Video Game Series As Good Or Better Than Dark Souls

FromSoftware was already a studio before 2009, but the release of Demon’s Souls was a turning point for them. That game’s success paved the way for Dark Souls, a series many consider to be among the best gaming trilogies ever made. Its intense combat, deep character customization, and stunning world design are truly exceptional.

The Dark Souls games are famously challenging, but also incredibly satisfying. While they have a lot going for them, like any series, there are areas where other games excel. Here are five franchises that do a few things better, but that doesn’t take away from how great Dark Souls is.

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Nioh

Samurai Souls

First Game: Nioh (PC and PS4, 2017)
Latest Console Game: Nioh 3 (PC and PS5, 2026)

The Nioh series emerged after the popularity of Dark Souls, and it’s worth mentioning now with the recent release of Nioh 3. While each game offers a unique experience, they share common elements: a setting in ancient Japan, samurai battling demons, and large, expansive levels. Unlike the vertically-focused castles and dungeons of Dark Souls, Nioh‘s landscapes are more spread out. What really sets Nioh apart is its unique theme – there aren’t many dark fantasy games that draw so heavily from historical Japan or feature samurai specifically. While samurai games are becoming more popular, the genre still isn’t as crowded as dark fantasy, which is a matter of personal taste.

Unlike games that give you specific weapon drops, Nioh focuses on randomized loot, similar to games like Diablo. Players can improve their character through leveling, but also by finding the best gear to optimize their playstyle. The game features magical abilities called Spirits, which offer various benefits, like stealth attacks, stat boosts, and even temporary power-ups, reminiscent of transformations in Dragon Ball Z. Nioh 3 adds a unique feature: the ability to switch between samurai and ninja classes. This allows players to change their builds mid-game, a significant improvement over the more fixed character building in games like Dark Souls. If FromSoftware were to make a Dark Souls 4, this class-switching system is something they should definitely consider.

Monster Hunter

The Power Of Co-Op

First Game: Monster Hunter (PS2, 2004)
Latest Console Game: Monster Hunter Wilds (PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, 2025)

The Monster Hunter series started on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 and maintained a similar gameplay style for over ten years. Players create a hunter, equip them with gear, and improve that gear by hunting large, challenging monsters, either solo or with friends online. Early games featured maps divided into small areas, but Monster Hunter: World (2018) introduced larger, more open environments. The recent games – World, Rise, and the upcoming Wilds – now offer a level of challenge and depth comparable to the Dark Souls series. Like Dark Soulsinspired games, Monster Hunter* titles are demanding action RPGs that often benefit from cooperative play. However, requesting help or joining another player’s game is much simpler than in many similar games.

With fourteen weapons to master, each offering unique playstyles and the option to add elemental effects, Monster Hunter provides a lot of variety. These weapons feel like different classes in other games, and players often become very dedicated to their favorites, adding to the series’ diversity. Despite being challenging, the games have a positive and supportive community; hunters readily help each other at camp. Plus, the Palico companions are charming, whether they join you on hunts or stay behind to cook. Monster Hunter blends challenging gameplay with a sense of adventure, and its multiplayer experience is a major strength compared to Dark Souls. Unlike Dark Souls, you can repeatedly hunt monsters, which adds to the game’s replayability.

Hollow Knight

Deep Lore In The Deep Down

First Game: Hollow Knight (PC, 2017)
Latest Console Game: Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, 2025)

The Hollow Knight series currently includes two games, Hollow Knight and Hollow Knight: Silksong, and both are exceptional examples of the Soulslike and Metroidvania genres. The first game shares a lot of similarities with Dark Souls; players control a silent, nameless bug called The Knight, with the story revealed through environmental details and conversations with other characters. The game takes place in a mysterious, ruined underground world that was once a thriving civilization. Like Dark Souls, players lose their progress and currency upon death, which they must recover. Hollow Knight clearly draws inspiration from both Dark Souls and classic Metroidvania games, featuring a large, interconnected map and upgrades that unlock new abilities. Hollow Knight: Silksong builds on this foundation, offering faster movement and combat thanks to the new protagonist, Hornet, who is more agile than The Knight.

The upcoming game Hollow Knight: Silksong feels faster and more fluid than the original Hollow Knight, and the main character, Hornet, can now speak. The game world is also more open, letting players explore in a non-linear way and giving them more freedom. While these improvements might seem specific to Silksong, they’re also noticeable in Dark Souls. However, Silksong truly shines with its storytelling. It presents the game’s background and history in a way that’s easier to understand without needing to search for explanations online. Hornet encounters vibrant towns filled with interesting and diverse characters, which adds a lot of personality to the game. Both Hollow Knight and Silksong excel in this area, offering a richer narrative experience compared to Dark Souls, where the characters tend to be gloomy and lack distinct personalities.

Diablo

Hell Comes To Town

First Game: Diablo (PC, 1997)
Latest Console Game: Diablo 4 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, 2023)

The Diablo series isn’t as immediately difficult as Dark Souls, but both games share a rich, dark story. Diablo started on computers in 1997 and is often credited with popularizing the idea of exploring dungeons to collect powerful items. This core gameplay was improved in the 2000 sequel. In each Diablo game, players pick a character class and battle hordes of demons—either solo or with friends online—using attacks, abilities, and spells. While each game has a different setting and story, the series consistently focuses on an epic war between Heaven and Hell, with humanity caught in the middle. This is a compelling use of religious themes, offering a different approach than the unique, cult-focused lore found in Dark Souls.

Over time, the Diablo series has become increasingly accessible and social. The newest game, Diablo 4, has modernized the experience with features like varied character classes, a detailed character creator, and a vast open world—a relatively uncommon design for top-down games. Blizzard consistently supports its games long after release with updates and expansions, keeping players invested in new and challenging content. While the Dark Souls series also receives expansions, they are smaller in scope, though fans remain dedicated regardless.

Castlevania

What Is A Man?

First Game: Castlevania (NES, 1986)
Latest Console Game: Haunted Castle Revisited (PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S, 2024)

Castlevania is a classic video game series that first appeared in Japan in 1986. While it may not be as popular today as games like Dark Souls, it heavily influenced many gothic horror action games, including Diablo and Dark Souls. Most Castlevania games follow a member of the Belmont family as they hunt Dracula within his constantly changing castle. The series reached its peak in 1997 with the release of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a game that helped create the “Metroidvania” genre. This style combines the interconnected maps and exploration of Metroid with RPG elements like character leveling and equipment upgrades. This successful period lasted until 2008 with the release of Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, after which the franchise became less focused and consistent.

While no 3D Castlevania game has truly stood out, Dark Souls currently holds the edge. Castlevania‘s strength lies in its rich history. It pioneered the action-horror genre and, with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, essentially created the Metroidvania style – a formula Dark Souls later perfected. This deep lore is beautifully brought to life in the Netflix anime, showcasing the enduring appeal of vampire and demon hunting across the ages. However, the music is where Castlevania truly shines. From energetic monster-hunting anthems to hauntingly somber tracks, the soundtrack sets an unmatched atmosphere. Even Dark Souls‘ impressive score can’t compete with iconic Castlevania themes like “Vampire Killer” and “Bloody Tears,” which fans have brilliantly remixed for years.

2026-02-12 02:39