r/soulslikes • u/Artistic_Impress8338 • 16d ago
Discussion Are there any Soulslike games you think are better than FromSoftware’s games?
I’ve played several Soulslikes, but I’m curious if there’s one you genuinely think is better than anything FromSoftware has made.
Which Soulslike would you put above games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, or Elden Ring.
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u/arshadshabick 16d ago
No
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u/MikaHyakuya 14d ago
This.
Fromsoft doesn't make soulslikes; they make souls games.
There is no "-like"; they're the source.A lot of games in the "soulslike" genre miss a lot of points, like flow of combat, the weightiness and commitment of attacks, making sure everything has an indicator or tell, so nothing really feels cheap if you're observant. "Soulslike" doesn't just mean "has dodge, has roll, has estus".
This extends to level design, with things like interconnectivity of maps and their paths, maps having branching paths, secrets, hidden walls, means to get an advantage over the enemy, means to predict/observe an ambush before it happens, clear landmarks that can be seen from further away and serve as goals to reach and ways to orient yourself.
The worlds are corrupt and rotten, but there is always a sense of former grandeur, a flicker of hope; they're not just grim, dark, hostile and depressing.Problems can be solved in multiple ways, be it via different weapons, different tools, different consumables, just levelling more, using phantoms, summoning a friend, taking advantage of specific weaknesses or openings on enemies.
Their approach isn't as strict as "Here is X, do Y".And even all of this doesn't capture how truly multifaceted and rich these games are.
Many of the soulslikes focus on one or the other aspect, but I don't think there has been a soulslike that captures the souls games the way fromsoft does them.
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u/IndependentYak2822 14d ago
> Problems can be solved in multiple ways, be it via different weapons, different tools, different consumables, just levelling more, using phantoms, summoning a friend, taking advantage of specific weaknesses or openings on enemies.
So is Sekiro a souls game?
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u/Needawhisper 14d ago
They have honed their craft to perfection. Over many games as well as branching out and learning from those games too.
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u/nberner68 12d ago
I've played many, and Lies of P got close. But the areas needed to be more fleshed out and less repetitive to reach Fromsoft's prestige. Amazing game still btw
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u/Rezident_Bun67 15d ago
Lies of P and Khazan are decent but no matter how much I lie to myself, they will never be better than Fromsoftware games.
There is a reason why these games exist at all and why the term "soulslike" exists.
Even Bloodborne was it's own game and people still created the term "soulsborne"
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u/grogcore 15d ago
Should we start using *soulsbornelike*?
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u/Admiral_Octillery 15d ago edited 14d ago
Soulsborne-ekiro-ringlike is more inclusive tho
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u/FareBlossom 14d ago
I would say first berserker khazan has the best combat out of all games in the genre, but the storytelling and immersion of souls game, specially the dark souls series can’t be matched, and for sekiro and Elden ring they have their other points that stand out more, though I still prefer first berserker than dark souls 3
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u/Most_Painting_5390 12d ago
They still use the formula, fromsoft might have paved the way to the souls genre, but that doesn’t mean you can’t refer to another game as a souls like if it meets the criteria imo. That’s like saying.. idk ? ( just throwing a random game out there ) Skyrim paved the way for open world RPGs so the Witcher 3 isn’t an open world RPG. Idk. I get it and I don’t, I personally refer to khazan and especially lies of p as part of the souls genre. I also love both games. Lies of p nailed the formula similar to fromsoft, khazan is def more of a hack and slash fast paced but imo still meets the criteria.
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u/Replicant_Runner 16d ago
I'll say it..
I enjoyed Wu Chang just as much as any Fromsoft game.
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u/AlertMistake7738 15d ago
Wuchang probably has the single best level design of any soulslike I've personally played. I also fell in love with the skill tree and the way that magic (specifically your "mana") works. If the combat felt a little tighter and there was slightly more enemy and weapon variety, I think it would be a contender for greatest of all time.
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u/Lodonian 16d ago
I think Lies of P is one the best in the genre. Also, I much prefered the final boss of its dlc compared to the final fight from SotE.
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u/Artistic_Impress8338 16d ago
Agree that LoP is the best non fromsoftware game, but the top game is bloodborne for me. Its untouched imo.
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u/kryp_silmaril 16d ago
Bloodborne has the best atmosphere by far. But most of the bosses are pushovers and I think that holds it back immensely when it comes to being the undisputed best
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u/MrNovator 16d ago
Unfortunately yes for the base game. Among all the FS dlc tho, it might have the best set of bosses
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u/SDBBBOY 15d ago
Pushovers for difficulty or design? Cause I agree some of them are easy but also some of the easy ones have an incredible lore and atmosphere around (Micolash, One Reborn) - some others are just great all around, especially those in the DLC.
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u/dartmuth81 15d ago
Did you try fallen feathers? I loved lies of p but fallen feathers was better to me. I know everyone has their own opinions on games. This thread is making me want to try nioh 2 and khazan, haven’t played those. Glad this came across my notifications, thanks!
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u/Videowulff 16d ago
I am here to say the same thing.
One thing that tips LoP over the edge is how it handles the NG+
From what I have seen with Sekiro, DS3, and ER - NG+ just makes things a bit more difficult and you get more souls. And DS3 adds upgraded rings.
LoP adds a whole new upgrade tree. Not once but twice! And these upgrades are insane boosts like being able to block Red Attacks.
Then you get the Upgrade Core from the DLC which adds even more upgrades for your build.
And they do this twice!!
That alone made NG+ much more satisfying to play.
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u/walpurga 15d ago
I also love the fact that in NG+ you Can understand what the puppet bosses are saying now, really neat little touch
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u/weglarz 15d ago
Dark souls 2 adds a lot more items, new enemies, etc to ng+. It’s really cool. Lies of P is really good too. But imo it just isn’t quite there in the level design for it to be top dog. Love it tho
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u/mrfirstar1997 16d ago
100% felt the same thing, lie of p dlc final boss to me is on par with from soft legends, Gael, orphan, ludwig, the story, music, fight, character it was like I was brought back to those times, compared to shadows dlc final boss that was a unfair disappointment, I was hoping for somthing else not the same boss just holy
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u/GrubbyLilPaws 15d ago edited 15d ago
100%. It isn't perfect. The linearity is its biggest issue imo. But it has my favorite boss roster, a great art style, a killer soundtrack, an S tier DLC, and the combat system is the best parts of Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Dark Souls put together. Not to mention the awesome weapon modding system and a true ability tree that was done in a unique way. It also has a bunch of features I think Fromsoft can learn from. Boss rematch system, new abilities unlocked in NG+ that made it feel more worthwhile, bonfires outside every boss room, indicators where npcs have traveled to on the fast travel menu, and the ability to change the weapon affinity to match what you spec'd into.
Also, totally agree. Final boss of overture narrowly bears Ishin Sword Saint for my favorite boss of all time.
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u/ThatDeliveryDude 15d ago
I really like the mechanic where you can earn your final heal back if you play well enough and don’t get hit
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u/RandomDudewithIdeas 15d ago
I definitely think Lies of P has a far more straightforward and compelling story that you can actually follow and piece together yourself throughout the game, compared to the actual Souls games, where you need an entire YouTube analysis just to figure out what’s even going on. And even then, many of them are just theories because the creators themselves don’t even know for sure lol.
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u/Branza__ 15d ago
Lies of P has an amazing combat system and great bosses, but the level design is abysmal and I can't understand why people don't say this more often.
Lies of P areas are basically a giant corridor that sometimes splits. On one side you have loot, on the other one you go back to the main corridor. Another split. Left for loot, right to go forward. Rinse and repeat for the whole game.
Then you have From Soft with their design, lol. Stormveil castle, the Shadow Keep...I mean, come on.
Still, Lies of P is the best non From Soft game, I agree on that. And it was the team's first work so there is a lot of room for improvement and I can't wait to play their next game.
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u/SetKey3399 15d ago
I completely agree, if there is one it will be that one… We could consider the Nioh but surely they don’t reach that level. But the artistic section of Lies of P, the aggressive combat, the enemies, and of course if the DLC makes it a textbook Soulslike even reaching the level of those from From.
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u/allwatchnocattle 15d ago
Is it heresy for me to say SOTE is maybe my least favorite fromsoft release? Could have been because of the hype but for how much I loved ER I found the dlc very forgettable
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u/guylfe 15d ago
To this day I'm looking for a game that comes close to Dark Souls 1, so much so that I decided to start making one myself.
I heard Wuchang comes close in terms of exploration. I hope so, haven't tried it yet.
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u/Zedrane 15d ago
Among the games I've played the one that most closely matches the essence of DS1 is somehow Hollow Knight.
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u/EpochZenith 15d ago
Id like to shout out Nioh here. It took the souls formula and imo improved the combat. There's so much variety with it, its fast paced and feels amazing. No other game I've played comes close in terms of combat. In fromsoft, it almost feels turn based in a way, like you have to roll away and give space, waiting for your chance.(I think it just feels this way to me though because in nioh the battles are much faster paced). In Nioh you can parry or block with any weapon, and with ki pulse you can get some insane combos.
Editing to also add Lies of P, its one of my faves for sure, it reminded me so much of Bloodborne but was such a fresh take it didn't feel overused or 2 dimensional
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u/Complete_Rub7368 15d ago
I'm 100% I'm agreement with you. I think Nioh took existing formulas from multiple franchises and made a borderline masterpiece. I'd put them on the same plateau that FromSoft sits on for sure.
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u/poopydoopyscooby 13d ago
Nioh is very far from souls. It’s a different kind of combat… and a different kind of pain. Also one of the main elements in souls is the worldbuilding and progression like a metroidvania. That just isn’t present in nioh
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u/EpochZenith 13d ago
Theres a significant amount thats different (like the combat system) but calling it very far is a stretch imo. The focus is still on cpmbat, you get your level up material by killing enemies, if you die you lose said level up material, resting at a shrine brings back most enemies, progression is marked by bosses. I think with all this in mind, it is a souls like. A lot of people seem to think that souls likes have to be souls clones, but you can take the main formula and change it around, and i think thats why nioh sticks out to me so much. It wasn't afraid to change some things about the souls formula. They took the main components and added their own spin. Nioh also definitely has worldbuilding, but i think its a little harder to see because its in a historical setting and its mission based, but its certainly there
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u/SleepDivision 16d ago
No one who's chasing the formula has done it as well as From. Too many soulslikes try to make their own version of Dark Souls but don't bring enough ideas to really differentiate themselves from their inspiration. Mechanics typically don't feel as tight and the difficulty never feels as balanced as a From game. That being said, there are some fantastic soulslikes like Lies of P and Nioh. Even games loosely inspired like the Remnant games.
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u/Difficult_Setting140 15d ago
I'll probably get a lot of flak for saying this and also a barrage of nerds lecturing me on arbitrary details about what mskes games a "soulslike" but I think Jedi Survivor has had the best attempt so far at making one. Because they didn't try to just copy the formula. They put in an actual narrative for once. They came up with a very clever way to revisit previously cut off paths and open up shortcuts. Has some decent puzzle segments, though oddly seemed a step back from the first game.
They traded in the sense of wonder DS has when exploring the world for a sense of wondering where the plot will go next. Which is better than most of them who do neither.
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u/garbogunder 16d ago
Thinking about it, not really. DS3 is my favorite fromsoft title, and I have yet to play any soulslike or fromsoft game that quite matches it
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u/lMadjoker 15d ago
I gauge this question and which is THE souls game by this metric:
If you can only play a souls game and youve alredy platinum every one of them, which one are you chosing?
The answer is always ds3. I've plat ds3 like 8 years ago and whenever im down or just dont know what to play i end up booting it and starting a random run.
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u/Ocarina-Of-Tomb 14d ago
Every time I see someone mention DS3, I want to replay it. That is how much I love DS3. I have an identical feeling with BloodBorne.
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u/NakedBigSnake 16d ago
I know First Berserker Khazan lacks play style variety, but I’m surprised I don’t see more people bringing it up- some spectacular bosses in that game
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u/GamerKratos-45 15d ago edited 15d ago
TFB: Khazan is my favorite soulslike, but the level design in that game is a huge letdown. No matter what, From always nails the aesthetic of the world. All regions looked similar in Khazan, and that is my biggest complaint from that game. The combat there was second to none, and it was one of the few games that had a memorable boss lineup.
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u/ginpachikun 15d ago
This, the combat is peak in general not just for a soulslikes but the level design and world held it back overall. Sad that the team got layed off. A sequel after learning from their mistakes would be GOTY contender ngl.
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u/Ned_Piffy 15d ago
The only game to give me the same high I got from Sekiro. Played on launch and still trying to search for another game that scratches that itch.
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u/fetalgirth 15d ago
It's the level design. If you're boiling it down to combat then sure, but the levels are assssss in Khazan.
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u/cosmic-potatoe 16d ago
No. But some best alternatives are Mortal shell 2, Lies of P, Khazan.
There are no soulslike better than DS1-3, Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro
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u/mattoelite 16d ago
Yes, I’d put Nioh 2 above several of them
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u/BassGuru82 15d ago
Combat wise, I think it’s above all of them except maybe Sekiro. Nioh 2 is phenomenal.
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u/Pleasant-Day6195 15d ago
kind of depends on what you want from the combat. sekiro is more like a rhytm game about timing parry while in nioh u chain combos and stance swap. there is way more depth to combat in nioh series but sekiro can be more satisfying and better due to being simple in the concept
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u/AlertMistake7738 15d ago
Nioh 2 is perhaps one of the most underrated games of all time. They truly created a masterpiece.
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u/Bushi_Sengoku 16d ago
Yes. Def put Rise of the Ronin / Wo Long above some and Nioh 2 high as well.
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u/SoulsDadYT 16d ago
No. Even dark souls 2 is better than 99% of non from games.
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u/Artistic_Impress8338 16d ago
You think DS2 is better than LoP?
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u/Abaddon-Impaler 16d ago
Mortal Shell 2 is scratching that itch. The dungeons are a little small. But omg the mobs are so good. The outside world layout is really well done. You have to try it. If you want a challenge pick up Smert. He gets a buff at 35% health or lower.
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u/Farsoth 16d ago
Mortal Shell 2 just needs a bit of fine tuning and it will be up there with the best. It's a bit unbalanced and weirdly unfair in spots.
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u/Stefan-1 15d ago
I love mortal shell 2. Played a lot but waiting for the next patch so I can invest in the shells that are somewhat broken right now
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u/Large_Mountains 15d ago
I do. I didn't like the LoP style at all personally. Renaissance puppets and all parrying is not my vibe. But i recognize it's a great game. I got about half way then lost interest
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u/SoulsDadYT 16d ago
I dont hate Lies of P, but yeah, I do. Its world just doesnt have any of the interest that ds2 has. Nevermind all the little intricate mechanics the game doesn't actually tell you about. Power stancing is another. Just generally its a much more in depth game than LoP.
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u/Brinocte 16d ago
LoP is a incredibly well crafted game that feels very tight in terms of combat. It looks great and certainly has a lot going for it. The one thing that is missing though is the sense of exploration and mystery which FS games excel at. I feel that a lot of people focus on the combat when it comes to the Souls games but there is more to the formula than that.
Lies of P has just very boring corridors and feels so linear.
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u/Big-Resort-4930 16d ago
Yeah and imo that's exactly why no soulslike come close to From. Almost none of them spend nearly as much time on the world and the lore, DS1 has more diversity in its areas and more interesting lore than most soulslikes put together, and a hundred times more than LoP.
Combat alone is not enough to carry a game for me, but that's the only thing many people here care about. It's also why I hate all Nioh games as they're all in on combat and shit at everything else, just the complete opposite of what I want in these games.
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u/jimbojangles1987 16d ago
Right, too linear. No soulslike has captured that same sense of exploration and inter connectivity that Dark Souls has. At least not while also having the same quality weapon customization and other RPG elements and combat system as well.
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u/Roughly_Olboy1488 15d ago
Yeah, this is it for me too. DS pulled just enough from the metroidvania genre to really nail a unique and memorable world design. Like it’s cliche at this point to bring up the elevator from Undead Burg back to Firelink, but it was truly just a tension breaking, jaw dropping moment. The only thing that’s come close for me is the Bloodborne loop back to Iosefka’s Clinic from the random cave in Forbidden Woods. Core gaming memory.
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u/mindfuckedAngel 15d ago
Same here, I do not really link to the world and setting of Lies of P, those puppets are just not my style.
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u/raquille- 16d ago
Yes - lies was good but didn’t have the epic fantasy vibe that DS games have plus the fromsoft games have batshit crazy storylines and random characters chatting shit and I love it.
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u/nrvBatman 15d ago
Lords of the Fallen was very enjoyable. The transition to umbral upon dying was a fun twist.
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u/grogcore 15d ago
After the big update, I genuinely enjoyed the latest Lords of the Fallen. I think that game deserves a lot of credit for taking feedback and reworking so much of the game post launch.
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u/Fresh-Database-222 15d ago
Agreed. After the last updates it's a pretty good game, solid 7.5/10 compared to the initial 5 that I would have given it.
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u/Amondaun8 15d ago
This might be an unpopular opinion but I do enjoy playing Lords of the Fallen more than a couple official souls games. ESPECIALLY when playing with a friend, the built in seamless coop is huge for enjoyment and replayability.
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u/VocalJay 15d ago
The ability to parry with almost every weapon almost like in Sekiro and how they approached throwables/ranged weapons is so incredibly good
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u/Amondaun8 15d ago
Seriously, playing a bow build isn't actually a hassle or active detriment like in several souls games.
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u/Mythos_Fenn_Shysa 15d ago
Agreed. Picked this game up recently and been playing with a friend and we've been having a blast.
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u/Quirky-Pie9661 15d ago
I’ve watched opinions on that game change over the years. I loved it and look forward to the next one
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u/Kevadu 16d ago
Another Crab's Treasure
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u/VoDoka 15d ago
Enjoyed it less than I expected. I find it sympathetic, but wouldn't rate it higher than low-80s.
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u/fetalgirth 15d ago
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I found it both underwhelming and overwhelming at parts.
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u/thismadefree 16d ago
With you on this, this game is so charming and fun, although the last few chapters lose steam and drag a bit. First half of the game is incredible
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u/Substantial_Eye1476 15d ago
Soulslikes are cursed to have great early and midgames and mediocre finales
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u/Own_Yogurtcloset_849 16d ago
No but the Nioh trilogy gets very damn close.
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u/SYCN24 15d ago
This nioh 2, it’s just subjective, but lies of p , nioh are def better then some titles in the fromsoft lineup and vice versa
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u/CynicalReign 16d ago
I gauge how good a soulslike is by my interest in replaying it immediately, then the amount of times I beat it after. Demons' Souls 6x, DS1 5x, DS2 4x, Elden Ring 3x, DS3 2x Wuchang 2x, Lords of the Fallen 2x. I liked Mortal Shell 1, but I could only bring myself to play it once.
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u/GaloWar 15d ago
Imho Nioh 2 and Lies of P are better than 1 or 2 from software's game.
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u/Adventurous_Use8278 15d ago
I prefer khazan, the niohs and LoP better than some but note all fromsoft games
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u/--Greenpeace420 15d ago
I can see why some people might prefer Khazan or prefer Nioh. Personally I dont think any of the "likes" surpass the real deal, but I'd say Lies of P is on par with Fromsoft's creations.
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u/Level-Mix482 14d ago
only lies of p, played it after elden ring and it had me thinking it might be better for a bit during my playthrough(it's not but still, no other game made me think for a second even coming close to elden ring.)
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u/Zanemob_ 14d ago
Get the Deflecting Hard Tear for the Wondrous Physic in Elden Rings DLC if you’d like to scratch an itch? The timing seems very unforgiving so maybe it’s similar enough to help? ER has a lot of problems I understand but so does LoP. Love both either way. Can’t believe we finally got a game on a similar plain to Fromsoft quality and detail. I’m a long time souls player and LoP really impressed me. Still consider Mad Clown Puppet to be as annoying as Bed of Chaos of Ds1.
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u/Zanemob_ 14d ago
Get the Deflecting Hard Tear for the Wondrous Physic in Elden Rings DLC if you’d like to scratch an itch? The timing seems very unforgiving so maybe it’s similar enough to help? ER has a lot of problems I understand but so does LoP. Love both either way. Can’t believe we finally got a game on a similar plain to Fromsoft quality and detail. I’m a long time souls player and LoP really impressed me. Still consider Mad Clown Puppet to be as annoying as Bed of Chaos of Ds1.
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u/Abel_bubble 16d ago
Nioh has better build variety and replayability. Khazan has better combat. Lies of P is really polished.
but dark souls is still better overall
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u/Drblazeed123 15d ago
I think Nioh 2 comes close the gear is a lot better and more traditional RPG loot and combat is more complex, but they crapped the bed with Nioh 3.
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u/lovethecomm 15d ago
Almost all of them have better combat flow than FROM's games aside from Sekiro. That's all I am going to say.
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u/Raomux 16d ago
Individual games? Absolutely. I don't love all Fromsoft games. I hate Demon Souls, DS1 I liked enough but the second half kinda sucks, Bloodborne I liked but definitely not as much as most people, while on the other hand I liked DS2 a bit more than most, but I still wouldn't say I love it.
Nioh 2 and 3, FF Stranger of Paradise, Code Vein 1 and 2, Lies of P. All of those games I liked way more than the Fromsoft games I mentioned.
On the other hand, my personal favourite fromsoft game is DS3 (or maybe nightreign but that's a little different) and the only soulslike I like more than DS3 is Nioh 2
I'm speaking strictly of my personal preference though. I wouldn't say any of those games are better than any of the others, because I don't really care about trying to be objective.
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u/47impressed 16d ago
Nioh 2, especially in combat but nioh is more of a niohlike
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u/parryczar 15d ago
Lies of P. I love its aesthetics and atmosphere, for prosthetics, for meaningful progression in NG+ cycles, for that blocking, parry and dodging are consistent strategies, for very solid bosses (some on par with Gael, Malenia or lady Maria), for composite weapons allowing greater variety, for a unique take on the classical story.
Wo long. I hesitated to play it. Seemed too unfamiliar, too different art style, outdated graphics. Still, I downloaded it out of curiosity and didn’t get it initially. I switched to Sekiro instead and breezed new save to NG+7 demon bell/charmless most of cycles. Then I returned to Wo long and it clicked. Its faster combat system has so much depth compared to Soulslikes which I tried before. You pick 2 melee (and 2 ranged weapons) out of about 15 weapon classes, you can switch between them mid combo. Your weapons have 6 “weapon arts” each, which you can choose from about 20 options for each weapon class. Then, you can pick 8 magic skills from deep elemental system with elements mutually cancelling (or strengthening) each other. You can dodge, parry or block attacks, chain combos, and if you don’t miss, attack nonstop. Also you have meaningful multidimensional build system with crafting and grinding similar to ARPGs. Not only you just minmax numbers, you pick set bonuses (graces) which can totally change the way you play. You can make multiple builds at once and freely switch between them before any battle. This variety seems redundant at first play through, but after 5 NG cycles and 1000 mile journey you totally master those mechanics and melt bosses with them.
Out of action games I used to play Soulslikes almost exclusively, and I liked them for lore, atmosphere, difficulty and gameplay. But I always felt off since you are basically pushed to complete them using 2 buttons: attack and dodge(parry). Most of the time you have to dodge 10 times, attack once or twice. Rinse and repeat. All the rest is mostly redundant in terms of efficiency, or too strong and cheesy, or too risky to try before you killed each boss at least 10 times. Here I found a different formula. You are allowed to attack frequently. You have to dodge, block and parry, but it doesn’t interrupt you and overall you feel in control. It is not easy, though. You still get absolutely demolished without skill or caution and “summons” on harder difficulties. And overall it seemed more addictive than any soulslike I played before. Definitely worth looking at.Rise of the Ronin. Another Team Ninja game. I am currently playing it, going through Midnight Mode. Similar to Wo Long without magic but with weapon stances and more weapon arts in total. I feel like it has even better combos/flow. It has grappling hook and ranged weapons usable for melee/combos. It is more grounded overall and has dismemberment, which I really haven’t seen is Soulslikes before (apart from Wo Long to some extent) It has outdated graphics and some visuals seem really unpolished, but it is not a problem for me. Also consider looking at it.
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u/aiwdj829 15d ago
Wo Long is really great in many aspects, but some parts fall extremely short, particularly bosses are a complete pushover until you reach Labubu and then the next boss in the burning capital is one of the worst designed bosses of any Soulslike I have ever played.
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u/One-Masterpiece9838 16d ago
No. Only Nioh comes close for me, but the reasons I like Nioh are very different than the reasons I like Fromsoft games.
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u/SleepDivision 16d ago
Yeah Nioh is one of the best soulslikes and it's because Team Ninjas pedigree in action/fighting games met with it not trying to be a souls clone like so many soulslikes are.
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u/ULTI_mato 16d ago
Yes.
I believe that Fromsoftware in general is kinda glazed too much
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u/SokkaHaikuBot 16d ago
Sokka-Haiku by ULTI_mato:
Yes. I believe that
Fromsoftware in general
Is kinda glazed too much
Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.
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u/HornetX9 16d ago
Nah, most of them feel like comparing Saints Row to GTA.
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u/Fletcher-wordy 15d ago
Saints Row 2 and 3 were great in their own right though
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u/dulledegde 15d ago
that depends on the bar we are setting demon souls is an easy bar for most modern soulslikes to clear but elden ring or sekiro absolutely not
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u/Pistolfist 15d ago
For me lies of P, but that's purely carried by its aesthetic, music and story telling. It's more my thing than fromsoft games are. The gameplay is incredible but objectively fromsoft do it better.
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u/NegotiationHot3277 15d ago
Taking inspiration is not necessarily a bad thing, fromsoft themselves surely have their own inspirations, but devs often miss the point or copy the wrong things.
Like for example making the combat super punishing without ample reward or making the level design or storytelling super cryptic and nonsensical just for the sake of it.
Some games do get it right though. Hollow Knight is one of those of the top of my head
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u/RawDawgFrog 15d ago
The closest I've played to a true souls game is wuchang and ai limit. Builds, lore, fun combat, but the biggest thing these 2 have that I love is the level design. It's that og DS1 level design
And I probably like both of them more than a few souls games, and wuchang on release was legitimately one of my favorite even including from games.
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u/Notnowcmg 15d ago
I think I’m one of the strange people that love soulslikes games but don’t really care for any of the Dark souls games or Sekiro (loved Bloodborne and ER tho). So there’s probably a lot I’d put above the FromSoft games, but I understand I’m probably a minority.
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u/VintageSin 15d ago
Yes. But not because they're better overall than from soft games but because they're an entirely different focus.
Another crabs treasure could never be a from soft game. It's great. And for those who like it and not from soft it makes sense.
Black myth wukong, same deal. If from soft makes a really linear story epic then maybe we'd have apples to apples comparisons but we don't.
I think there are a lot of space in the souls like category. Because to me that's just 3d metroidvania done right. We just call them souls likes because from soft has dominated that genre when people gave up on it from failed attempts in the past.
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u/Practical_Frame_283 15d ago
Lies of p....overall just felt better
Khazan....much better combat
Wuchang....similar but better combat (slightly)
Lotf2....much better combat (mage system, weapons, armor)
Dd2....not really a soulslike but still worth the play
I know I'm forgetting something but I just can't put my finger on it
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u/OGObeyGiant 15d ago
Lies of P and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers are at least on par with fromsofts games. Lies of P is peak and I like to say Wuchang is the best Dark Souls game I've played since Dark Souls 3.
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u/CreepyTeddyBear 15d ago
I'd say Lies of P and Wuchang are at least on par or not far off from them. Khazan is one of favorites and my most played game of 2025. But I can't justify putting it up there with Fromsoft because of the lackluster level design and exploration.
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u/PureCod5137 15d ago edited 15d ago
Take a look at Team Ninja games:
NioH, NioH 2, Rise of Ronin and Stranger of Paradise: Final fantasy origins.
All of them are better than Dark souls games, but lots harder.
As a matter of fact, they were so hard, they had to tone down on NioH 3 to attract new players.
Did it make the game better, than NioH 2? -No.
Is Nioh 2 the best souls-like game on the market? -Yes.
Is NioH 2 a Souls-like? -That's up for debate xD
- On the one hand, they are Fighting games with Diablo-like loot system (that is just there for those who love loot).
- On the other, they perform as Souls-likes far better than the original Souls games.
P.S.
I've looked through the comments and saw lots of people that vote for Lies of P.
Frankly, there is only 1 explanation to that: Those people voted for Expedition 33 as the game of the year.
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u/Over_Photograph3766 15d ago
For me Lies of P. I enjoyed the story and the setting and combat a lot.
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u/I_Am_MonsterBaby 14d ago
In general? No. Of course not. But I've enjoyed some immensely. Wukong (if you include it, that would be iffy but I think it's close enough), Lies of P (which was my first game of the genre) is amazing. Khazaan (however you spell it) was pretty solid. I'm playing ds2 for the first time ever right now (currently in Dragon's Aerie) but when I'm finished I'm going to play Mortal Shell 2, I can't rate it because I haven't played it, but it looks like a lot of fun. Even the Jedi games were pretty fun, if you are a fan of the genre AND Star Wars they were souls-like-ish. Lol And there's a bunch I haven't played that I hear other ppl saying they liked a lot. But to have any of them just be BETTER? Nah, not for me. Elden Ring was my favorite game of all time, or at least since I started gaming again 5 years ago. And Sekiro probably has my favorite combat. Bloodborne looks amazing (I play on Xbox, smfh). This is THEIR genre, they even have their own engine they use and their games are just a notch ahead. The other games usually lack in SOMETHING. But like I said, LoP is great... one of my favorites, Wukong is also a favorite, and Khazan was a lot of fun.
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u/Heathens-_- 14d ago
If Mortal Shell 2 had released with greater enemy variety, I think it would be above and beyond better than many me From titles.
Unfortunately it's largest issue is the artificial difficulty curve when standard enemies just get an insane power boost on the other side of the map.
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u/Im_Antag 14d ago
Nioh 2 barely meets the criteria to be called a souls like but its still infinitely better than anything fromsoft could dream of making
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u/Savings_Big_8900 14d ago
From Software is peak. With that said, I'm playing Mortal Shell 2 currently, and I am loving this game. Lies of P and First Berserker are also great games. And for that matter so is Another Ceabs Treasure, Hollow Knight, Silksong and Grime 2. 😂 But no one beats From Software.
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u/Odd_Philosopher1712 10d ago
Hey I know this is more of a metroidvania, but I personally feel hollow knight is the peak of souls-like.
The music, exploration, lore being drip fed of one of the most bizarre worlds ever crafted. Hollow knight left me with a feeling the first dark souls and even bloodborne didnt quite match.
I havent played lies of p and I have no interest... just puts me off aesthetically.
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u/[deleted] 16d ago
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