Ever since the one-two punch of FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls in 2009 and Dark Souls in 2011, the Soulslike genre has gradually grown in popularity. Recent years have given parry aficionados plenty of drab environments, grotesque enemies, and opaque stories to enjoy. Of course, not every Soulslike is filled with darkness; drenching its world in sun is what made 2024’s Enotria: The Last Song stand out, for example.
With Elden Ring’s arrival on Nintendo Switch 2 and FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods right around the corner, now’s as good of a time as any to reflect on the genre of games FromSoftware helped build by looking at the 10 best Soulslikes of the past 10 years.
Of course, defining what exactly is a “Soulslike” can be a tricky endeavor, especially when so many recent games combine elements from various genres. We’re looking for games that are high on difficulty, encourage exploration, have bonfire-like checkpoints, and usually punish the player for dying. We’re limiting the list to one game per series, and excluding FromSoftware’s Soulsborne output. You already know Elden Ring is the best this genre has to offer this side of Bloodborne (the true GOAT).
First, an honorable mention: Mortal Shell 2. Cold Symmetry’s second Soulslike stab is one of the best-reviewed Soulslikes of the year. It’s only been out a couple of days at the time of this publication, but players have been jiving with it based on its Very Positive Steam player rating. But just like with our best games of 2026 list, we want to let games settle in for a few weeks before making any definitive declarations about them.
10
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (2025)
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers excels in making its players feel powerful. Whereas some (OK, maybe most) Soulslikes revel in beating a player down, Wuchang delights in giving players tools to create their own power fantasies. Instead of hits from bosses abruptly ending combos, Wuchang’s clash mechanic allows players to hit through attacks, and even gain health back on each hit with the right buffs equipped. There are a lot of great ideas in Wuchang, like its magic system and Madness mechanic, that will surely get iterated on in a sequel, although how that plays out is yet to be seen after Wuchang’s developer reportedly disbanded.
9
The First Berserker: Khazan (2025)
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
The First Berserker: Khazan combines the dark and dreary look of a Dark Souls game with a cel-shaded anime aesthetic to make for a unique visual style. While a prequel to the Dungeon & Fighter series, it’s set 800 years before the first game, so you’re good to go hacking and dodge-rolling without doing any homework. You’ll step into the boots of General Khazan for bloody and brutal boss battles, a highlight of the underrated 2025 Soulslike.
8
Another Crab’s Treasure (2024)
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Another Crab’s Treasure is one of the most unique Soulslikes around for starring, well, a crab! It’s a visual treat, pulling on a large color palette for its bright underwater environments. Your poor crab’s shell has been repossessed, meaning your Fashion Souls fit comes by way of discarded trash in the ocean, like a gacha capsule or a red solo cup. Another Crab’s Treasure threads the needle between challenge and charm, and its accessibility settings (you can PAUSE the game!) certainly help in that regard.
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