Soulslikes are a very beloved and highly judged genre, as fans clamor for something to scratch the itch of a challenging action game with a strong focus on exploration, world-building, and build variety while waiting for FromSoftware’s next release. And, we don’t blame them, as Soulslikes are some of our favorite titles, especially when done correctly, which seems dang-near impossible to pull off.
Not only does your combat need to feel engaging and rewarding, but the boss encounters must toe the line of being extremely challenging, while not feeling overly cheap or grueling just for the sake of it. On top of that, if your world isn’t fun or interesting to poke around in, it will likely be discarded relatively quickly. Fortunately, some top-tier releases in the genre hit the ground running this year, making them a must-play!
Mandragora: Whispers Of The Witch Tree
Kicking things off is a bit of a unique one, as Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is likely the least known entry on this list, but is still worthy of your time if you’re a fan of the Soulslike genre. Despite being 2D, this title offers all the goods, making it one of the best offerings in the genre this year. From its challenging combat to its lovely interconnected world and heavy focus on exploration, everything you want is here and done surprisingly well.
8 Best Soulslike Anime
These soulslike anime are a fantastic watch for fans of the genre, just make sure you can handle the gore.
Mandragora offers a solid class-based system, allowing you to prioritize your playstyle while experimenting with other systems and mechanics to make the most out of your build. If you’re looking for a more unique take on the Soulslike formula, we cannot recommend this hidden gem of 2025 enough!
Lies Of P: Overture
Next up is a title that likely needs no introduction if you’re a fan of the genre, but the Overture expansion for Lies of P is absolutely fantastic and deserves to be on this list, even if it’s only DLC. If you loved the base version of the game, this expansion gives you even more of that exhilarating combat, meaningful exploration, and robust boss design. Like its base offering, Neowiz and Round8 knocked it out of the park with this one.
Lies of P is as close as we’re going to get to a game that nails that FromSoftware vibe and core design, and Overture only gives you more of that. And, in some cases, it’s even better. If you have yet to dive into Lies of P for whatever reason, now is the best time to dive into it, as you will have dozens to hundreds of hours worth of one of the best Soulslikes out there to make your way through!
Elden Ring Nightreign
Is it cheating to include Elden Ring Nightreign on this list? Despite being an odd roguelike co-op PvE experience, it still has all the bells and whistles you’d expect in the base game of Elden Ring, making it a wonderful and refreshing take on the genre that is surprisingly intoxicating. We were blown away by how fun Nightreign was and lost countless hours playing with friends, desperately trying to take down the Nightlords and craft the perfect builds.
Elden Ring Nightreign is one of the best co-op multiplayer experiences we’ve had in quite a while, and that’s saying something, as our expectations for this thing were very low. Still, if you’re looking for a Soulslike experience you can share alongside friends, there’s no denying that Nightreign offers a deeply satisfying and rewarding experience that makes it a must-play and one of the best releases of the year!
The First Berserker: Khazan
Following that, we have The First Berserker: Khazan, one of the best Soulslikes out there, as it possesses one of the most rewarding combat systems out there, complete with some of the most brutal and unforgiving boss encounters for you to ram your head against for hours on end until you finally defeat them. And what’s even more impressive is that, despite its immense difficulty, it manages to feel still fair and doable, which is a very hard line to walk.
Overall, The First Berserker: Khazan is first and foremost a Soulslike for players who love the combat and challenge the genre often offers. While its world design and exploration are decent, it’s not the best, which is a bummer. If they nailed that aspect, it would easily be up there with the likes of Lies of P or even some of FromSoftware’s works. Still, they nailed every other aspect you could hope for, making it one of 2025’s best Soulslikes!
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Ahh, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, a very interesting Soulslike that released this year, has some of the best world design out there, as you will have several moments where your mind breaks when you open an unassuming door that leads you back to the start of the game. Its massive, interconnected world is stunning and thrilling to explore and pick apart, and its combat offers tremendous potential and build variety.
However, in contrast to something like The First Berserker: Khazan, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers can be a bit on the easy end, as you can get some powerful weapons and builds right out the gate, allowing you to steamroll some of the early and mid-game bosses. Despite that, its strong focus on exploration and storytelling more than makes up for it, and it offers tons of replayability, with many endings and a robust New Game Plus that will keep you locked in for hours on end!
AI Limit
Last and certainly not least is the fantastic AI Limit, which is arguably one of this year’s best Soulslike, if not THE best. It doesn’t do anything super game-changing, but it keeps its head down and offers a solid experience from beginning to end. If you want a more scaled-back approach to the genre that doesn’t try to screw you over with odd traps or obtuse and overly-tuned bosses, this is the title for you.
AI Limit is simplistic in its design, and we love that about it. It feels like a direct callback to the earlier entries of the genre, letting its exploration and combat speak for itself. While the world design is better in a game like Wuchang, and the combat is leagues better in Khazan, AI Limit does an excellent job at providing balance, giving you the best of both worlds. It won’t be excruciatingly challenging or as neatly put together, but it’s still remarkably fun, rewarding, and worthy of your time and attention!
Soulslikes That Perfectly Balance Difficulty And Enjoyment
Want to kick back and relax with a Soulslike? Here are the best titles that balance their difficulty to prevent you from raging too much!
