I guess many gamers have become interested in Soulslikes due to the huge success of Elden Ring, which has sold about 30 million copies to date. It’s simply a brilliant game that can be played in many ways and, even though it is quite challenging in true From Software style, you’ll have a lot of tools at your disposal to suit your style of play. If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend starting here to see if you like it.

So you loved Elden Ring and wonder what your next challenging adventure should be. The answer to this question depends a bit on which elements of Elden Ring you liked the most, and you have some truly excellent games to choose from:

From Software (Japan):

• Demon Souls Remastered (PS5 exclusive)

  A remastered version of the original Demon’s Souls game with enhanced graphics and performance. The game looks fantastic but is considered challenging, especially for newcomers. Try it a bit later in your gaming career.

• Dark Souls Remastered

  Released in 2018, this remastered edition of the first Dark Souls game features improved graphics and performance across various platforms. It’s a true video game classic and the game features a dark, interconnected world. It is quite difficult with a steep learning curve. Great game, but a bit old school considering it was first released in 2011. This is a game I really like, but I would tell aspiring gamers to play a few other Soulslikes before this one.

• Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin

  Generally seen as the weakest in the Dark Souls trilogy, but it is considered the least punishing in terms of difficulty among the Dark Souls games. A must-play for fans of the series, but I would not start here.

• Bloodborne: The Old Hunters (PlayStation exclusive)

  Set in the gothic, nightmare world of Yharnam with faster-paced combat than the Dark Souls series. Emphasis on aggressive combat tactics, which is more challenging due to the lack of a defensive shield. A truly excellent game with many die-hard fans, but some of the bosses are among the most challenging in any Soulslike (did I hear Orphan of Kos?). I hope this game gets a remaster and is released more widely, but I cannot recommend this to relative beginners.

• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

  You play as a Shinobi in late medieval Japan, relying on stealth, exploration, and vertical traversal. It introduces a posture-based combat system that focuses on perfect parrying. This is a fantastic game that is polished like a pearl, but whereas in many other games you can play around with different builds or farm to level up, here you simply have to “Git Gud” to persevere. The boss fights here are superbly crafted and are also among the most challenging in video game history, and nothing I have done in gaming compares to beating The Sword Saint Isshin, the final boss. I cannot recommend this for beginners, though.

Recommendation: Dark Souls 3

• This is where I would continue in the From Software catalogue. It is the final installment in the Dark Souls trilogy, known for its refined gameplay mechanics and complex level design, and it includes 3 excellent DLCs with some really challenging content. The difficulty is on par with Elden Ring, featuring faster-paced combat and more aggressive enemies that demand quick reactions and adaptability. If you liked the Soulslike elements of Elden Ring, I am fairly sure you’ll appreciate this one too. There are rumors that a remake could be coming this year.

Other:

• Nioh 2 Remaster (Team Ninja, Japan)

  An excellent game that many (myself included) regard as the best Soulslike not by From Software. Set in Japan's Sengoku period, it features ocean-deep customization options and complex melee combat. Known for its high difficulty level, which requires precise player skill and strategy. It has the best New Game+ of all Soulslikes. However, it is not recommended for Soulslike beginners due to its steep learning curve and demanding gameplay.

• Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (Team Ninja, Japan)

  This game is set during the Three Kingdoms period in China and incorporates magical elements with Chinese martial arts. Customization, skills, and loot systems similar to Nioh 2, but a dynamic morale system influencing combat effectiveness is a unique feature that can make the game more suitable for Soulslike beginners interested in a more forgiving entry point compared to traditional Soulslike games.

• Lies of P (Studio8, South Korea)

  A twist on the classic Pinocchio story set in a dark art-deco world populated by murderous puppets. It includes a lying mechanic that impacts the story and provides a challenging gameplay experience focusing on tactical combat and parrying, not unlike Sekiro in some ways. Moderately suitable for Soulslike beginners, provided they are ready for some initial challenges.

• Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science, China)

  The first Chinese Triple-A game has been a huge success and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The game is inspired by the Journey to the West mythology about Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. The game looks amazing and has very good combat mechanics. I can’t really recommend the game for absolute Soulslike beginners due to its expected high difficulty and complex combat mechanics, which demand precision and patience. But if you got through Elden Ring, you can do it!

Recommendation: Star Wars - Jedi Survivor (Respawn Entertainment, USA)

• This great sequel to Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order continues the adventures of Cal Kestis. It expands on combat and exploration mechanics, catering to a wide range of players as the only game on this list with adjustable difficulty settings. It looks great and has excellent combat mechanics, especially the Lightsaber, which feels, sounds, and looks like the real deal. Great for Soulslike beginners who is looking for a more narrative-driven experience.

There are also many good so-called indie titles that could be well worth exploring, but I have reviewed major releases that I have played through at least once.

Closing Up:

Diving into Soulslike games is like stepping into a tough neighborhood: you might get knocked down a few times, but there's nothing sweeter than standing tall after a fight. So pick your poison, sharpen your sword, and get ready to show 'em what you're made of. Happy trails and happy gaming!

You don’t have to search very long to find content creators who have put together helpful guides for just about any Soulslike computer game, typically titled “Things I Wish I Knew Before Playing...” Here’s a great example from Elden Ring by Azzahvar, who has some great guides out there to help players navigate through these games.

His guide is specifically for Elden Ring, but since I'm writing for people who are not very experienced with the Soulslike genre in the first place, I wanted to put together a few general tips on what you definitely should do and some things you need to avoid at all costs. So, without further ado:

Top 10 DOs when playing a Soulslike:

1. Do expect to die a lot: Every death is a lesson, and persistence is key to success.

2. Do learn basic combat mechanics: Focus on mastering dodging, blocking, and stamina management. These fundamental skills will be used throughout the game.

3. Do focus on stamina and health: Early stat upgrades should prioritize survivability (health) and stamina, as they're crucial for both offense and defense.

4. Do stick with one weapon early on: Pick a weapon that feels comfortable and focus on upgrading it. This will provide consistent damage output early in the game.

5. Do manage your weight: Stay under your equipment load limit for faster rolls and better stamina recovery. Medium or light rolling often works best for most players.

6. Do use buffs and debuffs: Don’t overlook tools like resins, magic buffs, or poison effects. These can dramatically improve your damage or disrupt tough enemies.

7. Do learn to manage souls/currency: Spend your accumulated souls/XP frequently to avoid losing them. Bank them into upgrades or purchases whenever possible.

8. Do talk to NPCs (Non-Playable Characters): Exhaust their dialogue and learn their questlines. They can provide both help and unique equipment later.

9. Do take your time: Move slowly and cautiously. Rushing often leads to ambushes, traps, or missed opportunities.

10. Do learn from others: Watch beginner guides or streams to pick up tips and tricks.

Top 10 DONTs when playing a Soulslike:

1. Don't skip tutorials: Soulslike games have tutorials that explain key mechanics. Pay attention and practice what you learn.

2. Don't ignore level design: Pay attention to your surroundings. Soulslike games often hide traps, enemies, and treasures in plain sight.

3. Don't button mash: Every attack uses stamina, and button mashing will leave you vulnerable. Time your attacks and manage your stamina carefully.

4. Don't get greedy: It's easy to get greedy, especially when you think the boss is on the ropes, but when low on health or stamina, this often leads to unnecessary deaths.

5. Don't skip bonfires/checkpoints: Always activate them when you find them. They act as save points and healing spots.

6. Don't waste limited resources: Healing items and buffs are limited. Use them wisely, especially before or during boss fights.

7. Don't fight every enemy: Sometimes it’s better to run past enemies, especially when you’re low on resources or heading back to reclaim lost souls.

8. Don't ignore status effects: Keep items on hand to cure poison, bleed, or other status effects. They can end your run if left unchecked.

9. Don't kill NPCs: Either by accident or frustration (did I hear anybody mention Patches?), but you could miss out on great gear, a really good summon for a challenging boss fight, or just a cool, if sometimes quirky, questline.

10. Don't give up!: Soulslike games are designed to be challenging but fair. Keep trying, and you’ll find immense satisfaction in overcoming obstacles.

I hope you find some of these tips useful, and remember, there's a lot of help out there if you're struggling. In my next post, I want to go through a few of the best Soulslikes, discuss their difficulty and complexity, and make some recommendations on which ones you should play first.

So, you or your kid has just bought a new video game for 70 bucks, and you can’t get past the first boss—even after spending hours trying to beat the bastard. You’re ready to uninstall the whole f***ing game and move on. Overcoming such hardships is a key element of the Soulslike experience. It’s the developers' way of telling you that if you can’t beat the so-called tutorial boss, this game might not be for you. These games require skill and dedication and are not everyone’s idea of a good time. Better clarify that from the get-go.

In an open-world game like Elden Ring, you do not have to face Margit the Fell Omen right away. There are plenty of other things you can explore and fight to level up, find stronger weapons, and essentially get better. Basically, explore and do some level farming until you’re ready—or find a way around him, as he is in fact an optional boss. Wish I knew that the first time I played the game…

If you are playing a more linear game, like the excellent Demon's Souls remake on PS5, you have to go up against the Vanguard Demon in the first few minutes, and most rookie players end up dying. But then you’re teleported to the Hub—a safe area where you can regroup, level up, and plan your next move. You can still progress, though you’ll miss out on some unique gear and Souls, the in-game currency.

It’s when you can’t progress any further that it really sucks. Here’s a short and subjective list of some rather challenging early bosses you need to beat to progress:

• Iudex Gundyr in Dark Souls III

• Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

• Father Gascoigne in Bloodborne

• Zhang Liang, General of Man in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

• Mezuki in Nioh 2

• Pieta, She of Blessed Renewal in Lords of the Fallen

This is where it is Game Over for many, but it doesn’t need to. There are tons of great guides out there—from Let’s Plays where people stream their first playthrough of a new game to curated 100% walkthroughs of the entire game. You’ll find in-depth boss strategies explaining how to take down bosses by focusing on the right build and exploiting their weaknesses (if any).

If you’re still struggling, there are guides showing you how to Cheese a particular boss as a last resort. Cheesing basically means using a glitch or some other unintended or “unfair” method that doesn’t require much gaming skill to beat the boss. This is obviously frowned upon by many in the gaming community, but hey—if you paid good money for the game, you can do whatever you like, in my opinion. Have fun, and don’t take things too seriously!

Here are a few links to some excellent content creators:

• Fextralife (in debt boss strategy, equipment comparison and upgrade information, etc.)

• FightinCowboy on YouTube (great Walkthroughs and more)

• Tyrannicon on YouTube (Boss strategies including cheesing - great fun)

Hope you find this useful and that it helps you progress enough to feel like a Gaming God. Next time, we’ll go through the most useful DOs and DON’Ts when playing a Soulslike.

I have always had an interest in videogames, but it was kind of an on-and-off relationship where I would play the new Legend of Zelda from Nintendo when it came out or Need for Speed, Grand Theft Auto V, and so on—casual gaming, in other words.

Then came the pandemic, and I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. So, I dusted off the old PS4 and played God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and Horizon Zero Dawn. I also finally got around to playing The Witcher 3. These are all great games, and they really helped me get through that crazy period with my sanity intact, allowing me a break from reality for a while.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, I felt the need to escape the evening news every now and then. I decided to try out From Software’s epic Elden Ring, which launched around the same time. This was my first so-called Souls game, and it was quite different from the games I had played up until then in a number of important ways:

• You have to select a starting class to suit your style of play and find and upgrade the right gear for your build—this can be a bit bewildering at first as there are many choices, and it is not always clear to a noob (beginner) what the various stats mean.

• Storytelling is sparse, and you have to figure things out yourself (or check out the many excellent content creators on YouTube). The consequences of your choices are not always obvious at first.

• Crucially, there only one level of difficulty, and the default option ensures you’ll die a lot. And then, there is a penalty for dying unless you can get back to retrieve your Runes.

Somehow, I persevered, found better gear, upgraded my character, and got better until I was finally able to kill Margit the Fell Omen, the tutorial boss who guards Stormveil Castle, the first dungeon, and is a big hurdle for many. After about 100 hours or so, I beat the final boss. I had won, and it was my biggest moment in gaming thus far. I had built my own character from scratch and taken him through this unforgiving hellscape called The Lands Between and killed everything in the process. It felt great. I don’t know how many times I died, but that is part of the learning process, and victory feels sweeter when it’s hard-earned.

Since then, I have played quite a few Soulslike games and love them all. Everyone who enjoys gaming and a really good challenge should give it a go. Perhaps you have kids playing some of these games and you want to score some credibility points? You don’t have to be 16 years old with super-fast reflexes. I remember helping the teenage son of a friend beat The Wandering Wight in Black Myth Wukong (strictly speaking perhaps not a true Soulslike, but a great game nevertheless). I am in my 50s, and if I can take down these bosses, so can you.

My goal with this blog is to write about Soulslike and similar Triple-A action games for people who are new to this and want to understand what the hype is all about and perhaps try it out themselves. I will share recommendations, tips, and tricks to help you on your path to Git Gud!