Summary

You might not believe it, but whenDemon’s Soulsfirst crawled out of the darkness onto the PlayStation 3 in 2009, it wasn’t theunparalleled success players recognizeit as today. In fact, it was something of a cult classic, a hidden gem you’d have to purposefully seek out. Not so now.

Fast-forward a decade or so and the influence of FromSoftware’s first entry in theSoulsseries can be felt everywhere - so much so that it redefined the gaming industry and inadvertently createda whole new genre. Players hungry for a fresh challenge to sink their teeth have no shortage of choice when it comes to Soulslikes, but not every effort is the universal smash hit that their forebears were. Below are some of the most polarizing offerings that divided players.

The player character from Salt and Sanctuary running through a foggy wood.

Mixing brutal combat with classic RPG mechanics and no small amount of gloomy Medieval atmosphere, Ska Studios' contribution to the Soulslike genreis a worthy contender. Players are given a surprising amount of options to customize their characters, and can pick from a variety of traditional (and some not so traditional) classes. There’s even an obligatory unbeatable boss within the first 2 minutes of gameplay.

Where some players feel it falls down though, is in the clunky controls and plethora of instant death pitfalls and traps around the mid-point of the campaign that can come across as unnecessarily unfair - even for a Soulslike. There’s also some criticism levied at the apparent lack of bosses, although the ones players do come across boast incredibly memorable designs. It’s a valiant attempt regardless, and a great experience for anySoulsveteran - just take a look at the 89% positive reviews on Steam.

The player character fighting a boss in Mortal Shell.

WhenMortal Shellfirst crawled out of the murky depths to offer itsunique take on the Soulslikegenre, players considered it a breath of fresh - if slightly musty - air. It wore its influence tightly pinned to its grimy sleeve while offering unique elements, like the ability to switch classes on-the-fly by possessing the bodies of fallen warriors littered about the world. Plus, the hardening mechanic in lieu of traditional blocking and parrying challenged players to learn new strategies to overcome mighty bosses.

However, players encountered a few teething problems at first. Some felt that the gameplay wasn’t as tight as they’d come to expect, while others found frustration with the Familiarity system that demanded the character learn everything about an item or shell to be effective. Coupled with a perceived lack of polish and punishing systems, these issues split the Soulslike community into those who were disappointed and those who just wanted to pet the cat. However, garnering positive reviews overall across all platforms,Mortal ShellIis a titleSoulslovers should try.

The player character fighting an enemy in Blasphemous.

Over time, the Soulslike genre grew to encompass different genres in an effort to broaden its appeal and introduce new mechanics - enter the 2D Metroidvania.Blasphemoustore its way onto the sceneto rapturous applause from playersfor its heady mix of Souls combat, platformer action and grim religious iconography. Taking control of the Penitent One, players explore the fallen land of Cvstodia on a pilgrimage to uncover the truth behind the hallowed Cradle of Affliction, slaying armies of enemies and epic bosses along the way.

Dripping with atmosphere and featuring a sprawling interconnected world rendered in a gorgeously Gothic art style,Blasphemousis a slam dunk for fans of brutality. Despite this, criticism was levied at the game’s confusing layout and the scant inclusion of safe places to catch one’s breath. Some also felt fights felt a little jarring with less-than-stellar hit detection, as well as a lack of meaningful character progression. That said, hardcore enthusiasts continue to flock to the pews for a flagellating experience that many feel scratches the Soulslike itch very nicely.

The player character standing in a seaside village in Outward.

Long have role-playing games promised players a virtual world that they can really lose themselves in and live another life -Outwardheard that and said “OK”. In this brutal title, players are given free rein to do, well, whatever they please. There are no set goals, just an unforgiving world to conquer and a host of secrets to discover. Where this title differed though is inits punishing survival mechanics. Fans must micromanage every single aspect of their character’s wants and needs if they plan on living past day one. Thirst, hunger, warmth, disease - there’s a lot to be wary of.

And that’s an aspect a lot of players struggled with. At times, it could feel like more of a life sim than many anticipated, where entire chunks of playtime evaporated just preparing for a venture rather than actually doing it. Some also disliked that certain quests could automatically fail if not completed in a timely manner, which ran counter to the amount of preparation needed to complete said quest - especially since the game takes a leaf fromMorrowind’sapproach to direction. Which is to say there isn’t a lot. However, if fans are yearning for a true adventure with all the trials and tribulations that entails, they’d be hard-pressed to find a more fitting title.

The player character fighting with flaming axes in Lords of the Fallen.

When it originally released in 2014,Lords of the Fallenalmost immediately split the Soulslike community for several reasons. The aesthetic and narrative captured the genre perfectly with its grim mMedieval atmosphere and hopeless struggled against seemingly insurmountable odds. Taking on the role of the tattooed sinner Harkyn, players are tasked with tackling the machinations of the tyrannical god Adyr as the dark deity enacts his revenge against humanity for his imprisonment eons ago.

That all sounds great on paper, but in practice, players found frustration at every turn. Combat is incredibly slow and clunky, with an emphasis on the weight behind every strike - which sounded amazing until it was actually in the players' hands. Some felt it quickly became tedious, while others bemoaned it as a misunderstanding of the Soulslike genre as a whole - punishing is good if it is a fair, but it must be tempered with a sense of progression and accomplishment which many thought was lacking. Still, it garnered enough of a positive response to warranta re-release in 2023which, although has issues of its own, is a testimony to the dedicated players who desperately wanted to love the original.

The player character fighting two invaders in Dark Souls 2.

After the critical acclaim ofDemon’s Soulsand its spiritual successorDark Souls, it was almost inevitable that players would get a sequel at some point - even with Hidetaka Miyazaki’s famous aversion to direct continuations of his work. Under the direction of Yui Tanimura,Dark Souls 2took the established formula and re-wrote large chunks of it to deliver a familiar experience with a few of his own unique touches. The result left fans divided with debates on its worthiness as aSoulsgame still raging many years on. Everything players expected was there - a punishing world filled to the brim with challenging bosses, near unlimited character build potential, and heaps of obscure lore to discover.

Then the cracks began to show, and not just in the decrepit ruins littering the land. Players were immediately critical of the colorful art style that moved away from its predecessors' grim aesthetic, while some felt the controls were a downgrade from the original. There was also criticism aimed at the controversial Soul Memory mechanic, which attempted to prevent malicious players targeting new arrivals to Drangleic by limiting matchmaking to the total amount of souls they accumulated. However, many still consider it to be the best iteration of PVP combat in the entire series, and plenty of praise is given to its sheer amount of content - MoreSoulsis always good.