Souls-like Games Rated Easiest to Hardest

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As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent delving into the depths of dark and challenging worlds, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring some of the most notorious soulslike games known to man. From the ashes of my gaming past, I bring you a firsthand account of my experiences with these formidable titles, arranged from easiest to hardest based on my personal journey.


As a fan who was recently asked to create a list ranking soulslike games based on their difficulty level, I pondered over how to combine my subjective experiences with an objective assessment of these titles. However, upon further reflection, I realized that such an endeavor might not be feasible. There’s a widely accepted principle that the most challenging soulslike game for any individual is often the very first one they encounter within this genre.

In my experience, the first game on the list, “Demon’s Souls,” would be the one I played. A heads up, the title’s challenging reputation is showcased in this ranking. Keep in mind that everyone has unique experiences and opinions when it comes to assessing games, so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

As a fan of horror video games, I’d like to clarify something before we dive into the topic at hand. When compiling this list, my colleagues and I intentionally left out some 2D productions, like “Blasphemous” and “Salt & Sanctuary.” These games present unique challenges when it comes to comparison with more conventional representatives of the horror genre due to their distinct perspectives.

What exactly are soulslike games?

The term originated roughly around the debut of the first “Dark Souls” game and the massive fan base it generated, even though its roots trace back to the launch of “Demon’s Souls.” These games represent a subgenre of action role-playing games (RPGs), defined by their third-person perspective and challenging gameplay. Enemies in these games can instantly kill the player character with a single hit, while treacherous environments and complex lore add to the overall difficulty. Furthermore, saving the game is not an option at any given moment, and losing the currency required for leveling up can result in permanent consequences. This creates a demanding gaming experience that calls for careful planning and strategy.

2024 UPDATE

In the year 2024, we included the expansion for Elden Ring named Shadow of the Erdtree in our list. This project was carried out by Mateusz “rassi” Lugowik.

20. Remnant: From the Ashes

  1. Release date: August 20, 2019
  2. Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
  3. Developer: Gunfire Games
  4. Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment

Remnant: From the Ashes created quite a stir upon its initial release, positioning it as a hidden gem in the soulslike genre by presenting firearms as alternatives to traditional weapons like swords and axes. However, having played it some time after the hype had died down, I personally found Gunfire Games’ production underwhelming.

Remnant: From the Ashes is likely the easiest soulslike production you can try. Since the game’s focused on firearms, it’s possible to avoid most direct clashes. The learning curve is steeper at the very beginning, but the game soon becomes much less challenging – not to mention the co-op, which completely trivializes it.

  1. More about Remnant: From the Ashes

19. Remnant 2

  1. Release date: July 25, 2023
  2. Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
  3. Developer: Gunfire Games
  4. Publisher: Gearbox Publishing

Three years ago, when I initially compiled the list, I put the first installment of the “Remnant” series at the start, signaling that those titles were the least demanding. Last year, a new addition to the series, “Remnant II,” was released, introducing several improvements. While these enhancements didn’t make “Remnant II” notably more complicated than its predecessor, they certainly brought about some positive changes.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel exhilarated by the latest update to this game. With the addition of several new archetypes, my character building possibilities have expanded exponentially. The freedom and diversity this brings is truly remarkable, allowing me to wield not one, but two powerful personas at once.

  1. More about Remnant II

18. Bloodborne

  1. Release date: March 24, 2015
  2. Platform: PS4
  3. Developer: FromSoftware / Sony Japan Studios
  4. Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

If we’re discussing the top contenders for the best soulslike games, Bloodborne, with its Old Hunter expansion included, would surely make it into the top three for me. In terms of challenge, I believe From Software produced Bloodborne as the most accessible title among their works. This is primarily because offensive playstyles are more rewarded, and the technical finesse that comes with mastering combat mechanics is less random. Additionally, Bloodborne feels less raw than earlier Dark Souls installments, which significantly influences its high ranking on our list.

As a gamer, I’ve played the base game alongside The Old Hunters DLC, and while some players claim it ramps up the challenge, I didn’t find it particularly difficult. With its randomly-generated locations and dungeon crawler elements, this expansion added an exciting new layer to the game for me. However, it seems the community has been divided over difficulty levels since launch. Why not give it a try and see who’s correct?

  1. More about Bloodborne

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2024-07-19 13:32