FromSoftware's immense success with Dark Souls has paved the way for an entirely new genre in the realm of mainstream gaming, with several players actively seeking out Souls-likes that are a blast to play through. While certain titles may not nail this formula, they more than make up for it with an engaging narrative, memorable characters, and gorgeous worlds.

That being said, the layer of tragedy and brutality in the lore of games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne is why so many players love these titles in the first place. However, the Souls-like genre doesn't need to be tethered by these requirements, which can be a detractor for some players, particularly those seeking a Souls-like with dark and intriguing lore.

Updated April 6, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The impact that FromSoftware and Dark Souls have had on the gaming industry can't be stated enough. This game single-handedly made it clear that a market exists for well-made action games that prioritize a player's skill and punishes their mistakes, without force-feeding a plot via excessive cutscenes and dialogue. The influence of this game has birthed a whole new genre of games with tough combat and challenging bosses. Many of these games also feature dark lore that players will discover if they explore the stories these games convey.

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1 Remnant 2

Humanity's Thirst For Knowledge Uncovers The Root

The Root is a horrifying virus that has brought about ruin for humankind. The fact that humanity's own curiosity brought about this threat is even more harrowing, making it clear that one has no hope of survival unless this plant virus is cut off at the source.

As players explore the world of Remnant, the ruin brought about by the Root is clear to see. It's genuinely unnerving to witness the level of death and destruction caused by this virus. But that's what makes the ending of this game a beacon of hope in a world that needs something to cherish after endless death and destruction has ravaged the landscape.

2 Lies Of P

Puppets, After A Life Of Servitude, Rebel Against Humans

Heavily inspired by the tale of Pinocchio, Lies of P is one of the best Soulslikes that players can get their hands on. The impressive visual presentation of this title is the biggest reason so many people were interested in this game. Many considered it the closest thing they'd get to a Bloodborne sequel.

Tough combat aside, what really makes Lies of P shine is its unique lore and story. The world has been ravaged by Puppets, who have long been treated like slaves by humans before an uprising that led to the annihilation of most of humanity. Uncovering this fact, along with the other aspects of this world, is one of Lies of P's biggest selling points.

3 Blasphemous 2

A Dark Take On Holy Week, A Procession Held In Spain

Blasphemous 2 is the much-awaited sequel to a game that borrowed a lot of its visual design from Christian imagery. In particular, the game has many influences from Spain's Holy Week with a darker edge to it that makes the world come to life in the best way possible.

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In the sequel, the Miracle returns once again. People want something to alleviate their pain without realizing the gravity of relying on a power that is malicious to a fault. Thus, the Penitent One is resurrected to combat the threat of the Miracle once again, witnessing the horrors brought about by this power in the process.

4 Mortal Shell

Gods Abuse Their Power And Lose Their Influence A Bit Too Late

Mortal Shell is absolutely dripping in dark fantasy elements, so it's only a given that its lore is as dark as it comes. The game takes place in Fallgrim, an area that is slowly wasting away while being infested by otherworldly horrors.

The lore can be confusing to decipher, but is interesting once players get into the flow of things. The story involves gods who abuse their power too much and are dethroned as a result, even if the ramifications of their actions are still felt to this day.

5 Remnant: From The Ashes

The Atrocities Of The Root Are Numerous

Remnant: From the Ashes takes place in a world ravaged by interdimensional invaders called the Root. Players can see how everything is wasting away around them, as the Root is aggressive and savage in its invasion.

What makes things worse is that the Root was unwittingly brought over to Earth because of humanity's relentless need for exploration. Suffice it to say, Remnant: From the Ashes has some pretty dark lore that augments its excellent third-person shooter gameplay.

6 Salt And Sanctuary

A Usurper Takes Over The Power Of The Gods

Salt and Sanctuary was one of the first 2D Souls-likes, and is a blast to play through. The fact that its sequel hasn't reached the heights of the first game shows just how fun Salt and Sanctuary is.

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The lore of this game is interesting. The story seems to have a small scope before opening up as players go through more of the game. The story features a usurper "killing" other major gods and taking over their power for themselves, which is about as big a scope as most people would expect from a 2D Souls-like title.

7 Code Vein

The Great Collapse Has Thrust The World Into Ruin

Code Vein is one of the more unique Souls-likes around, combining anime art styles with the grueling nature of Soulsborne combat to make for a special package. It's definitely not for everyone, but players who are willing to forgive the game's faults will find themselves enjoying a pretty solid action title.

In this game, humanity has fallen in the wake of an event called the Great Collapse, causing monsters to surge in and destroy this once-bustling world. Things have become so bad that corpses with special powers need to be reanimated to combat these threats, and these unique fighters are called Revenants.

8 The Surge

Humanity Struggles To Survive With Dwindling Resources

The Surge was one of the first sci-fi Souls-likes to come out, and it wowed players with its unique setting and great art style. While the level design of The Surge isn't all that great, the game more than makes up for it with fairly solid combat and its memorable aesthetic.

As is the case with most other Soulslikes, The Surge takes place in a world where humanity is struggling to survive after exhausting most of the resources available to them: a scenario that is uncomfortably realistic. On top of this, the rapid progress of technology has led to humanity being forced into augmentations just to remain viable as workers.

9 Hollow Knight

Watching The World Waste Away Is A Melancholic Sight

Hollow Knight is one of the greatest indie titles of all time, combining the best of Soulsborne gameplay and the Metroidvania genre to make for a truly memorable title. The dark world of this title is still charming courtesy of its character design. Players are challenged at every step of the way courtesy of the game's hard combat.

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The game takes place in Dirtmouth, a town that was overcome with a supernatural disease called the Infection. Exploring the background of the Infection and how it came to be makes for a great time. The great platforming and combat carry this experience many times over.

10 Thymesia

The Plague Is Devastating, And Its Destruction Is Palpable

Thymesia was written off to an extent due to the Souls-like genre being as overpopulated as it is. It's a shame, since the lore and art style of this title are great, but uninspired combat and level design really prevented this game from reaching its full potential.

The onset of the plague and humanity's erroneous ways to combat this disease take center stage in this game, with shades of Bloodborne apparent throughout. The idea of battling powerful plague doctors and using unique weapons to combat these threats makes for a great time, even if Thymesia may not be the deepest or most engaging title around.

11 Blasphemous

The Curse Of The Miracle May Not Make Up For Its Boons

The first thing players will notice in Blasphemous is just how gory and dark the aesthetic of this title really is. The religious motifs in this game are abundant, and so are the pools of blood that players will wade through in a title that is absolutely dripping in atmosphere.

Blasphemous can be fairly challenging at times, but it's worth it to go through the game just to explore the world and its lore. The world is afflicted by the mysterious power of the Miracle, which bestows boons on certain people while cursing others to become mindless, savage beasts.

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