Best Souls-Lite Games, Ranked

Key Takeaways

The emergence of “souls-lite” games balances challenging elements with accessibility for a broader audience.
Titles like Darksiders 3 and Flintlock cater to different difficulty preferences without severe penalties for failure.
Flexible difficulty settings and unique gameplay mechanics define the souls-lite genre, offering a new entry point for newcomers.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the current crop of souls-lite games is nothing short of remarkable. Among them, three titles truly stand out, each offering unique gameplay experiences within their respective universes.

Since the rise in popularity of the soulslike genre, there have been continuous discussions about whether these games need to be excessively challenging and harsh to fit the genre. To preserve the unique traits of the genre while appealing to a wider range of players, developers started exploring difficulty settings and minimizing the consequences of mistakes. This experimentation gave birth to a new approach, commonly known as “souls-lite.” While there’s no universally accepted definition of souls-lite, these games keep essential soulslike aspects like tough bosses, rewarding discovery, and the ‘bonfire’ checkpoint system with respawning enemies. However, they are generally more accessible and less punishing in their core mechanics.

The phrase ‘Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn’ developers popularized the term ‘souls-lite’, highlighting that their game was less intense compared to typical soulslikes, appealing to action game enthusiasts too. Many previous games could also fit into this category. These games typically offer varying difficulty levels, including easier options, and are generally more forgiving when players die, unlike FromSoftware’s strict adherence to the genre. Here are some top souls-lite games that provide great starting points for newcomers to the soulslike genre.

7 Darksiders 3

Four Difficulty Settings With No Punishment For Dying

In its debut, Darksiders 3 combined the classic action-RPG style of its franchise with emerging soulslike features, paving the way for what is now known as the ‘souls-lite’ genre. Although not every aspect was flawlessly implemented, it established a blueprint for this type of gameplay. Darksiders 3 provides four distinct difficulty settings from the outset, ranging from Story mode to the challenging Apocalyptic mode. This flexibility lets players tailor their gaming experience to their preferred level of challenge.

Furthermore, in Darksiders 3, death doesn’t come with any penalties. Instead, players are instantly revived at the most recent safe spot, and all enemies respawn as well. This feature, where there’s no consequence for dying, is characteristic of souls-lite games and can be found across the following titles:

6 Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn

Three Difficulty Modes With Slower Leveling As A Punishment

In promoting the game Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, A44 Games emphasized that it’s a lighter version of traditional souls-like games, being less harsh and more inviting. In many aspects, Flintlock is more akin to God of War than Dark Souls. The game provides three levels of difficulty, such as Story Mode for a more comfortable combat experience. Nevertheless, dedicated souls-like enthusiasts can opt for the Possessed difficulty for a tougher challenge while trying to boost their combat experience points.

As I dive into the world of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn on normal mode, it’s not exactly a brain-bending challenge. With an array of tools at my disposal for tackling the game’s formidable bosses, I always have the reassuring presence of Enki by my side, ready to heal me up when needed. The one area where the game gets a bit tough is its experience multiplier system – if I’m not careful to claim my reputation, I might find myself leveling up at a snail’s pace.

5 Steelrising

Assist Mode That Lets Players Customize The Level Of Challenge

In the gaming world, Steelrising, hailing from Spiders studio, presents another user-friendly addition to the soulslike genre. What makes it stand out is its innovative backdrop: a robot apocalypse during the French Revolution. Unique among its peers, Steelrising offers a tailored Assist mode that players can configure or turn off before diving into gameplay. This feature allows players to fine-tune aspects such as combat damage endured by the protagonist Aegis, prevent loss of currency upon death, and modify stamina regeneration and cooling mechanisms during fights.

These personalization features bring a refreshing change to the genre, allowing Steelrising to keep its level of difficulty yet empower players to shape the game according to their tastes.

4 Remnant: From The Ashes

Four Difficulty Settings With Co-Op Gameplay

In the realm of games similar to Souls, the Remnant series distinguishes itself as a lighter take on shooters within the genre, focusing on procedural level generation and robust cooperative gameplay. Known as Remnant: From the Ashes, it quickly gained popularity due to these aspects, leaving such an impression that a follow-up was demanded by players.

While it’s true that Remnant: From the Ashes accommodates players by not penalizing them for dying on bosses, and even allows for cooperative play with up to two friends, let’s make one thing clear – this game isn’t a walk in the park. Some of its encounters are incredibly demanding, necessitating strategic teamwork and fine-tuning your character build. The game provides several difficulty levels, ranging from the default Normal mode to the challenging Nightmare and Apocalypse modes that only seasoned players can hope to master. In essence, the Remnant series demonstrates the potential for creating a captivating experience even with a modest budget and scope.

3 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Narratively Rich, With A Story Mode For Casual Players

In a blend of conventional action-adventure mechanics and soulsgame elements, nestled within an engaging Star Wars story filled with endearing characters, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order stands out as Respawn Entertainment’s inaugural foray into third-person action. Exceeding the anticipations of many fans, this game emerged as one of the finest Star Wars games in recent years.

The game features adjustable difficulty levels, stretching from an easygoing Story mode to Jedi Grandmaster for a tough test. Its user-friendly combat system and no consequences for dying make it an exceptional souls-like title, appealing both to newcomers in the genre and those ready to dive into the next installment, Jedi: Survivor.

2 Remnant 2

Building On The Original With Smart Tweaks

In the spotlight, Remnant 2 proves itself as a remarkable follow-up, preserving the essence of the original game while rectifying its flaws. It maintains the adaptable difficulty settings, enabling players to customize their gaming experience to match their preferred level of challenge.

In the latest installment, Remnant 2, you’ll find an impressive arsenal of one-of-a-kind weapons, each with its own set of combat abilities. This game offers a rich variety of specialized roles, captivating boss fights, hidden missions, and mysteries to uncover. Its blend of action and strategy makes it a top pick for many gamers, particularly those who appreciate shooter-style mechanics.

1 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Worth Playing For Both Story And Challenge

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

No matter how challenging, the game “Jedi: Survivor” motivates players to persist after defeat instead of being excessively harsh. It masterfully blends exploration, puzzles, and combat, providing new experiences in every corner within the vast “Star Wars” universe it presents.

2024-08-29 10:35