What Are The Best Games Like Dark Souls?
Dark Souls is an achievement by itself. Being a game that defined a genre for the generations to come, Dark Souls takes you on a morbid trip that makes you question your sanity.
Against the typical grab-your-hand games, Dark Souls forms its own place and sticks there like a strong person.
The series finally concluded with Dark Souls 3, but there are other games out there to fill the void that may be.
15. Bloody Spell
Bloody Spell Gameplay
Known in the market as “Chinese Dark Souls,” Bloody Spell revitalizes that experience by bringing an exciting martial arts action-adventure game. Take on the role of Yejin, a martial artist, who must rescue his sister and save the world from the impending chaos that impregnates it.
What makes Bloody Spell Awesome:
- Weapon variety and flow are unparalleled.
- The “Bloody Spell” system allows Yejin to basically become a total badass, as you unleash a barrage of skills upon the enemy.
- The combat is very refreshing and adaptive to players style.
14. Remnant: From the Ashes
Remnant: From the Ashes Gameplay
Remnant: From the Ashes is a third-person survival shooter, set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by diabolical monsters. As one of the last remaining remnants, set off alone or with up to two other friends, as you fight against deadly creatures and epic bosses.
What makes Remnant: From the Ashes Awesome:
- Every time you play is a new adventure, as the game is dynamically generated.
- Fight tough bosses, gather from them, and beat them with their own medicine.
- Teamwork is essential to take on the game's strongest challenges.
13. Shadow of Mordor
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor Gameplay
Middle-Earth Shadow of Mordor finally delivers the Lord of the Rings experience that everyone has been asking for decades now. Play as Talion, a ranger whose loved ones have been killed. Creating a bond with a wraith, he sets out to avenge their deaths. Utilizing the wraith’s powers allow you to do various cool things like Possessing your enemy and gathering them in your own ranks for an army!
The gameplay is pretty great, taking good notes from the Arkham series and it just keeps piling it on with a lovely story. Follow it entirely until the final confrontation with the Big Baddie Sauron himself.
What Makes Shadow of Mordor Awesome:
- LOTR fans rejoice as there’s finally a game that captures the essence of the Lord of the Rings while delivering a unique fresh gameplay experience.
- Every time you die, the one who kills you gets promoted and remembers you. This is the “Nemesis System” one of the smartest AI systems in gaming.
- Utilize both stealth and action as you go around slaying “Uruk” (the enemies in this game).
12. Nioh
Nioh Gameplay
Embark as William on a journey on the shores of Japan, as he is caught between a war. Fight against beast and human alike, to find what you seek and restore your lost memories A mix of Soulsborne with a dash of Diablo loot system to deliver a game that will keep you coming again and again for replayability.
What Makes Nioh Awesome:
- An overabundance of weapons, the likes of which can be seen in Diablo.
- The same FromSoftware formula of ‘whoop your ass until you learn to get good.’ Yay!
- A coherent storyline that’s easier to follow and understand much to the dismay of any Soulsborne cryptographer. Sorry, Vaati.
11. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Gameplay
Play as Dracula who has been weakened and wants nothing more than to end his eternal suffering of immortality. Reclaim your powers and climb harsh mountains to face Satan. An epic fantasy set in the modern world, bound to satisfy anyone. A great sequel to Lords of Shadow 1 which is already one of the best Castlevania games to exist out there.
What Makes Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Awesome:
- Make a pact with Death to have the eternal rest.
- Face off with Satan in fast-paced action.
- Discover the ultimate fate behind the Lords of Shadows himself.
10. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Gameplay
Ninja Theory returns for another masterpiece. Set in the Viking era, play as a Celtic warrior who has yet to accept her haunting past, as she dives into Viking Hell to fight for the soul of her dead lover. Created in collaboration with actual neuroscientists to deliver a one of a kind experience where you experience psychosis and enter Senua’s mind itself. It’s very mysterious and unique in its presentation, but that’s exactly what we want, right?
What Makes Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Awesome:
- Experience psychosis and enter Senua’s mind as you explore it thoroughly.
- Dark, depressing yet a melancholic beauty unreached.
- Dive into madness and embrace every nook and cranny of it.
9. Assassin’s Creed Origins
Assassin’s Creed: Origins Gameplay
Tired of the conventional Assassin's Creed formula that nearly doomed the franchise? Worry no more, for Origins delivers a far richer experience with a combat system that has finally been perfected. With an ever-changing story revolving around your chances, there is plenty of depth and replayability available.
What makes Assassin’s Creed Origins Awesome:
- An Assassin’s Creed RPG. That’s rather awesome, no?
- Egypt is vast and dangerous, explore its exotic secrets.
- Loot and use different weapons to gain a tactical edge in battle.
8. The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Gameplay
The Witcher 3 is a culmination of what makes the previous Witcher games great. It takes everything good from them while adding even better things to concoct a potion that is simply perfect. The world is vast and ready to be explored, as you dive into treacherous lands, facing off against some really despicable fiends.
Well, you are a Monster Hunter, so that’s kind of your job.
However, the best part about the Witcher series has always been the characters and their dialogue. Well, worry not because the Witcher 3 provides that in full beauty. It has some of the best-written character interactions and quests.
What Makes The Witcher 3 Awesome:
- An absolutely breathtaking story.
- Embrace the arsenal of the Witcher; warriors taught from an early age used to magic and sorcery.
- Hunt down a range of exotic monsters, each with their own setting and story.
7. Nier Automata
Nier: Automata Gameplay
Nier: Automata is the game that took the world by storm, as the legendary Yoko Taro produced a masterpiece for the ages to come. Play as 2B or 9S as you go around, discovering your true purpose as an android, and most importantly, discover feelings along the way. The game is a paramount achievement that really makes you think about your life choices.
Ripe with philosophy and a track that is to die for, Nier: Automata is Game of the Year material, and an adventure everyone must play.
What makes Nier: Automata Awesome:
- One of the best philosophical displays.
- The gameplay is amazing and continually changes to keep you on your toes.
- 2B.
6. The Surge
The Surge Gameplay
The Surge does something not yet seen in a Soulsborne, and that is, taking it to a futuristic setting. In a post-apocalyptic world doomed with mad robots and cyborgs, become their last beacon of hope.
What makes The Surge Awesome:
- A Soulsborne for the future.
- With its unique mechanic to target specific body parts, you can get what type of armor you want.
- A story that is more in-your-face rather than hidden behind items.
5. Outward
Outward Gameplay
Outward sets you up accordingly by boldly stating how you are neither a god nor the chosen one. True to its word, you are but a typical adventurer, who has to survive the perils of the world, by facing off against terrifying monsters and surviving everything the world throws against you.
What makes Outward Awesome:
- Play solo or cooperatively, split-screen locally or online.
- True to its Soulsborne influence, everything autosaves continuously, making each decision all-the-more relevant.
- Dynamic defeat scenarios.
4. Dragon's Dogma
Dragon’s Dogma Gameplay
Dragon’s Dogma is, in the most real sense of the word, underrated. Being released next to great games, it became very under shadowed and its true potential is hidden from the world. Dragon’s Dogma is like Dark Souls in terms of difficulty, but it’s entirely something else in other regards.
For starters, it is one of the best RPGs, with a lush open world waiting to be explored. Not only that, but everything can be countered with proper exploration. There is no necessary requirement to be a god at dodging or pecking away at the enemy's health. No. You can simply just one-shot them with the proper build.
Not to mention, it introduces one of the best Companion systems with a continually evolving AI to suit your play style.
What makes Dragon’s Dogma Awesome:
- One of the best RPGs to exist.
- The Companion system is innovative and fresh and allows for unique online play.
- The monsters are terrifying but so are you.
3. Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen Gameplay
In a world overrun by the Demon Legion, a man known as Harkyn, a convicted sinner, is called upon by Humanity to be its unlikely hero. He must face the Lords of the Fallen and restore light to the world. Embrace the Soulsborne formula, with more methodical, slow play than Dark Souls, utilizing a vast arsenal of weapons to decree justice to your heathenous foes.
What Makes Lords of the Fallen Awesome:
- Embark on an epic quest that holds the fate of both Humans and Demons.
- Explore a massive vast dark fantasy world.
- Wield weapons from a vast arsenal, mix-matching them to test out different builds.
2. Dark Devotion
Dark Devotion Gameplay
Put your templar faith to the test as you explore the secrets of a mysterious temple. Know your devotion to your God as you brave the journey into the darkest recesses of the world. Question and receive answers that will shackle your very belief.
What makes Dark Devotion Awesome:
- The tale is immersive and one not to be missed!
- Everything is customizable, and the game doesn’t gloss over the necessary requirement of materials.
- Everything wants you dead. But you have the power to stop them.
1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Gameplay
Sekiro is, admittedly, more of an experiment. However, it’s in the right direction as proven by how successful the game has been. The game ditches the previous gameplay loop of the Souls series, in exchange for something that WANTS you to be aggressive. This “Parry/Deflect” system is perhaps the most refined FROM Software has ever gotten in creating an incredible gameplay system.
The story is mostly out there, meaning while many things are still cryptic and hidden, there is no excuse for missing out on the surface story as it is presented more straightforward. Is that a bad thing? No way, because the game is incredible and possesses perhaps, some of the best bosses in the entire series.
As the game trailers exclaim: Kill ingeniously.
What Makes Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Awesome:
- Prosthetic tools add a new layer of combat that the Soulsborne series lacked tremendously.
- It’s not FromSoftware if the bosses aren’t fantastic. Thankfully, Sekiro delivers.
- Deliver Shinobi Deathblows to unsuspecting enemies to instantly kill them.
Bonus:
The Surge 2
The Surge 2 Gameplay
Learning from its predecessor's mistakes, The Surge 2 aims to deliver a far richer experience full of robot busting. Don a mecha suit and let loose on the rampaging robots. With an expanded arsenal and play styles, the game challenges you once again with crippling difficulty.
What Makes The Surge 2 Awesome:
- The sceneries are still as beautiful as ever.
- Combat is brutal and hardcore, but fun to get into.
- Cut off the parts/limbs that you want to loot from enemies.
Code Vein
Code Vein gameplay
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, there is but one final stronghold left, full of Revenants: beings blessed Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give in to the craving to become one with the Lost or fight for your sanity. Team up with other Revenants and embark on a journey to uncover your past and escape this hellish world. While not out yet, previews have been hopeful enough.
What Makes Code Vein Awesome:
- Taking great inspiration from the Soulsborne style, Code Vein aims to deliver a strong story with anime-esque visuals.
- Character customization is robust and deep, allowing for your deepest fantasies to take shape.
- Different weapon types for different play styles.
Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary Gameplay
It is no surprise where it takes its inspiration from. Salt and Sanctuary is perhaps the first success at creating a proper soulsborne, taking everything good from it and meshing it into a 2D setting. The story is cryptic and the gameplay deep.
What makes Salt and Sanctuary Awesome:
- Seamlessly combines action with fast speed combat.
- Over 600 weapons ready to be crafted or discovered!
- Everything can be beaten even with the worst equipment provided you have the skill.
Death's Gambit
Death’s Gambit Gameplay
Become Death’s right-hand man, as you challenge the undying guardians of the realm. Death’s Gambit is a hardcore 2D platformer, with a precise, elegant gameplay system that forces you to be on your toes at all times.
What makes Death’s Gambit Awesome:
- The world is expansive and beautiful, with a hub that continuously grows as you keep playing the game.
- Everything is non-linear, with routes that open from unexpected places.
- Character customization is robust and allows for replayability and variety.
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