The Scariest Soulslike Games, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Soulslike games have a unique blend of horror and brutality, providing a scare and a challenge.
Boss encounters in Soulslikes reward players with potent weapons, enhancing the gameplay experience.
Scariest Soulslike games like Bloodborne offer a variety of horror elements, making them memorable and unique.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I can confidently say that Soulslike games have carved out a unique niche for themselves by seamlessly blending horror and brutality into their gameplay. These titles not only test your gaming skills but also your nerve, making them an unforgettable experience.

In a chilling twist, Soulslike games often share a thrilling bond with horror games, a connection seldom found in other genres. The formidable challenge these games present seems almost designed to frighten players, adding an extra layer of tension that makes them uniquely unnerving.

Whether it’s maddened zombie puppets consuming the flesh of human beings or eldritch beings from outer space, Soulslikes are a treat for a scare and shouldn’t be overlooked.

5 Lies of P

Puppet To The Fates

Although “Lies of P” is inspired by traditional Pinocchio tales, it’s essential to understand that it delves deep into horror elements. Consequently, certain parts of the game can be quite unsettling, but this intensity isn’t mitigated by the abundance of powerful weapons available to the character, P.

In the game, the St. Frangelico Cathedral locale is not inferior to any other; rather, it’s particularly gripping. As character P ventures into the mountains, he encounters an enigmatic illness that has resurrected numerous long-dead humans, transforming them into terrifying creatures that haunt the gothic cathedral’s corridors. This section of the game is notably eerie and leaves a lasting impression when Soulslikes demonstrate their potential for creating fearsome environments.

4 Dark Souls

The Source Of The Fear

Even though Dark Souls might appear conventional nowadays, it’s crucial to acknowledge how groundbreaking it was upon its debut. Its world was unprecedented, and exploring its uncharted territories could create a genuinely chilling atmosphere for the player when confronting its formidable lineup of bosses.

There’s no better example of this than the sewer system deep below the Undead Burg. Here, the player leaves the realm of knights and gargoyles and is confronted with strange basilisk monsters that instantly half the player’s max HP and have a truly sickening creature design, lurking behind dark corners and jumping out when least suspected. There are more scary surprises throughout the game, and it’s a worthwhile entry as a foundational scary Soulslike.

3 Hellpoint

To Hell And Back

In contrast to certain Soulslikes that only incorporate frightening zones, games like Hellpoint strive to instill a sense of persistent fear throughout the gameplay experience. This is accomplished by creating an overarching ambiance of dread and gloom as players traverse the hauntingly desolate space station of Irid Novo following the Merge event (avoiding common pitfalls that many novice players often encounter).

The game appears to be heavily influenced by both “Dead Space” and “Alien: Isolation,” but with a unique twist inspired by the Soulslike genre. This results in players navigating through metallic corridors that are covered in fleshy growths, constantly conserving resources as they brace themselves for the approach of the next terrifying creature. Thus, it stands out as one of the scariest games to fall under the Soulslikes category upon its release.

2 Blasphemous

Faith In Horror

In contrast to the current trend of sci-fi horror, The Game Kitchen opted for a distinct strategy when planning their Soulslike game, choosing to delve deep into religion-oriented terror, focusing primarily on imagery tied to Catholic faith. Although the game’s internal religion differs significantly, its connections to real-world religious iconography create an entirely original and genuinely unsettling gaming experience.

Undoubtedly, characters in Blasphemous will encounter various thorn-crowned monsters, but they’ll also battle giant babies, terrifying angels, and possibly even deities themselves. It’s an excellent Soulslike game teeming with secrets, making it a worthy addition to any collection.

1 Bloodborne

Horrors From Above

In a sense unique to them, FromSoftware not only paved the way in establishing the Soulslike genre but also pioneered integrating the subgenre with horror elements in their masterpiece, Bloodborne. This game doesn’t limit its horror aspects; it ranges from gothic terror to supernatural dread, culminating in cosmic horror that permeates the game’s storyline.

In other words, Bloodborne is brimming with areas that exude an eerie and terrifying atmosphere, filled with grotesque creatures and a long lineup of fearsome bosses eager to disembowel the player. Yet, for those who keep their cool, it offers one of the best and most frightening Souls-like games available.

2024-10-15 09:33