Start by separating two different complaints. If you dislike seeing the world through a first-person camera, a third-person Soulslike solves that problem. If you dislike shooting or ranged weapons, however, third-person alone is not enough. Remnant II is the clearest documented example: Steam classifies it as both a third-person shooter and a Souls-like, and its combat deliberately mixes ranged and melee attacks.
There is no evidence-supported universal winner for every player in this category. The useful shortlist depends on whether you want melee to dominate, are willing to play a shooter hybrid, prefer directed or open exploration, and intend to play alone or with friends. The guide below keeps those choices separate so you can avoid a game that fixes the camera problem while preserving the combat style you dislike.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Remnant II | $24.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Remnant II | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Remnant 2 - Xbox Series X | $27.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Remnant II Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DvKgtBVBL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Remnant II Standard - PC Steam [Online Game Code] | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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First decide what “first-person combat” means to you
The phrase can describe the camera, the weapon system, or both. Those are separate design decisions, and confusing them is the fastest way to choose the wrong game.
| If you mean… | Look for… | Do not assume… |
|---|---|---|
| You dislike the first-person viewpoint | A game explicitly described by its publisher or storefront as third-person | Third-person automatically means melee-only |
| You dislike guns or constant ranged attacks | A developer description that clearly identifies melee as the dominant combat style | A Soulslike label guarantees a sword-focused game |
| You dislike both the camera and shooting | A third-person title whose official materials confirm a melee-led combat loop | A community discovery list is enough to establish the combat mix |
| You mainly want the Soulslike structure | Evidence of demanding encounters, exploration, discovery, and meaningful combat decisions | Every game carrying the label has the same difficulty, map design, or accessibility |
That distinction changes the recommendations. A third-person shooter may be ideal for someone who only wants to stop playing from a first-person view, but unsuitable for someone who wants to avoid firearms. Conversely, a melee-heavy action RPG may satisfy the weapon preference while still requiring a camera and control scheme you should verify on the official game page.
#1 Best Overall
- Intense Remnant Combat Experience - A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewards
- New Worlds to Explore - Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges
- Endless Replayability - Branching quest lines, augments, crafting, and loot rewards will test the resolve of even the most hardened players in dynamically generated dungeons and areas. Playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds. Various stories are woven throughout the different worlds, encouraging exploration and multiple revisits
- New Archetypical Progression - Expanded Archetype system provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, leveled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles
Shortlist organized by combat preference
The table is intentionally conservative. Remnant II has a detailed, current storefront description. The other names are leads surfaced by a Soulslike discovery listing or an adjacent-genre source; the available evidence does not establish all of their camera, weapon, platform, or edition details. Use the verification steps later in this guide before buying.
| Game or series | What the available evidence establishes | Best fit for | What you still need to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remnant II | Steam labels it a third-person shooter and Souls-like. Its combat combines methodical and frenetic ranged and melee play. It supports solo play or co-op with two other friends. Steam lists July 25, 2023, as the release date. | Players who want a third-person camera and accept a shooter/melee hybrid; groups that want optional co-op. | Current platform edition, physical availability, and whether the amount of shooting suits you. |
| Elden Ring | Surfaced as a Soulslike title on the discovery listing. | Readers investigating a major third-person Soulslike candidate, subject to confirmation from the current official page. | Camera, ranged-combat emphasis, difficulty options, platforms, and edition details. |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Surfaced as a Soulslike title on the discovery listing. | Readers looking for a melee-oriented candidate to investigate. | All title-specific combat, camera, platform, and availability claims. |
| Lies of P | Surfaced as a Soulslike title on the discovery listing. | Readers seeking another candidate for a melee-first comparison. | Current official description, camera, ranged options, platforms, and editions. |
| Dark Souls titles | FromSoftware describes the series around tense dungeon exploration, fearsome enemies, discovery, and a sense of accomplishment. The discovery listing includes the series among Soulslike recommendations. | Players who want the classic exploration-and-danger framework and are prepared to check the specific entry. | Entry-specific camera, combat mix, platform, remaster or edition, and current sale or physical status. |
| Star Wars Jedi series | GameSpot describes the series as combining metroidvania elements with Soulslike combat principles and intense lightsaber duels. | Readers open to an adjacent action-adventure rather than a strict Soulslike classification. | Current game-by-game camera, combat systems, platforms, and edition details. |
Why Remnant II is the clearest third-person answer
It directly addresses the camera objection
Steam’s listing calls Remnant II a third-person shooter and a Souls-like. That is unusually useful evidence for this question because it identifies the viewpoint rather than leaving it to inference from screenshots. You can see your character and the surrounding space from outside the avatar instead of aiming from a first-person perspective.
It is not a melee-only substitute
The same listing describes a mixture of methodical and frenetic ranged and melee combat. That wording matters: the game is built around switching between distance and close quarters, not around treating guns as an optional side activity. If your objection is specifically to firearms or sustained ranged play, Remnant II solves the camera issue but may fail your deeper requirement.
It supports different group sizes
Steam says the game can be played solo or with two other friends. That gives you two legitimate ways to approach it: a single-player run when you want to learn encounters at your own pace, or a three-player group when coordinated roles and shared pressure are more appealing. The source does not establish that co-op makes the game easier, so do not select it on the promise of reduced difficulty.
Its release date does not answer current edition questions
Steam lists July 25, 2023, as the release date. That is a useful identification detail, not a guarantee that every current console, generation, deluxe edition, or physical copy is available. Before purchasing, check the storefront for your exact platform and confirm whether the listing is a base game, bundle, upgrade, or downloadable edition.
How to investigate a melee-led candidate
The discovery listing names Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Lies of P, and Dark Souls titles, but it does not provide comparable primary-source specifications for each. Treat those names as a starting point for your comparison, not as proof that one is the best fit or that any of them excludes ranged combat.
Check the camera in an official gameplay description
Look for an explicit third-person statement from the developer or publisher, or watch an official gameplay trailer long enough to see the normal combat view. A promotional screenshot can be misleading if it is a cutscene, a special aiming mode, or a menu image. Record the ordinary exploration and combat perspective separately if the game changes views.
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- Introducing the sequel of the popular action shooting game!
- The sequel of Remnant: From the Ash, a hit with advanced strategic and speedy actions
- In the world after the decompression of civilization, survived humanity fights new ferocious creatures, God-like boss
- Single play or cooperate with two friends Overcome the trials of difficult and stop the extinction of humanity
Check the weapon mix rather than the genre label
Search the official description for whether bows, firearms, spells, or other ranged tools are central, optional, or absent. A game can be predominantly close-quarters while still offering ranged attacks for particular encounters. Decide in advance whether occasional ranged tools are acceptable; otherwise, “mostly melee” can still produce the same frustration you are trying to avoid.
Check the specific entry and edition
“Dark Souls” is a series, not one uniform product listing. A remaster, original release, or collection can differ in supported platforms and included content. The same caution applies to any series recommendation: identify the exact title, edition, and platform before relying on a guide or purchase page.
Do not infer difficulty from the name alone
Soulslike is associated with demanding combat, dangerous enemies, exploration, and discovery, but the available sources do not provide a consistent rating of difficulty or accessibility across these candidates. Avoid claims that one is objectively easy, beginner-friendly, or the least punishing unless the current official materials support that specific claim.
Where the Star Wars Jedi series fits
The Star Wars Jedi games are best treated as adjacent action-adventure recommendations. GameSpot describes the series as combining metroidvania elements with Soulslike combat principles and intense lightsaber duels. That makes it relevant if you want a third-person, melee-flavored adventure with interconnected exploration, but it is not evidence that every entry follows the same structure as a strict Soulslike.
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Verify each game separately. The series label does not establish a universal camera description, weapon mix, platform list, or current edition. If your requirement is specifically “no first-person combat,” confirm the normal gameplay view. If your requirement is “no ranged combat,” confirm whether the individual entry includes blasters, powers, or other distance attacks and how often the design expects you to use them.
Choose by exploration structure as well as combat
Combat preference is only half of the decision. Soulslike appeal also comes from how the world asks you to move through it.
Tense, directed exploration
FromSoftware’s official description of the Dark Souls series emphasizes tense dungeon exploration, fearsome enemies, discovery, and the accomplishment that follows overcoming danger. Choose a candidate whose official materials promise that kind of deliberate route-finding if you enjoy learning a dangerous space one section at a time.
Rank #3
- Intense Remnant Combat Experience - A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewards
- New Worlds to Explore - Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges
- Endless Replayability - Branching quest lines, augments, crafting, and loot rewards will test the resolve of even the most hardened players in dynamically generated dungeons and areas. Playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds. Various stories are woven throughout the different worlds, encouraging exploration and multiple revisits
- New Archetypical Progression - Expanded Archetype system provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, leveled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles
Broader discovery
If you prefer deciding where to go next, look for an official map or exploration description that explicitly supports that approach. Do not assume that every large action RPG uses the same openness, shortcuts, or optional areas. The discovery listing alone does not establish the map structure of Elden Ring, Sekiro, or Lies of P.
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The GameSpot description of the Star Wars Jedi series specifically mentions metroidvania elements. That signals an adjacent structure built around revisiting areas as new capabilities open routes, rather than proving that each game reproduces the exact loop of a Soulslike. It may be a stronger match if you enjoy navigation and ability-gated paths alongside lightsaber duels.
A practical decision tree
- Identify the non-negotiable. Write down whether your problem is the first-person camera, ranged weapons, or both. If it is only the camera, include shooter hybrids. If guns are also a deal-breaker, put those hybrids in a separate group.
- Set your combat tolerance. Decide whether occasional bows, spells, or other distance attacks are acceptable. Do not use “melee-focused” as a substitute for a clearly stated melee-only requirement.
- Pick your exploration preference. Choose between tense dungeon-style route learning, a more open discovery model, or metroidvania-style revisiting. Only use a category when the official description confirms it.
- Choose solo or co-op requirements. Remnant II is the candidate in this guide with explicit support for solo play and co-op with two other friends. For every other game, verify the current official multiplayer information rather than assuming that a Soulslike supports group play.
- Verify the exact product. Confirm platform, generation, edition, included expansions, controller support, and whether a physical copy exists in your region. Store listings and stock change over time.
- Test your interpretation before committing. Watch an official, unedited combat segment or use a legitimate return policy where available. Pay attention to the ordinary camera, how often ranged attacks appear, and whether exploration matches your preferred pace.
What the Soulslike label can and cannot tell you
The label is useful as a signal of deliberate combat and exploration, but it is not a standardized specification. FromSoftware’s description of Dark Souls connects the series with tense dungeon exploration, fearsome enemies, discovery, and accomplishment. GamesRadar’s guide covers a range of Soulslike experiences rather than establishing a single difficulty scale or a fixed set of mechanics.
That means the label cannot by itself tell you whether a game uses first- or third-person perspective, how much shooting it contains, whether it has adjustable difficulty, or whether it offers co-op. Those are separate checks. A game can borrow the tension and discovery loop while changing the camera, map structure, weapon system, or multiplayer model.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Solo and co-op: make the choice deliberately
When solo is the better fit
- You want to learn enemy patterns without coordinating schedules.
- You prefer controlling the pace of exploration and discovery.
- You want your camera and weapon experiments to remain private while you decide whether the combat loop suits you.
For Remnant II, solo play is explicitly supported. The sources do not establish equivalent solo details for every other title in the shortlist, so confirm them individually.
When co-op is the better fit
- You enjoy discussing routes and dividing attention during encounters.
- You want a game that explicitly supports a small group rather than assuming shared play from a community recommendation.
- You accept that additional players may change pacing, encounter balance, and the way you learn mechanics.
Remnant II supports a player plus two friends according to Steam. That is a factual capacity, not a promise that every encounter or progression system will feel better with a full party.
Platform, edition, and availability checks
Platform and physical availability are volatile. The available evidence does not establish a complete, current edition list for the shortlist, and a community-curated discovery page should be treated as a lead rather than final authority.
Rank #4
- A mix of methodical and frenetic ranged/melee combat returns with cunning enemies and large scale boss battles. Choose specific gear and weapons to optimize for the different biomes and battles ahead. Bosses will bring high-level players to team up to overcome the challenge and try to obtain the biggest rewards
- Players can travel alone or with friends as a team through strange new worlds and beyond, overrun by mythical creatures and deadly foes while trying to stay alive. There are multiple worlds to explore with different types of creatures, weapons, and items. Utilize and upgrade discovered items to take on tougher challenges
- Branching quest lines, augments, crafting, and loot rewards will test the resolve of even the most hardened players in dynamically generated dungeons and areas. Playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds. Various stories are woven throughout the different worlds, encouraging exploration and multiple revisits
- Expanded Archetype system provides players with unique passive bonuses and stunning powers. Multiple Archetypes can be unlocked during play, leveled up, and equipped together for a variety of play styles
- Open the developer, publisher, or official storefront page for the exact title.
- Confirm the platform name and hardware generation; do not assume a listing for one console applies to another.
- Check whether the product is a base game, remaster, collection, deluxe package, or upgrade path.
- For a physical purchase, verify that the disc or cartridge is actually sold in your region and that it is compatible with your console.
- Check the listing date and current stock because availability can change after publication.
- Read the controller and input notes if you are avoiding keyboard-and-mouse or need a particular control method. Steam identifies controller support for Remnant II, but that does not justify recommending a specific accessory.
Common mismatches and how to correct them
“It is third-person, so I will not have to shoot.”
That conclusion fails for Remnant II. Its Steam description explicitly combines the third-person-shooter and Souls-like labels and describes ranged and melee combat. Reclassify it as a shooter hybrid and return to the weapon-preference question.
“The discovery list says it is a Soulslike, so the camera is confirmed.”
A community-curated list identifies a useful candidate; it does not establish every technical specification. Open the official game page and confirm the normal camera before purchase.
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The sources do not provide a comparable accessibility or difficulty rating. Choose based on the documented camera, combat mix, exploration structure, and multiplayer support instead of promising an unverified difficulty ranking.
“A series description applies to every entry.”
Series-level descriptions can hide differences between games and editions. Confirm the exact entry, especially for the Dark Souls and Star Wars Jedi families.
Recommended paths for three kinds of reader
You dislike only the first-person camera
Begin with Remnant II if you are comfortable using guns as well as melee weapons. Its third-person classification is explicit, and its solo and three-player options are documented. Then investigate the other named candidates using the camera-verification checklist.
You dislike first-person combat and want melee to dominate
Start by checking the official descriptions for Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Lies of P, and the specific Dark Souls entry you are considering. The discovery listing makes them reasonable leads, but the available evidence does not justify declaring any one of them melee-only, easiest, or best for beginners.
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You want exploration plus a lightsaber-focused adventure
Investigate the Star Wars Jedi series as an adjacent option. GameSpot’s description supports its metroidvania elements, Soulslike combat principles, and intense lightsaber duels. Confirm the individual game’s camera, ranged options, platform, and edition before deciding that it meets your exact limits.
The practical answer
For a reader who simply wants to replace a first-person view, Remnant II is the most clearly documented match in this set: it is third-person, Souls-like, playable solo or with two friends, and built around both ranged and melee combat. For a reader who also wants to avoid shooting, it is a warning as much as a recommendation. Investigate the melee-oriented candidates and the adjacent Star Wars Jedi series through their current official pages, confirming camera and weapon emphasis before purchase. That two-step filter—perspective first, combat style second—prevents the most common mismatch while leaving room to choose the exploration and multiplayer structure you actually want.
Quick Recap
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