AllMar 05, 2026
Looking for the best games like Soulsborne? Here are 10 brutal action RPGs with punishing bosses, deep combat, and dark worlds that absolutely respect your pain.
You finished a Soulsborne game, stared at the credits, and immediately thought: “Cool. Do it again, but different.”
That is a perfectly normal condition.
Soulsborne fans usually want the same core ingredients: weighty combat, boss fights that punish greed, worlds that hate you personally, and progression that feels earned, not handed out like a participation trophy.
This list covers the best alternatives when you want that same intensity outside the main FromSoftware run.
Mortal Shell is the “short but sharp” soulslike pick. It strips systems down, then asks you to master its harden mechanic and deliberate rhythm.
The Shell system lets you swap classes by inhabiting different warrior bodies, which is both cool and deeply unsettling in exactly the right way. Combat is slower than Sekiro or Nioh, but it has that heavy, dangerous feel where every mistake matters.
If you want a compact game with bleak vibes and solid difficulty, this one delivers without wasting your time.
Code Vein is what happens when a soulslike and anime action RPG decide to share one dramatic wardrobe.
The big win here is build flexibility. You can swap Blood Codes and abilities much faster than traditional Souls stat commitment, so experimentation is less painful. It still has stamina-based combat, dangerous enemy packs, and boss patterns that demand patience.
Yes, it is more story-forward and more stylishly dramatic than Dark Souls. No, that is not a problem. If you want soulslike tension with faster build respec energy, Code Vein is still a strong pick.
If medieval fantasy fatigue has hit you, The Surge 2 is a great palette cleanser.
Its directional parry and limb-targeting system changes the formula in smart ways. You are not just trying to survive; you are strategically cutting specific body parts for gear. That makes fights feel tactical instead of purely reactive.
The world design is less labyrinthine than classic Souls maps, but the combat loop is excellent once it clicks. The Surge 2 proves soulslikes can work outside castles, cathedrals, and swamp tax zones.
Blasphemous 2 is a 2D soulslike-metroidvania with immaculate art direction and very rude bosses.
It keeps the oppressive tone, cryptic lore energy, and punishment-reward structure Souls fans love, but translates it into tighter platforming and side-scrolling combat. Weapon variety is stronger this time, and traversal feels better from start to finish.
If you like Dark Souls for atmosphere as much as difficulty, this one absolutely gets it. Also, visually, it looks incredible while repeatedly sending you back to checkpoints.
The 2023 Lords Of The Fallen reboot is ambitious, weird, and much better than people expected.
Its signature mechanic lets you switch between Axiom (living world) and Umbral (nightmare realm), which creates clever level routing and constant tension. Combat leans heavy, builds are varied, and co-op support is robust if you want suffering with friends.
It is not as polished as peak FromSoftware, but it does enough original work to stand on its own. If you want classic dark-fantasy soulslike vibes with new systems, this is one of the better modern options.
Wo Long takes Team Ninja speed and drops it into a soulslike skeleton.
Morale rank and spirit management add a momentum layer to every fight. You are rewarded for aggression and clean deflections, so combat feels more explosive than traditional Souls titles. Boss fights are flashy, fast, and often chaotic in the best way.
If you bounced off slower games but still want high-stakes action RPG combat, Wo Long is a strong middle ground between Sekiro precision and Nioh complexity.
Yes, Jedi: Survivor is absolutely in this conversation.
It borrows plenty from Souls design: deliberate combat, dodge/parry timing, checkpoint rest systems, and XP loss pressure. Then it layers mobility, stance variety, and blockbuster pacing on top.
It is more forgiving overall, but on higher difficulties the combat asks for real discipline. If you want Souls structure without full existential dread, this is a perfect bridge game.
Also, fighting giant enemies with a lightsaber is objectively good for morale.
Nioh 2 is for players who think normal combat depth is “cute.”
Stances, ki management, weapon movesets, yokai abilities, and loot complexity make it one of the deepest combat systems in the genre. Early on, it can feel overwhelming. Later, it feels like you are conducting controlled violence at absurd speed.
This is less about lonely exploration and more about mastery through systems. If Dark Souls taught you patience, Nioh 2 teaches execution.
When it clicks, few games are this satisfying.
Black Myth: Wukong is not a pure soulslike, but Souls fans keep loving it for obvious reasons.
You get tough bosses, demanding dodge timing, layered ability usage, and that constant “one more try” loop. It is more cinematic and combo-forward than Dark Souls, but the challenge and encounter design still hit the same nerve.
If your favorite part of Soulsborne is learning boss patterns until your hands move on instinct, Wukong scratches that itch hard.
It is flashy, brutal, and very good at making you humble.
Lies Of P is the best non-FromSoftware answer to “what should I play after Soulsborne?”
Combat is tight, the parry/guard system feels meaningful, weapon assembly is genuinely creative, and bosses are excellent. It understands pacing, tone, and difficulty curves better than most games in this space.
The world design is focused, stylish, and consistent, with enough lore intrigue to keep exploration rewarding. Most importantly, it feels fair even when it is punishing.
If you only play one game on this list, make it Lies Of P. Yes, the evil Pinocchio game is that good.
If you want the closest overall Soulsborne substitute, pick Lies Of P.
If you want mechanical depth, pick Nioh 2.
If you want faster aggression and style, pick Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty or Black Myth: Wukong.
If you want something more accessible without losing the core loop, pick Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Different flavor, same outcome: you will dodge too early, panic-heal, and still come back for another attempt.
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