The best games like Dark Souls trick players into exploring atmospheric environments before spawning a giant boss right in their faces.
So whether you’re in the market for a new action RPG or dark fantasy Soulslike with robust and challenging combat, we’ve got you covered.
In this list, we’ll showcase the best games like Dark Souls on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Make sure to check back in the future for more recommendations for the best Dark Souls-like games of 2023!
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Void Sols
Platforms: Windows, Mac
If you’re on the hunt for the best games like Dark Souls for low end PCs, look no further than the free-to-play game Void Sols.
Rendered in minimalist graphics, this top-down Soulslike has you exploring dark hallways in search of powerful weapons and tools to defend yourself against challenging foes.
To survive, you’ll have to learn enemy attack patterns, manage your stamina, and acquire Sols to level up your character.
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia
Platforms: Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Combining Soulslike combat with comedic storytelling, The Last Hero of Nostalgaia is one of the best RPG games like Dark Souls on Steam and Xbox.
In it, you’re cast as a pixelated hero who returns to life to fight through an army of monsters while being judged by a cynical narrator every step of the way.
The game features hard but fair combat that’s further complemented by robust character customization, lore-rich weapons, and unique battle armor.
Steelrising
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Next up on our list of the best games like Dark Souls is Steelrising, the latest action RPG title to come out of indie game studio Spiders.
The story takes place in an alternate world during the French Revolution where King Louis XVI has created an army of violent automatons wreaking havoc on the streets of Paris.
This leads your character to venture outside and wage battle with mechanical monstrosities using Soulslike combat that emphasizes elemental damage.
Thymesia
Platforms: Windows, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Thymesia is another tough but fair action RPG like Dark Souls that layers on a unique plague weapon system to make it stand out from other Soulslikes.
In it, you assume control of a plague doctor struggling with amnesia that sets off on an adventure to regain his memory while lifting an alchemic curse on the world.
Wielding the power of disease, your journey sees you fending off otherworldly creatures with a vast arsenal of weapons and abilities that allow for unique playstyles.
TUNIC
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Mac
Carrying on, our next recommendation is an indie Soulslike that’s heavily influenced by not only Dark Souls but also games like The Legend of Zelda.
Played from an isometric perspective, TUNIC is a puzzle Metroidvania game with challenging bossfights and mysterious game mechanics that require in-depth exploration to unravel.
This is done by guiding an adorable fox hero through vibrant almost story-book-like environments collecting pages, leveraging melee and magic attacks, and learning enemy attack patterns.
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Developed by Acme Gamestudio and published by tinyBuild, Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a new action RPG game like Dark Souls based on Greek and Roman mythologies.
In it, you assume control of a brave warrior named Hilda as she heads off to a cursed city in hopes of saving her father before he’s lost forever.
Like Dark Souls, combat allows you to mix and match different melee weapons, including a sword and shield, dual blades, spear, hammer, and many more.
Mortal Shell
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Our next suggestion for FromSoftware fans looking for games like Dark Souls is Mortal Shell, an indie action RPG that comes courtesy of developer Cold Symmetry.
Set in a dark fantasy-inspired world, the game centers on tough enemy encounters that require mastery over two unique mechanics: Hardening and Shell.
These combine to make up Mortal Shell’s class system, allowing you to unlock new powers and weapons at the risk of losing your Shell whenever you die, leaving you exposed until you retrieve it.
Elden Ring
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
This next entry should come as no surprise considering Elden Ring is the most critically-acclaimed FromSoftware game to date and shares much of the same DNA as Dark Souls.
Arguably the most ambitious Soulslike the studio’s ever put out, it sees you exploring a vast open world teeming with tough bosses and surprising enemy encounters you would never see coming.
Weapon, armor, and stat progression work similarly to the Dark Souls series while being flexible enough to support a wide array of unique builds that can teeter on feeling OP.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
If you thought we were done recommending other FromSoftware games, you’re surely mistaken, as this next entry comes just as well-regarded by the Dark Souls community.
In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you take on the role of a Shinobi warrior on a bloodthirsty mission to get revenge against the samurai who severed his arm and killed his master.
Aiding him in this quest is a katana, grappling hook prosthetic arm, and various tools designed to distract or break enemies’ guards long enough to deliver a devastating blow.
Nioh Series
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4
No doubt inspired by games like Dark Souls, the Nioh series is great for some Soulslike action RPG fun with a refreshing samurai twist.
Developed by Team Ninja, these games drop you in a magic-embedded 1600s Japanese setting where an army of warriors and demonic entities known as Yokai threaten mankind.
Combat in this game is very robust and technical, requiring you to manage Ki Energy and stamina while switching between different weapons and stances to counter your opponent during battle.
ENDER LILIES: Quietus Of The Knights
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch
If you’re looking to play the best 2D games like Dark Souls, look no further than the indie Metroidvania ENDER LILLIES: Quietus of the Knights.
In it, you play as a mysterious woman linked to a spectral knight that joins in to aid her in fighting mobs of tough otherworldly enemies.
Only by combining their skills can you progress through the world, revealing new locations, challenging bossfights, and powerful relics to further define your playstyle.
Remnant: From the Ashes
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Your options for the best co-op games like Dark Souls are pretty few and far between, with Remnant: From the Ashes standing out as one of the strongest contenders.
Supporting up to 3-player teams, this intense third-person shooter has you navigating dark fantasy environments to seek out and defeat tough bosses.
Instead of relying on chests to drop gear, the game introduces a crafting system that can be leveraged to unlock new modifiers, upgrades, and other enhancements for your weapons.
STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order
Platforms: Windows, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play Dark Souls with a lightsaber, STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order has the answer.
Developed by Respawn, this action-adventure Soulslike has you facing off against larger-than-life aliens and highly-trained Empire assassins using a mix of melee attacks and force powers.
Combat shares many similarities with Dark Souls with an emphasis on parrying and deflecting attacks as well as leveraging abilities to gain the upper hand.
Blasphemous
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mac, Linux
Blasphemous is another great Metroidvania Soulslike game with 2D sprites and environments rendered in masterfully detailed pixel art.
Despite the difference in art style, this game has a lot in common with Dark Souls when it comes to gameplay and overall tone.
Not only are the in-game cutscenes gory and gruesome, but they’re also all backed up by demanding enemy encounters that force you to memorize attack patterns.
Dead Cells
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mac, Linux
Moving along, Dead Cells is a 2D roguelite Metroidvania like Dark Souls by developer Motion Twin that comes critically acclaimed.
In it, you’re tasked with exploring a sprawling labyrinth with procedurally generated environments housing fierce enemies and powerful rewards.
The game implements a run-based structure wherein your inventory gets wiped with each death, forcing you to maneuver carefully to have a chance at reaching each area’s boss.
Code Vein
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
Sporting a heavily stylized anime art style, Code Vein is one of the best games like Dark Souls for players who like making choices.
This is due to the open-ended nature of Code Vein’s party and weapon system, allowing you to bring along a companion to help in battle as well as wield an assortment of unique weapons.
To this point, the game features a unique progression system in the form of Blood Code, which lets you level up multiple classes simultaneously to broaden the number of viable tactics at your disposal.
Hollow Knight
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Linux, Mac
Our next entry needs no introduction as it’s one of the best 2D games like Dark Souls that combines Metroidvania exploration with brutal Soulslike combat.
In Hollow Knight, you assume control of a tiny sword-wielding bug on a quest to explore a mysterious underground kingdom inhabited by other formidable insects.
Combat is unforgiving by design, forcing you to learn enemy attack patterns, leverage different abilities and tools, and devise your own strategies for beating each boss.
Salt and Sanctuary
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Switch, Linux, Mac
Last but not least, Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D game like Dark Souls that casts you as a shipwrecked sailor stranded on a remote island with salt-worn idols.
Navigating the island’s labyrinth-like passageways, you’ll have to contest with nightmarish creatures with cleverly telegraphed attacks that require you to dodge and block to survive.
If you enjoy this game, then you may want to consider picking up the sequel, Salt and Sacrifice, which expands upon the formula in some interesting ways.
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