Best Soulslikes On Game Pass

Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls ushered in a new subgenre of RPG/action-adventure gaming in the form of Soulslikes. While still in its infancy, the concept has produced quite a few projects over the last decade, and many tend to be ambitious projects. 2023 alone produced Lords of the Fallen, Lies of P, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, all of which were massive releases in their own right.

Xbox Game Pass‘ value comes from its variety. The subscription service tries to cover as wide of a spectrum as possible, offering something to interest most tastes. Soulslikes are no exception, even if none of FromSoftware’s genre-creating releases are part of the service. Still, some of the best Soulslike games on Xbox Game Pass serve as great alternatives to Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

Updated November 10, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Soulslike games are not added to Game Pass every week, but new arrivals tend to happen every other month. October 2024 brought a 2018 Soulslike to Game Pass, and Ashen is worth playing.

New
Game Pass Soulslike games
will be listed at the top, at least initially.

Ashen

An Ambitious Indie Soulslike That Went Open-World

Ashen was very impressive in 2018. While it holds up relatively well, Soulslikes have become so common that a smaller-scale attempt to replicate FromSoftware’s formula is no longer that incredible in isolation. The subgenre has come very far in the last five years, which has raised the bar on what is considered a must-play. Even if it is no longer at that level, Ashen is nevertheless a solid option for any die-hard fans of Soulslike combat, particularly if they want a game that opts for an open-world design rather than the traditional 3D Metroidvania format.

A44’s project has a few things that set it apart from the crowd, even after all these years. As previously mentioned, Ashen is set in an open-world, granting players relative freedom to go where they want almost immediately. There are skill walls and areas that cannot be immediately explored, but the map is quite accessible. That might not sound that exciting in a post-Elden Ring world, but Ashen was among the first Soulslikes to go down this route and, more importantly, do it well.

The novel ideas do not end there either. Ashen moves away from traditional leveling, instead tying things like HP and Stamina to quests and collectibles. This means that players will grow stronger consistently and in a way that ensures they are powerful enough to take on the late-game content. Beyond that, AI companions are a big part of Ashen, making it one of the easier Soulslikes. Weapons are also tied to progression, and they can also be upgraded. The game even has players building a hub area as they attract new NPCs.

A44’s successor,
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
, is also on Xbox Game Pass. More of a Soulslite than a Soulslike, the 2024 release is all-over the place in terms of quality, although the combat is fun and the graphics can be gorgeous.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A Sci-Fi Soulslike With Fun Exploration & A Decent Story

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Jedi: Survivor. Developed by Respawn, the games tell an original story in the Star Wars universe, with an in-hiding Jedi Knight named Cal Kestis taking center stage. Regardless of quality, newcomers should try to start with Fallen Order as its story leads directly into Survivor. More importantly, the 2019 release is not only great but also one of the best Soulslike games on Game Pass in its own right.

Still, Jedi: Survivor is (generally) bigger and better in most areas. Cal Kestis’ character is more fleshed out, the featured planets are more visually striking and fun to explore, and the battle system has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Just to be clear, the sequel mostly sticks to the same blueprint as Fallen Order, particularly the enjoyable but floaty combat. Still, Jedi: Survivor added depth via a stance system, which is like a mix of Nioh‘s mechanic and Devil May Cry 5‘s Dante moveset. Essentially, players can decide Cal’s preferred fighting style by equipping two stances simultaneously.

Lies Of P

A Victorian Gothic Epic Reminiscent Of Bloodborne

Starfield was not the only big September 2023 game to launch directly on Xbox Game Pass. Lies of P is a fantastic action RPG that takes obvious inspiration from arguably FromSoftware’s best game: Bloodborne. Creatively inspired by Pinocchio, the game follows the iconic puppet as he makes his way through Krat, a city overrun with horrendous monstrosities that range from humanoid guards to massive entities. Offering more fast-paced action than the traditional Soulslike, Lies of P incorporates most of the genre’s basic ingredients, but they are combined in a way that allows the game to stand out positively.

While dodging is an option, the combat prioritizes guarding and deflections, the latter of which must be mastered to make the many challenging bosses more manageable. Even though it was not created by a well-known developer, Lies of P is polished, ambitious, and impressive, and it will likely go down as one of the best Soulslike games of all time.

Another Crab’s Treasure

Lighthearted Underwater Soulslike With An Inspired Armor System

Under the sea, there are plenty of creative bosses who need to be put to the fork. Another Crab’s Treasure provides an endearing and clever take on the Soulslike formula, one that could easily have gotten by on charm alone but wisely opted to be pretty fun as well. As Krill, players go on a substantial but not overly long journey to retrieve their stolen shell; in the meantime, they have to make do with makeshift “armor” pieces, most of which provide unique abilities that justify their existence beyond just stats. Unsurprisingly, Kril’s quest involves taking on all sorts of aquatic entities, including some gigantic creatures with over-the-top and glorious movesets. Fortunately, the crab has a capable weapon (fork) that can be upgraded through Stainless Relics.

Although not playing all that differently from most Soulslikes, Another Crab’s Treasure‘s originality is found in other areas. The ocean-based setting is, obviously, a complete departure from the genre, and that extends to its colorful aesthetic. The shell/armor system is inspired and makes each discovery exciting, while the combat prioritizes accessibility and style over challenge.

Remnant 2

An All-Around Great Shooter Soulslike That Is Particularly Awesome In Co-OP

Both Remnant games are on Xbox Game Pass, and they scratch a unique itch within the Soulslike sphere. The vast majority of the genre’s entries focus on melee combat, with only a few leaning into ranged action. Gunfire Games’ IP is by far the best example of the latter, and these two releases are the definitive third-person Soulslike shooters since they push this type of action to the forefront rather than having it as a complementary piece to close-quarters combat. While it might be a few years old by this point, Remnant: From the Ashes is still great and should not be skipped over just because its sequel is available; in fact, an argument could be made that the first title is the better of the two packages. Still, Remnant 2 expands on most of its predecessor’s ideas, all the while providing more varied worlds to explore and better-defined classes.

Remnant 2 uses procedural generation technology to expand its replayability while still allowing room for tailor-made levels. This feature is limited to dungeons within worlds, meaning that each run should be a bit different. Consequently, players will need to play through the game multiple times to experience everything it has to offer, which is a positive creative decision considering New Game+ is a very common feature of Soulslikes. The gameplay is fantastic and intense, provided someone is a general fan of third-person shooters. Crowd control is a big part of the challenge, especially since Remnant 2 is designed with co-op in mind. While not quite as exciting as in some other Soulslikes, loot is also central to a playthrough, although players will mostly be picking up rings, amulets, and relics rather than weapons.

Lords Of The Fallen

Ambitious & Gorgeous Soulslike

Similar to its 2014 spiritual predecessor, Lords of the Fallen is arguably among the most polarizing Soulslike games, even though it has more than a few positives. By using Unreal Engine 5, Hexworks created one of the genre’s most visually striking projects that 100% looks like an AAA release, even if it was not published by a particularly major company. If nothing else, the game’s production value is impressive.

The core combat is fairly typical for a Soulslike, but Lords of the Fallen has a couple of fresh ideas, including the existence of two realms that players are encouraged to swap between frequently. This concept also plays into the game’s take on death, offering a bit of a twist on the standard formula. For the most part, the level design is quite good and ambitious, and it is designed in a way that belies a sense of scale while sticking to a fairly linear structure. LOTF‘s boss fights are epic in scale but somewhat of a mixed bag in practice, with most being relatively simplistic.

Lords of the Fallen is one of those games that seems to have no middle ground; players either love or hate it. Thanks to its Game Pass arrival, people on the fence can try it without any risk.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Team Ninja’s Fast-Paced Action RPG

Team Ninja has spent the last half a decade cementing its place in the Soulslike world through the Nioh games. While those releases are not on Xbox Game Pass, the developer’s most recent project debuted directly on Microsoft’s subscription service. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty utilizes many of the same ideas introduced in Team Ninja’s previous outings, including a loot system that drowns players in weapons and armor. Similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Wo Long prioritizes deflecting attacks over guarding or dodging; just to be clear, the latter two are still important tools in the player’s arsenal, but everyone will need to somewhat master parrying if they want to last long in the campaign.

Set during China’s Three Kingdoms era, Wo Long blends reality with fiction by incorporating historical figures alongside supernatural monsters. Like any good Soulslike, Team Ninja’s game is absolutely stuffed with challenging boss fights, and players can expect to face usually a few of these sorts of enemies in most stages. Rather than a continuous world, Wo Long is divided into parts, with each one dropping players in a new Metroidvania-style area. Besides the main missions, there are side missions that can have unique bosses and drops.

Dead Cells

A Masterfully Done Roguelike Soulslike

Dead Cells is Roguevania in design but its steep difficulty at times and its punishing bosses are enough to have Souls fans coming back for more. Players will take control of a mysterious being that’s seemingly immortal, reappearing from a slush of who-knows-what each time it’s slain in battle.

The 2D sidescrolling adventure features beautiful visuals, visceral yet challenging combat, and a massive “blueprint system” in which players can unlock weapons, outfits, and accessories to infuse into future runs. With multiple branching paths and a deep playstyle customization system, Dead Cells is a must-play Indie hit.

Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition

A Brilliant Metroidvania With Brilliant Soulslike Combat

Though appearances may not indicate it at first blush, Hollow Knight features a whole host of Soulslike elements that are sure to please fans of the niche. This 2D Metroidvania romp ticks most of the essential boxes — punishing death mechanics that put progression at risk, the signature checkpoint system, and exhilarating challenging boss encounters are all sure to delight.

That said, Hollow Knight certainly carved out its own identity. The insectoid character designs and the setting are as compelling as they are charming, and it’s difficult not to fall in love with the surprising depth of the lore as players guide the Knight through the ruins of Hallownest.

Death’s Door

Great Setting, Protagonist, & Combat

Death’s Door is incredibly charming, thanks to its beautifully designed worlds and characters. Players will hop in as a small yet expressive crow and set forth on an adventure to collect souls from some pretty imposing bosses. Along the way, they’ll uncover new items, abilities, and weapons. The aesthetic feels like a “happier” Dark Souls, with the crow making its way through some pretty interesting areas, including a castle-like manor.

Death’s Door is a fantastic adventure for players who are looking for something mysterious and story-driven. Combat-wise, the game is fast-paced and offers a decent amount of variety, even if it is not exactly a loot-driven experience. While sharing similarities with Soulslikes, Death’s Door also takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda‘s isometric entries in its level layout, exploration, and puzzles.

Tunic

Zelda & Dark Souls All Rolled Into One

Tunic is a lot of things, and describing it solely as Soulslike would be a disservice to the game’s creativity and ambition. Along with taking obvious inspiration from Zelda, particularly with its puzzles, this indie darling’s combat system undeniably favors games like Dark Souls. The game contains most of the core fundamentals that are synonymous with these types of releases: dodge roll, shield guarding, and telegraphed enemy moves. There are even items that work to replenish health similar to Estus Flasks.

However, Tunic is more than just a top-down take on the Souls formula. It is a charming puzzle-platformer that would have not looked out of place on Nintendo’s resume. It offers a challenging adventure with complex bosses that often require more than just quick reflexes. It manages to be accessible and mainstream while hiding depth that will surprise even the most veteran of players. Tunic is not just one of the best Soulslike on Xbox Game Pass, but it is simply one of the best games on the subscription service.

Non-Soulslike Games On Game Pass Dark Souls Fans Might Love

Soulslikes are not a dime a dozen, and only a few games share significant similarities with FromSoftware’s franchise. That said, fans of these types of projects should not limit themselves to just games that ape Dark Souls‘ combat or level design as they would miss out on some enjoyable titles that they are likely to enjoy. The upcoming games are worth consideration:

Sifu

Martial Arts Goodness

A tenet of Soulslikes is combat with a steep learning curve. There is a reason that most of the genre’s games seem to get easier as they progress: mastering the core mechanics is most of the battle. Despite having more in common with 3D beat ’em ups than Dark Souls, Sifu‘s gameplay similarly tests the player’s willingness to put in the time and effort to properly come to grips with its surprising complexity. Sloclap’s combat focuses primarily on melee action, with players gradually gaining access to more than 100 moves that they can chain together. That said, weapons are important too, and Sifu heavily revolves around parries and dodging (like Soulslikes).

Also, similar to Soulslikes, Sifu is built on repetition. In a clever twist on the roguelike formula, death causes the protagonist to age a few years, a development that comes with both positives and negatives. Therefore, while players will revive on the spot an array of times, they will eventually die of old age and have to start from the beginning (although, Sifu has some permanent upgrades). Each stage is littered with aggressive enemies and culminates in a boss fight, all of which are hard-as-nails. Eventually, players will need to complete all the stages in one go, which is extremely difficult.

Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand

A Soulslike Developer Tries Their Hand At A Different Type Of Action RPG

While not as synonymous with the genre as Team Ninja or, obviously, FromSoftware, Deck13 is no stranger to Soulslikes. Lords of the Fallen was arguably the first “big” attempt to replicate Dark Souls‘ formula. That attempt failed to hit the mark, but Deck13 followed that fantasy epic with two great sci-fi attempts: The Surge and its sequel. Although far from perfect, both games are worthwhile members of the Soulslike genre that deliver challenging combat, novel mechanics (dismemberment is so satisfying), and a unique setting that still feels fresh. Honestly, anyone craving a Soulslike should check these projects out, particularly The Surge 2.

Unfortunately, none of those games are currently on Game Pass; fortunately, Deck13’s most recent outing, Atlas Fallen, is part of the subscription service. Despite the developer’s resume and a few similar UI elements, the 2023 release is not a Soulslike; at best, it might qualify as a Soulslite, but even that would be pushing the definition. No, Atlas Fallen is an action RPG with fairly fast-paced hack-and-slash combat that can be quite punishing if played mindlessly. The story is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done; more importantly, the gameplay is quite fun, particularly once players unlock different abilities and start to get a grasp on some of the more unique concepts. The Essence Stones mechanic is especially interesting, presenting players with quite a lot of choices in how they build their character.

While not a misunderstood masterpiece, Atlas Fallen is a fun open-world romp that gets quite a few things right, particularly movement and combat. As far as modern AA-style games are concerned, this release is among the better recent examples. It is also perfect for Game Pass.

Reign of Sand
refers to a substantial free update that gave the vanilla version quite an extensive overhaul, including incorporating new enemies and tweaking the progression. The changes might not be enough to warrant a second playthrough, but they ensure new players are getting the best version of
Atlas Fallen
.

Diablo 4

Dark Fantasy Action RPG Epic With All The Loot

Every year, there are a couple of high-profile AAA games that launch to almost universal praise, only for their reputation to slowly (or quickly) decline as the initial hype subsides. Diablo 4 went through this process in 2023, and Blizzard’s RPG is currently in a strange place where quite a few people seem to be waiting for its D3-style redemption arc. Seasons 2 and 3 helped somewhat, but the game is very polarizing, and that probably will not change for a long time (if ever). Still, Diablo 4‘s Xbox Game Pass arrival presents an ideal opportunity for non-fans to give this title a try without having to invest direct cash; ultimately, if the gameplay loop does not click with them, they can just move on to something else.

Now, as an isometric hack and slash action RPG, Diablo 4 plays nothing like Soulslikes. The combat system is quite straightforward and arcadey, at least compared to Dark Souls or Nioh. While very different in that area, D4 is a solid pick for people who enjoy trying out different builds, picking up loot, and exploring a dark fantasy world packed to the brim with dungeons and fun boss fights. A more casual experience than a traditional Soulslike, Blizzard’s divisive project can be fun, especially with friends.

Monster Hunter Rise

Slay Massive Enemies & Heavy Focus On Builds

Similar to Demon’s Souls, Capcom’s Monster Hunter essentially started its own subgenre, one that has produced games like Dauntless and God Eater. Also, like FromSoftware’s releases, Capcom’s series is still the standard-bearer for these types of projects, and there are really no close competitors. Debuting on the Nintendo Switch before making its way to PC and ultimately other consoles, Monster Hunter Rise is the most accessible entry in the franchise, making it the perfect entry point for anyone who might have found previous entries like Monster Hunter Generations too intimidating.

Unlike its immediate predecessor, Monster Hunter World, Rise features smaller-scale maps, albeit ones that still provide room for a degree of exploration. For the uninitiated, Monster Hunter‘s gameplay loop involves defeating creatures to use their parts to create better armor and weapons needed to survive against deadlier threats. Rise‘s story campaign is just a glorified tutorial that can be completed within a few hours, and the real game begins once the credits roll. Players are free to pick from 14 weapon classes, all of which control and feel wildly different.

Dead Space (2023)

Tense Sci-FI Horror With Viscious Combat

As a third-person sci-fi shooter, Dead Space is an entirely different beast to any of the Soulslikes, especially the horror-oriented first game or its 2023 remake. Both versions are on Xbox Game Pass, and while they generally cover the same story, they are different enough in key areas to warrant dual recommendations. The original has aged beautifully, with its visceral combat and claustrophobic atmosphere holding up to modern scrutiny. If someone is planning to play through the trilogy, they might want to stick to the 2008 version for consistency’s sake, at least in terms of presentation. Dead Space 2 is particularly great, and an argument could be made that it still represents the franchise’s peak. Dead Space 3 eliminates nearly all the horror elements in favor of straightforward action; while not bad, it is the weakest of the trilogy.

The 2023 remake serves as a good entry point for new players, all the while still catering to veterans who grew up with Visceral Games’ version. One of the remake’s big additions is expanding Ishimura, granting players the opportunity to freely explore the terrifying mining ship. That said, the campaign is still generally linear, which works well for this story. While it won’t scratch every Soulslike itch, Dead Space‘s incredible level design, punishing but fair combat, upgrade system, and sense of mystery and foreboding should hit home with fans of the genre.

Alice: Madness Returns

A Haunting Trip Through A Twisted Wonderland

Spicy Horse’s Alice: Madness Returns follows a much older Alice as she returns to Wonderland, a fantasy realm that blends absurdity with nightmare fuel. Featuring a hack and slash combat system, Madness Returns‘ combat is simple but enjoyable, delivering fast-paced action that makes good use of Alice’s unique weapons and skills.

While fights are commonplace, the 2011 game is primarily a platformer, which puts it in stark contrast with most Soulslikes. However, Alice: Madness Returns‘ world might hit a chord with fans of FromSoftware’s universes, most of which consist of formerly great kingdoms that have been morphed by human greed and rampant ambition. Wonderland has suffered a similar fate, morphing from a place defined by whimsy to a horrorscape filled with terrifying versions of classic characters.

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection

Hack And Slash Masterclass, Particularly The First Two Games

Team Ninja’s Ninja Gaiden trilogy is responsible for some of the action genre’s highest high points, particularly the first two 2000s games. The Master Collection contains remasters of Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, marking the Xbox debut for the first two games.

Although an argument can be made that this trilogy does not contain the best versions of every game, the content here is still top-notch, delivering frantic and addictive combat that requires dedication to master. Ninja Gaiden plays wildly different from any of the Dark Souls games, but they both demand that players study their aggressive enemies in order to survive.

Out of the three games, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is the best overall experience, and this version is easier than the more famous Black iteration. The sequel is not a stark departure from its predecessor, and it has fun boss fights along with a solid selection of weapons. Razor’s Edge is almost the weakest game of the trilogy, but it is still a passable hack and slash game in its own right.

Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night

Great Spiritual Successor To Castlevania

The Soulslike genre has roots in Metroidvanias, and that extends to the 3D outings that tend to hog the limelight. While Castlevania has been sadly relegated to a thing of the past, the franchise’s influence can be felt in modern releases, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night serves as the perfect spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the indie game launched to a largely positive reception, and it serves not only as a great throwback to a ’90s classic but also as an accessible entry point into Metroidvanias in general.

As Miriam, players get to explore an impressive and expansive castle filled to the brim with delightful (and difficult) monsters, many of which drop powers that can be wielded by the protagonist. Bloodstained features a robust loot system that will likely hit home with Soulslike fans who love to play around with different abilities and weapons. More importantly, the game’s combat is also on-point, delivering fast-paced action that is constantly satisfying and challenging. The boss fights are also generally enjoyable, and ArtPlay put together some immaculate designs for these creatures. Even the castle’s environments are detailed and gorgeous.