Discover 7 Incredible Games Dark Souls Fans Must Play That Aren’t Souls-Likes!

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Summary

  • Tunic, inspired by Zelda, offers souls-like elements and exploration, appealing to fans of Dark Souls.
  • Lunacid, a dungeon-crawler with immersive ambiance, may attract Dark Souls fans seeking exploration over action.
  • Gloomwood’s focus on interconnected exploration rather than action gameplay could appeal to certain Dark Souls enthusiasts.

FromSoftware’s Dark Souls is loved for many reasons. Be it the game’s distinctive dark-fantasy world, ensemble cast of quirky characters, punishing difficulty, or impressive boss battles, there’s a lot to love.

Many games have capitalized on the success of Dark Souls, giving way to an entire genre. These games usually feature the same ARPG gameplay, with an emphasis on dodge rolls, stamina management, and intense difficulty. They’re also known to feature elements of the Metroidvania genre with pseudo-open-world designs. However, there are a variety of games outside of this souls-like genre that Dark Souls fans are sure to appreciate. Immersive and mysterious atmospheres, interconnected worlds, dark fantasy settings, and challenging combat are all on the table.

7. TUNIC

A Zelda-Like Adventure With Souls-Like Elements

Despite having aspects reminiscent of souls-like games like stamina management, dodge roll, and challenging boss fights, the game TUNIC bears a striking resemblance to titles such as The Legend Of Zelda. This likeness may very well attract fans of Dark Souls, given its similarities.

Although its charming, cutesy aesthetic is the polar opposite of Dark Souls’ Gothic fantasy world, TUNIC maintains the same enigmatic atmosphere. Similarly to Dark Souls, this is thanks to a lack of hand-holding, and TUNIC takes this a step further by mystifying its tutorial with a fictional language presented in a nostalgic game manual.

6. Lunacid

A First-Person Dungeon-Crawler With A Somber Tone

This game, reminiscent of early dungeon-crawlers like “King’s Field” and “Shadow Tower,” stands out due to its captivating ambiance. The immersive environment of Lunacid’s settings, accentuated by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, is likely to resonate with fans of “Dark Souls.

However, the moment-to-moment gameplay isn’t quite as refined as Dark Souls, and it’s decidedly slower in pace. As a result, Lunacid is more likely to appeal to Dark Souls fans looking for more of that immersive exploration, rather than an action-packed gauntlet of enemies and boss battles.

5. Gloomwood

Methodical Gameplay With A Focus On Exploration

Gloomwood doesn’t play at all like Dark Souls; it’s a first-person immersive sim with a heavy focus on stealth and survival-horror mechanics. However, the interconnected nature of the game’s world and the heavy focus on exploration that comes along with it is more than likely to appeal to particular fans of Dark Souls.

Like Dark Souls, Gloomwood rewards the curious, encouraging players to explore thoroughly by using challenge as motivation. In Gloomwood, this comes from mechanics rooted in the survival-horror genre; designated save rooms and heavily limited resources provide a natural ebb and flow of desperation and sharp relief.

4. Animal Well

Thoughtful Exploration In A Mysterious Underground World

Animal Well is a game unlike many others, dropping players into an exotic underground well with little to no information and continuing this sense of enigma throughout. This is supported by the game’s visual style, sound design, and interconnected world, which help to make exploration a truly immersive experience.

The sense of discovery that this design facilitates is, arguably, on par with games such as Dark Souls, from the opening of shortcuts to the abundance of secrets. As a result, Dark Souls fans who don’t mind forgoing combat may get some familiar chills from Animal Well.

3. Darkest Dungeon

A Challenging Dark Fantasy RPG

Fans of Dark Souls looking for more brutally difficult games should look no further than Darkest Dungeon. Despite its focus on turn-based strategy over skillful action, Darkest Dungeon‘s downtrodden tone, grim-dark fantasy setting, and unforgiving gameplay are sure to please certain Dark Souls fans.

There’s little in the way of exploration, at least on a large scale, but players who enjoyed Dark Souls for its challenging gameplay will find plenty to love with Darkest Dungeon. Furthermore, the Gothic nature of Darkest Dungeon‘s world and the hopelessness of its characters is a stone’s throw from the iconic realm of Lordran.

2. Resident Evil

Locks, Keys, Challenge, & Methodical Exploration

Resident Evil is a far cry from Dark Souls in many ways, that much will be immediately apparent to many. However, there are many qualities to the first Resident Evil title that are sure to give certain Dark Souls fans a kick. Resident Evil does not feature RPG systems or expressive combat; rather, its gameplay is relatively clunky. Despite this, Resident Evil’s lock-and-key structure and the dynamic nature of its environments will likely scratch a very specific itch for fans of Dark Souls.

Absolutely, while the themes may differ, both Resident Evil games share a common element: terrifying adversaries. Additionally, the sense of relief experienced upon reaching the safe rooms in Resident Evil is remarkably similar to finding a bonfire in Dark Souls, and fans who enjoy that momentary respite will undoubtedly appreciate these rare havens in Resident Evil as well.

1. Hollow Knight

An Interconnected World With A Melancholic Atmosphere

Despite some resemblances between Hollow Knight and Dark Souls, it primarily belongs to the Metroidvania genre. Unlike many RPG games, Hollow Knight has minimal role-playing elements. Nevertheless, even with its distinct characteristics, fans of Dark Souls will find themselves immersed in the intricate and evocative environment of Hallownest.

The game’s atmosphere and the interconnected nature of its world are key qualities here, with subtle world-building and cryptic, environmental storytelling sprinkled throughout. The game’s abundance of boss fights, scattered save points, and quirky NPCs are also familiar, offering a memorable journey that constantly offers players a sense of discovery.

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2025-03-18 08:40