Soulslike Games With The Best Stories

Key Takeaways

• Miyazaki’s inspiration from English fantasy novels shapes the distinctive storytelling in FromSoftware’s games like
  Bloodborne
  and
  Sekiro
  .
• Soulslikes such as
  Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
  ,
  Jedi: Survivor
  , and
  Darksiders 3
  rely on traditional, cinematic narratives with rich character interactions.
• Soulslike titles like
  Steelrising
  and
  Wo Long
  offer imaginative alternate histories that add depth to the experience.

A grim and unforgiving interconnected world, an arsenal of weird and wonderful weapons to experiment with, challenging bosses that demand your full attention — a lot goes into making a successful soulslike. However, one thing that is crucial to the genre is a compelling and often fragmented narrative that uses environmental storytelling and item descriptions to give players clues on how to figure it out for themselves.

It’s not always the easiest thing to get right, partly because FromSoftware’s unique take comes from president Hidetaka Miyazaki’s experience with trying to read English language fantasy novels as a child — not something that’s simple to replicate. And while FromSoftware continues to do what it does best, there’s no shortage of aspiring titles from triple-A and indie developers alike that manage to pull it off effectively too.

Updated November 19, 2024 by Vlad Mazanko: There’s no shortage of soulslike games for fans of the genre, with exciting new titles releasing every few months. Two of the most popular soulslikes of 2024, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Black Myth: Wukong, stand out for their exceptional combat but feature narratives that some players may find fragmented or difficult to follow.

As such, the list has been updated to include more soulslike games known for their accessible and engaging stories, offering a refreshing contrast to the cryptic storytelling typical of the genre’s most iconic titles.

10 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

A Straightforward Story With Nuanced Characters In An Immersive Setting

• Plot summary: Battle Chinese mythological creatures corrupted by demonic qi threatening the world.

On the surface, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty presents a seemingly straightforward narrative, tasking players with halting the spread of the demonic qi and uncovering the source of this dark and corrupting magic. However, the game’s true strength lies in its rich characters and immersive setting. Exploring ancient China proves consistently engaging, with many factions and events inspired by real historical happenings, lending the world a unique blend of authenticity and myth.

Throughout their journey, players form bonds with a host of compelling heroes like Hong Jing, Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, and Cao Cao, each with distinct personalities, personal struggles, and combat abilities. These supporting characters are intricately woven into the story’s fabric, with surprising twists like the loss of a trusted ally or shocking betrayals. Strengthening bonds with these characters isn’t just about storytelling; it offers tangible rewards as players receive powerful weapons and armor sets as tokens of their gratitude.

9 Darksiders 3

A Prequel Expanding The Series’ Lore From A Fresh Perspective

• Plot summary: Embark on a mission to hunt the Seven Deadly Sins.

The Darksiders series began as a classic action-adventure but has evolved with each installment, integrating RPG and soulslike elements to keep the experience fresh. By the time Darksiders 3 arrived — technically a prequel to the first game — the series embraced its soulslike inspirations, offering fast-paced combat that hinges on strategy and mastery, particularly in the intense battles against a roster of challenging bosses, each demanding a unique approach to defeat.

Players take on the role of Fury, a fiery, red-haired Nephilim and one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, tasked with hunting down and defeating the Seven Deadly Sins, who have orchestrated humanity’s collapse. The narrative is both straightforward and compelling, punctuated by vivid portrayals of each sin-boss and enriched with intriguing side characters like the demon merchant Vulgrim. The game’s post-apocalyptic Earth setting adds to its charm, blending decayed environments with fantastical elements. Long-time fans will also appreciate appearances by Fury’s fellow Horsemen — Strife, Death, and War — leading to a powerful reunion that many had eagerly awaited.

8 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Survive In The Aftermath Of Order 66

• Plot summary: Avoid the Empire’s clutches and explore the seedy side of the Galaxy.

With a literal galaxy’s worth of writing to pull from, the Star Wars universe is a wealth of story potential ripe for exploration. And what better way to combine that with the Souls experience than in the grim aftermath of Order 66? Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order follows Cal Kestis as he attempts to keep a low profile in the wake of the Empire’s takeover.

But the call of the Light Side is too strong, and he soon finds himself thrust into a personal quest for justice and survival in equal measure. The young Padawan must quickly master his skills without any training or guidance — not doing so will mean finding himself on the wrong end of a blaster very quickly.

7 The Surge 2

Fight Back Against The Robot Takeover

• Plot summary: Save humanity from total extinction in a dystopian future ruled by machines.

Swapping the traditional Medieval setting for a futuristic nightmare, The Surge 2 melds man and machine in a desperate struggle to survive an environmental collapse that has all but wiped out humanity. Luckily, a totally benevolent and not-at-all nefarious tech conglomerate, CREO, has a solution to the crisis — release a horde of tiny robots to help replenish natural resources (at the cost of 95% of the remaining population).

Of course, it all goes wrong and the nanites gain sentience, becoming the Rogue Process and corrupting or killing everything that gets in their way. It’s up to the player character to explore and outlast the mechanical devastation in Jericho City by any means necessary. Which usually includes grafting machinery onto their body and inadvertently fulfilling a fanatical cult’s prophecy.

6 Code Vein

Stave Off Madness Long Enough To Find The Truth

• Plot summary: Discover the origins of the Revenants and the Lost in a world of despair.

Arising as a Revenant in the ruins of civilization, Code Vein sees the player thrust into a nightmare fueled by death. Sounds familiar. To survive in this unforgiving world, the hero must consume human blood to power their supernatural abilities and stave off the inevitable frenzy that comes from going thirsty for too long.

Players must navigate a twisting, turning interconnected world brimming with tough bosses to tackle to uncover the truth behind the Queen of the Lost, and the reason for Bloodsprings drying up. It’s very akin to the idea of losing one’s purpose and going hollow in Dark Souls, especially with its themes of humanity’s descent into mindless killing and the general collapse of the world.

5 Steelrising

What If The French Revolution Had Robots?

• Plot summary: Explore a reimagined historical uprising where humans battle a robopocalypse.

What if the French Revolution was quashed by an army of clockwork robots that King Louis XVI used to rule with an iron fist? If you’ve ever asked that very specific question, then Steelrising is a must-play, especially if you’re a fan of soulslikes. Familiar combat mechanics in a setting very reminiscent of Bloodborne set the tone perfectly, while an alternate history where the player controls Marie Antoinette’s personal android is a unique take on humanity and self-determination.

But some things never change, and nowhere is that more so than in history. King Louis continues to fall further into the depths of despotic depravity, marking many of his officials and generals for death. It’s up to the player to find out what has driven the French monarch to madness, all the while aided by real-life historical figures including Robespierre, Necker, and Cagliostro.

4 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

An Emotional, Character-Driven Star Wars Tale Of Obsession

• Plot summary: Embark on a quest for a distant paradise free from the Empire’s reach.

Building on the foundation laid by Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues the journey of Cal Kestis, who has already become one of the most iconic new Star Wars characters in gaming over the past decade. The sequel significantly broadens the game’s scale, introducing expansive open areas for players to explore while maintaining the tightly woven narrative of the original. The story is rich with new and familiar faces, unexpected twists, and moments that deepen the lore surrounding Cal’s path as a Jedi in hiding.

Jedi: Survivor takes its time to develop meaningful relationships. Players witness the romance blossoming between Cal and Merrin, delve into the camaraderie and trust between Cal and Bode Akuna, and uncover the inner turmoil of Dagan Gera, whose struggles with his past creates compelling conflicts. The game also delivers thrilling cameos, such as a gripping face-off with Darth Vader and an encounter with the legendary Boba Fett himself.

3 Lies Of P

A Grim Dark Twist On A Classic Fairy Tale

• Plot summary: Uncover the dark side of humanity in a haunting reimagining of Pinocchio.

Plenty of classic tales have been retold in new ways across the ages, including Pinocchio. And in this rather on-the-nose homage to Bloodborne, players control the titular puppet himself albeit this time as a highly advanced automaton. Dripping with atmosphere and set against the uniquely lavish backdrop of the Belle Époque era, Lies of P is a story of loss, betrayal, and one man’s misguided mission to make amends.

The aftermath of all that prowls the streets of Krat as mechanical monstrosities tear the city apart. It’s up to the player to survive the mechanical nightmare, defeat a horde of shambling metal monstrosities, and find Gepetto to uncover the truth.

2 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A Rare FromSoftware Soulslike With A Direct And Accessible Narrative

• Plot summary: Save your Lord and help him sever the ties to the Dragon’s Heritage — a gift of immortality that comes at a steep cost.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice stands out in FromSoftware’s portfolio as a rare soulslike that embraces a direct and accessible narrative. Unlike the studio’s other titles, which often rely heavily on cryptic lore and subtle environmental storytelling, Sekiro features a central story with key characters, cutscenes, and dialogues that are easy to grasp, making the plotlines more engaging and easy to follow. While there are still hidden layers and non-obvious details for those who wish to dig deeper into character motivations, the game ensures that players who complete it have a clear understanding of the events — a refreshing departure from the studio’s typical ambiguity.

The game also offers players meaningful choices, leading to one of several distinct endings. These endings revolve around protagonist Wolf’s quest to protect Lord Kuro and assist him in severing the ties of immortality to break the ancient curse plaguing all life. Furthermore, Sekiro seamlessly integrates its mechanics into the story, uniquely grounding its constant rebirth system within the narrative, a rare and welcome touch for the genre.

1 Bloodborne

A Masterclass In Storytelling

• Plot summary: End the eternal cycle of the hunt and bring peace to Mergo’s restless cry.

It’s incredibly hard to beat the masters at their own game, and FromSoftware proves time and time again that they have perfected the formula down to the finest detail. Nowhere is this more true than in the dingy, twisting streets of Yharnam, the Victorian Gothic-inspired setting for Bloodborne. What starts as a fairly straightforward quest to hunt down some werewolves soon spirals into a cosmic nightmare of Lovecraftian proportions, complete with innumerable tentacles and unfathomable deep-sea horrors.

It’ll most likely take players multiple playthroughs to get the full picture and require finding every possible item as well as all three endings. But the fast-paced, satisfying gameplay and challenging bosses make this a natural part of the experience for soulslike veterans. There’s plenty for players to sink their fangs into.