Dark Soulshas set a difficulty standard when it comes to boss battles, and ironically, theSouls-likesubgenre has become one of the most popular video game branches riffing offFromSoftware’scombat. Additionally, the gothic, dark fantasy aesthetic of the Dark Souls franchise flavors the subgenre, and the catalog is growing tenfold every year with beautiful but punishing titles.
The genre has offered stunning triple-A games in the last three years, includingDemon’s SoulsandElden Ring, but if you’re biding your time until Dark Souls 4, there are plenty of games with the same vibe to keep you entertained - and you don’t even need to satisfy a hefty price tag to play. Here are 10 Souls-like games available to play right now for under $20.
Salt and Sanctuary
Hollow Knight
Blasphemous
Remnant: From the Ashes
Darksiders 3
Bloodborne
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Striking graphics with challenging combat await in these 10 Metroidvania games available to buy for under $15.
10. The Surge
Welcome to CREO
Deck 13 and Focus Entertainment present this 2017 sci-fi action RPG where you work for a megacorporation within a heavy-duty exoskeleton suit to combat malfunctioning robots, rogue AIs, and altered co-workers. This is a solid addition to the Souls-like category, and it’s worth picking up for only $14.99 on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
If you’re familiar with Doug Liman’s 2013 science fiction film, Edge of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt,The Surgegives off similar vibes, bringing exoskeletons to the forefront once again. Conquering the combat in this title is also similar to the film’s tagline: “Live, die, repeat,” whereby learning enemy rhythms is crucial to succeeding. We gave the title an 8/10 inour review, labeling it a “standout Souls-like,” and you may also pick up the game’s Augmented Edition for $24.99 on Steam.
9. Salt And Sanctuary
A grungy rampage
WHERE TO PLAY
This dark fantasy combines the gameplay styles and design of the Souls-like and Metroidvania subgenres to produce a haunting 2D adventure from Ska Studios, where you traverse abandoned cities, gruesome dungeons, and ancient relics as a doomed sailor battling creatures in style. Pick up Salt and Sanctuary for your chance to defeat unspeakable evils for only $17.99 on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
This game is the predecessor to 2022’s Salt and Sacrifice, and the inspiration this title took from the Dark Souls franchise is evident in its monstrous bosses, strenuous combat, and rich, eldritch art style. The fact that this game has no map adds to the isolating experience of a Souls-like, similar to the way Elden Ring refused to point you in the right direction. IfSalt and Sanctuaryis exactly the type of game you’re looking for, then consider checking out Ska Studios’ other work within The Skallection Bundle on Steam, where you can own this game, the sequel, Charlie Murder, and The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile for $49.26.
8. Hollow Knight
Become the warrior of Hallownest
The 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania unites you with insectoid warrior, The Knight, navigating the fallen kingdom of Hallownest that’s tainted by a supernatural disease. Encounter friendly and hostile insectoids in this side-scroller placed within a beautifully dense atmosphere, and you can pick up your copy today for only $14.99 on Steam.
This haunting journeybattling hostile insectoidswithin a map ofsubterranean locationscan be yours for under $20, and you may also get the officialHollow Knightsoundtrack and the Gods & Nightmares DLC for under $10 each. If you’ve finished Hollow Knight, and you’re biding your time until the next Metroidvania, you may not have to wait long as Hollow Knight: Silksong is expected to release this year.
7. Blasphemous
The ultimate gothic hack-n-slash
The Game Kitchen honed addictive gameplay in the Souls-like Blasphemous, enough to make it a staple entry in the genre. Players control a silent knight called the Penitent One who battles a host of enemies in a fictional region with his sword, Mea Culpa. This gothic, religious adventure full of bloody battles, beautiful graphics, and a haunting score is available for only $6.24 marked down from $24.99 on Steam and the PlayStation Store.
If this is your first time embarking on aBlasphemousjourney, welcome to Cvstodia, and prepare for a poetically punishing but atmospheric ride through the blood-soaked region. To become lore savvy, it’s recommended to play the original 2019 game first before its sequel, Blasphemous 2, which we gave fifth place to in our list of theBest Indie Souls-Like Gamesfor its beautiful animation, smooth gameplay, and mechanical feats in the genre.
6. Thymesia
Corvus is a mysterious protagonist behind the plague doctor’s mask
OverBorder Studio released a grueling singleplayer action RPG following protagonist Corvus, who uses a plague weapon system and disease to gain an advantage against the deathly kingdom. Playing into the overbearing aversion to death, Thymesia is another game to note in the Souls-like department, and you can dive into the atmosphere for $17.99 on PlayStation.
Blending the sinister design of the plague doctor’s uniform with the mystery ofBatman’sCourt of Owls, the main character, Corvus, is a badass opponent to contest some of Thymesia’s sickly bosses. Gameplay is short but satisfactory with a unique gameplay mechanic being the plague weapon system, and every player will surely become bewitched by the overall aesthetic. If you’re willing to spend a little more to bag similar titles, you can take advantage of Steam’s Souls-like Bundle that pairs Thymesia with Blasphemous for $28.11.
5. Remnant: From The Ashes
Fight as a remnant of humanity
The co-op action RPG, Remnant: From the Ashes, tasks you and two other survivors of an evil uprising to take down enemy hordes and rebuild humanity from the ground up. The PlayStation Store is currently offering a massive 70% discount on this title, reducing the cost from $39.99 to $11.99.
If you’d rather save the world yourself,Remnant: From the Ashesoffers a singleplayer campaign alongside co-op, if you’re feeling more like the lone wolf narrative. At first glance, the use of guns is a little outside the norm for a Souls-like (aside from Bloodborne’s firearms) but the solid narrative and ability to create an interesting character to play will have you hooked in no time. If you’re itching for more after your playthrough, be sure to check out Steam’s offer on the Remnant Bundles collecting several games from the franchise.
Hone your Kung Fu skills
This martial arts beat ‘em up will put you on a path of revenge with 5 game modes, 15 locations, and 120 challenges to trump, all against cinematic, high-octane action while you hunt down the assassins that took out your family. Secure your copy of Sifu for just $17.49, thanks to the PlayStation Store’s generous 65% discount.
Sifudoesn’t showcase the dark fantasy aesthetic nor the gothic tone, but it does feature very difficult combat to master. There are also new abilities, enemies, and shortcuts on individual levels to discover as the game progresses, capturing the live, die, repeat method found in most Souls-like games. As long as you resign yourself to the fact that you will likely be very bad at Sifu to begin with, learning the ins and outs is part of the journey. Don’t forget to try out the Sifu Deluxe Edition if you want to bag extra DLC content and Steam currently has a 10% discount on the purchase.
3. Darksiders 3 Blades & Whip Edition
A fresh take on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Prepare for a fiery, hack-n-slash adventure taking place during the apocalypse, where you play as Fury, one of the Four Horsemen, who must destroy the Seven Deadly Sins. The PlayStation Store is once again offering an incredible discount with 80% off the Blades & Whip Edition of Darksiders III, reducing the price to only $15.99.
The Blades & Whip Edition collects the Darksiders Warmastered Edition,Darksiders 3, and Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Editon, alongside the Keepers of the Void and The Crucible add-ons. Souls-like fans will recognize the respawn by the fire element as well as the healing mechanics, but the art style of this particular entry adds a refreshing take on the subgenre alongside Sifu. You can also pick up the Darksiders 3 Deluxe Edition on Steam to get your hands on a bunch of digital extras to enhance your gameplay.
Ready to die?
The Nioh series by Team Ninja is acclaimed for its Japanese-infused lore and Souls-like combat, boasting viciously hard battles against supernatural Yokai while your lone wanderer travels the country during the age of samurai. As a staple game in the genre, it’s a blessing to see Nioh with such a low price tag on the PlayStation Store and you can pick up your copy for just $19.99.
When the tagline asks “Ready to die?” you know you’re in the Souls-like department. Not only doesNiohboast dark fantasy graphics and unforgiving combat, but the Japanese-influenced score also adds to the experience. Similar to most Souls-like games, this will be a hard title to conquer for newcomers to the genre, but we all have to start somewhere. If you’re a Souls-like veteran, however, and you’re looking for extra Nioh content, consider buying the Complete Edition on Steam, which contains the full game, as well as the three expansions with additional story chapters: Dragon of the North, Defiant Honor, and Bloodshed’s End
1. Bloodborne
Birth of the Soulsborne genre
One of the most influential games in the Souls-like genre, alongside the Dark Souls franchise, is Bloodborne, set in the ancient city of Yharnam that flaunts the gothic vibe we know and love. Macabre enemies in a dying world lurk around every corner while you play the Hunter. If you want to experience a true Souls-like game, this is the one for you, and gameplay is at your fingertips for $19.99 on the PlayStation Store.
In addition to selling the base game for under $20, the PlayStation Store also has the Complete Edition Bundle on offer for only $17.49, which includes the full game plus The Old Hunters DLC expansion. The combat inBloodborneis ranked high alongside the brutal encounters inDark Souls 3and Elden Ring, but it’s the nightmarish ambiance and the chilling score that makes this title one of the best for horror fans. Be prepared for plenty of deaths, but don’t fret, it’ll give you enough time to soak up the rich art style.
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