Sometimes, you just crave a game that presents a serious challenge. Such games contribute significantly to maintaining a reasonable playtime for shorter games, especially considering the frequent boss refights. Without a doubt, the ideal genre for this kind of experience is a Soulslike game.
Related10 Best Soulslike Games On Xbox Series X|S, Ranked
The Xbox Series X|S will make a Soulslike player of you yet.
PostsOn the PS5, there are several games that borrow the exceptional attributes of Dark Souls and incorporate them in innovative ways. While some may strongly evoke the Dark Souls feel, it's easy to overlook that when a game introduces unique mechanics or settings that set it apart.
Updated on May 11, 2025, by Mohamed El Ouardighi: If you want to dive into some challenging Soulslike games on your PS5 this year? Look no further, as this list has everything you need to scratch that brutal, rewarding itch!
14 Biomutant
Beginner Friendly
If you played through the core Dark Souls games and felt like there weren’t enough animal creatures doing battle, then Biomutant is for you. This game sticks to the Dark Souls-style gameplay loop while standing out from its peers through its fun exploration and the use of unique mounts.
You can fully customize your own little creature before being dropped into the world to figure things out. The experience will immediately feel familiar to Souls fans, though the story is far less ambitious by comparison.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedBioMutant
Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 67/100 Critics Rec: 36% Released May 25, 2021 ESRB T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Use of Tobacco Developer(s) Experiment 101 Publisher(s) THQ NordicWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL13 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Can Be A Soulslike As Well
If you want your soulslike game to come with a large story, look no further than Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The quiet worlds you must explore will feel like a more sci-fi take on Dark Souls, and the combat will feel eerily similar.
For a long time, this was one of the longest Star Wars games to truly master, so a Dark Souls fan like you should have a great time learning every aspect of it. Don’t forget to meditate often, as those meditation points act as your bonfires in this game.
3 Images 3 Images CloseStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Action Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 82/100 Critics Rec: 83% Released November 11, 2019 ESRB t Developer(s) Respawn Entertainment Publisher(s) Respawn EntertainmentWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL12 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Sequel That We Needed
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds on Fallen Order in nearly every way, making it a strong sequel that improves upon the original while staying true to its foundation. The first major improvement is the enhanced combat, which introduces new lightsaber stances that provide more combat options. The world is also larger, filled with side quests, characters, and plenty to explore.
It’s rare these days for a sequel to excel, but Survivor definitely learned from the first game and listened to its players to deliver this. And yes, the Souls-like aspect is still very much present.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
3.5/5 8.5/10 Released April 28, 2023WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONStar Wars Jedi: Survivor is a 2023 sequel from Respawn Entertainment that continues the story of Cal Kestis, a Jedi Knight who fights to survive the brutal Galactic Empire.
Developer(s) Respawn Entertainment Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Powered by Expand Collapse11 The Nioh Collection
Underrated Series
Why just get one soulslike game when you could get two? They both have remastered versions, too. If you pick up The Nioh Collection, you’ll have access to two great games that give you Dark Souls combat through the vessel of a samurai or a yokai spirit.
The original Nioh was already a triumph, but Nioh 2 somehow managed to make almost every aspect even better while providing an experience that will remind you of the Dark Souls series. The gameplay is familiar, but there are some unique quirks to each game that keep them unique.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
LikeNioh
Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 97% Released February 7, 2017 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence Developer(s) Team Ninja Publisher(s) Sony, Koei TecmoWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONYour Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedNioh 2
Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 93% Released March 13, 2020 ESRB M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) Team Ninja Publisher(s) Koei Tecmo, Sony Interactive EntertainmentWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL10 Code Vein
Soulslike Come In Anime Too
You might be a big fan of anime and anime games, and that means you’ll love Code Vein. The game is relatively short, and most people consider it to be a lot easier than Dark Souls, but taking that formula and translating it into a brooding anime is exactly what this game is like.
RelatedRanking Every FromSoftware Soulslike From Easiest To Hardest
It can be incredibly tough ranking which of the Soulsbourne games is hardest, especially with titles like Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
PostsYou get to create your own character before joining a group to find various Bloodsprings. The level of customization is much greater than the average Dark Souls, but you won’t find yourself shouting at the TV nearly as much.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedCode Vein
Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 75/100 Critics Rec: 58% Released September 27, 2019 ESRB M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence Developer(s) Bandai Namco Studios Publisher(s) Bandai Namco EntertainmentWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL9 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Must Try At Least
Depending on who you ask, some might say that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a much more skill-based game than any other Soulslike. This is mainly due to the necessity of mastering deflections in order to succeed.
The beauty of this game lies in its straightforward nature. If you find the Dark Souls games too obtuse at times, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty delivers a more direct experience from start to finish. You can focus on mastering the combat while still enjoying the story.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedWo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 81/100 Critics Rec: 77% Released March 3, 2023 ESRB Rated M for Mature for Blood & Gore and Violence. Developer(s) Team Ninja Publisher(s) Koei TecmoWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL8 Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
A Final Fantasy Souslike??
This game is essentially the Final Fantasy series take on the Dark Souls formula, and to a lot of people, it’s a surprise hit. You aren’t going to have as much customization at your fingertips in this game, but luckily, you aren’t stuck with a single gameplay style.
You take control of Jack, someone interested in destroying Chaos. Since the game has a heavy emphasis on story, it’s best to experience the rest yourself, but just know it isn’t anything mind-blowing for the Final Fantasy series by any means.
6 Images 6 Images CloseYour Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Action RPG Systems 4.0/5 4.0/10 Released March 18, 2022 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) Team Ninja Publisher(s) Square EnixWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL7 Lords Of The Fallen
Best Thing To A Dark Souls Game
Since there's no word on a new Dark Souls installment anytime soon, the closest thing right now is the 2023 reboot of Lords of the Fallen. This game captures the full Soulslike experience, from customizing your character and picking a starting class to facing constant death as part of the learning curve.
What makes this reboot stand out is the Umbral World mechanic. It lets you shift between Axiom, the realm of the living, and Umbral, the realm of the dead, revealing hidden paths, secrets, and plenty of extra danger. With tons of weapons and spells to try out, you can mix and match builds to suit how you like to fight.
Lords of the Fallen
Action RPG Systems Released October 28, 2014WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALLords of the Fallen is a next-gen soulslike action RPG, and a soft reboot of the 2014 original. Developed by Hexworks, it features two parallel worlds - the living Axiom, and the dead Umbral.
Developer(s) Deck13 Interactive, CI Games Publisher(s) CI Games Powered by Expand Collapse6 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
A Test Of Skills
This game should feel incredibly Soulslike, considering it was made by the same developers behind the Dark Souls series. Much like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes the genre in a new direction and makes some bold changes to the familiar Soulslike formula.
You play as a shinobi in a classic rendition of Japan’s Sengoku period. Instead of leaning heavily into RPG elements, the game offers a more straightforward story and introduces fun stealth mechanics that add a refreshing twist to the experience.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedSekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Action RPG Systems 4.5/5 10.0/10 Released March 22, 2019 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence Developer(s) From Software Publisher(s) ActivisionWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL5 Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition
New Concept, Still Difficult
Mortal Shell will immediately remind you of Dark Souls both in playstyle and overall world design. What sets it apart is the shell mechanic you can access to battle the game's many threats.
Related10 Best Soulslike Games Of 2023
If you're a fan of Soulslikes, 2023 came with a ton of them!
PostsThe different shells you have access to all have unique play styles, so it’s worth swapping them out when possible to have an easier time in certain areas or against certain bosses. Of course, you can just stick to one style and try to brute force your way through the game if you wish.
Your Rating
close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10Your comment has not been saved
Like Follow FollowedMortal Shell
Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 76/100 Critics Rec: 64% Released August 18, 2020 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence Developer(s) Cold Symmetry Publisher(s) PlaystackWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTION
