souls-like games that assign a fixed number to a stat for this purpose.

Instead of accumulating XP for increased damage, Sekiro emphasizes acquiring prayer beads, mastering parrying techniques, and adopting a more tactical approach to combat. The game demonstrates FromSoft moving beyond their usual style in this title, but they’ve achieved an exceptionally immersive Souls-like experience as a result.

3 Blasphemous

Tears Let The Player Diversify Their Moveset

Blasphemous boasts a distinctively original style and ambiance that distinguishes it from both soulslike and metroidvania games, even though it draws inspiration from both. This game series, along with its sequel, are remarkable titles offering players a challenging experience combined with intricate world development. In Blasphemous, players can gradually expand their move set by gathering tears, which in turn enable them to unlock new abilities to navigate the game more effectively.

This system deviates significantly from the norm seen in most souls-like games, yet it aligns better with the metroidvania style that inspired this game. The final product is just as captivating and distinctive as the world-building and lore found in the game “Blasphemous.

2 The Surge 2

A Sci-Fi Spin On Souls

In addition to significantly surpassing its earlier version, The Surge 2 showcases an intriguing blend of ideas that result in an exceptionally engaging game. The feature that set The Surge apart as something extraordinary is still present – if a weapon or armor piece looks appealing, you can snatch it from the enemy and make it your own. This mechanic already represents a notable deviation from the soulslike genre, but the distribution of attributes via cores adds another layer of uniqueness.

In this challenging and merciless game, it’s crucial for players to focus on developing three key abilities: maintaining their health, building up their endurance, and managing their energy levels. This significant investment will enhance their odds of making it through.

1 Mortal Shell

An Underrated Soulslike Gem With An Interesting Twist

Mortal Shell made a subtle yet impactful debut on gaming shelves, escaping the notice of some due to its brief gameplay duration, but captivated numerous others. In the confined realm of this game – limited weaponry and a scant number of locations – an extraordinary experience was forged, not merely a tribute to the original Souls games, but a exceptional video game in its own merit, boasting exquisite and swift combat mechanics, a captivating environment, and a unique concept that redefines the very notion of ‘builds,’ a key element defining many soulslike games.

Switching among the limited selection of game shells offers a unique adventure as each interaction and explored area feels distinct. This diversity is amplified by the unique abilities and customizable weapons that players can choose. Despite the limited number of shells, there’s a wide range of playstyles due to this setup, which differs significantly from conventional stat systems commonly found in similar games.

2024-10-12 02:39