Best Soulslike Games That Are Mostly Boss Fights

Few genres manage to capture the attention and imagination of players across the world, like the soulslike genre. The dark lore, high-stakes difficulty, and for many titles, the boss fights, are all core components of this genre that help tie together some pretty disparate games into a coherent identity. Challenge is the keyword with soulslikes. The gameplay is a challenge, understanding the narrative is a challenge, building a character is a challenge.

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But a good soulslike doesn’t just have high difficulty. It has a reward for those that can overcome the difficulty – something that makes each struggle worthwhile. And what greater struggle is there than the almighty boss fight? What better reward can there be than watching some colossal foe finally fall by your hand? For players who want to skip the ambling around maps and get right to the boss fights, these soulslike titles keep the focus on imposing, difficult, capstone enemies.

7

Mortal Shell

A Focused, Wistful Soulslike Experience

Systems

Released

August 18, 2020

Publisher(s)

Playstack

Built around a tight, but incredibly satisfying group of weapons, Mortal Shell is one of the unique – and arguably one of the best – soulslike experiences out there. It is almost antiquated in its incredibly focused scope and overall small world design in an industry that prides itself on a ‘bigger is better’ approach to content.

Part of this small scale means that the game is predominately focused on one thing – boss fights. Each weapon is earned from defeating a boss, and the capstones for progress are similarly tied to intensive boss battles. Part of there being such an emphasis on only a handful of weapons – and several detailed boss fights – means that the animations and hitboxes in these battles often rival much larger and bigger budget games .

6

Black Myth: Wukong

A Huge Game With Colossal Boss Fights

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One of the most ambitious and well-received soulslikes to come from somewhere that wasn’t From Software in recent years, Black Myth allows players to truly integrate themselves and be immersed in the epic quest of this ancient and venerated tale. The core focus of this title, beyond the many well-designed weapons and animations, is the emphasis on spectacular, cinematic boss fights.

Players will find a very cathartic experience here with the layered and intensive boss fights being the main draw to continue exploring a dangerous, mournful world of myth and legend. Any soulslike fans would do well to give this game a try.

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5

Eldest Souls

A Fast-Paced And Incredibly Satisfying Soulslike

This climactic, isometric soulslike is inspired by many classics in the genre, but brings its own incredibly distinctive aesthetic to the foreground. Eldest Souls tells a classic, high fantasy tale of one man and his fabled sword being the last hope of a dying world, but the gameplay is one a truly unique wavelength.

Each fast-paced boss battle has its own rules to adhere to, and as they comprise the bulk of the game, this is a soulslike that tests players’ ability to adapt over raw damage output. For those that fall in love with the base game, even more bosses are available in the expansion that was released in 2022.

4

Titan Souls

Conquer Huge Slew Of Terrifying Bosses

Like many titles on this list – but with an especially compelling flair – Titan Souls is a game where the narrative is built around its most precious aspect – that being the boss fights. A lonesome hero is exploring an ancient world, and the guardians of this ancient, ruined world are the titular titans.

Each titan is an awe-inspiring display of power, and the adventures of the protagonist will take them into the farthest reaches of a sprawling, colossal kingdom of myth. This is an excellent example of a soulslike that focuses squarely on bosses from both a gameplay and lore perspective.

3

Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights

An Incredibly Unique Mechanic Utilized In Boss Fights

Taking an altogether different stance on both the soulslike and metroidvania subgenres, Ender Lilies is a title where players utilize the souls of powerful knights to help a more fragile protagonist complete her quest. Each knight has their own powerful abilities that can help players get through the many difficult fights that make up the bulk of this game.

This is a fantastic title for those looking to try a different spin on boss-heavy soulslikes and metroidvanias, and beyond this, has an excellent, forboding aesthetic and art style that meshes perfectly with the darker storyline that’s being told.

2

The Aquatic Adventure Of The Last Human

An Incredibly Unique Setting With Fantastic Boss Fights

A more obscure title within the soulslike genre, but one that is absolutely worth checking out, The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human has a truly unique design philosophy that emphasizes the beauty – and the danger – of the deep ocean.

The bosses match the game’s aquatic style, with terrifying deep sea creatures all posing their own unique threats as the focal point of the title. No game is quite like this seafaring, boss-focused soulslike, and players who are veterans of the genre will do especially well here.

1

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

A From Software Masterwork With An Emphasis On Difficult Boss Fights

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As well-received, and as hugely influential, as the other modern titles from From Software, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game that takes a more focused, skill-based approach to the classic soulslike formula. Players won’t be relying on powerful gear here so much as their timing and reflexes.

The greatest test of these reflexes comes in the form of the boss battles that will continually test players throughout the game. Some of these are the quintessential puzzle bosses that almost every From Software title has, while some are challenges against hulking monsters, or duels against lethally skilled fighters – with each battle adding a new layer of characterization and lore to this fantastic game.

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