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Best Soulslike Games to Play If You Enjoy Fresh Takes on the Genre

By Freedom251 Team · · 4 min read

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For fresh takes on Soulslike conventions, start with Lies of P for parry-focused combat and customizable weapons, Elden Ring for open-world freedom, or Remnant 2 for ranged fighting and co-op. Nine Sols and Another Crab’s Treasure bend the formula further, through 2D exploration and a colorful underwater setting. “Soulslike” has no official, fixed definition, so the picks below include both close fits and clearly labeled genre-adjacent games.

What makes a Soulslike—and how firm is the label?

Common Soulslike conventions include losing resources when you die, enemies returning after you rest, and demanding boss fights. Those traits are useful signposts, not an official checklist: genre boundaries are debatable, and some games sit as comfortably under labels such as Soulsborne or Metroidvania.

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The recommendations here are organized by what they change: combat, world structure, tone, or play style. That makes it easier to choose by the experience you want rather than by a supposedly definitive genre ranking.

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Which game should you choose?

Game What feels different Structure or play style How it fits
Lies of P Parry-focused combat; assemble weapons from interchangeable blades and hilts Linear stages; solo action Close Soulslike fit
Elden Ring Freedom to leave a difficult encounter and explore elsewhere Open-world exploration; solo action FromSoftware Soulsborne game
Remnant 2 Rifles, shotguns, and pistols shift the emphasis toward ranged combat Co-op encouraged for up to three players Shooter-oriented Soulslike variation
Nine Sols Rhythmic deflections and parries 2D interconnected exploration Action Metroidvania; Soulslike-adjacent
Another Crab’s Treasure Deliberate, challenging combat in a colorful underwater world Action adventure Soulslike conventions with a lighter tone

Best picks by the kind of change you want

Lies of P: deliberate parries and weapon assembly

Choose Lies of P if you want a focused action game built around careful timing rather than a sprawling world. Its linear level progression keeps the experience directed, while its Pinocchio-inspired premise gives the familiar challenge loop a distinctive identity: the setting is a grim, Belle Époque-inspired puppet city.

#1 Best Overall
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Lies of P - PlayStation 5
  • The essence of battle: Wield and master various weapons with unique combinations of Fable Arts and Legion Arms to find out what fits your playstyle
  • Variety of attraction: Enjoy the beautiful, yet dark atmosphere of the Belle Époque era and explore the once prosperous city of Krat
  • Lie system: P is made of a puppet's heart, but he learns how to think and feel like a human by lying
  • Legacy of the classics: The city of Krat, the characters, and even the smallest objects reflect our deepest admiration for the original tale of Pinocchio

Its weapon system adds another layer of choice. Blades and hilts can be mixed and matched, so assembling a weapon becomes part of how you shape your approach to combat. It is a strong fit for players who want close, deliberate encounters and a clear path through the game.

Elden Ring: a way around the wall

Elden Ring is a FromSoftware Soulsborne game, not an outside-studio imitation. It belongs on a guide to fresh genre takes because its open world changes how you respond to a difficult fight: instead of treating every obstacle as a mandatory immediate test, you can leave, explore another route, and strengthen your character elsewhere.

Rank #2
Lies of P (PS5)
  • Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is an action souls-like set in a dark Belle Époque world.
  • As the puppet P, players must wind their way through the streets of the ruined city of Krat, crafting weapons from the materials found in the world and interacting with the remaining few who manage to survive in this hellscape.
  • The more lies told, the more human players become, with all the advantages and disadvantages it entails.
  • Experience profound narrative choices and deeply customizable character progression as you guide P on his unrelenting journey to become human.

That freedom makes it the natural answer to “What should I play after Elden Ring?” if what you want is more room to explore and choose your next challenge. For a more linear alternative, look to Lies of P; for a different combat perspective, try Remnant 2.

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Remnant 2: a shooter’s combat rhythm

Remnant 2 changes the expected close-range emphasis with ranged weapons, including rifles, shotguns, and pistols. Its action-adventure structure retains demanding encounters, but shooting shapes the moment-to-moment combat in a way a melee-first game does not.

Rank #3
Lies of P [Korean Edition] for PS5
  • This is Korean Version released by SIEK. Region free title so you can play it on your system.
  • Korean Edition supports Multi language Subtitles: English, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Polish, French, Korean

It also encourages cooperative play for up to three players. Pick it if you want a Soulslike-leaning action game that can be tackled with others and puts firearms at the center of the fight.

Nine Sols: 2D exploration and deflection

Nine Sols is best described as an action Metroidvania with Soulslike-adjacent combat, rather than an unambiguous Soulslike. It pairs a broad, interconnected 2D map with parry- and rhythm-focused fighting, set in a science-fiction world.

Rank #4
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Its blend suits players who want to explore and unlock routes while learning the timing of deflections. The Metroidvania structure is a substantial part of the experience, so choose it for that combination rather than expecting a conventional 3D Soulslike.

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Another Crab’s Treasure: familiar challenge, brighter surroundings

Another Crab’s Treasure carries recognizable Soulslike conventions into a colorful underwater world. Its combat is deliberate, enemies can be challenging, and death comes with resource loss. The change is primarily tonal: it offers a vivid setting rather than the grim, gothic atmosphere often associated with the genre.

Try it if you want familiar challenge patterns in a setting that feels less solemn. Its lighter presentation does not mean the combat abandons the genre’s demands.

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Other variations worth considering

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

For faster, boss-focused action, Sekiro is notable for its posture and deflection system. It is a distinct interpretation of Soulsborne conventions, not simply another game with the same combat loop.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long uses mission-based progression, making it a useful option if you prefer a sequence of missions to open-world roaming.

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Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong is another varied action-game interpretation covered alongside Soulslike and Soulsborne recommendations. The available descriptions do not establish a shared difficulty scale for these games, so treat these picks as differences in structure and combat—not as a ranking from easiest to hardest.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
SaleBestseller No. 4
Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5)
Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5)
Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…; Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
$26.97
SaleBestseller No. 5

How to make your choice

  • Want focused, parry-heavy combat? Choose Lies of P.
  • Want to decide when to return to a hard encounter? Choose Elden Ring for open-world routes and room to explore.
  • Prefer firearms or co-op? Choose Remnant 2.
  • Want a 2D map and precise deflections? Choose Nine Sols, keeping its Metroidvania structure in mind.
  • Want a brighter setting without giving up demanding combat? Choose Another Crab’s Treasure.
  • Want a more mission-based route? Consider Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty; for posture- and deflection-driven fights, consider Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Action gamesElden RingLies of PNine SolsRemnant 2Soulslike games

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