10 Dark Souls-Like Games For Casual Players

The Dark Souls series is without a doubt a gaming phenomenon, but its audience is pretty niche. The games are notoriously difficult, errors are punished instead of corrected, the learning curve is nearly impossibly steep, and to be honest, the “git-gud” style of gaming isn’t fair or for everyone.

With all of that in mind, the series does offer certain mechanics and features that other titles have since adopted. The Souls games aren’t made with most gamers in mind, but that doesn’t mean they can’t take up their arms and slash their way through other titles with mechanics like stamina, penalties, and hard-hitting action.

10 Bloodborne

Although it’s from the makers of Dark Souls, Bloodborne is arguably easier with its more balanced combat system. An additional strike on an enemy provided by the world’s switchable weapons can be the difference between life and death.

Players will die as much as they will in the original title, but this game offers a more action-horror aspect along with more of a fighting chance. Don’t be fooled by the addition of cleavers and guns, the Lovecraftian horrors will still rip right through hunters like nothing else.

9 The Surge

For those looking to exchange the dark fantasy with a cybernetic sci-fi dystopia, The Surge is just what the doctor ordered. Instead of playing as well armored warriors, players will put on one of two mech suits and bash their way through loads of strange robots and undead cyborgs in a technological wasteland.

While the combat might feel familiar, it’s less about rolling and dodging and more about brawling. The combat is difficult, but the fights are satisfyingly crunchy as any mech fight should be.

8 Salt And Sanctuary

Salt and Sanctuary has been referred to as the 2D Dark Souls, which it probably is. That being said, it plays less like a Dark Souls game and more like a classic Metroidvania. While certain visuals, elements, and titles might look, sound, and feel familiar, this game was made for platformer fans.

Though not as punishing as its inspiration, the game will definitely take a bite out of some players. However, if they are well-versed in “Nintendo hard” titles, it should be a manageable transition.

7 Hellpoint

It might have a nearly identical risk and reward system to Dark Souls, but Hellpoint does bring something else to the table. While it’s still ironing out a few bugs, the sci-fi horror experience deserves at least a little attention.

Hellpoint is what happens when Dead Space, Event Horizon, and Dark Souls all combine. It might need a little spit and polish, but its combat system is absolutely phenomenal. Yes, there will certainly be blood.

6 Darksiders 3

Darksiders is a game series that likes to experiment. It’s had a Zelda-like, a Diablo-like, and a God-of-War-like, so of course it would have a Souls-like. But while it takes inspiration from Dark Souls, it arguably perfects it by making it more user-friendly and straightforward.

Fury comes with an impressive arsenal, and playing her through brilliant hack-and-slash combat feels like wielding a loaded shotgun. However, the bosses are just as brutal as any Dark Souls beast.

5 Blasphemous

It might play like a Castlevania game, but there’s no way players can look at Blasphemous and not say someone on the development team was inspired by Dark Souls. Everything from the language to the monster design positively drips with the gruesome and grim flavor seen in the kingdom of Lordran.

The combat is brutal and bloody, the bosses are devastating, and the atmosphere is terrifying. It certainly sounds more than a little familiar.

4 Chronos: Before The Ashes

Dark Souls isn’t for everyone, but if there was an entry-level course on the Souls-like medium, Chronos: Before The Ashes would probably be one of the safer bets. It feels just Souls enough to warrant a mention, but plays it safe and offers up more variety.

Death isn’t an inconvenience, but a mechanic. With each death, the player’s character becomes a little stronger and wiser, making each adventure a new experience. It’s difficult, but not as punishing as some of its peers.

3 Jedi: Fallen Order

Jedi: Fallen Order is perhaps the most user-friendly Souls-like out there. It has all of the action, all of the epic storytelling, even a healthy side of darkness, but it never comes off as unfair.

Don’t let the familiar setting of Star Wars fool you, it’s still a Souls-like. While it can come with a punishing difficulty if the player wishes, it still maintains the familiar combat, action, and atmosphere even in a galaxy far, far away.

2 Hollow Knight

Though it’s not a Souls-like in the traditional sense, this beloved indie darling takes more from the gruesome title than one might realize. There’s no way that the land of Hallownest wouldn’t fit right in with the likes of Blightown and Sanctuary Garden.

What is Hollow Knight if not Dark Souls in a Metroidvania form? It has a gloomy atmosphere, giant monsters, an armored protagonist, and an overwhelming sense of unknown eerieness. What more does anyone need?

1 Lords Of The Fallen

Lords of the Fallen is essentially Dark Souls minus the unfair “git-gud” motifs. It’s challenging, but it’s balanced. Players have their stamina, their weapons of choice, and loads of punishing bosses, but none of the anger-inducing cheap deaths, and other frustrations.

Most of the enemies have huge bladed weapons and nearly impossible armor, but so does the player. As Harkin, they won’t prepare to die, they’ll prepare to slay, slash, and slaughter the Lords of the Fallen.

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