Underrated Soulslike Games As Good As Dark Souls

Soulslikes have become one of the most popular genres on the planet in just a short while, yet as interesting and innovative as many of these games are, only a few have been able to overtake the original Dark Souls. FromSoftware themselves have continued to raise the bar, but there are also several newer names entering the space, like Lies of P, that have shown a level of quality that matches, and even overtakes, the experience that started it all.

In the sea of soulslikes, it is easy to draw comparisons and have favorites, which has also led to many great games receiving far less attention and praise than they really deserve. These games all bring with them fresh settings, unique ideas, and demonstrate that, with enough passion and talent, a seemingly untouchable ceiling is achievable.

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Ashen

The First Of The Open-world Soulslikes

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Multiplayer focus

Open areas that encourage exploration

Ashen strips the soulslike formula down to its essentials, focusing on atmosphere, exploration, and deliberate combat in an open world full of possibilities. The environment is interconnected and wide, letting players slowly uncover secrets and hidden routes, whilst ensuring they are constantly tested by both enemies and other players.

At first glance, the game can appear quite basic, due to the minimalistic style and lack of visual flair seen in other titles in the genre, but the core gameplay loop is just as satisfying, forcing players to time their attacks and play carefully to avoid losing their precious Scoria. Rather than reinventing the formula, it perfects it in subtle ways, making it every bit as compelling as Dark Souls for those looking for a more calming and quiet experience overall.

Another Crab’s Treasure

A Very Bubbly Adventure

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Comedic twist, yet still mechanically demanding

An engaging world full of side content

Another Crab’s Treasure replaces the dark and gloomy environments seen in many other soulslikes and replaces them with color and vibrancy, as well as plenty of underwater-related puns. Following a humble crab named Krill, players set out on a journey to find his lost shell, battling crustaceans and all manner of aquatic creatures, and using whatever objects they can find to protect themselves.

Despite the cutesy exterior, the combat is surprisingly crisp, letting players parry and counter attacks, with their makeshift shells serving as both a defensive and offensive tool that can offer new opportunities in and out of the fight. It’s charming and fun right from the get-go, and it manages to compete with Dark Souls in just about every way possible, from the battles to the bosses, to the actual design of the beautiful yet haunting oceanic world.

Salt And Sanctuary

Brutal From Start To Finish

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Metroidvania with a huge amount of depth

Interconnecting areas are very akin to early soulslikes

Salt and Sanctuary takes heavy inspiration from games like Dark Souls, but rather than just copying or emulating the gameplay, it goes above and beyond to deliver something unique that can stand on its own two feet. The world is incredibly vast, and much like any other soulslike, it loops back on itself and snakes out in all directions, creating a constant sense of progress no matter how far into the game players have explored.

There is also a good amount of boss and enemy variety, meaning that players need to constantly adapt to new challenges and push themselves further, even when things start to turn sour. Though it doesn’t innovate too far in any one direction, it perfectly captures the feeling of entering the unknown and rewards players with a true sense of accomplishment once they finally complete their epic journey across the land.

The Surge 2

Taking What’s Rightfully Yours

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Sci-fi setting with unique enemy types

Limb removal adds a strategic layer to the combat

The Surge 2 takes a lot of lessons learned from the original and refines them even further to create a soulslike experience that can contend with the very best. The combat revolves around precision and strategy, particularly through its limb-targeting system, where specific enemy parts can be severed to gain new gear, which adds a tactical layer that rewards smart play in a way that is rarely seen elsewhere in the space.

However, even with its strong foundational mechanics and improved level design over its predecessor, it remains underappreciated, often dismissed due to its vastly different tone and slightly lower difficulty. With that said, the fighting and exploration are still incredibly well-done, rivaling the best in the genre by emphasizing player expression and mechanical depth over pure pain and punishment.

The First Berserker: Khazan

Stepping Up The Competition

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Fast, parry-centric combat

Incredible boss lineup

Khazan represents a decade and a half of soulslike game design compressed into one complete package that still feels underappreciated by the wider gaming community. Non-FromSoftware soulslikes have been on a bit of a hot streak as of late, with Lies of P being hailed as the new king, but in a lot of ways, Khazan feels even more refined and well-rounded, letting players fully take on the role of a fallen hero out for revenge.

For starters, there’s the combat, which takes the idea of parries and combos to a whole new level, letting players weave in different blocks and moves to obliterate anything that stands in their way. Then there’s the lineup of bosses, with each subsequent battle feeling fresh and engaging, as well as being incredibly tough even by soulslike standards. The linear levels may make it less appealing to long-time Dark Souls fans, but from a mechanical and design perspective, it is pretty hard to find another soulslike that even comes close to the level seen in Khazan.