We have a lot to thank Hidetaka Miyazaki for when it comes to modern-day RPGs. Seeing as he is the driving force behind the sub-genre known as the Souls-like and has brought us amazing franchises such as Dark Souls, Demon Souls, Sekiro, Elden Ring, and several more.
Honestly, without this wave of challenging but rewarding bloodbaths, the gaming landscape would look very different indeed, and while all of FromSoftware’s games are about as AAA as it gets, they have had a profound effect on the indie scene as well.
Many budding developers have tried their hand at creating Souls-likes inspired by Miyazaki’s creations. While they may not have the teams or the budgets to compete, there are a number of indie Souls-likes that are phenomenally fun to play and very impressive in their own right.
So, with that in mind, we want to dive into the collection of indie soul-likes out there and show you what the little guys have to offer. So, if you have exhausted the FromSoft catalog, this may be the list you need. This is Indie Game Culture’s list of the Best Indie Souls-likes Ever.
Selection Criteria
Here are the criteria that we will be using to make this list as accurate and useful as we possibly can for all you Souls fans:
- All games listed will either be pure indie projects or AA ventures.
- All games must be pure Souls-Likes, not games with some Souls qualities or metroidvanias
- All games must have received at least 65% or higher via Metacritic
- One entry per franchise, if applicable
Okay, grab a rusty sword, some battered armor, and let’s take on some big ol’ monsters!
#1 – Mortal Shell
We begin with a game that tries to do the unthinkable in a Souls game, and takes the player’s shield away. This begs the question, without a shield, how are you meant to defend yourself from the brutal bosses within this game? Well, let me tell you. In this game, you are the shield.
Sounds strange, right? Well, I suppose it is a little, but in practice, it works surprisingly well. In Mortal Shell, the player has the unique ability to cast themselves in the shell of a fallen warrior, and you’ll be able to harden, casting yourself in stone to defend against the perils that await you in this hostile world. Not to mention, each shell comes with its own helpful quirks.
This is Mortal Shell’s most eye-catching feature, but it’s also a traditional Souls-like with a fascinating world, great bosses and combat, and a multitude of fun classes to experiment with. It’s one of the more unique Souls-likes on the market, and that alone makes it worth taking a look!
#2 – Thymesia
![Review] Thymesia | Play-Verse](https://indiegameculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Thymesia-Banner.webp)
Next up, we have a game where harnessing the power of disease and death is the name of the game when it comes to defeating behemoth bosses.
In Thymesia, the player dives into the psyche of Corvus, an Alchemist who represents the last hope of a region corrupted beyond repair. Only by recovering his repressed memories will he be able to halt the corruption and save Hermes from complete chaos and ruin.
However, to make that a reality, you, the player, will need to harness the power of plague weapons, embrace your Raven powers, and defeat a slew of terrifying monsters that stand in your way.
The standout mechanic of this game is the dual approach to combat, where you will need to deal healthy amounts of both standard and plague damage if you want to succeed, and this means a lot of trial and error to find a playstyle that suits you, but the good news is that Thymesia is accommodating for all types of player.
It’s another indie Souls title that is very impressive in terms of scope and refined combat. The story and world-building may leave you a little wanting, but all in all, Thymesia is a great soul-like title you need to try.
#3 – Ashen
Annapurna Interactive may be best known for their walking simulators and narrative-driven artsy games, but it may shock you to find out that they signed off on a souls-like, and it’s surprisingly good.
Ashen is a game that takes place in a harsh and unforgiving open world, where players will encounter all manner of enemies and wildlife, which is often hellbent on maiming and killing you if you get too close, and your goal is to complete quests, build your small settlement into a thriving survival colony, and carve out an existence in this brutal, ever-changing world.
On paper, it’s a by-the-book souls game, but the unique twist this one offers is passive co-op akin to games like Journey, where you will encounter other players on your adventure, and you can choose to ignore them or make them your ally as you brave this world together.
It’s a souls game that takes what it wants from the tried-and-tested formula but liberally veers off the beaten path to great effect, making it an indie gem worth exploring.
#4 – Bleak Faith: Forsaken
Next, we have Bleak Faith Forsaken, a game that I include on this list for anyone who wants a game that rigidly sticks to the Souls formula for better or worse.
Our entries thus far have highlighted indie Souls games that flip the script and try something new and exciting, but Bleak Faith Forsaken is a title that plays the hits where Souls games are concerned. But despite this focus, what some might see as generic, if you want more Dark Souls, this is a great option, as it does the tried and tested stuff very well.
The game’s dark and twisted world looks phenomenal. The subtle environmental lore of the Omnistructure is a joy to delve into. The bosses are grotesque and challenging, and the combat feels fast and fluid, and achieving mastery will require a lot of effort.
It’s an indie souls-like that I feel was written off for not pushing the boat out enough to be different, but when you consider just how good FromSoft games tend to be, gunning to be a close imitation isn’t a bad thing at all.
#5 – Eldest Souls
When you boil it down to its finest parts, what do we love most about Souls games? The bosses, right?
Well, what about a game where you get all the subtle world-building, and fast-paced souls combat, but it’s all bosses all the time? That’s the setup for Eldest Souls, a game in which you will need to push back against the old gods as you take them on one by one to restore peace to the world. But, and this should go without saying, they won’t go down without a fight.
This 16-bit masterclass is all about making every moment count, using your acquired celestial abilities to your advantage, and basking in the tranquility of the world during those short moments between chaotic battles of life and death. If you like the overworld exploration Souls games tend to provide, Eldest Souls may feel a little compact for you, but if you want boss battles one after another, then this is a must-buy!
#6 – Salt and Sanctuary
I told myself that I wasn’t going to include Metroidvanias on this list, mainly because if I did, I would then need to mention Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, Ender Lillies, and many more. However, one exception to the rule that I am going to mention is Salt and Sanctuary because if you’re looking for 2D Dark Souls, this is it.
From the familiar UI layout to the use of a shield to cower behind, Salt and Sanctuary offers a world steeped in subtle dark fantasy lore, which feels like an extension of FromSoft’s own creations. I often say that Metroidvanias lean into their Metroidvania format because they want to hide the fact that the 2D combat present isn’t all that great, but in the case of Salt and Sanctuary, this is far from the case.
Every encounter, whether it be a mob enemy or a testing boss, feels like a tactical and thoughtful inclusion, and as the game goes on, your class, loadout, and approach to each fight matter more than ever. The switch from 3D to 2D may take some time for veteran Souls fans, but I assure you, braving this switch will be as rewarding as any defeated boss.
#7 –Lies of P
I hesitate to include Lies of P due to its ties to Nexon, but considering the size of the studio that worked on this gritty Pinocchio epic, it would be rude to leave them out of the running.
Considering the clear ties between Disney and the Lies of P’s main character, you would think that this one would be a little too lighthearted to ever succeed as a Souls-like. However, when you get into proceedings, you immediately see that Round8 Studios has managed to make a truly unsettling and immersive world worth exploring in the form of Krat.
Then, as for gameplay, this is about as close to a Bloodborne sequel as we will likely ever get, as Lies of P leans into fast-paced, risk-and-reward gameplay where moving fast, parrying, and dodging are essential to make it through this game.
I do still have a hang-up with the developer for adding a patch after release to make the game significantly easier, as the difficulty was part of the charm, but all in all, Lies of P is probably the most refined non-FromSoft Souls game we have seen, perhaps ever.
#8 – Dark Maus
Of all the games listed, I would wager that this is probably the one that you guys won’t have heard of at all, and it’s criminal because Dark Maus is one of the most unique, creative, and interesting soul-likes on the market.
In this game, you play as Maus as they wash up on a new shore and must battle tooth and tail to survive. It’s a top-down souls-like where you’ll become more competent with each battle, each death, and each new discovery, and will need to master the surprisingly deep combat mechanics to outsmart the game’s clever AI.
The only downside is that the game pretty much has no story or narrative worth investing in, but the good news is that the gameplay is so engaging that you won’t mind one bit.
Considering that this game was completed in full by a one-man dev team, it has no right to be as good as it is, but here I am singing its praises anyway, which should be your green light to play this game as soon as possible.
#9 – Pseudoregalia
Our penultimate entry is a bit of a wildcard entry, but bear with me here because it may allow you to uncover a platforming-souls mesh-up that you never knew you needed in your life.
Pseudoregalia is one of those games that, despite its quality, hasn’t been given its flowers by many. That might be due to the lack of marketing the game had on release, but many gamers have been slowly learning about this game through word of mouth, and the general verdict is that this game is a certified hidden gem.
This title plays a lot like old SNES and Dreamcast 3D platformers, asking players to use precise inputs and leaps to traverse this world made up of chunky polygons. When you aren’t bouncing around, you’ll also have to face off against powerful enemies and bosses in combat that isn’t too far removed from Souls games.
It’s hard to pinpoint what makes Pseudoregalia so special. It might be the visuals, the movement, the open-ended level design, or the fact that even playing the game makes you an official member of an exclusive club of players who know about this game. Whatever the reason, the conclusion is the same: You need to play this indie gem.
#10 – Brume
Lastly, we have a short and sweet Souls-like that focuses on simplicity, brevity, and minimalism to create a Souls adventure unlike anything within the sub-genre. Brume can be played and beaten in about an hour, but what an hour it is as you battle bugs and beasts in this pixel-perfect title.
This game will feel immediately familiar for Souls fans, as you start with the bare essentials and work to improve your stats, kill monsters, and find helpful items to improve your build. But the joy comes from the game’s boiled-down and simplistic approach to its mechanics. It’s stripped back in every sense, but one thing that remains on par is the satisfaction that comes with each action.
There isn’t much more to say here other than that Brume is a pocket-sized Souls game that may provide a breath of fresh air that veterans of the genre need. You’ll struggle to find a more unique souls experience than this, so take me up on my offer and try this one out real soon.
Small Games, Big Adventures
So there you have it, guys, ten indie souls-likes that offer experiences that are unique and, in some cases, on par with some of the FromSoft games that have given birth to the genre. I hope that this list has given you some new titles to add to your wishlist, and as always, thanks for reading Indie Game Culture.
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