The 12 Best Games Like Dark Souls That Will Test Your Persistence

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While From Software pioneered the punishing action-RPG genre with Dark Souls, numerous developers have since refined and expanded upon this challenging formula. These games demand meticulous observation, precise timing, and strategic adaptation—skills that transform initial frustration into triumphant mastery through persistent effort and learning.

Our curated selection highlights titles that excel in combat depth, memorable encounters, and mechanical innovation. Each game offers unique approaches to the genre’s signature difficulty while providing satisfying progression systems that reward player improvement and dedication.

Platform Availability: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Initial Release: March 13, 2020

Team Ninja distinguished itself early as a developer capable of both honoring Souls-like fundamentals and introducing innovative combat mechanics. Nioh 2 represents the pinnacle of this approach, featuring a sophisticated stance system that enables real-time tactical adjustments during combat encounters.

The sequel builds substantially upon its predecessor with expanded weapon categories, enhanced skill trees, and diverse Yokai adversaries. These supernatural entities utilize crimson blossoms to augment their capabilities, creating dynamic combat scenarios that test both reflexes and strategic thinking.

Among the most entertaining additions is the Scampuss transformation ability, allowing players to become spherical feline creatures that can roll through enemies while deploying damaging spikes. This exemplifies the game’s balance between serious combat depth and moments of whimsical fun.

Available Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5

Launch Date: March 27, 2025

The First Berserker: Khazan caters specifically to players who prioritize elaborate boss encounters over extensive level exploration. You embody a betrayed military commander resurrected through dark pact magic, compelled to serve supernatural forces in exchange for renewed existence.

This narrative framework supports concentrated combat experiences against multi-phase adversaries with complex attack patterns and environmental interactions. The reduced emphasis on traversal allows focused development of intricate boss mechanics that challenge both execution and adaptive thinking.

Combat emphasizes mastering supernatural abilities granted by your otherworldly patron, creating a power fantasy tempered by demanding skill requirements. Success depends on understanding ability synergies and timing windows rather than traditional exploration and puzzle-solving.

Mastering Souls-like combat requires understanding several core principles beyond basic mechanics. Proper stance management in games like Nioh 2 enables optimal damage output and defensive positioning against specific enemy types. High stance delivers powerful but slow attacks, while low stance prioritizes evasion and quick strikes.

Resource conservation represents another critical skill—managing stamina, mana, or special ability cooldowns separates competent players from masters. Learning to balance aggressive offense with conservative resource management prevents being caught vulnerable during critical moments.

Advanced players should study enemy behavior patterns extensively, noting telegraphing animations that indicate specific attacks. This knowledge allows preemptive positioning and appropriate counter-measure selection, dramatically reducing encounter difficulty through preparation.

Common mistakes include over-committing to attack chains, neglecting environmental advantages, and failing to adapt strategies when initial approaches prove ineffective. Successful players remain flexible and observant, constantly adjusting tactics based on enemy responses and combat flow.

Crafted by the visionary team behind the acclaimed Nioh series, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty transports players to a mythologically rich ancient China during the turbulent Romance of the Three Kingdoms era. Your journey begins with personal tragedy as your village is destroyed, forcing your custom character to join the conflict against the Yellow Turban Rebellion while pursuing vengeance for fallen kin. Veterans of Dynasty Warriors will immediately identify legendary figures including Liu Bei accompanied by his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, plus the strategic mastermind Cao Cao – each commander protected by powerful Chinese mythological beast companions that enhance their combat capabilities.

The combat system centers on poise mechanics reminiscent of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, where engagements frequently hinge on breaking enemy stance through perfectly timed deflections. You’ll battle alongside AI companions against diverse foes spanning human soldiers, wildlife, and supernatural creatures across checkpoint-based levels offering extensive move customization. These allies participate in major boss encounters, though their survival directly correlates to your defensive proficiency and ability to diminish enemy morale through successful counters. Wo Long delivers consistent combat excellence throughout its substantial 20+ hour campaign, though newcomers should mentally prepare for the notoriously challenging Lu Bu confrontation that tests every skill learned.

Blasphemous stands apart in the 2D metroidvania genre through its distinctive pixel art aesthetic and unapologetically violent themes. As the Penitent One, you’re tasked with delivering merciless divine punishment to demonic entities plaguing the land. The combat prioritizes parry mechanics as essential tools for banishing creatures, complemented by excessively brutal finishing moves that frequently involve cranial destruction. The game’s philosophy suggests that proper evil eradication necessitates visceral actions like violently extracting internal organs from defeated foes.

This experience leans more heavily into traditional metroidvania design principles than souls-like elements, requiring frequent backtracking using newly acquired abilities to uncover hidden areas and collectibles. Despite its grim atmosphere, Blasphemous incorporates dark humor elements, exemplified by an early boss encounter where the protagonist collects his vanquished enemy’s blood in his distinctively shaped helmet before performing a self-cleansing ritual. The game contains intensely graphic content that may disturb sensitive players, with its sequel maintaining similar visceral intensity for those who can endure it.

Ashen represents a fascinating fusion where Dark Souls’ punishing combat philosophy intersects with the minimalist aesthetic sensibilities of games like Runescape and Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery. The simplified character designs create visual appeal that remains engaging across extended play sessions. Your protagonist’s quest for sanctuary in a sun-deprived world demands mastery of stamina-based fighting systems to overcome the shadowy threats that permeate the landscape. The game facilitates alliances with fellow travelers encountered during your journey, whether AI-driven companions or cooperative players navigating the hazardous wilds. Alternatively, you retain complete autonomy to pursue a solitary path through the desolate territories.

Rather than employing tightly constructed linear levels, Ashen features expansive environments concealing dangers beneath the surface. While the core experience contains limited boss confrontations with a single additional encounter in downloadable content, the game prioritizes thorough investigation of open-world zones and treacherous subterranean complexes riddled with environmental hazards and surprise attacks. Though its runtime may be comparatively brief, Ashen leaves lasting impressions through its carefully crafted atmospheric storytelling and exploration-focused design philosophy.

Ashen’s technical specifications reveal broad accessibility across modern gaming platforms, while its August 2019 launch positioned it during a peak period for souls-like genre innovation. Gunfire Games, the development studio behind this title, demonstrates remarkable versatility in adapting core souls-like principles to a more accessible framework. The game’s availability on Nintendo Switch particularly enhances its appeal for portable gaming enthusiasts seeking deep, atmospheric experiences on the go.

What emerges when firearms integrate with souls-like fundamentals? Remnant: From The Ashes delivers precisely this hybrid experience, supporting full cooperative play as adventurers traverse a devastated world overflowing with monstrous entities called the Root that demand elimination through extensive weapon arsenals. The advancement system substantially incorporates loot mechanics reminiscent of Destiny and The Division, creating variable difficulty curves contingent upon random item acquisition. This dynamic narrative structure combined with procedural progression systems generates substantially higher replay value compared to numerous other shooters with comparable weapon-focused gameplay.

Remnant: From The Ashes adopts a more lenient approach than traditional souls-likes, eliminating material penalties upon death. However, this accessibility doesn’t translate to reduced challenge—the game remains uncompromising in testing player skills. While solo campaign completion remains possible, survival becomes significantly more manageable with reliable allies providing covering fire, making trustworthy companions essential for containing these formidable adversaries. The availability of Remnant II provides natural progression for enthusiasts who appreciate this combat methodology, though experiencing the original installment first establishes crucial foundational understanding.

For optimal Ashen performance, prioritize stamina conservation during exploration—unexpected enemy encounters demand available endurance reserves. Master the dodge-roll timing against larger foes since perfect evasion creates critical counterattack opportunities. In Remnant, weapon mod acquisition should guide your build development; certain mod combinations dramatically alter combat effectiveness against specific enemy types. A common mistake involves neglecting secondary weapon upgrades—maintaining balanced armament development prevents encountering damage output limitations during later game segments.

Advanced Remnant tactics include manipulating world regeneration to target specific loot drops, potentially reducing grind time by 15-20 hours for completionists. Team composition significantly impacts difficulty; balanced squads with complementary weapon types outperform homogeneous loadouts. When transitioning to Remnant II, expect approximately 30-40 hours of gameplay to reach competency if you’ve mastered the original’s mechanics. Both games share DNA with titles featured in our Complete Guide regarding strategic positioning and team coordination essentials.

Understanding class synergies becomes crucial—consult our Class Guide for principles applicable to both Ashen’s companion system and Remnant’s archetype combinations. Weapon proficiency development mirrors concepts discussed in our Weapons Unlock guide regarding specialization benefits. New players should allocate 25-30 hours for Ashen completion and 35-45 hours for Remnant’s core campaign, with additional time for optional content exploration.

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