Introduction
Soulslike games have gotten super popular in the last ten years. Games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring from FromSoftware have gotten devs everywhere to start making really hard action RPGs that are all about good fighting, tough baddies, and boss fights you won’t forget.
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What makes Soulslike games so fun to play is that you feel like you did something big when you win. Every time you beat something, it feels like you truly earned it.
But even though some big games get all the talk, Reddit gaming groups are always talking about Soulslike games that are not as known but should be. A lot of these games try out new stuff, have cool settings, or have art that makes the whole genre better.
If you want something new and hard to play, here are 24 Soulslike games that are hidden gems that Reddit folks always suggest.
Table of Contents
Soulslike Games List (Quick Overview)
If you’re looking for a quick overview, the table below summarizes all 24 Soulslike games, their platforms, and what type of gameplay they offer.
| # | Game | Release Year | Platforms | Play Style | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mortal Shell | 2020 | PC, PS, Xbox | Classic Soulslike | Hard |
| 2 | Ashen | 2018 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Exploration Soulslike | Medium |
| 3 | Code Vein | 2019 | PC, PS, Xbox | Anime Soulslike | Hard |
| 4 | The Surge | 2017 | PC, PS, Xbox | Sci-Fi Soulslike | Hard |
| 5 | The Surge 2 | 2019 | PC, PS, Xbox | Sci-Fi Action Soulslike | Hard |
| 6 | Hellpoint | 2020 | PC, PS, Xbox | Sci-Fi Soulslike | Hard |
| 7 | Remnant: From the Ashes | 2019 | PC, PS, Xbox | Shooter Soulslike | Medium |
| 8 | Remnant II | 2023 | PC, PS, Xbox | Co-op Soulslike Shooter | Hard |
| 9 | Steelrising | 2022 | PC, PS, Xbox | Historical Soulslike | Hard |
| 10 | Thymesia | 2022 | PC, PS, Xbox | Fast Soulslike | Hard |
| 11 | Salt and Sanctuary | 2016 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | 2D Soulslike | Hard |
| 12 | Salt and Sacrifice | 2022 | PC, PS | 2D Soulslike | Hard |
| 13 | GRIME | 2021 | PC, PS, Switch | Experimental Soulslike | Hard |
| 14 | Blasphemous | 2019 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Dark Metroidvania Soulslike | Hard |
| 15 | Blasphemous 2 | 2023 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Metroidvania Soulslike | Hard |
| 16 | Tunic | 2022 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Adventure Soulslike | Medium |
| 17 | Ender Lilies | 2021 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Dark Fantasy Soulslike | Hard |
| 18 | Death’s Door | 2021 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Action Adventure Soulslike | Medium |
| 19 | Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption | 2018 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch | Boss Rush Soulslike | Hard |
| 20 | Vigil: The Longest Night | 2020 | PC, Switch | Horror Soulslike | Hard |
| 21 | Dolmen | 2022 | PC, PS, Xbox | Sci-Fi Soulslike | Hard |
| 22 | Stray Blade | 2023 | PC, PS, Xbox | Exploration Soulslike | Medium |
| 23 | Lords of the Fallen | 2023 | PC, PS, Xbox | Dark Fantasy Soulslike | Hard |
| 24 | Lies of P | 2023 | PC, PS, Xbox | Bloodborne-style Soulslike | Very Hard |
24 Hidden Gem Soulslike Games Reddit Players Recommend
While games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring dominate the Soulslike genre, many incredible titles remain under the radar. Across Reddit communities such as r/soulslikes and r/gaming, players often share recommendations for lesser-known games that deliver the same challenging combat, deep exploration, and memorable boss fights.
Below you’ll find 24 hidden gem Soulslike games that Reddit players frequently recommend, each offering a unique take on the genre while still capturing the intense difficulty and rewarding gameplay fans love.
1. Mortal Shell
Mortal Shell is one of the coolest indie Soulslikes, hands down. Instead of making a character in the usual way, you grab the bodies of dead warriors, called Shells. Each Shell has different skills, strengths, and weaknesses.
Some Shells are tough and can take a beating, while others are quick and hit fast. You can switch things up to find what works best against different baddies.
The coolest thing is the Harden move, where you turn into stone for a bit. Time it right, and you can block hits even when you’re swinging. It seriously changes how you fight!
The game looks amazing, with spooky temples and forests. It’s not super long, but the bosses are great, and the fighting is tight. People on Reddit are always recommending it as a hidden gem.
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If you enjoy slower, tactical Soulslike combat similar to Dark Souls 1, Mortal Shell is definitely worth experiencing. Many players discover it during game sales or bundle deals, so it’s usually easy to find a good price online if you want to add it to your Soulslike collection.
2. Ashen
Ashen is a bit different. It’s got this simple art style and a really touching story. Instead of just fighting all the time, you explore and rebuild a town in a dark world.
As you play, people join your town, give you quests, and help you build stuff. It makes the world feel alive, which is rare in these types of games.
You can play with friends, too. Someone can jump into your game to help you out. If not, an AI buddy fills in. It’s nice to have company when things get tough!
The fighting is still classic Soulslike. You gotta watch your stamina and learn enemy moves. But teamwork is key, making fights exciting.
Reddit folks say Ashen is great if you want a Soulslike that’s not too hard and has a nice, chill vibe.
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For players who like Soulslike games but want something slightly more relaxed and exploration-focused, Ashen is often one of the first recommendations from the Reddit community. It’s also frequently discounted on PC and console stores, which makes it an easy entry point into the genre.
3. Code Vein
Code Vein is like Anime Dark Souls. It’s got the Soulslike thing going on, but with a big anime story and look. You’re a Revenant, trying to survive in a messed-up world after everything went south.
Instead of classes, you have Blood Codes. You can switch between them to change your skills and fighting style.
Some Blood Codes are for hitting hard, others are for magic or helping your friends. It’s fun to mess around and find what works.
You also get AI partners that help you in fights. They can heal you or do extra damage. It makes the game a bit easier than some other Soulslikes.
Even with the anime style, Code Vein can be tough. It’s got cool looks, lots of ways to customize your character and a good story.
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If you enjoy character customization and anime-style storytelling alongside challenging combat, Code Vein is a great Soulslike to try next. Many Souls fans end up picking it up during seasonal sales because it often becomes surprisingly affordable.
4. The Surge
The Surge takes Soulslike and sets it in the future. No knights here! You’re Warren, wearing a suit with robot parts, in a factory that’s gone crazy.
Here’s the cool part: you can chop off enemy body parts to get their gear. Want that robot arm? Cut it off and craft it for yourself!
This makes fighting a bit more strategic. Do you finish them off quick, or try to grab that sweet piece of equipment?
The world is full of broken robots and messed-up workers. It’s a nice change.
People on Reddit often say The Surge is underrated and needs more love.
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If you’re tired of medieval Soulslike worlds and want something futuristic, The Surge offers a refreshing change of pace. It’s one of those games many players discover later and wish they had tried earlier.
5. The Surge 2
The Surge 2 is better than the first in almost every way. The world is bigger, with more open areas.
The fighting is faster, and the chopping-off-parts thing is even better. You can use new weapons and moves.
The character system is deeper, too. You can make a character that’s good at hitting hard, moving fast, or using robot powers.
The boss fights are seriously awesome.
Reddit often suggests The Surge 2 is one of the best sci-fi choices if you’re tired of swords and castles.
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Players who enjoy sci-fi Soulslike games often consider The Surge 2 the stronger entry in the series. If you liked the first game or want a Soulslike that feels a bit faster and more modern, this sequel is worth checking out.
6. Hellpoint
Hellpoint throws you onto Irid Novo, a spooky space station orbiting a black hole. This place used to be all about crazy research and messing with other dimensions, but things went super wrong. Now, it’s packed with nasty creatures and what’s left of people.
What’s cool about Hellpoint is how the world changes as the station circles the black hole. Some bad guys get tougher, secret bosses pop up, and new spots open up. It keeps you guessing and makes you want to check places out more than once.
You can even bring a friend along for the ride in co-op mode. With its creepy vibe, tough fights, and a story that sucks you in, Hellpoint has become a hit with Soulslike fans who like things a bit darker and weirder.
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Fans of darker sci-fi horror games like Dead Space or Event Horizon often find Hellpoint surprisingly engaging. It’s a lesser-known Soulslike, but many players end up recommending it after giving it a chance.
7. Remnant: From the Ashes
Remnant: From the Ashes mixes things up by adding guns to the Soulslike style. Instead of just swords, you’re blasting monsters while exploring dangerous worlds.
The game is set on a broken Earth after a bad guy called The Root shows up. You need to jump into different worlds using portals to stop them.
One thing that makes Remnant stand out is how the worlds are randomly made. Each time you play, you get different places, enemies, and bosses. It makes playing again and again worth it, especially with friends.
With tough boss fights, ways to build your character, and fun co-op, Remnant is a popular Soulslike that’s all about shooting.
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If you enjoy Soulslike difficulty but prefer ranged combat instead of traditional melee fighting, Remnant: From the Ashes is often one of the first games fans recommend trying. Many players pick it up during seasonal sales and end up surprised by how deep and addictive the gameplay becomes.
8. Remnant II
Remnant II takes what made the first game great and makes it even better. It adds classes called Archetypes, so you can focus on being a damage dealer, a support player, or a tough survivor.
The places you visit are bigger and look amazing. You’ll see alien jungles, messed-up cities, and strange dimensions. Each world has hidden stuff and things that change as you poke around.
The boss fights are super creative and need you, your buddies, and some smarts. The game’s build system and focus on playing together have made it a favorite for Soulslike fans who want something besides the FromSoftware games.
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For players who enjoy cooperative Soulslike experiences with deep build customization, Remnant II has quickly become one of the most recommended modern titles in the genre. It’s the kind of game many Souls fans add to their library once they discover how much content it offers.
9. Steelrising
Steelrising puts a spin on the Soulslike idea by setting it during a different version of the French Revolution. King Louis XVI has robot soldiers to stop folks, and Paris is a mess.
You play as Aegis, a robot made to fight the king’s army. You’ll wander the streets of Paris, fight robots, and uncover secrets about the revolution.
The game has cool weapons like claws, fans, and halberds, each with its own fighting style. You can change Aegis with modules that help with stamina, damage, or defense.
Steelrising mixes history, steampunk looks, and tough fights into something pretty interesting for Soulslike fans.
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If you enjoy Soulslike combat but want a fresh setting outside the usual dark medieval worlds, Steelrising is definitely worth checking out. Many players discover it later and are surprised by how creative its historical sci-fi setting feels.
10. Thymesia
Thymesia is a fast-paced game that takes notes from Bloodborne, because of its combat style. It’s set in a kingdom wrecked by a plague where turning lead into gold went wrong.
You play as Corvus, a fighter who can turn parts of himself into weapons. Instead of just using swords, he can steal moves from enemies and use them, which is awesome.
Fighting in Thymesia is about timing and pushing hard. You have to break defenses, wound enemies, and stop them from healing. It makes for some crazy fights that keep you on your toes.
Even though it’s not super long, Thymesia has cool combat, bosses you won’t forget, and a dark feel that makes it one of the cooler Soulslikes out there.
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For fans of Bloodborne-style combat who want something fast, stylish, and challenging, Thymesia often becomes an unexpected favorite once players give it a chance.
11. Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary takes the Soulslike idea and puts it in a 2D world. The game has a big, connected map with tough enemies, hidden paths, and strong bosses.
You can build your character however you like with a huge skill tree that has weapons, magic, and defense options. You can make anything from a tank to a magic user.
The game’s dark world and hard level make it feel a lot like Dark Souls.
Because of how deep and hard it is, Salt and Sanctuary is loved by fans as one of the best indie Soulslikes ever.
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If you love Soulslike games but also enjoy Metroidvania-style exploration, Salt and Sanctuary is often considered one of the best indie games in the entire genre.
12. Salt and Sacrifice
The next game, Salt and Sacrifice, makes the world bigger and adds ways to play with friends. It has a monster-hunting thing where you chase mage enemies across the map.
Each mage has different powers, so you have to switch up how you fight. When you win, you can make new gear.
Playing with buddies matters more in Salt and Sacrifice, with hunts and player fights adding more to the game.
It’s a bit different, but the game still has the tough fights and skills that Soulslike fans want.
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Players who enjoyed the first Salt and Sanctuary often end up exploring this sequel to experience the expanded world and more dynamic boss encounters.
13. GRIME
GRIME is one of those Soulslike games that just grabs your attention with its visuals. The world is seriously weird—like, living stone and organic stuff everywhere. You play as this humanoid thing with a head that’s basically a black hole, and you can suck up enemies.
The cool thing is, when you beat enemies, you can take their powers. This makes combat way more than just mashing buttons. You gotta think about which abilities to grab because they can totally change how you handle different fights.
Fighting in GRIME is slow and on purpose. You gotta be good at dodging, blocking, and parrying, and wait for the perfect moment to strike. Plus, there’s a big Metroidvania vibe too. As you get new skills, you can get to areas you couldn’t reach before.
With its super strange look, tough bosses, and a way to grow your character, GRIME has fans who want something different from the usual dark stuff.
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Players who enjoy experimental indie games and unusual world-building often end up recommending GRIME as one of the most creative hidden gems in the genre.
14. Blasphemous
Blasphemous is a dark and brutal 2D Soulslike that’s all about Spanish religious art and scary gothic themes. You’re in Cvstodia, a messed-up land stuck in a never-ending punishment called The Miracle.
You play as The Penitent One, a silent dude who has to fight through tons of gross enemies to figure out the world’s messed-up story. You’ve got this huge sword, Mea Culpa, and you’re exploring ruined churches, creepy towns, and forgotten temples.
Blasphemous looks amazing because of its detailed pixel art. It shows both beautiful and disturbing stuff at the same time. The bosses are awesome, often inspired by religious stuff but in a really twisted way.
With its hard fights, sad story, and great looks, Blasphemous has become a favorite for people who love Soulslike and Metroidvania games.
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For players who enjoy dark storytelling and atmospheric world design, Blasphemous often becomes one of the most memorable indie Soulslike experiences they encounter.
15. Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous 2 takes what made the first game cool and makes it even better. The exploring is better, moving around feels smoother, and there are more ways to fight.
You’re still The Penitent One, and you’re still going through Cvstodia, finding weird stuff, fighting tough enemies, and seeing creepy religious stuff.
One of the best parts of the sequel is that you get different kinds of weapons. They each have their own fighting styles and skills. This means you can change how you fight depending on what’s going on, so battles feel more alive than in the first game.
The world is bigger too, with areas that connect to each other and hidden spots to find. Blasphemous 2 shows that the series is still one of the best 2D Soulslike games out there.
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Players who loved the first Blasphemous often consider the sequel an even stronger experience, especially thanks to its smoother combat and expanded world design.
16. Tunic
Tunic looks like a cute game about a fox exploring a colorful world. But don’t let that fool you. It’s actually a pretty deep and hard game that takes a lot from Soulslike games.
You have to explore mysterious places, solve puzzles, and fight enemies while trying to figure out the world’s secrets. The game doesn’t give you much help, so you have to try things out and learn as you go.
Fighting is all about timing, managing your stamina, and using items wisely. The boss fights are super hard and you’ll need to get good at the game before you can beat them.
One thing that’s cool about Tunic is the manual you find in the game. You find pages of it scattered around the world, and they slowly show you how to play the game and what secrets there are. It makes you feel like you’re actually discovering something, which is rare these days.
Because it’s designed so well and exploring is so rewarding, people often say that Tunic is one of the most creative Soulslike-inspired indie games ever.
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For players who enjoy discovering secrets and solving mysteries through exploration, Tunic often becomes a surprisingly addictive adventure once they dive into its hidden layers.
17. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights mixes Soulslike fighting with a beautiful and sad dark world. You play as Lily, a priestess who wakes up in a ruined place that’s been messed up by a weird rain called the Blight.
Lily doesn’t fight herself. Instead, she calls on spirits of dead knights to fight for her. Each spirit has different attacks and skills, so you can come up with all sorts of ways to fight.
As you play, you can find spirits that act like weapons or spells. This makes the fighting system really deep, and choosing the right spirits is super important for staying alive.
The game’s sad music, the world around you, and the story make it one of the most memorable indie Soulslike games you can play.
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Players looking for a Soulslike experience that focuses more on atmosphere and story often end up falling in love with Ender Lilies after giving it a chance.
18. Death’s Door
Death’s Door combines Soulslike fights with classic action-adventure exploring. You play as a small crow who collects souls in a weird afterlife office.
When someone steals a powerful soul, the crow has to go into dangerous lands full of monsters and secrets to get it back.
Fighting is fast and you have to be precise. You need to use melee attacks, ranged attacks, and dodging to beat enemies. The boss fights are really well done, with unique ideas and characters.
The game looks cute but is also hard, which gives it a tone that’s both fun and intense.
With its great gameplay and world, Death’s Door has become a popular indie action game with Soulslike stuff in it.
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Many players discover Death’s Door expecting a light adventure game and end up staying for its challenging combat and memorable world design.
19. Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption
Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption does something different with the Soulslike thing. It’s all about boss battles, not exploring.
You fight a bunch of strong enemies that represent the seven sins. But before each fight, you have to give up something, like health, attack power, or gear.
This means that every time you win, you get weaker for the next fight. You have to think carefully about which bosses to fight in what order.
It’s a hard and strategic game that rewards you for being able to change your plans as things get more difficult.
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For players who love intense boss fights and want a condensed Soulslike challenge without long exploration segments, Sinner offers a surprisingly interesting twist on the genre.
20. Vigil: The Longest Night
Vigil: The Longest Night is a dark, side-scrolling action game inspired by Soulslike games and Lovecraftian horror.
You play as Leila, a fighter who has to protect her town from scary things that are out in the woods.
The game has a big world with hidden paths, extra bosses, and dangerous places. You can use swords, daggers, bows, and magic, so there are lots of ways to play.
The creepy feeling, scary enemies, and hard fights make Vigil one of the most Soulslike games that doesn’t get enough attention.
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Players who enjoy dark atmospheric games inspired by both Soulslike combat and gothic horror stories often find Vigil: The Longest Night to be an underrated gem worth discovering.
21. Dolmen
Dolmen mixes science fiction and cosmic horror with Soulslike gameplay. You explore an alien world with nasty creatures, weird ruins, and tough bosses.
One of the things that makes the game unique is managing your energy during fights. You have to be careful about how you use energy to use ranged weapons, shields, or special skills.
This makes fights more strategic, because you have to balance attacking and defending while dealing with harder and harder enemies.
Even though not many people noticed it when it came out, Dolmen is a cool mix of sci-fi exploring and Soulslike stuff.
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For players who enjoy sci-fi settings and challenging combat similar to Soulslike games, Dolmen offers an interesting alternative to the usual medieval fantasy worlds.
22. Stray Blade
Stray Blade is like a Soulslike action RPG where your choices really mess with the game’s world, and you’ve got a buddy to help you along. You’re an explorer in Acrea, a forgotten valley packed with old ruins, magical stuff, and tough baddies.
What’s neat is how the world changes based on what you do. Every time you bite the dust, time moves ahead. Enemies move around, new paths open up, and stuff happens differently. It makes it feel like the world is always changing, even when you’re failing!
You also get a sidekick named Boji. They help you fight, drop hints for puzzles, and point out secrets hidden around.
Combat is all about being quick, dodging at the right time, and trying out all sorts of weapons. You get swords, spears, big heavy stuff – each with its own moves and style.
Stray Blade is a cool Soulslike. It’s different, and folks should check it out because of how the world changes and the fun buddy system.
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Gamers who enjoy discovering hidden lore and exploring mysterious worlds often find Stray Blade to be an intriguing Soulslike adventure worth trying.
23. Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen was one of the first to try and make a big Soulslike game that wasn’t from FromSoftware. This new take on the game goes bigger than before. It’s got a huge connected world and some pretty cool ideas.
The big thing here is the dual-world setup. You can swap between two worlds: Axiom, the land of the living, and Umbral, the land of the dead. Each world has different enemies, secrets, and paths you can only find in that world.
This changes how you look around and play the game. You have to jump between worlds to solve puzzles, find hidden spots, and get through the game.
Fighting is the usual Soulslike deal like using heavy weapons, watching your stamina, and facing hard bosses. But you also get magic and ranged attacks, so you can mix things up with your character.
Lords of the Fallen is dark and has a massive world. With its dual-world idea, it’s one of the most ambitious attempts at a Soulslike outside of FromSoftware.
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Fans of traditional Soulslike gameplay who are looking for a massive world to explore often end up adding Lords of the Fallen to their must-play list.
24. Lies of P
Lies of P was a surprise hit. It’s a Soulslike game that’s super polished and got great reviews, even though FromSoftware didn’t make it. It takes the story of Pinocchio and turns it into a dark, gothic action RPG in the wrecked city of Krat.
You play as a puppet made by Geppetto. You’re walking through a city full of messed-up robots and crazy experiments. The story asks questions about truth, being human, and doing what’s right, and your choices change how things turn out.
One cool thing is the weapon-building system. You can mix and match weapon parts to make all kinds of new weapons with different moves. It lets you play around and get things just how you like them.
Another thing is the Lying system. Sometimes you have to pick whether to tell the truth or lie in conversations. These choices change the story and how your character grows.
With great combat, awesome bosses, and stunning gothic places, Lies of P has become known as one of the best Soulslike games around.
For many Soulslike fans, Lies of P quickly became one of the most impressive non-FromSoftware entries in the genre once they experienced its challenging combat and haunting world.
Conclusion: There Are Tons of Awesome Soulslike Games You Might Be Missing
Sure, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring are the famous ones, but the Soulslike world is way bigger now. Over the years, people have been trying new things with the formula, making new worlds, combat styles, and game ideas.
From the creepy space stuff in Hellpoint to the dark world of Blasphemous, and from the anime style of Code Vein to the cool story in Lies of P, there are fun and amazing games.
If you’re into tough fights, deep stories, and exploring every corner, these 24 Soulslike games are worth your time.
If you want a difficult game, anything on this list could be your next favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What’s the best Soulslike game that FromSoftware didn’t make?
A lot of people think Lies of P, Remnant II, and Nioh 2 are some of the best Soulslike games out there because the fighting is good and they do their own thing.
2) Are Soulslike games made by small companies any good?
Yep. Many small companies bring something unique.
3) Why do people like Soulslike games so much?
Soulslike games are liked a lot because they reward skill, patience, and practice.
4) What platform has the most Soulslike games?
Right now, PC has the most Soulslike games.
