The Soulslike genre has evolved significantly since its creation over a decade ago, but one thing that has always been closely associated with it is difficulty. Bosses that take hours to take down, brutal enemies that unleash an array of attacks around every corner, and a world that is more out to get the player than even the enemies in it — these are all staples. There is no margin for error, and the challenge can often feel a bit unfair.
Thankfully, there are still plenty of Soulslikes that capture the satisfying gameplay and expert worldbuilding without forcing the player to strain every muscle in their body just to clear a single boss. It is nice when the game is aware of its own challenge, and when the developer turns the dial down just a bit, it can make the game a lot more enjoyable.
Lords of the Fallen Is Dark Souls On Easy Mode… Or Easier Mode
The Perfect Soulslike Game For Beginners
2023’s Lords of the Fallen has a positive but not glowing reputation, but it is more than deserving of a playthrough for fans of not only Soulslikes but action RPGs in general. Through a series of updates, Hexworks fine-tuned and rebalanced the campaign, resulting in a more consistent experience that’s also way easier. The launch version was already arguably too easy, so this change wasn’t really that necessary.
When played on default, LOTF plays like a traditional but forgiving Souls-like, with an automatic safety net: you auto-revive if you die while in a certain state. The casual enemies aren’t too easy by the genre’s standards, but LOTF‘s bosses really don’t deliver much of a challenge at all. Don’t get me wrong, they are still visually impressive and fun, but most people probably won’t need more than a few tries to overcome them all.
Veteran Mode provides a harder base experience, and you can even randomize enemies or increase the density of mobs.
Steelrising Takes You On A Soulslike Stroll Through The French Revolution
Aggressive Automatons That Don’t Push The Limits
Steelrising is an interesting title that takes the world of the French Revolution and fuses it with a mechanical nightmare that is just as frightening as it is awesome. The world is gorgeous, and the gameplay follows suit, taking elements from the Soulslike genre but keeping things manageable by keeping enemy patterns simpler and easier to read.
There is even an assist mode that lets players play around with damage numbers and stamina consumption, and even makes them immortal. Everything feels more linear and less overwhelming. The enemy designs are still satisfying to fight, but never make the player feel out of their depth, even at the start.
Ashen Is The Easy Open-World Soulslike
Bring A Friend, Human or AI
Elden Ring wasn’t the first Soulslike open-world game, although it certainly ranks as the hardest. Beating it to the punch by a couple of years, Ashen was also one of the first entries in the genre to attempt to deliver a more accessible experience, and it succeeded. The “easiness” comes from a few elements: Co-op implementation, leveling system, and less intense atmosphere.
Rather than going with the typical progression system, Ashen ties your level to NPC quests, while you really become stronger by upgrading your gear. As you explore the world further, you build a hub area that serves as a tiny safe zone, reflecting the game’s co-op implementation. Even if you don’t bring a friend along, you can and will go on missions with AI companions, lowering the bar of entry even further.
Remnant 2 Defines Soulslike Co-Op Shooters
Crispy Gunplay With A Decent Challenge
Remnant 2 builds on the DNA of the original, creating a much more well-rounded experience that enables immersive co-op battles against fearsome foes. Bringing the Soulslike genre to a more shooter-oriented game is a nice change, and the enemies still put up a decent fight whilst still allowing for plenty of counterplay and strategy.
The customization is what really sets the game apart, letting players swap out their weapons and abilities on the fly and upgrade them however they choose. More importantly, the ability to play with a group of other players means that even if a fight is proving to be more of a challenge than expected, the extra firepower ensures that any boss can go down without too much trouble.
Thymesia Provides A Brief Challenge
Short, Sweet, And Never Too Much
A short-lived entry that still shows off plenty, Thymesia is a great Soulslike that brings the face-paced action of games like Bloodborne but keeps things more restrained when it comes to difficulty. The key feature is the ability to use the enemy’s weapons against them through powerful abilities that transform the combat in every encounter.
When a boss does turn up, the attack patterns are fairly short and simple, meaning it’s possible to play as fast or slowly as they feel comfortable and still find just as much success. The HP pools of each boss are never too high, and they always fall after a satisfying, simple, yet still rewarding battle.
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