Best 2D Soulslike Games, Ranked

Summary

• 2D Soulslike games offer stunning visuals, methodical combat, and challenging experiences that evoke nostalgia and offer unique gameplay mechanics.
• Games like Blasphemous 2 and The Last Faith draw inspiration from the Souls series and provide beautifully crafted environments, tough challenges, and captivating stories.
• The 2D soulslikes, such as Tails of Iron and Grime, offer intense combat, strategic gameplay, and unique mechanics that set them apart in the genre.

When Demon’s Souls was launched on the PlayStation 3 in 2009, it birthed an entire genre and went on to influence a significant amount of prominent games in both the AAA and indie space. The Souls series is known for its punishing difficulty within densely filled worlds and has produced some of the best games of all time, including the universally praised Elden Ring.

2D soulslike games offer a more stripped-back experience than their AAA counterparts, with stunning colourful visuals, a deeper sense of atmosphere, and side-scrolling combat that results in an often faster but more methodical combat loop. Here are some of the very best 2D soulslikes to get lost and repeatedly die in.

Updated on March 24, 2025, by Mohamed El Ouardighi: 2D Soulslike games have gained increasing recognition over the years for their captivating art styles and punishing difficulty. These games hold a special place in our hearts, tapping into that nostalgic feeling and reminding us of the classics. That’s why we’ve updated this list to feature the latest and greatest titles in the genre, with improved formatting for an even better experience.

13

Blasphemous 2

Why restrict yourself to blasphemy just the first time? In Blasphemous 2, there’s plenty more fighting to do, but this time you’re here to put an end to the endless struggle against The Miracle; you’re here to fight God.

The pixel art in these games is stunning, and the boss fights are nothing short of epic. But even the regular enemies are tough, so don’t let your guard down. The world is semi-open, offering plenty of opportunities for exploration as you uncover hidden secrets along the way. As you progress, you’ll also find a wide array of weapons and skills to collect, allowing you to experiment and refine your ideal playstyle.

12

The Last Faith

Just like the Blasphemous series, The Last Faith draws significant inspiration from the game but adds its own special touch, crafting not only a visually stunning game but also a challenging experience for you. The art style is one-of-a-kind, featuring a diverse array of weapons, well-crafted level designs, and creatively designed enemies and NPCs.

As you dive into the game, you might sense some Bloodborne vibes; it’s dark, gothic, and that’s another compelling reason to give it a shot. If you enjoyed playing Blasphemous, then diving into The Last Faith is a must, though be prepared for a challenging journey that might involve quite a few deaths along the way.

11

Tails Of Iron

Speaking of crumbs, Redgi, the character you play as in Tails of Iron, is sick and tired of getting only the scraps and being the runt of the litter, especially since you’re supposed to be the rightful ruler of a kingdom that is withering away before your very eyes.

The hand-drawn graphics are absolutely breathtaking, and the combat is both brutal and unforgiving. There’s no shortage of customization when it comes to your weapons and gear, allowing for plenty of personal touches. The story is pretty solid too, especially if you’re a fan of diving deep into video game lore. In any case, make sure to study your enemies closely, so you can slay them and rise to become the next rat king!

10

Titan Souls

Although it has ‘Souls’ in the title, Titan Souls is more unique than you might first expect. This often underrated indie gem has you control a brave bow and arrow-wielding silent protagonist as you roll your way out of danger and is solely focussed on impressive boss encounters.

These boss rushes are incredibly tough, especially since your only tools are a bow and a single arrow to take down these massive creatures. You control how long you charge your shot for more damage, but one mistake means starting over. The game’s simplicity, both in mechanics and visuals, is part of its charm, offering a challenging experience for players eager to dive straight into the action.

9

Dark Devotion

Dark Devotion delivers another brutally challenging combat experience, immersing you in a deeply engaging action-platformer that will have you dying over and over again. While the story is a bit sparse, it more than makes up for it with its excellent combat system and tough boss fights that demand quick reflexes and stamina management—perfect for seasoned Souls veterans.

There’s a wide variety of weapons and relics to discover, each enhancing your character in different ways. This creates a thrilling experience for those seeking a deep challenge, all set against the game’s somber atmosphere as you venture through its perilous temple.

8

Blasphemous

Blasphemous is a frantically fast-paced, brutal action-platformer and couldn’t be more nightmarishly atmospheric if it tried. The bloody combat is punishing and exciting, and the eerie Gothic setting is gorgeous and ripe with religious imagery.

Like any good Souls game, you’ll need to carefully equip and upgrade your stats, gear, and items to create a build that can survive. This is crucial, as the numerous unique bosses present a significant challenge that demands skill, requiring you to dodge and roll through their telegraphed attacks. The world itself is a pleasure to explore, featuring some of the best visuals the genre has to offer.​​​​​​​

7

Grime

This 2.5D side-scroller wears its inspirations on its sleeve, with its tough-as-nails combat and methodical platforming. What sets it apart is that you get to keep the game’s persistent currency, Mass, upon death. This allows you to regroup and incrementally level up your stats to go back and face the challenge anew. It encourages you to experiment with different builds, weapons, and play styles, without worrying too much about the penalty.

Much like Bloodborne’s transforming weapons, Grime introduces a mechanic where your weapons are alive and can transmute on the fly, adding a stylish and unique twist to the combat. This is crucial, as the combat itself is just as intense and brutal as any Souls experience, demanding quick thinking and precision in every encounter.

6

Vigil: The Longest Night

While Vigil: The Longest Night may not be the most original Soulslike to hit the scene, it certainly brings enough to stand out on its own and is sure to satisfy genre fans. The combat encourages an aggressive playstyle, while the visuals are dark and gruesome, drawing heavy inspiration from Bloodborne.

At its core, the game features a captivating story that will keep you hooked until the very end. The levels are varied and deeply immersive, rivaling the most creative designs from the Souls series. The boss designs are just as impressively grotesque, and everything combines to create an experience that is both challenging and rewarding.

5

Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights

Taking inspiration from the unforgiving combat and labyrinthine exploration of Dark Souls and Hollow Knight, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is a beautiful action-oriented platforming adventure. In true Metroidvania style, you explore the game’s beautifully crafted and densely filled levels with abilities you unlock as you progress through the game.

The unique twist in Vigil: The Longest Night is that you absorb the abilities of the foes you defeat, adding their powers to your arsenal, which you can then customize to suit your playstyle. The boss fights are particularly engaging, as they shift phases once their health drops below a certain point, requiring you to quickly adapt and make use of every tool at your disposal.

4

Death’s Gambit: Afterlife

Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is a reimagining of the original 2018 release, offering a complete overhaul of its mechanics, new bosses, and fresh levels to explore. The game remains an action-platformer at its core, with a strong focus on combat and Metroidvania-style exploration. That’s a real plus, as *Afterlife* introduces a massive ten new levels, each filled with hidden secrets and unique enemies to conquer.

As with any game of its type, you must upgrade your character and change up your build in order to progress through the tough challenges ahead. It’s clear that White Rabbit Interactive has gone above and beyond to make this the best experience possible.

3

Dead Cells

A game with probably the most amount of ‘likes’ in its description, Dead Cells is a Metroidvania-like soulslike roguelike (that was a mouthful), and boy, is it fantastic. As with any self-respecting contemporary roguelike, the levels are randomised and procedurally generated, making each run feel distinct and unique. The combat is deeply engaging and punishing in equal measure, encouraging the use of its many weapons and tools.

At the end of your run, you have to start from scratch and try out a different weapon or build to tackle the game’s tough levels and bosses. With a slew of meaty updates and sizable DLC, Dead Cells has become one of the best indie souls roguelike experiences ever made.

2

Salt And Sanctuary

As the original pioneer for 2D soulslike games, Salt and Sanctuary borrows heavily from the Souls series, and proudly uses the best of those games to elevate its own world and mechanics.

Don’t let the whimsically dark cartoony-style visuals fool you; this game is brutally difficult, with an impressive amount of areas to get lost in and explore. The combat is deep as it allows you to wield a variety of weapons and magic spells, encouraging experimentation with unique builds to take down the game’s tough boss encounters. This is a fitting tribute to the Souls series that more than deserves to be praised on its own merit.

1

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is an indie darling that has captivated the hearts of all who have played it. It is clearly inspired by the Souls and Metroidvania genres and blends both together in a wondrous adventure of action-platforming perfection.

It incorporates many aspects of the genre, including delightful NPC questlines, upgradeable weapons and spells, meaningful exploration, and die-and-repeat boss fights. In true Metroidvania fashion, you will unlock more magical abilities that will allow you to access previously blocked-off areas, prompting you to tempt fate and delve further into the dark depths below.

This is a huge game with dozens of hours of DLC to play through, winding paths to explore, and an extremely memorable final boss fight to encounter. This is undoubtedly one of the best 2D soulslikes out there.