Quick Links
Hard to believe, butSoulslike gameshave been around for only about a decade.Introduced to the world in 2009’sDemon’s Soulsand propelled to prominence with 2011’sDark Souls, this term has become not only popular but, arguably, also overused. While most modern action RPGs with dodge rolls and difficult bosses are associated with Soulslikes, only a handful of games incorporate enough standard mechanics to fully belong to the genre.
Except for PC, thePS5has the best lineup of Soulslike games, covering both major releases by developers like FromSoftware and smaller indie projects. Regardless of whether someone is a beginner looking to dip their toes into these worlds or a veteran craving their next challenge, they might find what they are looking for in thebest Soulslike PS5 games.
A few criteria to keep in mind:
Honorable Mentions: 2D Metroidvanias/Games With Soulslike Elements
As the focus is on full 3DPS5 Soulslike games, let’s quickly highlight a few great 2D titles that feature elements from the genre. These projects are arguably better described as Metroidvanias than Soulslikes, but fans of the latter could get a kick out of them as they are generally fantastic.
Honorable Mentions: Souls-Lite Games
Is this a separate genre? Honestly, the line separating Soulslikes andSouls-lite gamescan be very thin; however, the latter tend to prioritize things like platforming and exploration over combat or feature difficult levels. These titles are usually easier than traditional Soulslikes as well.
Due to launching on the same day asThe First Berserker: Khazan,AI Limitwas overshadowed by its much bigger contemporary; however, Sense Games put together an impressive budget project that represents some Soulslike fundamentals at their peak. Set in a crumbling world with a sci-fi aesthetic, the game follows Arrisa, a blader who does not have much of a history but is looking for a reason to live. She goes on a fairly cryptic but mostly enjoyable journey across a crumbling city, although she also spends a lot of time in the sewers.
AI Limit’s best feature is its level design, which is arguably among the genre’s best recent efforts. Even though the world can feel repetitive, each area is a blast to explore, offering secrets, unlockables, and shortcuts.AI Limitrewards people who are willing to step off the beaten path, all the while not relying on overly convoluted levels. The basic combat system sticks pretty close to FromSoftware’s formula, albeit with a few twists that add a touch of novelty. For example,rather than Stamina, the game uses a Sync Meter that limits what actions players can perform and rewards aggressive play.
Aggro Crab created something special withAnother Crab’s Treasure, the only Soulslike game with an “easy” mode that revolves around a massive gun. Assuming somebody plays the game as intended, this2024 releaseconfidently pushes the genre into 3D platformer territory, a combination that works surprisingly well. As Kril, players go on a quest to find the crab’s stolen shell, a simple endeavor that quickly spirals out of control and involves taking down enemies that are physically and narratively powerful.
The story hook ties directly into the gameplay, as Kril can equip different items as makeshift shells. Along with providing protection, they also come with special abilities that can complement the player’s basic attacks. Although a bit floaty and subject to unpredictable camera movement at times, the combat is generally fast-paced, fun, and challenging enough. However,Another Crab’s Treasureshines the brightest in its other areas, especially the satisfying platforming and endearing protagonist who goes through quite a bit of development.
While most Soulslikes incorporate ranged weaponry, they are usually secondary to melee or require tailor-made builds. However, Gunfire Games’Remnantfully embraces third-person shooter action, a decision that makes this series relatively polarizing among Soulslike fans. Ultimately,Remnant: From the AshesandRemnant 2are outliers within the genre, despite still being very much Soulslike games.
Building on the ideas of the first entry,Remnant 2is bigger and mostly better, all the while being more accessible to single players. Utilizing some procedural generation to shake things up between playthroughs, Gunfire’s sequel features an ambitious dimension-hopping campaign centering around four diverse biomes that almost seem like they are from different games. Discovering and exploring these realms is a big part of the fun, although the combat is pretty great as well, as long as somebody is into third-person gunplay (melee is a small part of the equation).
Although a solid solo experience whencertain archetypesare picked,Remnant 2is far better in co-op.
Soulikes are associated with gamepad-smashing difficulty, or at least that is the perception. While certainly harder than many other action RPGs, the genre’s efforts do not need to be frustrating to be great, and quite a few of the best Soulslike games become easier as players grow more confident and familiar with the mechanics.
The First Berserker: Khazanis not one of these games. Neople’s title is pretty comfortably among the hardest PS5 projects, and it does not provide as much wiggle room to cheese tough encounters as some other titles in the Soulslike genre. More importantly,Khazanrevolves almost entirely around combat, with missions largely sticking to linear layouts that climax in a boss battle. Customization arrives in the form of skill trees for the three weapon types andeight phantoms, but this aspect is limited compared to, for example,Dark Souls.
Just to be clear,The First Berserker: Khazanhas fantastic and complex combat that is a blast to master (which players need to do if they want to complete the campaign). There just isn’t much more to the game beyond battles.
Taking afew pages fromBloodborne’s book,Lies of Pis an incredible achievement that hits the bullseye in nearly every area. Combining Victorian architecture withPinocchio, the game has an inspired setting and the artistic vision (and budget) to properly bring it to life. Although fairly vague by RPG standards, the story is a touch more direct than most other Soulslikes, which works well in this context.
Focusing on fast-paced combat that rewards assertive action over defensive measures,Lies of Pplays brilliantly for most of the campaign, with the only minor stumbles being arguably a handful of bosses that threaten to cross the line into unfair territory. Although the core combat mechanics should feel second nature to Soulslike veterans,Lies of Pintroduces a few novel ideas, including the versatile Legion Arms, P-Organ upgrades, and the option to mix-and-match blades and handles.
Demon’s Soulsgave rise to Soulslikes, and FromSoftware’s 2009 title holds up as an atmospheric masterpiece that should be played by anyone remotely interested in the genre. Even if it does not serve as a replacement for the PS3 classic, Bluepoint’s remake is a brilliant companion piece that mostly retains its ancestor’s strengths, all the while offering stellar visuals, quality-of-life adjustments, and improved combat.
Technical changes aside, the remake is a fairly authentic recreation, which helps set it apart from pretty much every otherPS5 Soulslike game. Despite being based on the genre initiator,Demon’s Soulsis quite a different beast from its successors, most of which take inspiration fromDark Soulsinstead. The biggest difference is that most of the bosses are, effectively, puzzles rather than traditional fights, and they are also quite easy.Demon’s Souls’difficulty primarily stems from the runs to the bosses, which are long, exhausting, and unforgettable.
Team Ninja has spent the best part of a decade carving a unique identity in the Soulslike sphere, producing challenging action RPGs that tend to take inspiration from Japanese history. While not equally loved, all the developer’s games have more positives than negatives, evenStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. That said, over the last few years, it kind of feels like Team Ninja has been chasing thatNioh 2high, a game that sits right up there withNinja Gaiden Blackas the company’s crowning achievement.
Believing that more is better,Nioh 2throws so much at the player, layering mechanics on top of mechanics to seemingly ensure that every button (and combo) on the controller is employed. Before long, players will have access to hundreds of weapons, armor pieces, Souls Cores, Guardian Spirits, and Yokai Skills, all of which can contribute significantly to battles. Although overwhelming initially, the gameplay’s many concepts come together surprisingly well, andNioh 2does a great job of letting players prioritize the elements that they prefer.
With a main campaign lasting roughly 50 hours (and that is not counting the expansions that are part of the Complete Edition),Nioh 2offers a ridiculous amount of content, most of which is high quality. Yes, there is some repetition, but even side quests tend to contain something new.
Fittingly enough, thegreatest Soulslike game on the PlayStation 5hails from the genre’s originators. Except forArmored Core 6, FromSoftware has largely dedicated the current console generation toElden Ring, dropping the base game in 2022, an expansion in 2024, and announcing a multiplayer spin-off for 2025. In lesser hands, the IP would be threatening to become overexposed at this point, but the quality of the releases has keptElden Ringin most people’s good graces.
Focusing solely on the vanilla version,Elden Ringbrings to life a massive sandbox that, for the most part, encourages players to carve their own path. While not the prettiest world ever, the Lands Between is an absolute joy to explore, with seemingly every part of the map including something exciting to discover. The main questline covers dozens of memorable bosses, and they are supported by a ridiculous number of optional encounters that can be found in the world or within minor dungeons. The combat is mostly an evolution ofDark Souls, albeit with even more build variety and customization options.
