The Soulslike genre has evolved greatly over the past decade given the success of the Dark Souls franchise and the numerous games it has continued to influence. With the popularity of the genre showing no signs of slowing down, plenty of new Soulslike games have been announced for the next few years.
Games like Lies of P and Thymesia have generated attention due to their unique spin on the Soulslike genre. With improved combat, intricate mechanics, and punishing difficulties, new games continue to push the boundaries of the genre and offer unique experiences for different kinds of players. Here are the upcoming Soulslike games that players can look forward to within the next few years.
Lies of P
The premise of Lies of P isn't what players might expect from a Soulslike game. Based on the classic children's novel Pinocchio, players assume the role of the puppet mechanoid as they fight their way through a crumbling city to find Mr. Geppetto. The concept actually makes for some interesting mechanics such as customizing Pinocchio's body for exploration or combat and a "lie" system where dialogue impacts gameplay.
Thymesia
Thymesia is a fast-paced Soulslike with the unique mechanic of turning enemy diseases into physical weapons. Players assume the role of Corvus, a plague doctor searching to regain his memories through different choices and items collected. Though its combat system is quite similar to Dark Souls with its parries and dodges, its mechanic of harvesting diseases and the ability to swap into a raven form gives the combat an interesting depth.
Elden Ring
It might not be accurate to call Elden Ring a Soulslike considering it's an actual FromSoftware game but it nonetheless expands upon the Dark Souls formula. Promising to innovate upon the mechanics found in Dark Souls games, Elden Ring also collaborates with author George R.R. Martin to help create the open-world setting. Though Elden Ring has no official release date or information beyond a reveal trailer, it nonetheless remains highly anticipated amongst Dark Souls fans.
Black Myth: Wukong
An upcoming Soulslike game from Chinese indie studio Game Science, Black Myth: Wukong is based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. Players control Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, as he fights his way through hordes of enemies with numerous abilities. Much like the novel, Sun Wukong possesses supernatural abilities such as shapeshifting, cloning himself, and the ability to change the size of his staff on command.
Bleak Faith: Forsaken
Bleak Faith: Forsaken is an ambitious game that mixes together elements of survival horror with the traditional combat system of Soulslikes. Developed by two people, Bleak Faith: Forsaken features a stunning world that looks to be a cross between steampunk and fantasy settings. Though there has been a few delays in development, the gameplay trailers have hyped up Soulslike fans with its ambitious world design.
Eldest Souls
As the name suggests, Eldest Souls takes many of its influences from the Dark Souls franchise as it features a challenging combat system. With its pixel graphics and emphasis on boss fights, Elden Souls is reminiscent of other indie Soulslike games like Titan Souls. Nonetheless, the environments are gorgeously crafted and with a release date expected sometime this year, fans will have plenty to look forward to.
Dolmen
The concept of a mysterious, cosmic horror has been a staple of Dark Souls games and Dolmen takes that idea even further in a sci-fi setting. Featuring a Lovecraftian-inspired plot, players fight their way through futuristic environments as they try to survive. With a crafting system, resource management, and a mysterious plot, Dolmen is shaping up to be an exciting spin on the Soulslike genre.