Best Action RPGs Like Dark Souls

When one talks about some of the greatest games of the past decade, it goes without saying that Dark Souls would be an inevitable part of the conversation. Released during a time when AAA publishers were becoming more and more averse to adding a substantial level of challenge in their games, Dark Souls made a resounding wave in the gaming industry with its highly effective combination of old-school gaming along with modern sensibilities to create something truly unique and revolutionary to boot.

It was only a given that this game would spawn a franchise, and the trilogy is considered by many to be one of the best video game franchises of all time. So, it’s understandable that finishing Dark Souls would leave a void that most games simply won’t be able to fill. However, the popularity of this franchise has spawned a number of Soulslikes, some of which are worth playing. So, for the people who wish to experience the same feelings they got when playing FromSoftware’s modern classic for the first time, there are many great games like Dark Souls they can check out,

Updated December 10, 2024, by Hamza Haq: Dark Souls remains one of the most influential games of all time, spawning a whole new genre of games after it came out. Slow, methodical combat with a stamina bar, health pots, and respawning enemies were not things Dark Souls invented, but these concepts have become synonymous with the game nonetheless. Action RPGs that take inspiration from Dark Souls are extremely common, but identifying the ones worth the buy can be a bit difficult. It would be easy to choose the best and most prominent Soulslike for this list and call it a day, but ARPG is a big umbrella that a lot of different types of games fall under. These range from traditional Soulsikes with RPG elements, to action-adventure games, to 2D platformers, to isometric titles. Over time, elements of the Dark Souls formula have seeped into every subgenre imaginable, and the games that call themselves ARPGs are no different, even if they don’t fall directly under the moniker of Soulslike.

31 Blasphemous 2

An Excellent Sequel To A Hardcore, Gritty Metroidvania

Blasphemous 2 is a near-perfect sequel that fans of the first game absolutely adore. The improvements made to the formula coupled with the game doubling down on the gritty aesthetic that made it such a blast to play through was a huge win for the title as a whole, with Blasphemous 2 being a must-play for players who want to enjoy the best of what both the Metroidvania and Soulslike genre has to offer.

The game’s dark themes are a blast to play through, with the bloody combat and engaging gameplay making this title a must-play in the eyes of many. As long as players don’t have a queasy stomach, players will love what Blasphemous 2 brings to the table. It may have some flaws, but these can be ignored in the grand scheme of what this title strives to achieve, and does so successfully.

30 No Rest For The Wicked

An Action-RPG With A Suite Of Unique Gameplay Mechanics Tied Together In A Neat Bundle

Most people who loved Moon Studios’ work on the two Ori games didn’t expect the developers to pivot into a bold direction that combined the Soulslike genre with various elements to make for a tantalizing combination. It may still be in Early Access, but the amazing storytelling and gameplay elements present in No Rest for the Wicked have made it clear that this title has a ton of promise that is just waiting to be unleashed.

The entire reason why this title is in Early Access is to ensure that its myriad of gameplay systems work together in harmony, and players know that there’s still a way to go before the game enjoys a proper 1.0 release. As long as developers are open to fan feedback, they’ll develop a game that can potentially be the biggest indie release in 2024 by a country mile.

29 Another Crab’s Treasure

Looks Like A Joke Game But Is Surprisingly Tight And Engaging

Most people assumed that Another Crab’s Treasure was nothing more than a joke game trying to capitalize on the Soulslike moniker to earn a quick buck. However, it didn’t take long after the title’s release for players to realize that this title has more to it than most people would assume. A single boss fight is all it takes to show just how tight and engaging the combat system is.

Players must hone their combat skills and not underestimate a single enemy if they wish to get through the many challenging encounters in the genre. Another Crab’s Treasure may be pretty lighthearted, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for players to switch off unless they want to endure one humiliating death after another.

28 Blasphemous

A Metroidvania Soulslike With A Dark, Brooding Aesthetic

The grotesque imagery in Blasphemous is one of the first things that players will notice in this brutal side-scrolling action game that takes no prisoners. This game is not for the faint of heart, with its religious imagery adding a ton of atmosphere to what is easily one of the most unique and engaging video games fans of Dark Souls can check out.

The reliance on dodge rolling can make certain bosses slightly easier to defeat, but that shouldn’t take away from the challenge of some of Blasphemous‘ tougher encounters. The instant death spike traps can become annoying after a point, but that’s a small price to pay for players who will fall in love with this game’s gritty and mature aesthetic.

27 The Surge 2

A Huge Improvement On The First Game, Making For What Many People Call The Best Sci-Fi Soulslike

Deck13 has been reviled time and time again as pretenders to the throne that FromSoftware sits on following their immense success with their Soulsborne games. 2013’s Lords of the Fallen is widely considered one of the first Soulslike games ever made, and many people found the combat to be a bit too stiff for their liking. Following this title, Deck13 continued to release more titles in the same vein, perfecting their take on this genre.

This eventually led to the release of The Surge 2, a game following a tepid first attempt to make a sci-fi Soulslike. In comparison, this title is touted by many as a near-perfect sequel, featuring excellent level design, combat, and storytelling. The boss fights can be a bit lacking, but most players won’t mind once they get lost in the riveting atmosphere of this game and how it does justice to the legacy of Dark Souls.

26 Lords of the Fallen (2023)

A Traditional Soulslike With A Unique Twist

While Lords of the Fallen appears a run-of-the-mill Soulslike at first glance, it is one that puts its own spin on the genre in a way that’s unique enough to allow it to stand out from the crowd of similar titles that have come out in recent years. Still, players looking for a game that closely follows the Dark Souls formula will find themselves right at home in Lords of the Fallen, though it has more similarities to DS3 than DS1.

The core mechanic that makes Lords of the Fallen different is the interplay between the Umbral and Axiom realms, two worlds that exist layered on top of each other. Any time a player dies in the Axiom realm, instead of returning to a Vestige (the game’s version of the Bonfire), they revive in the Umbral realm, a world of the dead and spirits. Only after dying in this world do they lose their souls and return to the Vestige. Multiple traversal puzzles and secret items are hidden in the Umbral, giving players plenty of reasons to dip in and out between the two realms.

25 Hogwarts Legacy

Combat Requires Swift Dodges And A Few Hits Is All It Takes For The Fifth-Year To Breathe His Last

Most people would find it odd to consider Hogwarts Legacy to be a game that Dark Souls vets will like. If anything, this game has more in common with the Arkham series, but most people who have checked out Hogwarts Legacy for themselves know just how challenging this game can get if players don’t time their dodges and blocks properly, something that this title shares in common with FromSoftware’s action RPGs.

Combat is easily one of Hogwarts Legacy‘s strongest aspects that, along with its beautiful rendition of the Harry Potter universe, makes this title such an easy recommendation for fans of the magical universe. There’s a long way to go before this title’s formula is perfected, but fans of skill-based combat coupled with a wealth of unique and powerful spells will love what Hogwarts Legacy brings to the table.

24 Path of Exile 2

An Isometric ARPG With A Soulslike Twist

An isometric ARPG similar to Diablo 4, Path of Exile 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to the extremely popular ARPG, PoE. It inherits many of the core elements from its predecessor like an absolutely gigantic skill tree, multiple classes and subclasses, leveled loot tables, and huge, procedurally generated maps filled with monsters to kill. The graphics have been massively upgraded, the skill system has been revamped, the crafting system has been stripped down and simplified, and a lot of quality-of-life features have been added to make the game feel significantly different from the original, even if the building blocks are the same.

But by far, the biggest change in Path of Exile 2 is the combat, which has been tweaked to become drastically more challenging. As if straight out of the Dark Souls playbook, button-mashing is an easy ticket to an early death because when monsters attack, it hurts. While players can eventually get to the point of clearing the screen in a matter of seconds in the late game, the journey to get there is fraught with peril. Dodging and blocking are core mechanics, and boss fights are brutal affairs that often require multiple tries.

23 Remnant 2

Soulslike Third-Person Shooter With Roguelike Elements

Remnant: From the Ashes was an ambitious mix of third-person shooting, roguelike elements, and Soulslike combat that was a huge success. The sequel had some huge shoes to fill… and Gunfire Games didn’t disappoint. They developed a sequel that was bigger and better in almost every department.

Level layouts weren’t the only things that switched out in each run — now, NPCs, quests, bosses, and other such elements were randomized in each run, making its roguelike design more apparent. This, coupled with engaging combat and amazing visuals, makes for a sequel that any fan of the first game should check out.

22 Lies Of P

Bloodborne-Inspired Soulslike With Intense Bosses

Lies of P is a game that came out of nowhere and rode the Bloodborne hype train, wowing players with its amazing combat, great visuals, and unique aesthetic. As a result, many players couldn’t wait to get their hands on this title… and the game certainly didn’t disappoint!

The game’s over-the-top nature can work against it sometimes, with the exhaustive nature of the title’s many bosses feeling rather uninspiring after a point. However, that’s a small gripe in what is otherwise a masterful experience that Soulslike fans should try out!

21 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

Revolutionary Level Design That Dark Souls Took Inspiration From

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is another game that kickstarted an entire genre, making it far more similar to Dark Souls than most people would assume. The game’s combination of RPG elements along with traditional platformer action was a thing of beauty that paid dividends, and fans loved just how engaging the game’s boss fights and progression system were.

Alucard is a great protagonist who has a wealth of weapons and abilities that he can use to dispose of his enemies. The title is pretty challenging but accessible at the same time, and players can always grind if they feel like they’ve hit a brick wall. Of course, the real solution may just be to uncover a secret passageway, but getting stronger is never a bad thing.

20 Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor

Dark Fantasy Action-Adventure Game In An Accursed Land

No one expected Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor to be a hit, and it’s easy to see why so many fans were tempering their expectations. Despite the good previews of this game, players have been betrayed by video games based on other IPs over and over again. As a result, fan expectations weren’t all that high, which is why most of them had their minds blown when this game was finally released to rave reviews.

The tale of revenge told in this game is pretty riveting if somewhat simplistic, and Talion is a great protagonist to root for. His Wraith powers feel extremely satisfying to use in battle, with combat being a gory dance of blades as players get used to the same fighting mechanics that made the Arkham games so beloved. As a cherry on top of this wonderful experience, the game has a Nemesis system where players can create unique stories with the many orcs that stand in their way, leading to memorable rivalries and betrayals that are a joy to see play out firsthand.

19 Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

Action-Packed RPG With Multiple Party Members

Many players were elated by the fact that the legendary Final Fantasy 7 would finally be remade for modern systems after what felt like eons of waiting. Square Enix took extra care to make sure the game could convey the epic scale of the adventure present in the first game.

This required a ton of work, and the company decided to take a risk and split the game into three parts, fleshing out the experience with their unique additions along the way. The result was Final Fantasy 7 Remake, a bold attempt to retell the story of the game that paid off pretty well. The game received a DLC that focused on Yuffie, allowing players to try out this character for themselves before she would join officially in the next title.

18 Remnant: From The Ashes

Unique Combination Of The Soulslike Genre And Third-person Shooting

Remnant: From the Ashes is a unique mix of two genres — Soulslikes and third-person shooters. The result is something truly memorable, especially if players have other friends they can share this experience with.

The game wastes no time in letting players know that a single mistake will be punished severely. Players need to dodge and shoot with expert precision to get through some of the many tough bosses present in this game.

17 Thymesia

Bloodborne-esque Soulslike

Speaking of Soulslikes, another great title that comes to mind is Thymesia. The game takes place during a plague that is rocking the game’s world, forcing players to fight against monstrosities and other humans that have been affected by the plague.

The plague doctor aesthetic of the game is carried off pretty well, with the game featuring several tight encounters and enough combat nuances to keep most Souls veterans satiated for the longest time. It might not be the most unique title around, but Thymesia does more than enough to keep fans happy till the end.

16 Elden Ring

An Open-World Soulsborne Game

Elden Ring is one of the most critically acclaimed video games ever made and FromSoftware’s biggest success by a country mile. The open world of this game is truly mind-blowing, with every corner of the landscape hiding unique and beautiful secrets that players will find amazing to uncover.

It helps that Elden Ring is quite approachable as well, with players being able to get into the title and beat its many bosses after spending enough time preparing themselves by fighting the many optional challenges in the game. Fans are glad to see FromSoftware earn the title of being one of the biggest names in the gaming landscape, and it’s clear that the future of this company is a promising one indeed.

15 Monster Hunter: World

Immense Enemy Variety And A Combat System Dependent On The Player’s Weapon Class

Monster Hunter: World is one of the best entries in the series. It’s one of the most accessible Monster Hunter games around and will keep players addicted for hours as they hunt down the toughest monsters to ever appear in a video game.

Monster Hunter is not an easy game in the slightest, which is something that Dark Souls fans will appreciate. The game can get grindy at times, but the gameplay loop of crafting, hunting, looting, and everything else along the same lines is still really engaging and a ton of fun!

14 Horizon Zero Dawn

Open-World Game With Tense Combat Against Mechanical Beasts

Horizon Zero Dawn is a tremendous game that stands out with its superb combat, which pulls no punches and can be downright brutal if players aren’t prepared.

However, despite the excellent combat mechanics, it’s the story of Horizon Zero Dawn that truly excels in every department — also an area that Dark Souls is subtly brilliant in. The scope of the story expands along with the world as Aloy sets off on her journey, making for a great time in this post-apocalyptic open world.

13 Hyper Light Drifter

A Mix Of Zelda And Soulslike Gameplay

An excellent indie title, Hyper Light Drifter combines the best facets of classic Zelda games and Soulslike gameplay. The result is a challenging yet beautiful game that gamers will adore.

The art style of Hyper Light Drifter perfectly complements its brilliant sound design. The combat is its biggest highlight, with players having a ton of fun as they upgrade the Drifter’s energy sword and master all the mechanics.

12 Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights

A 2D Metroidvania Soulslike

Boasting a great Metroidvania aesthetic that has served as a base for some of the best Souls-like games around, Ender Lilies has wowed fans all over the world with its impressive visuals and gameplay.

The idea of using the attacks of different creatures to fight enemies is extremely unique; this leads to satisfying gameplay challenges as the player goes through Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights and tackles the various challenges that lie within.