Although FromSoftware’sElden Ringwas announced at E3 2019, there has been silence ever since leading fans to speculate about the nature of the game. The only confirmation that was given to fans was thatElden Ringwould be a natural evolution to theDark Soulsfranchise and it would feature an open-field setting. With no release date in sight, fans are nonetheless excited forElden Ringbecause it will likely end up as a Soulslike.
Over the years, theDark Soulsfranchise has transformed from a risky gamble to becoming so popular that it’s generated its own subgenre within ARPGs. Featuring high-risk combat with hard-hitting enemies and sparse checkpoints, Soulslike games take the unforgiving formula laid out byDark Soulsand put their own spin on the mechanics. With anticipation behindElden Ringbuilding, fans looking for similar games should delve into the Soulslike genre.
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Nioh Series
TheNiohseries has become one of the biggest successesin the Soulslike genre and for good reason. Developed by Team Ninja,Niohhas players take control of a samurai in a fictionalized, dark fantasy version of feudal Japan. ThoughNiohhad been stuck in development since 2004, it was revived and reimagined following the success of theDark Soulsfranchise. Featuring a combat system heavily influenced by theDark Soulsgames,Niohallows players to fight with melee, ranged, or magic attacks and chain together combos to fight enemies and bosses. LikeDark Soulsgames, the player will drop their EXP upon death and are only given one chance to retrieve them. Should they die again before reaching that point, the EXP is lost forever.
However, theNiohseries also feature a number of differences from other Soulslike games. One of the key combat mechanics for players to master is changing sword stances which allows for different playstyles. The high stance will deal more damage while reducing defense, the low stance will use quick attacks with better defense while the middle stance balances both.Niohcan also be much more difficultthan other Soulslike games as the bosses are some of the most challenging in the genre and will require a steeper learning curve. Fans excited forElden Ringshould giveNiohandNioh 2a try if they want a unique setting with punishing boss fights.
Salt and Sanctuary
While the Soulslike genre has largely found success in 3D environments,Salt and Sanctuaryis the perfect representation of howDark Soulswould feel as a 2D game instead. CombiningSoulslike mechanics with Metroidvania platformingfeatures,Salt and Sanctuarycaptures the atmosphere and tone of the originalDark Soulsgames. ThoughSalt and Sanctuaryshares a lot of similarities withDark Soulslike its interconnected map, dodging mechanics, and leaving behind messages, it also stands well on its own.
Salt and Sanctuaryfeatures a giant skill tree system instead of the traditional souls skills system. Similar to games likePath of ExileorFinal Fantasy 10,players will have the ability to acquire and respec their skills to alter their builds as they play through the game. Moreover, the 2D design of the game rarely feels like a restriction as it utilizes platforming mechanics well to make up for the loss of a third dimension. ThoughSalt and Sanctuaryis less difficult than theDark Soulsgames, it’s a perfect homage to the series, and fans looking for platforming elements toscratch thatHollow Knightitchwill find lots to love here.
Remnant: From the Ashes
Elden Ringfans who are looking to break away from the traditional Soulslike formula should giveRemnant: From the Ashesa try. One partDark Soulsandone partThe Division,Remnant: From the Ashesis a third-person survival action shooter where players must destroy hordes of enemies to preserve humanity. Much like theDark Soulsfranchise, the combat inRemnant: From the Ashesfeatures dodging and a stamina system despite being a shooter. Players will also need to utilize checkpoints effectively to restore health and ammo while managing their upgrades for their weapons.
On the other hand,Remnant: From the Ashestakes influence from other genressuch as roguelikes to differentiate itself from other Soulslike games. For example, each campaign features a procedurally generated path which only includes certain side dungeons or boss fights. Players will need to replay the game to see the extra content they missed during their first playthrough. Boss movesets are also highly varied and will usually spawn adds reminiscent of games likeDestiny.Soulslike fans looking to try a game that focuses on gunplay should tryRemnant: From the Ashes.
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Code Vein
On the other hand,Elden Ringfans who are feeling burnt out by the difficulty of traditional Soulslike games and want a more story-focused experience should tryCode Vein.Manyclassic Soulslike mechanics appear inCode Veinsuch as an elaborate dodge-based combat system, stamina management, currency loss upon death, and checkpoints that respawn enemies. However,Code Veinonly uses these mechanics as a foundation and it’s more heavily styled after JRPG elements with its detailed narrative and gameplay.
Featuring an AI system where players are able to join up with companions,Code Veinputs a lot more emphasis on the characterizationsin its story. Many of the builds are more flexible than typical Soulslike games which allows for experimentation on the fly. Though it’s much easier than other Soulslike games, it also leans heavily into the RPG aspects such as levelling, gearing, and skills. As a result,Code Veinis a great option for players who enjoy the mechanics of Soulslike games but also want to experience a clear-cut story with character development.
Mortal Shell
Elden Ringfans who are looking for a Soulslike experience that’s streamlined should tryMortal Shell.Of course, in the case of Soulslike games, simplifying mechanics rarely means making the game easier. Instead,Mortal Shellexcels at distilling the core gameplay loopof theDark Soulsfranchise into a tight package. AsMortal Shellwas developed by a very small team of people, the scope of the game is more limited than typical Soulslike games.
For example, instead of using a wide variety of weapons, armor, and builds,Mortal Shellplayers are able to use “shells” which are predesigned classes that have different playstyles and backstories. Though it’s focused almost entirely on melee combat,Mortal Shellis able to distinguish between the playstyles quite well. Featuring a dark, brooding atmosphere along with unforgiving gameplay to match,Mortal Shelleasily captures the feeling of dreadthat came along with the originalDark Soulsgames. Soulslike fans should giveMortal Shella try if they want to experience a short but tight take onDark Souls.
Elden Ringis currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
