As internet speeds and technology improve, cloud gaming has gradually transformed from a pipe dream to reality, and Amazon Luna is pushing this type of experience to the forefront. By subscribing to one of the platform's channels, users gain access to a wide selection of games they can stream at a moment's notice; all they need is Chrome and a controller (or keyboard and mouse).

As a split-second delay can spell doom for players, Souls-like games might not seem like the best fit for Amazon Luna; however, the service does not ignore this modern subgenre. While none of FromSoftware's releases are on the platform, Luna has a number of great games that can scratch that Dark Souls itch.

Mortal Shell

Another game that screams Dark Souls, Mortal Shell takes the subgenre's standard formula and injects a mechanic that changes everything: stone. In this game, players unlock shells which essentially serve as different classes, and a central aspect of combat is the ability to turn into stone at the click of a button.

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This adds a whole other strategic dimension to battles as timing these transformations is crucial for achieving victory. This mechanic takes a while to come to grips with, but when it clicks, Mortal Shell becomes a treat. Even with this fresh concept, this title is arguably the best Souls-like game on Amazon Luna, or at least the closest to FromSoftware's trilogy.

Thymesia

Thymesia wears its Bloodborne influence on its sleeve, including a playable character who could pass for an NPC in FromSoftware's game. Cast as a plague doctor, players travel through primarily linear areas, fighting challenging enemies en route to a final boss fight. Compared to other Souls-likes, Thymesia is a relatively streamlined experience that can be completed in potentially a day. People who really enjoy this project can get some more mileage by completing side quests, some of which even reveal hidden areas worth exploring.

Opting to forgo a stamina bar, Thymesia's combat is free-flowing and encourages an aggressive game plan, particularly since shields are not a thing. Enemies can also be tough as nails, leading to satisfying battles that could swing either way. Thymesia is one of the most Souls-like games on Amazon Luna.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Assassin's Creed Origins marked a new era in Ubisoft's franchise, and this included revamping the combat system so it offers a more satisfying overall experience. Amazon Luna's Ubisoft+ channel has Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, all of which are grand (and massive) adventures with decent storylines, fun albeit relatively easy combat, and detailed worlds.

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Odyssey's Ancient Greece setting produces some of the most impressive sights in the franchise's history, and the world is simply a joy to explore. The writing is also pretty good, and that goes beyond the main storyline since even the side quests are quite strong.

Castlevania Anniversary Collection

The Luna+ and Retro channels both have the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, which comes with eight games. As old as these releases are, quite a few of them hold up well, and Konami's series could be seen as something of a precursor to modern gothic titles such as Dark Souls.

Covering the franchise's 8-bit and 16-bit eras, Castlevania Anniversary Collection showcases fantastic level design, clever boss fights, timeless music, and gorgeous visuals for the time. While not every game hits the mark, Castlevania, Dracula's Curse, Super Castlevania 4, and Bloodlines certainly strike a bullseye.

Other Games Fans Of Dark Souls Might Enjoy

Ultimately, there are not all that many games that qualify as Souls-like, and that goes beyond just Amazon Luna. Regardless of Dark Souls and Elden Ring's popularity, only a few developers have sought to replicate FromSoftware's magic. That said, Luna has plenty of other games that fans of Souls-likes should check out, even if they do not share much in common with the real deal.

Control: Ultimate Edition

Remedy Entertainment's Control takes inspiration from the SCP Foundation, a wiki filled with fictional stories about creepy occurrences and unexplainable phenomenon. Set in the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control, Jesse Faden enters the building in search of her brother, but she soon finds herself cast as the new Director and put in charge of taking out a powerful and corruptive threat known as the Hiss. Equipped with an awesome gun and gradually unlocking a range of unique powers, Jesse must explore a location that defies the laws of space and time while taking out reanimated corpses and bizarre entities from another dimension.

In terms of gameplay, Control is generally a third-person shooter, albeit one that complements its gunplay with offensive, defensive, and mobility abilities. Even though the minute-to-minute action is not similar to a Souls-like, Remedy's game has a Metroidvania structure akin to a FromSoftware project. While the FBC building is considerably smaller than something like Lothran, Control's world is similarly designed to be explored thoroughly and (mostly) freely.

Devil May Cry 5

OK, Devil May Cry 5 plays nothing like Dark Souls. Capcom's game is all about stylish, fast-paced action with a heavy emphasis on combos. Nothing about that is Souls-like, however, DMC 5 is still a worthy recommendation for fans searching for a game that focuses on melee combat and knows its way around an epic boss fight.

DMC 5 has three playable characters who all control very differently, allowing the gameplay to remain fresh for way longer than a single playthrough. Look, this game is just fantastic, and sometimes that is enough.

Resident Evil 2 (2019)

Another Capcom offering, Resident Evil 2 (2019) is a remake of the 1998 PS1 classic, and it is a more than respectful update of an all-time great horror game. A third-person shooter, RE2 plays completely differently from a Souls-like, both in terms of pacing and mechanics. As Leon or Claire, players traverse Raccoon City in the midst of an outbreak; to make matters worse, they are stalked by Mr. X, a Tyrant that is like a Terminator on steroids.

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Differences in gameplay aside, RE2 maintains a steady state of danger and tension similar to the greatest Souls-like games. Every corner could lead to a horrifying menace that spells doom for the heroes, creating an experience that puts players constantly on edge.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an ambitious RPG that prioritizes realism above accessibility or immediacy. Set during the 15th century, players step into the shoes of an ordinary guy who seeks revenge following the destruction of his village. This leads him down a path of war, tragedy, sacrifice, and death.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance features a first-person combat system designed around carefully reading the enemy's movements and reacting accordingly. Rushing or button-mashing is a recipe for disaster, similar to Souls-likes, and the combat requires a lot of practice to master. The RPG is set in an impressive and immersive open-world, and the latter descriptor extends to every aspect of the campaign. Players have to live in this world, and it is cruel, harsh, and unforgiving.

Dusk

A first-person shooter inspired by classics like Doom, at a glance, Dusk could not seem further removed from Dark Souls. Offering fast-paced action that depend more on reflexes than memorizing the enemies' movement, David Szymanski's project is very much cut from the same cloth as '90s shooters, which is a positive thing.

Despite the vast differences between the two, Souls-like fans should still give this game a try. Firstly, Dusk is not only fantastic but arguably the best modern retro shooter on the market. Secondly, and more importantly, the FPS has a dark fantasy aesthetic and tone that should strike home with FromSoftware fans. The game utilizes cryptic storytelling and focuses heavily on crafting an unsettling atmosphere, often creeping into horror territory. With a campaign shorter than 10 hours, Amazon Luna subscribers can complete Dusk over a weekend.

No More Heroes

Grasshopper Manufacture's No More Heroes games follow an otaku, Travis Touchdown, who decides to become the world's greatest assassin. Naturally, this process involves taking out all the deadliest hitmen in the system, a challenge Travis takes on with vigor, adolescent humor, wrestling moves, and a toy sword. Amazon Luna has the first two No More Heroes games, both of which are unapologetically over-the-top action titles with an overabundance of style and even some narrative complexity.

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Although they have their share of issues such as bland side activities and, in the case of the first entry, an empty hub world, the No More Heroes games excel in one department that Souls-like fans will likely appreciate: boss fights. Each of these challenges is epic, exciting, and unique. The bosses are nearly all memorable, some of which have backstories that are shockingly great considering their relatively limited time on screen.

Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana

Amazon Luna's Luna+ has two Ys games, Lacrimosa of Dana and its sequel, Monstrum Nox. Even though the former is the most recent Western entry in the series, Ys 8 is generally regarded as the superior game, although both titles are perfectly enjoyable action JRPGs by most standards. Nihon Falcom's franchise follows Adol, a swordsman who has a long track record of stumbling his way into adventures. Despite featuring the same protagonist, the games largely tell stand-alone stories.

Lacrimosa of Dana finds Adol shipwrecked on a mysterious island alongside a few survivors, and they must work together to survive and escape. Featuring a relatively large map, the game encourages a degree of exploration while still funneling players down a specific route. Ys 8 features a hack and slash combat system that is fast-paced and reasonably challenging. While not all that similar to a Souls-like, the gameplay is still skill-based, and the option to swap between party members provides a fair amount of variety.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus is the final entry in 4A Games' highly-regarded FPS trilogy. Rooted in survival horror, Metro drops players in a dire post-apocalyptic setting where death is around every corner, be it courtesy of humans, radiation, or mutants. The most expansive entry in the series, Exodus incorporates a few more open areas into its campaign than its predecessors; while the experience is still relatively linear, these sections encourage exploration to an extent. However, the majority of the game revolves around descending into tight underground areas.

As a first-person shooter, Metro Exodus' gameplay is nothing like Dark Souls. That said, the games have somewhat similar atmospheres, as both emphasize the hostile and desolate natures of their worlds. Provided someone enjoys an FPS, they should give this title a try; if nothing else, it is one of the best games on Luna+.

Shadow Man Remastered

Originally released in 1999 and developed by Acclaim Studios Teesside, Shadow Man is a singular entity quite unlike anything else on the market. It shares similarities with some action-horror games like BloodRayne, but those titles do not come close to matching Shadow Man's sheer bizarreness and open-ended nature. The story is absurdly brilliant: Michael LeRoi, a warrior, is the only person stopping the world from being plunged into chaos courtesy of a villain named Legion and his horde of serial killers taken from history. Therefore, LeRoi heads to Deadside, which is basically hell, to eliminate the killers and collect their Dark Souls.

Shadow Man does not play anything like a FromSoftware project, and the combat has not aged particularly well. However, the game drops players in the intimidating hellscape that is Deadside with little in the way of direction, expecting them to make their own way. This is somewhat reminiscent of a Souls game, and Shadow Man's nightmarish ambient is quite effective.

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