{"id":79113,"date":"2026-08-24T14:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T06:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=79113"},"modified":"2026-08-24T14:52:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T06:52:02","slug":"the-10-greatest-soulslikes-of-the-past-10-years-ranked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=79113","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Greatest Soulslikes of the Past 10 years, Ranked"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Ever since the one-two punch of FromSoftware\u2019s Demon\u2019s Souls<\/em> in 2009 and Dark Souls<\/em> 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\u2019s Enotria: The Last Song<\/em> stand out, for example.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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With Elden Ring<\/em>\u2019s arrival on Nintendo Switch 2 and FromSoftware\u2019s The Duskbloods<\/em> right around the corner, now\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Of course, defining what exactly is a \u201cSoulslike\u201d can be a tricky endeavor, especially when so many recent games combine elements from various genres. We\u2019re looking for games that are high on difficulty, encourage exploration, have bonfire-like checkpoints, and usually punish the player for dying. We\u2019re limiting the list to one game per series, and excluding FromSoftware\u2019s Soulsborne output. You already know Elden Ring<\/em> is the best this genre has to offer this side of Bloodborne<\/em> (the true GOAT).<\/p>\n

First, an honorable mention: Mortal Shell 2<\/em>. Cold Symmetry\u2019s second Soulslike stab is one of the best-reviewed Soulslikes of the year. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\n 10 <\/span>
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\n Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (2025)
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"Screenshot\n <\/picture>
Screenshot in front of the drop down leading to the Commander Honglan fight<\/figcaption>Image: Leenze\/505 Games via Polygon<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers<\/em> excels in making its players feel powerful. Whereas some (OK, maybe most) Soulslikes revel in beating a player down, Wuchang<\/em> delights in giving players tools to create their own power fantasies. Instead of hits from bosses abruptly ending combos, Wuchang<\/em>\u2019s 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<\/em>, 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<\/em>\u2019s developer reportedly disbanded.<\/p>\n

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\n 9 <\/span>
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\n The First Berserker: Khazan (2025)
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"The\n <\/picture>Image:\u00a0Neople\/NEXON<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

The First Berserker: Khazan<\/em> 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\u2019s set 800 years before the first game, so you\u2019re good to go hacking and dodge-rolling without doing any homework. You\u2019ll step into the boots of General Khazan for bloody and brutal boss battles, a highlight of the underrated 2025 Soulslike.<\/p>\n

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\n 8 <\/span>
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\n Another Crab’s Treasure (2024)
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"A\n <\/picture>Image: Aggro Crab<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

Another Crab\u2019s Treasure<\/em> is one of the most unique Soulslikes around for starring, well, a crab! It\u2019s a visual treat, pulling on a large color palette for its bright underwater environments. Your poor crab\u2019s 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\u2019s Treasure<\/em> threads the needle between challenge and charm, and its accessibility settings (you can PAUSE the game!) certainly help in that regard.<\/p>\n

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\n 7 <\/span>
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\n Remnant 2 (2023)
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"Remnant\n <\/picture>Image:\u00a0Gunfire Games\/Arc Games, THQ Nordic<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

Remnant 2<\/em> and its predecessor are some of the few Soulslikes that don\u2019t primarily focus on melee combat. Instead, you\u2019ll have a wide arsenal of firearms to shoot your monstrous foes in the face. It features ever-changing, procedurally generated levels to constantly keep you on your toes, a departure from the genre\u2019s typically highly structured and connected level design. And if Remnant 2<\/em> starts getting too difficult, grab a friend for the post-apocalyptic adventure, as the game supports cooperative multiplayer.<\/p>\n

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\n 6 <\/span>
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\n Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (2023)
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"The\n <\/picture>Image: Team Ninja\/Koei Tecmo<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

FromSoftware may be the undisputed King of the Soulslike, but Team Ninja has given it a run for its money. Known for the NInja Gaiden games, Team Ninja has also released the Soulslikes Rise of the Ronin<\/em>, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty<\/em>, and the Nioh series (more on that in a moment). Wo Long<\/em> is as difficult as they come, and expertly blends together wuxia action and Sekiro<\/em>-like parrying. It demands patience and practice, and through that you\u2019ll become an expert demon slayer.<\/p>\n

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\n 5 <\/span>
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\n Black Myth: Wukong (2024)
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\"This\n <\/picture>Image: Game Science<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

At times, Black Myth: Wukon<\/em>g<\/em> feels more like a boss rush game than anything as it showcases over 100 bosses to take down. It\u2019s filled to the brim with gross insect creatures, giant monsters, rat enemies, and more inspired by Journey to the West<\/em>. Wukong<\/em> is a bit more forgiving than most Soulslikes, but it still provides enough challenge over the course of 60 or so hours. Though you only use Wukong\u2019s customizable staff as a weapon with a limited moveset, magical spells, transformations, and spirit skills keep combat varied and fun throughout.<\/p>\n

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\n 4 <\/span>
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\n Hell Is Us (2025)
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\"Remi\n <\/picture>Image: Rogue Factor\/Nacon<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> Nintendo Switch 2 (out Oct. 8), PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

Hell Is Us<\/em> strikes a great balance between guiding a player on their journey and letting them figure things out on their own. Its war-torn world is worth spending the extra time to explore and chat it up with NPCs, some of whom are vile and some of whom are just trying to survive a new day in the midst of a civil war. Whereas you might play an Elden Ring<\/em> and come out the other side not really knowing what\u2019s going on in its world, Hell Is Us<\/em>\u2019 storytelling and mysteries are its strengths.<\/p>\n

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\n 3 <\/span>
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\n Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023)
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\"Star\n <\/picture>Image: Respawn Entertainment\/Electronic Arts<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order<\/em> and its sequel Survivor<\/em> are a couple of the best Star Wars games ever made. They expertly mix lightsaber combat with Soulslike parrying, while combining those elements with puzzle-solving and Metroidvania-inspired exploration. Enjoy hacking away at Stormtroopers and getting your butt handed to you by tough bosses. Both games are top-notch, but Survivor<\/em>\u2019s expanded lightsaber arsenal and its great third act twist villain place it above Fallen Order<\/em>. Well, that\u2019s if either of them are even Soulslikes.<\/p>\n

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\n 2 <\/span>
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\n Nioh (2017)
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\n <\/h2>\n
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\"William\n <\/picture>Team Ninja\/Koei Tecmo<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC<\/p>\n

All three Nioh games are some of the best Soulslikes around. (They\u2019re also some of the hardest.) Nioh 3<\/em> might be the highest-rated Soulslike of 2026, but it\u2019s not the best in its series. That crown goes to the original, 2017\u2019s Nioh<\/em>, a brutal game that takes players to 1600 Japan, which is littered with yokai to slay. They\u2019re gonna slay you first, however, as Nioh<\/em> has you facing terribly difficult regular enemies, and that\u2019s before we get to its demonic bosses. But at least Nioh<\/em> gives you plenty of choice in how you want to take those foes down \u2014 there are too many customizable armor, weapons, guardian spirits to count.<\/p>\n

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\n 1 <\/span>
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\n Lies of P (2023)
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\"A\n <\/picture>Image: Neowiz<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to play:<\/strong> Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X<\/p>\n

Lies of P<\/em> is the finest Souslike crafted by hands that aren\u2019t working at FromSoftware. Co-developed by Neowiz and Nough (formerly Round8 Studio), Lies of P<\/em> puts a very violent and parry-focused twist on the classic tale of Pinocchio. Just called P, the puppet wakes up in the city of Krat after puppets (think robot servants) went mad and revolted, slaughtering Krat\u2019s population in the process. P investigates the Puppet Frenzy while pushing the limits of his humanity; the more you lie to others, the more human he becomes. Storytelling is a strength of Lies of P<\/em> (and its Overture<\/em> expansion), but that doesn\u2019t mean its combat is no slouch. Weapon parts can be mixed and matched to modify movesets, and P has a swappable prosthetic arm that can be used as a flamethrower, shotgun, and more. Most importantly, Lies of P<\/em> also has one of the best parries around.<\/p>\n

A sequel is in the works that will possibly explore other fairy tales and stories, like The Wizard of Oz. FromSoftware\u2019s Soulsborne games only got better with each entry. I can only hope the same happens for Neowiz and Nough.<\/p>\n