GPA

30 Best Soulslike Games | GPA Scores Compare Difficulty × Exploration × Combat Design

· Soulslike Games List

30 soulslike recommendations sorted into 4 types using GPA analysis — open-world exploration, classic FromSoftware, parry-forward action, and indie 2D variations.

· Featured titles

Elden Ring · Dark Souls III · Bloodborne · Sekiro · Lies of P · Hollow Knight · Black Myth: Wukong

30 Best Soulslike Games

Die, learn, retry — that's the soulslike core. Bonfire restarts, memorizing enemy tells, risking souls or runes on death. Players who know the label usually search for exactly this tension.

Even when hunting "soulslike," the gameplay you want differs — open-map exploration, classic FromSoftware weight, or SEKIRO-style posture breaks through parries. Same genre label, different games that click.

Using GPA tag trends, we sort 30 titles into 4 types and analyze them — so you can find what fits based on gameplay and the experience you're after.

What Is a Soulslike?

Soulslike is the label for high-stakes action RPGs built on die-and-retry loops, pattern-reading combat, and worlds that refuse to over-explain — lineage traced to Demon's Souls and Dark Souls.

Hallmarks include stamina or posture management, checkpoint bonfires, death costs (temporary soul/rune loss), and lore read from item text and geography more than cutscenes.

Modern forks include Elden Ring's open worlds, SEKIRO's parry focus, and 2D spins like Hollow Knight — same genre name, very different feel.

Representative Games

Six names to know first — from genre origin to modern hits. Full write-ups are in the 30-game list below.

  • Elden RingOpen-world soulslike apex — exploration and die-and-retry tension together.
  • Dark Souls IIIThe 3D soulslike standard before Elden Ring.
  • BloodborneAggressive combat and hunter lore — classic lane's wild sibling.
  • Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceParry-first pinnacle — posture breaks through deflects.
  • Lies of PModern full-parry pick — Pinocchio dark fantasy.
  • Hollow Knight2D souls grammar — metroidvania crossroads.

Four Soulslike Types — Exploration vs. Combat Weight

Looking at GPA tags — Open World, Soulslike, High Difficulty, Parry — soulslikes fall into four design patterns.

① Open-World Exploration

Bonfires exist, but you choose the route — wide fields, optional bosses, and build growth layered on soulslike tension. GPA often tags these at the open-world × soulslike crossroads.

Large mapsRoute freedomBuild growthOptional bosses

Representative games:

Elden Ring / Dark Souls III / Code Vein / Remnant: From the Ashes

② Classic FromSoftware Line

The Dark Souls / Bloodborne / Demon's Souls blueprint — weighty combat, pattern reading, bonfires, and lore told through the world. What most players picture when they hear "soulslike."

Stamina managementBonfiresDense loreHeavy combat

Representative games:

Demon's Souls / Bloodborne / Dark Souls Remastered / Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

③ Parry & Fast Action

Soulslike bones with parry, deflect, or just-dodge systems up front — the post-SEKIRO lane built on duel satisfaction. Watch GPA's Parry, High Difficulty, and Action tags.

Parry-forwardFast tempoBoss focusMechanical mastery

Representative games:

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice / Lies of P / Nioh 2 / Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

④ Indie / 2D Variations

Soulslike grammar in 2D side-view, top-down, or hybrid formats — from Hollow Knight to Expedition 33. A lane for players who want the loop without full 3D action RPG scale.

2D / alt cameraUnique spinsIndie scaleCross-genre

Representative games:

Hollow Knight / Hyper Light Drifter / Death's Door / Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Soulslike — Article-Exclusive 'Difficulty Score' Ratings

Filter GPA-listed titles below by platform; unlisted games show N/A until their analysis pages are added.

30 / 30 Titles
#TitlePlatformDifficulty Score
1Elden RingN/A98%
2Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceN/A96%
3Bloodborne
PS5PS4
94%
4Lies of PN/A93%
5Dark Souls IIIN/A92%
6Nioh 2N/A91%
7Demon's SoulsN/A90%
8Black Myth: Wukong
PS5steamXbox
89%
9Dark Souls RemasteredN/A88%
10Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
PS5steamXbox
88%
11Hollow KnightN/A86%
12Wo Long: Fallen DynastyN/A85%
13Stellar Blade
PS5
84%
14Blasphemous
Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
83%
15Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorN/A82%
16Salt and Sanctuary
Nintendo SwitchPS4steamXbox
82%
17WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
PS5steamXbox
81%
18Lords of the Fallen (2023)N/A80%
19Hyper Light Drifter
Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
80%
20Mortal ShellN/A79%
21Code VeinN/A78%
22Death's Door
Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
78%
23Beast of Reincarnation
PS5steamXbox
77%
24Remnant: From the AshesN/A76%
25Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
76%
26Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
PS4steamXbox
75%
27AshenN/A74%
28HellpointN/A72%
29Kena: Bridge of SpiritsN/A72%
30The Surge 2N/A70%

* Article-exclusive ratings (not official GPA scores). Based on combat friction, pattern depth, and die-and-retry learning cost.

Soulslike Classification Matrix

Horizontal: exploration / open scope. Vertical: combat difficulty / pattern reading. Elden Ring sits top-right; Sekiro upper-left.

Soulslike Matrix: Exploration / Open Scope ↔ Combat Difficulty & Pattern Reading
556065707580859095100Linear / Boss-FocusedExploration / Open ScopeHigh Combat DifficultyERDS3CVRemLotFAshJediDeSBBDS1DS2MSHPSurgeSekiroLoPNioh2WoLSBWukongWCBoRHKHLDDDKenaBlasSaSELE33

* Editorial placement — not official GPA scores.

① Open-World Exploration

Bonfires exist, but you choose the route — wide fields, optional bosses, and build growth layered on soulslike tension. GPA often tags these at the open-world × soulslike crossroads.

Elden Ring (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Elden Ring

PS5PS4steamXbox
FromSoftware

Genre: Action RPG

Elden Ring takes FromSoftware's Soulslike combat into an open world designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. The Legacy Dungeons preserve the dense, interconnected level design of earlier entries while the Lands Between rewards patient exploration. GPA scores it at 95% for both Difficulty and Action — the highest Action score in the database.

Gameplay Profile

Action
90%
Dystopian Setting
85%
Graphics
85%
High Difficulty
80%
Open World
80%

Key tags: Action / Dystopian Setting / Graphics / High Difficulty / Open World

· Game Overview

Cross the Lands Between on horseback — bosses when you choose, builds that swing wide via gear and talismans. The current open-world soulslike apex.

· Gameplay Analysis

GPA scores Open World, Soulslike, and High Difficulty all high. Works for explorers and die-and-retry fans alike — including those who get lost in the scale. The baseline for this list.

Dark Souls III (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Dark Souls III

PS4steamXbox
FromSoftware

Genre: Action RPG

Dark Souls III accelerates the series' pacing and sharpens its boss design into its most refined form. The lore runs through item descriptions and environmental detail rather than cutscenes. GPA scores it at 90% for both Difficulty and Lore Focus — two axes that define the experience more precisely than genre alone.

Gameplay Profile

High Difficulty
95%
Dystopian Setting
90%
Dark
90%
Action
85%
Existential Themes
80%

Key tags: High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Dark / Action / Existential Themes

· Game Overview

The pre–Elden Ring pinnacle of FromSoftware's 3D soulslikes — more linear hubs, but shortcuts and branching routes still reward exploration.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Not as wide as Elden Ring, but bonfire links and boss order choices are textbook soulslike design. A common fallback when Elden Ring feels too big.

Code Vein

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

Anime-styled vampire soulslike — wide zones with NPC companions and blood-code builds. Softer than core FromSoftware titles.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Not true open world, but area exploration plus build crafting land well. Often recommended as a soulslike gateway.

Remnant: From the Ashes

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

Post-apocalyptic soulslike in third-person shooter view — up to three-player co-op, semi-procedural zones that shift on replays.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. The gunplay × soulslike mix is rare — a go-to when Elden Ring explorers want ranged combat in the loop.

Lords of the Fallen (2023)

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

2023 reboot — swap between the living world and the Umbral realm; routes and enemy layouts change when you cross over.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Sits in the post–Elden Ring wide-map soulslike lane. The dual-realm gimmick splits opinions, but map unlock pacing delivers.

Ashen

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

Bleached end-world soulslike with NPC co-op support — gentler difficulty, calm exploration and base-building tone.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Known as a softer soulslike with co-op hooks — for players who want the mood without brutal punishment.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Action-Adventure) key art — GPA

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

PS5steamXbox
Respawn Entertainment

Genre: Action-Adventure

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues Cal Kestis's journey through a galaxy under Imperial consolidation, adding new lightsaber stances and a Metroidvania planet structure. GPA scores it high on Action and Story Depth — a sequel that deepens the combat options and the political stakes from Fallen Order.

Gameplay Profile

Graphics
85%
Action
80%
Emotional Story
70%
Story Depth
70%
High Difficulty
65%

Key tags: Graphics / Action / Emotional Story / Story Depth / High Difficulty

· Game Overview

Multi-planet SF action — checkpoint retries, stance swaps, boss pattern reads wrapped in Star Wars dressing.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. IP bait for fans, but hub exploration plus boss duels is pure soulslike grammar. Also in our parry guide — listed here for open exploration weight.

② Classic FromSoftware Line

The Dark Souls / Bloodborne / Demon's Souls blueprint — weighty combat, pattern reading, bonfires, and lore told through the world. What most players picture when they hear "soulslike."

Demon's Souls (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Demon's Souls

PS5
Bluepoint Games

Genre: Action RPG

Demon's Souls was FromSoftware's proof of concept for the Soulslike format, and the PS5 remake preserves the original's structure in high fidelity. The World Tendency system changes enemy behavior based on in-game actions. GPA scores it high on Difficulty and Dark World — the combination that defines the series' origin point.

Gameplay Profile

High Difficulty
95%
Dystopian Setting
90%
Action
85%
Dark
85%
Graphics
80%

Key tags: High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Action / Dark / Graphics

· Game Overview

The origin point — beat a boss, light an archstone, advance hub by hub. Heavy controls and opaque UI that read as blueprint today.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Pure pre–Bloodborne / Dark Souls design. For players who want the genre's source code.

Bloodborne (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Bloodborne

PS5PS4
FromSoftware

Genre: Action RPG

Bloodborne moves through Gothic Victorian streets and cosmic horror architecture with an aggressive combat system that punishes defensive play. The Rally mechanic returns health through attacking immediately after taking damage. GPA scores it at the top for Dark World and near the top for Difficulty — the Action score is higher than Dark Souls entries, reflecting the faster combat tempo.

Gameplay Profile

High Difficulty
95%
Dystopian Setting
95%
Action
90%
Dark
90%
Graphics
85%

Key tags: High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Action / Dark / Graphics

· Game Overview

Less guard, more offense — aggressive soulslikes where the hunt drives you forward and the world unravels on Blood Moon nights.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. A flagship for Dark Fantasy, High Difficulty, and Soulslike tags. Platform-locked, but impossible to skip in any serious list.

Dark Souls Remastered

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

The 2011 original polished for modern platforms — shortcut unlocks and boss "aha" moments that defined the genre template.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Controls feel older than DS3 or Elden Ring, but nothing explains "soulslike" faster.

Dark Souls III (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Dark Souls III

PS4steamXbox
FromSoftware

Genre: Action RPG

Dark Souls III accelerates the series' pacing and sharpens its boss design into its most refined form. The lore runs through item descriptions and environmental detail rather than cutscenes. GPA scores it at 90% for both Difficulty and Lore Focus — two axes that define the experience more precisely than genre alone.

Gameplay Profile

High Difficulty
95%
Dystopian Setting
90%
Dark
90%
Action
85%
Existential Themes
80%

Key tags: High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Dark / Action / Existential Themes

· Game Overview

The odd sibling — enemy swarms, endurance drain, wide maps. Divisive, but a distinct take on soulslike friction with a loyal fanbase.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Sandwiched between DS1 and DS3 — not a first pick, but required for a complete lineage tour.

Mortal Shell

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

Compact soulslike built on harden-to-block — smaller maps, tight controls close to classic FromSoftware feel.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. A quick taste of the genre at indie scale — faithful classic grammar without Elden Ring hours.

Hellpoint

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

SF soulslike on a space station — environments shift in real time, and boss rematch windows need reading too.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Aggressive Bloodborne-adjacent combat in sci-fi skin — niche, but hits the "From vibe, different setting" itch.

The Surge 2

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

SF soulslike about limb targeting and looting parts — tutorial-heavy onboarding, then pattern combat. Learning cost from a different angle.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. More open maps than the first game — faster classic-lane tempo, decent sci-fi soulslike entry.

③ Parry & Fast Action

Soulslike bones with parry, deflect, or just-dodge systems up front — the post-SEKIRO lane built on duel satisfaction. Watch GPA's Parry, High Difficulty, and Action tags.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

* GPA game analysis page coming soon

· Game Overview

Deflect to break posture — jumps and wall runs feed combat directly. The pinnacle of parry-first soulslikes.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. The baseline in our parry guide too — the destination for players who prefer mechanical mastery over RPG grinding.

Lies of P (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Lies of P

PS5steamXbox
Round8 Studio

Genre: Action RPG

Lies of P retells Pinocchio as a Soulslike set in a Victorian-era city overrun by automatons. The weapon assembly system lets players combine handles and blades from different weapons. GPA scores it close to Elden Ring on Difficulty and Dark World, with the Soulslike tag shared across both.

Gameplay Profile

Dystopian Setting
90%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
85%
Graphics
85%
Dark
85%

Key tags: Dystopian Setting / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Dark

· Game Overview

Pinocchio dark fantasy — weapon-part swaps plus parries, the post-SEKIRO standard bearer.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. High Difficulty, Parry, and Soulslike all score strong — modern Bloodborne-adjacent mood on current hardware.

Nioh 2

PS5PS4steam
Team Ninja

Genre: Action RPG

Nioh 2 builds its samurai action around the Soul Core system and a Yokai Shift transformation that temporarily unlocks a second move set. The Burst Counter mechanic rewards reading specific enemy attacks. GPA scores it high on Action and Difficulty — the combination that places it in the Soulslike cluster while the transformation system provides a mechanical layer Dark Souls entries lack.

Gameplay Profile

Action
90%
High Difficulty
90%
Graphics
80%
Dark
75%
Dystopian Setting
70%

Key tags: Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Dark / Dystopian Setting

· Game Overview

Sengoku demon soulslike at high speed — stance swaps, onmyo, guardian spirits, absurd build branching.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Called a soulslike, but really a build lab — fast combat offset by deep customization.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

PS5PS4steamXbox
Team Ninja

Genre: Action RPG

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty reframes Three Kingdoms history as dark fantasy and builds its combat around a Spirit Gauge system where aggressive play generates meter for powerful deflections. GPA scores it high on Action and Difficulty, sharing the Soulslike tag with Elden Ring while running lower on Open World.

Gameplay Profile

Action
85%
High Difficulty
80%
Graphics
75%
Story Depth
60%
Dark
60%

Key tags: Action / High Difficulty / Graphics / Story Depth / Dark

· Game Overview

Three Kingdoms dark fantasy — deflects and Spirit Rank drive combat. Faster and more approachable than Nioh.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Team Ninja's parry-read soulslike lane — quicker payoff than Nioh 2.

Stellar Blade (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Stellar Blade

PS5
SHIFT UP

Genre: Action RPG

Stellar Blade follows EVE on a mission to reclaim Earth from alien creatures. The parry-focused combat rewards learning attack patterns. GPA scores it high on Action and Graphics — the character design and environmental art are among the strongest visual presentations in the Action category.

Gameplay Profile

Action
85%
Existential Themes
80%
Anime Characters
80%
Graphics
75%
High Difficulty
70%

Key tags: Action / Existential Themes / Anime Characters / Graphics / High Difficulty

· Game Overview

SF character action — parry and dodge reads up front, relatively linear routes, boss-heavy pacing.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Closer to character action, but checkpoint retries and boss focus share soulslike grammar.

Black Myth Wukong (ソウルライクアクションRPG) key art — GPA

Black Myth Wukong

PS5steamXbox
Game Science

Genre: ソウルライクアクションRPG

Black Myth: Wukong sends the Destined One through a retelling of Journey to the West with shapeshifting Soulslike combat. 10 million copies in four days. GPA scores it high on Action and Difficulty.

Gameplay Profile

Graphics
90%
Action
85%
High Difficulty
80%
Story Depth
70%
Dystopian Setting
65%

Key tags: Graphics / Action / High Difficulty / Story Depth / Dystopian Setting

· Game Overview

Chinese AAA Journey to the West — transformations and stance swaps built for boss spectacle.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Also in our open-world list, but combat weight sits closer to the parry lane — High Difficulty and Action score high.

Wuchang Fallen Feathers (ソウルライクアクションRPG) key art — GPA

Wuchang Fallen Feathers

PS5steamXbox
Leenzee Games

Genre: ソウルライクアクションRPG

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers sets its Soulslike in Ming Dynasty China during a feather plague. GPA scores it high on Action and Dark World.

Gameplay Profile

Action
80%
High Difficulty
80%
Dystopian Setting
75%
Graphics
75%
Dark
65%

Key tags: Action / High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Graphics / Dark

· Game Overview

Ming-era China soulslike — feather abilities swap combat styles, boss spectacle forward.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Pairs with Black Myth: Wukong in the Chinese AAA lane — parry-fast grammar is clear even as reviews settle.

Beast of Reincarnation (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Beast of Reincarnation

PS5steamXbox
GAME FREAK / Fictions

Genre: Action RPG

Beast of Reincarnation sends Emma the Sealer and her dog Koo across a post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026, where a corruption called the Blight has transformed the landscape into a beautiful but hostile wilderness. Emma absorbs abilities from defeated Nushi creatures, building toward a confrontation with the titular Beast. Combat blends real-time parrying in the Sekiro register with turn-based command elements. Game Freak's first non-Pokémon AAA title. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Dark World — a companion-bond action RPG that reviewers placed between NieR: Automata and Princess Mononoke.

Gameplay Profile

Dystopian Setting
85%
Graphics
82%
Action
80%
Emotional Story
80%
Existential Themes
75%

Key tags: Dystopian Setting / Graphics / Action / Emotional Story / Existential Themes

· Game Overview

Game Freak's first full 3D original ARPG — Koo commands plus parries, warm hub life between harsh fields.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Divisive scores, but parry feedback plus Koo control is unique — an experiment in softer soulslike friction.

④ Indie / 2D Variations

Soulslike grammar in 2D side-view, top-down, or hybrid formats — from Hollow Knight to Expedition 33. A lane for players who want the loop without full 3D action RPG scale.

Hollow Knight (メトロイドヴァニア) key art — GPA

Hollow Knight

Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
Team Cherry

Genre: メトロイドヴァニア

Hollow Knight puts a silent knight in a vast underground insect kingdom built with hand-drawn art and a score that shifts by region. The map system withholds information until it's earned. GPA scores it at the top for Difficulty and Action among platformers, with Dark World running high — a combination that points at players who want atmosphere alongside the mechanical challenge.

Gameplay Profile

Action
85%
High Difficulty
85%
Dystopian Setting
80%
Graphics
80%
Dark
75%

Key tags: Action / High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Graphics / Dark

· Game Overview

Metroidvania looks, soulslike guts — bench checkpoints, boss reads, environmental lore all present.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Appears in our metroidvania and indie lists — here as the 2D souls-grammar standard.

Hyper Light Drifter (Action RPG) key art — GPA

Hyper Light Drifter

Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
Heart Machine

Genre: Action RPG

Hyper Light Drifter pushes a terminally ill Drifter through a ruined world, conveying the narrative entirely through visuals without dialogue. GPA scores it high on Action and Dark World.

Gameplay Profile

Action
80%
Dystopian Setting
80%
High Difficulty
75%
Graphics
75%
Existential Themes
70%

Key tags: Action / Dystopian Setting / High Difficulty / Graphics / Existential Themes

· Game Overview

Near-wordless top-down action — neon worlds, bosses where one mistake ends the run.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. From our indie 50 soulslike lane — short and dense for players who find 3D soulslikes heavy.

Deaths Door (Action-Adventure) key art — GPA

Deaths Door

Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
Acid Nerve

Genre: Action-Adventure

Death's Door assigns a crow the administrative task of collecting souls in a Soulslike action game. GPA scores it high on Action and Difficulty.

Gameplay Profile

Action
75%
High Difficulty
70%
Existential Themes
65%
Graphics
65%
Logic
65%

Key tags: Action / High Difficulty / Existential Themes / Graphics / Logic

· Game Overview

Top-down crow adventure — Zelda-ish look, soulslike checkpoint retries and surprisingly tough bosses.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. The cute-art vs hard-combat gap surprises people — a gentle indie gateway to soulslikes.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Action-Adventure) key art — GPA

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

PS5PS4
Ember Lab

Genre: Action-Adventure

Kena: Bridge of Spirits sends a spirit guide through a village haunted by unresolved grief, clearing corruption to free the dead. The Rot companions add a resource management layer to the combat. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Graphics — the visual quality from a small studio remains the most discussed aspect of its reception.

Gameplay Profile

Graphics
90%
Action
75%
Emotional Story
75%
Story Depth
75%
High Difficulty
60%

Key tags: Graphics / Action / Emotional Story / Story Depth / High Difficulty

· Game Overview

Spirit-companion action adventure — softer than core soulslikes, but boss learning curves follow the same school.

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Not a strict soulslike, but often recommended as a die-and-retry intro — the gentle variation slot.

Blasphemous 2

Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
The Game Kitchen / Team17

Genre: メトロイドヴァニア

Blasphemous 2 expands the first game's Catholic folklore horror into three switchable weapons — each with distinct movement and combat mechanics — across a wider interconnected map. The Spanish dark religious art direction remains the series' most distinctive quality. Switch, PS4/5, Xbox, PC. GPA scores it high on Action and Dark World — the Metroidvania sequel that delivered more of what made the original stand out.

Gameplay Profile

Dystopian Setting
88%
Dark
82%
Action
80%
High Difficulty
75%
Graphics
75%

Key tags: Dystopian Setting / Dark / Action / High Difficulty / Graphics

· Game Overview

Grotesque religious-art 2D action — Castlevania exploration plus heavy soulslike bosses and checkpoint retries.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Often paired with Hollow Knight — picked as much for atmosphere as for combat.

Salt and Sanctuary

Nintendo SwitchPS4steamXbox
Ska Studios

Genre: 2Dソウルライクメトロイドヴァニア

Salt and Sanctuary built Dark Souls' bonfire-and-estus structure into a 2D Metroidvania, developed by a two-person studio. The attribute-heavy character building and precise shield/dodge combat carry the genre comparison. Switch, PS4, Xbox, PC. GPA scores it high on Action and Difficulty — the Metroidvania most often recommended to players who want Souls-style punishment in a 2D format.

Gameplay Profile

High Difficulty
85%
Dystopian Setting
82%
Action
80%
Dark
78%
Character Building
70%

Key tags: High Difficulty / Dystopian Setting / Action / Dark / Character Building

· Game Overview

2D side-scroller aiming to be Dark Souls 1 laid flat — classes, stamina, bonfires, nearly one-to-one.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. The literal "2D Dark Souls" — more classic than Hollow Knight in 2D form.

ENDER LILIES Quietus of the Knights

Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
Adglobe / Live Wire / Binary Haze Interactive

Genre: ダーク系メトロイドヴァニア

ENDER LILIES sets its Metroidvania in a rain-destroyed kingdom where Lily the White Priestess summons purified undead spirits as her combat set. The Mili soundtrack is one of the highest-rated in the genre. Switch, PS4, Xbox, PC. GPA scores it high on Dark World and Emotional Story — the Metroidvania where the melancholy atmosphere is the primary draw alongside the combat.

Gameplay Profile

Dystopian Setting
85%
Dark
80%
Emotional Story
75%
Action
72%
Graphics
72%

Key tags: Dystopian Setting / Dark / Emotional Story / Action / Graphics

· Game Overview

Fallen-kingdom 2D action — absorb fallen foes' powers, boss duels built on reads. Metroidvania × soulslike crossroads.

· Gameplay Analysis

Not on GPA yet. Where Hollow Knight fans land next for 2D souls grammar — darker mood throughout.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Turn-Based RPG) key art — GPA

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

PS5steamXbox
Sandfall Interactive

Genre: Turn-Based RPG

Set in a world where the Paintress condemns entire age groups to death each year, Expedition 33 sends a doomed party into a dying world to break the curse. The turn-based combat integrates real-time parry mechanics that shift the rhythm of every encounter. GPA scores it highest in Emotional Story and Story Depth — the French aesthetic and existential weight make it one of the most distinctive RPGs of 2025.

Gameplay Profile

Turn-Based
90%
Story Depth
90%
Existential Themes
85%
Dystopian Setting
85%
Emotional Story
80%

Key tags: Turn-Based / Story Depth / Existential Themes / Dystopian Setting / Emotional Story

· Game Overview

2025 breakout — turn RPG plus real-time dodge and parry. Less pure soulslike, more "soulslike combat in a JRPG shell."

· Gameplay Analysis

On GPA. Also in our parry guide — hard to classify strictly, but die-and-retry fans reach for it next.

Conclusion

Liking difficulty isn't enough to pick a soulslike. Decide first: open exploration, classic From weight, parry duels, or 2D indie spins — then the list gets easy to use.

GPA-listed games link to tag scores and similar-game picks. Unlisted titles get full context here — watch for upcoming GPA analysis pages.

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