Best Souls-Lite Games, Ranked (2024)

Key Takeaways

The emergence of "souls-lite" games balances challenging elements with accessibility for a broader audience.
Titles like Darksiders 3 and Flintlock cater to different difficulty preferences without severe penalties for failure.
Flexible difficulty settings and unique gameplay mechanics define the souls-lite genre, offering a new entry point for newcomers.

Ever since the soulslike genre gained popularity, there have been ongoing debates about whether these games must be relentlessly hard and punishing in order to qualify for the genre. To balance maintaining the genre's distinct features while appealing to a broader audience, developers began experimenting with difficulty settings and reducing the harsh penalties for failure. This led to the emergence of a new direction, often referred to as "souls-lite." Although there isn't a universally agreed-upon definition of souls-lite, these games retain key soulslike elements — such as challenging bosses, rewarding exploration, and the 'bonfire' checkpoint system with respawning enemies — while being more approachable and less punishing at their core.

The term 'souls-lite' gained traction when the developers of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn emphasized that their game wasn't as hardcore as traditional soulslikes, catering to fans of action games as well. Many earlier games could also fall into the souls-lite category. These games often feature difficulty settings, including easier modes, and tend not to punish players as severely for dying, unlike FromSoftware's purist approach to the genre. Below are some of the best souls-lite games, which can serve as excellent entry points for newcomers to the soulslike experience.

6 Soulslikes Worth Playing Just For Their Boss Fights

These soulslike games may not excel in every aspect, but their boss battles are truly unforgettable.

7 Darksiders 3

Four Difficulty Settings With No Punishment For Dying

Darksiders 3

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:68/100

Platform(s): PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC , Stadia
Released: November 27, 2018
Developer(s): Gunfire Games

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Darksiders 3 was one of the first games to blend the traditional action-RPG style of its series with the newer wave of soulslike elements. While not everything was executed perfectly, the game laid the foundation for what is now recognized as the souls-lite format. Darksiders 3 offers four different difficulty levels at the start, ranging from Story mode to the hardcore Apocalyptic difficulty. This allows players to adjust the experience to their comfort level.

Additionally, Darksiders 3 imposes no punishment for dying. Players simply revive at the latest checkpoint, with all enemies respawning as well. This lack of punishment is a hallmark of souls-lite games and is featured in all the titles below.

6 Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn

Three Difficulty Modes With Slower Leveling As A Punishment

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:69/100

Platform(s): PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
Released: July 18, 2024
Developer(s): A44 Games

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Soulslikes like Elden Ring, Nioh 2, Lies of P, Remnant 2, and Dark Souls 3 offer the best loot variety, keeping the thrill of exploration alive.

Even on normal difficulty, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn isn't overly challenging. Players have plenty of tools to deal with the game's major bosses, aided by the constant support of Enki, a companion who can heal them. The game's only real punishment comes from its experience multiplier system. Players who don't claim their reputation might level up more slowly.

5 Steelrising

Assist Mode That Lets Players Customize The Level Of Challenge

Steelrising

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:71/100

Platform(s): PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released: September 8, 2022
Developer(s): Spiders

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Steelrising, from Spiders studio, is another accessible entry into the soulslike genre. It offers a fresh twist with its unique setting: a robopocalypse during the French Revolution. What sets Steelrising apart is its flexible Assist mode, which players can customize or disable before starting the game. This mode allows players to tweak aspects like the damage the protagonist Aegis receives in combat, prevent the loss of currency upon death, and adjust stamina regeneration and cooling mechanics during fights.

These customization options offer a welcome shift for the genre. They enable Steelrising to maintain its challenge while giving players the tools to tailor the experience to their preferences.

4 Remnant: From The Ashes

Four Difficulty Settings With Co-Op Gameplay

Remnant: From the Ashes

Action RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:78/100 Critics Recommend:70%

Platform(s): PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC , Xbox One
Released: August 20, 2019
Developer(s): Gunfire Games

10 Soulslike Games Worth Playing Just For Their Exploration

These soul-like games feature iconic exploration features that make playing them worthwhile.

However, don't mistake Remnant: From the Ashes for an easy game. It's true that it doesn't punish players for dying on bosses, and it allows up to two friends to join in co-op play. However, some of the encounters are still highly challenging, requiring coordinated teamwork and build adjustments. It offers multiple difficulty options, from the default Normal mode to the more brutal Nightmare and Apocalypse modes that only the most experienced players can conquer. The Remnant series is a great example of how to leverage a modest scope and budget to create a compelling experience.

3 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Narratively Rich, With A Story Mode For Casual Players

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Action

Adventure

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:82/100 Critics Recommend:83%

Platform(s): PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC , Stadia
Released: November 15, 2019
Developer(s): Respawn Entertainment

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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order blends traditional action-adventure gameplay with soulslike elements, all within the framework of a compelling Star Wars narrative featuring characters that are easy to root for. As Respawn Entertainment's debut in third-person action, the game exceeded many fans' expectations, delivering one of the best Star Wars games in years.

The game offers flexible difficulty settings, ranging from Story mode for a casual experience to Jedi Grandmaster for a true challenge. Its accessible combat system, combined with no penalties for dying, positions Jedi: Fallen Order as a standout souls-lite title. It can attract new players to the genre, or encourage them to jump right into the sequel, Jedi: Survivor.

2 Remnant 2

Building On The Original With Smart Tweaks

Remnant 2

Soulslike

Third-Person Shooter

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:82/100 Critics Recommend:86%

Platform(s): PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released: July 25, 2023
Developer(s): Gunfire Games

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Remnant 2 shines as a stellar sequel, identifying the original game's strengths while addressing its weaknesses. It retains the same flexible difficulty options, allowing players to tailor their experience to be as challenging as they desire.

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The thrill of defeating soulslike bosses isn't the only motivator in these games, as they also keep players hooked with great stories.

Packed with more unique weapons than ever before — each featuring distinct combat skills — Remnant 2 offers a diverse selection of specialist classes, fascinating boss battles, hidden quests, and secrets. This makes it a highly recommended souls-lite for a wide range of gamers, especially those who enjoy shooter-based mechanics.

1 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Worth Playing For Both Story And Challenge

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Action-Adventure

Soulslike

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:84/100 Critics Recommend:89%

Platform(s): PC , PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released: April 28, 2023
Developer(s): Respawn Entertainment

$30 at Amazon

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, another standout sequel, further refines the blend of action-adventure and soulslike elements while continuing to modernize both genres. With a strong focus on narrative and character development, Jedi: Survivor ensures that almost any player can overcome its challenges. The forgiving parry windows, reduced damage in Story mode, and less aggressive enemies create the perfect environment for casual players. Meanwhile, seasoned players can seek a more intense challenge that demands mastery of the combat system.

Regardless of difficulty, Jedi: Survivor encourages players to keep trying after defeat, rather than punishing them harshly. The game strikes a fine balance between exploration, puzzles, and combat, offering fresh challenges at every turn within its expansive Star Wars universe.

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