Best Soulslike Games to Play for Months

Released in the 2010s, FromSoftware’s Dark Souls was a hugely influential game that essentially created a new style of action RPG. Building on the success of Demon’s Souls, it offered a beautifully designed world, difficult but rewarding combat, memorable boss battles, and lots of ways to customize your character. It was a true standout title, and since its release, many similar games – often called ‘Soulslikes’ – have emerged, all trying to capture the same magic.

Most games in the ‘Souls-like’ genre require a significant time commitment. A single playthrough usually takes between 20 and 50 hours. Plus, they encourage players to explore and try different character builds, which adds to their replay value. If you’re looking for a game to really sink your teeth into, a Souls-like title is a great choice.

We’re using a very specific definition of “Soulslike” games, which means we’re leaving out titles like Hollow Knight, Silksong, and Dead Cells. That said, if you enjoy 2D Metroidvanias or roguelites, those games offer tons of replay value and can keep you busy for a long time.

8. Lords Of The Fallen (2023)

A Soulslike Remake That Finds Its Own Identity

When Lords of the Fallen first came out in 2014, it received a lukewarm reception, with many seeing it as a generic attempt to copy the popularity of Dark Souls. However, a 2023 reboot has proven much more successful. This new version has moved beyond simply imitating Dark Souls and developed its own distinct personality. While it’s not perfect, it’s a fun, original game with a large and expansive world.

There’s a lot to enjoy in Lords of the Fallen, whether you prefer playing the story alone or with a friend, or testing your skills against other players. The game is definitely worth checking out, especially considering how it successfully revived a previously struggling series. While Lords of the Fallen had a difficult start and suffered from a poor initial reception, the developers have released updates that have significantly improved the experience. It’s still not flawless, but it’s in a much better state now.

7. Lies Of P

What If Pinocchio Was A Dark Souls Game?

Lies of P reimagines the classic tale of Pinocchio as a difficult action game in the style of Souls-like titles. Players control P, navigating the war-torn city of Krat which is overrun by puppets. The game loosely follows the original Pinocchio story, featuring characters inspired by familiar figures like Geppetto and Jiminy Cricket (known as Gemini). As P, you’ll battle through the city to discover what’s causing the puppet chaos and ultimately stop it.

Okay, so Lies of P really messes with you, making you question what’s real and what’s not. Your choices actually matter, leading to different endings and little changes throughout the game. Honestly, even if you’re not into the whole fairytale story, the gameplay is incredible. It’s some of the best Soulslike combat I’ve ever experienced, and the city of Krat is packed with secrets. I can easily see myself playing this for months, just exploring and perfecting my skills.

6. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Soulslike Genre Blends With Rhythm

While sharing similarities with games like Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice offers a distinct and unforgettable experience. It’s not an open-world game like Elden Ring, but its incredible difficulty can keep players engaged for months. Sekiro is notoriously challenging, even compared to other FromSoftware titles, because of its unique combat system that focuses on precise timing, rhythm, and learning enemy patterns.

To succeed in Sekiro, you need to become skilled at its fast-paced combat, especially mastering parrying. It’s challenging, but incredibly rewarding. As you improve and learn, you’ll feel like a powerful warrior, eventually overcoming enemies that once seemed unbeatable.

5. Black Myth: Wukong

Journey To The West Gets A Souls-Like Facelift

I’ve been seeing Black Myth: Wukong everywhere lately, and honestly, it’s living up to the hype. It’s based on the classic story Journey to the West, and you play as a monkey character on a quest to find these six relics and basically bring Sun Wukong back. It’s got that tough-but-fair ‘Souls-like’ gameplay, but it’s really fun. The world is gorgeous, the boss fights are epic, and the combat just feels amazing. Seriously, it’s a blast to play.

Like many games of its kind, this one follows a fairly straightforward path, but occasionally opens up into larger areas where you can explore more freely. It’s designed to be replayed, and a big part of its appeal comes from mastering its challenging combat system – a hallmark of the ‘Souls-like’ genre – and then starting a New Game Plus to continue the experience.

There’s some debate about whether Black Myth: Wukong is truly a Soulslike game, but it shares enough features with the genre that I wanted to bring it up.

4. Remnant 2

Dark Souls, Now With Guns!

The idea of a game like Dark Souls with guns isn’t new, but Remnant 2 executes it better than most. With nearly 100 hours of gameplay, it’s a game you can easily lose yourself in. Remnant 2 features environments that change with each playthrough, plus a variety of classes, weapons, builds, and areas to discover.

Remnant 2 is a great game for picking up and playing whenever you have a few hours free. While the story isn’t groundbreaking, the fun and engaging gameplay will keep you coming back for more. It features excellent shooting mechanics, challenging boss battles, and a huge world to explore, making it definitely worth checking out.

3. Dark Souls 3

The Most Replayable Dark Souls Game

FromSoftware’s games, like the Souls series, offer incredible replay value and stay popular for years. While I adore Bloodborne and could play it repeatedly, Dark Souls 3 offers even more reasons to return, alongside a substantial campaign that will likely take over 30 hours to complete on your first try.

Even if you prefer sticking with one character build and don’t like to experiment, you should definitely start New Game Plus after finishing the game. It lets you keep getting stronger and eventually turn this challenging game into a power fantasy. At the very least, it’s a great way to try out weapons you couldn’t get earlier.

2. Nioh 2

Arguably, The Perfect Souls-Like

Team Ninja, the creators of Nioh and Nioh 2, have crafted games considered by many to be ideal examples of the souls-like genre. Nioh 2 is set in historical Japan and tells a story that acts as both a prequel and a sequel to the original Nioh. However, it’s a significant improvement in terms of gameplay, offering a refined and rewarding experience. The combat is precise and feels similar to Dark Souls, but is often considered even more challenging.

Nioh 2 is a fantastic game that offers around 150 hours of content with all its DLC. While it’s challenging, players who persevere will find a rich and rewarding experience. The game draws heavily from Japanese folklore, creating a unique and interesting world. Though it shares a similar demanding gameplay style with Dark Souls, its setting and story are distinctly its own.

1. Elden Ring

Like Dark Souls? Try FromSoftware’s Other Games!

Okay, so let’s talk about games that really give you your money’s worth. For me, Elden Ring is the first one that comes to mind. It’s just massive! Seriously, if you really want to explore everything the Lands Between has to offer, a single playthrough could easily take a couple of months. Everywhere you look there’s another optional dungeon, some cool loot, bits of story, or a tough boss. And because FromSoftware always keeps its storytelling pretty mysterious, even the side stuff feels super important – it just feels like you’re trying to survive in this crazy world, which is awesome.

Beyond all that, Elden Ring offers incredible freedom in how you build your character, far more than most RPGs – and especially other games like it. You’re not tied to a specific class, so you can experiment with different combinations of skills and equipment. Because combat is so central to the game, changing your build dramatically alters how you play, making each new playthrough feel fresh and worthwhile.

Elden Ring: Nightreign also fits.

2026-01-06 17:36