Best Soulslike games 2021

Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 (Image credit: FromSoftware)

FromSoftware's Dark Souls series (along with the studio's offshoot titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) has taken the gaming community by storm over the years. In fact, Dark Souls is so popular that it has spawned its own genre of game — the Soulslike. Soulslikes are characterized by Dark Souls-style gameplay that typically features dodge-rolling, melee combos, levels filled with challenging enemies and shortcuts, and intense boss fights. If you're a Dark Souls fan and you're looking for similar games to play, check out some of the best Soulslike games — many of which are among the best Xbox games available.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

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All of these Soulslikes are excellent games, and I recommend checking them all out if you have the time and patience to overcome each one. However, if I had to recommend just one, it would be Nioh 2: The Complete Edition. It's easily the most fluid and engaging Soulslike I've ever played, and the wealth of content it offers means that you'll get a lot of bang for your buck.

If you're sick of the standard dark fantasy aesthetic that most Soulslikes feature, give The Surge and The Surge 2 a look. The dystopian sci-fi style of both games is a breath of fresh air for the genre, and both also have strong gameplay that any Souls fan will love.

Finally, give Hollow Knight a try if you're looking for something with a different perspective. Its fluid movement and platforming, difficult-but-engaging melee combat, non-linear exploration, and intense boss fights all make for a fantastic Soulslike that fans of the genre shouldn't miss.

If you're also interested in other types of RPGs that don't lean into Dark Souls territory too much, check out our roundups of the best Xbox One role-playing games and the best PC role-playing games.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.