Best Soulslike Games For Speedruns

Highlights

The difficulty of Soulslike games makes them perfect for speedruns, showcasing impressive skills and glitches for a wow factor.
Blasphemous stands out with its tight combat and stunning visuals, making it a prime candidate for a speedrun.
Bloodborne’s aggressive combat and ferocity make it a special spectacle for speedrunners, indulging in the blood and guts of its world.

As a seasoned speedrunner myself, I can confidently say that diving into these Soulslikes is like stepping into a battleground of skill and strategy. The adrenaline rush when you perfectly time a parry or outsmart a boss with lightning-fast reflexes is unparalleled!

It’s easy to think that, because Soulslike games are known for their difficulty, they wouldn’t be good candidates for speedruns. The exact opposite is true. It’s precisely because of the Soulslike genre’s trademark difficulty that speedrunners flock to the subgenre in the hopes of flexing their immense skill.

The best Soulslike speedruns always want to have a healthy variety of interesting glitches, visual interest, ideal length, impressive techniques, and an indescribable “wow” factor only a speedrunner can provide. Not every Soulslike game has the goods, but when a good Soulslike speedrun clicks, it’s like nothing else in the speedrunning community.

8 Blasphemous

Swear Off The Chokes

In the top category of 2D Souls-inspired games, Blasphemous stands out due to its well-crafted combat system, manageable length, and captivating graphics. By combining its Metroidvania exploration elements with its intense combat and spectacular special effects, it becomes an excellent choice for speedrunning.

In the world of Soulslike speedruns, FromSoft games understandably dominate, but indie games like Blasphemous hold a special place for many as a scrappy underdog that’s just as good as its competition, and speedruns are a great opportunity to showcase a game that many may not try otherwise.

7 Demon’s Souls (2020)

World Polarity: Fast

Upon the launch of the PS5, a fresh remake of FromSoftware’s acclaimed game “Demon’s Souls” was introduced. Interestingly, this remake has garnered more positive reviews than the original game itself. Being the pioneer in the Soulslike genre, “Demon’s Souls” still exhibits some roughness in its gameplay due to unrefined mechanics, but the new version boasts breathtaking visuals that are truly captivating.

“Demon’s Souls stands out as a remarkable Souls-inspired speedrun, primarily due to its rougher aspects. Its comparatively brief span, intense challenge level, and stunning visual upgrades make it an excellent option for tech demonstrations that highlight the significant progress of the Souls genre since its debut in 2009.”

6 Hollow Knight

Buzz Like A Bee

Hollow Knight is now widely recognized as one of the finest Soulslike games ever unveiled. Its captivating visual design, satisfying combat mechanics, and engrossing game world have enchanted both casual players and speed enthusiasts, drawing countless individuals to the leaderboards in pursuit of the quickest completion times.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that this particular game stands out as one of the most thrilling speedrunning experiences I’ve ever had. The visually stunning world and its intricate details draw me in, but what truly sets it apart is the precision-based combat system that demands both timing and skill to master.

5 Nioh

Blast Through The Oni

Stepping into the realm of Nioh as a fan, I must confess that the anticipation was sky-high following FromSoftware’s triumphant footsteps in the Soulslike genre. Yet, this masterpiece not only met but surpassed my expectations, particularly with its merciless difficulty level. Now, it stands tall, revered for its captivating blend of Japanese mythology and history, offering a refreshing take on the Soulslike formula that I hold in high esteem.

Despite being slightly lengthy for certain speed-gamers, this game offers an exhilarating combat system coupled with intricate RPG elements. These aspects create combat structures that swiftly obliterate challenging bosses in mere seconds, making it a thrilling speedrun experience both to watch and play.

4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Parry To Perfection

In a number of aspects, “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” was an unconventional move for FromSoftware, as they chose to abandon their typical role-playing game (RPG) mechanics in favor of a more concentrated action gameplay style. Consequently, the path to overcome the challenging bosses in “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” can only be navigated by mastering its timing for parrying and dodging, or else face the consequences.

Fortunately, proficiency is the backbone and essence of the speedrunning profession. To put it simply, Sekiro stands out as one of the finest Soulslike games for swift battles. Speedrunners will astound you with their skillful performances, defeating the formidable bosses of Sekiro through a sequence of flawlessly executed parries that even an Olympic athlete might find awkward. It’s truly a spectacle to witness.

3 Lies of P

Pinocchio’s Never Lied Faster

In many cases, games similar to Dark Souls have been heavily influenced by FromSoftware’s fantasy series. However, among these, Lies of P stands out as the most distinct Bloodborne successor. This implies that Lies of P features intense combat, skillful parries, and visceral encounters, all emphasizing aggressive play over cautious defense. As a result, Lies of P is recognized as one of the toughest Soulslikes to be released in recent times.

As a gamer, I can tell you that for some players like me who prefer a more calculated approach, speedrunners’ aggressive and high-stakes strategies might be too much. But for the speedrunner community, these tactics are the key ingredients for an exceptional run. Watching someone speedrun Lies of P is like watching a bloodbath, yet it never fails to entertain me.

2 Dark Souls

Speed Past The Undead

Few things can compare to the authentic experience. Despite the fact that Dark Souls was initially released in 2011, it boasts a vibrant and enduring speedrunning community, which has cultivated a warm and inclusive global gathering of speedrunners.

It’s not just satisfying, almost surprisingly so, to conquer a game that sparked the Soulslike craze, even if it seems easy compared to its reputation (considering its infamously tough boss battles). However, every speedrun achievement is a testament to over a decade of dedicated effort and the game’s enthusiasts’ deep affection for it. This passion and camaraderie among the community shines brightly in the record-breaking speedruns that dominate the leaderboards today.

1 Bloodborne

Hunt The Fastest Times

In contrast to games like Dark Souls and their fellow Soulslikes that focus on defensive combat, Bloodborne encourages aggressive play, speed, and ruthless ferocity. This is particularly appealing for speedrunners, much like how a cat craves catnip. Without a doubt, even though it’s exclusive to the PS4 platform, Bloodborne speedruns present a unique showcase of the game’s gruesome world, as they swiftly conquer the most formidable bosses in record time.

When a speedrunner assumes control of the protagonist hunter in the Yarnham universe, it becomes evident why they are renowned as formidable warriors. Speedrunners elevate an already impressive game to new heights, making it one of the top Souls-like speedrun performances available today.

2024-08-08 08:05