The term “soulslike” is used to describe a game that is somewhat similar to FromSoftware’s classic game, Dark Souls. If your game has stamina management, a bonfire or checkpoint respawn system, and difficult boss fights, most likely, it is a soulslike. This term happens to appear everywhere these days, and not that long ago, it became an official sub-genre of action RPGs.
Every year, a new soulslike game usually gets released. It can be a good thing, as there can be a variety of games to play within the sub-genre. However, as FromSoftware’s formula became popular, this sub-genre is starting to become stale. Is it just fatigue from their rampant appearance, or do soulslike games rarely capture the actual Souls experience?
The Original Formula
To truly understand soulslike games, we have to go back to their source of inspiration, Dark Souls. Games back then used to be either very hard or very easy; very few were in the middle. When Dark Souls was released, it presented the idea of exploration and perseverance. It believes in the strength of its players to overcome challenges instead of toning down the challenge.
Dark Souls doesn’t hold the hands of its players. Its story is vague, featuring very few cutscenes and moments of dialogue explaining the plot. Its world is vast and takes time to fully explore, as there are no waypoints or even maps for players to work with. The game is tough, and everything in it wants you dead.
The Soulslike Explosion
Right now, there is no shortage of soulslike games. From 2023 alone, 6 soulslike titles were released. Some soulslikes even competed with the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree in 2024, an expansion made by the developers of Dark Souls themselves. Not to mention the thousands of games that have the “soulslike” tag on Steam.
The increase proves that the concepts FromSoftware pioneered can be bendable. Their settings may shift, the stories may change, and enemy designs may be altered. In spite of that, the same elements remain even in varied shapes or forms. They are not just copying what has already been made, but they are putting their own spin on it, adding to the recipe that FromSoftware crafted.
What Gets Lost in Translation
Despite having a blueprint to rely on, most soulslike games don't quite get the entirety of the Dark Souls experience. Some of them have grim settings, but the lore around their purpose is already laid upon you without having to figure it out yourself. Their boss fights are tough, but they don’t hold weight upon getting a victory, and the difficulty is often a thread between struggle and annoyance.
Dark Souls is also famous for its interconnected world. It adds another layer of sense of reward for being thorough through exploration. In contrast, some soulslikes prefer to have straightforward layouts or separate zones that don’t connect. Time is lost not for uncovering secrets through investigation, but for completing missions in these glorified obstacle courses.
When Imitation Works: The Rare Successes
Most soulslikes exist just to capitalize on the success of FromSoftware. They copy the elements without integrating the values Dark Souls wants players to have. Regardless, some passionate developers truly encapsulate the true Dark Souls experience. They put their unique take on it while trusting the players to succeed by themselves from all the hurdles the game has to offer.
Hollow Knight, despite being a side-scroller platformer, seems like a Dark Souls little brother. Team Cherry, even while being a small team, created this game where the atmosphere is the one telling the story. It never fails to reward exploration, and its tough challenges have their purpose. Even with victory, its melancholic vibes remain.
Meanwhile, Lies of P demonstrated a way to shift the Dark Souls setting. Its twisted take on the Belle Époque built a heavy mood and encouraged real curiosity, yet stood apart by weaving in the Pinocchio story plus deep weapon tweaks. Its boss fights are hard, just as most soulslike encounters are, but they carry gratification upon winning instead of just relief. Who would think that the children's story of Pinocchio can be this dark?
Has the Genre Lost Its Soul?
The soulslike style of games holds onto Dark Souls' core; however, not all provide players with the same magic as the 2011 game did. It's not just about stamina management or brutal bosses. What made it special is how perseverance is purposeful, how it rewards careful exploration, and above all, how it trusts and respects the players to put everything together by themselves. From the story up to the gameplay, it's entirely for the player to walk their own paths.
Some soulslikes actually get the formula and make it their own. They don’t only copy features, but also embrace the true reason behind them. The rise of these games isn’t that bad, as it gives what Dark Souls fans crave. Yet instead of merely copying elements, developers should trust and reward the players' efforts, as FromSoftware always does.
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