Best Soulslike Games in 2026: 12 Ranked Picks (Play Now)
The best soulslike game in 2026 is still Elden Ring. $59.99 on Steam. 831,962 recommendations. Shadow of the Erdtree is the DLC. Lies of P is $29.99 today (50% off $59.99) and it is the best one not made by FromSoftware. Mortal Shell II is the 2026 sequel: $49.99, out 20 August, 19,034 Steam recs, OpenCritic around 83. Nioh 3 is $39.89 today (43% off). Nightreign is a co-op spin-off, not a replacement. Hollow Knight is not a soulslike. US Steam prices: 21 September 2026.
In a hurry? Jump to: quick picks · what is a soulslike · not a soulslike · what lists get wrong · the 12 · what people search · beginners · easiest · low-end PC · soulsborne · on sale today · coming · skip · how to pick · FAQ
If you wanted run-based action, that is the roguelite list. If you wanted a PS5 exclusive sword game that is not a stamina boss fight, start with Ghost of Yōtei.
What people type for soulslike
- Meaning / soulsborne — bonfire grammar. Sekiro is the parry cousin.
- Beginners / easiest — Elden Ring, Lies of P, Another Crab’s Treasure.
- PS5 — Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Demon’s Souls remake, Nioh 3. Also PS5 play-now.
- Low-end PC — Dark Souls III, Lies of P, Sekiro. Not Wukong at ultra.
- Upcoming 2026 — Nioh 3 shipped 6 February. Mortal Shell II shipped 20 August. Phantom Blade Zero is 29 October.
- After Elden Ring — Lies of P, Sekiro, Nioh 3, Bloodborne.
Quick picks: the best soulslike for each job
| You want | Play this | US Steam (21 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall / first FromSoft | Elden Ring | $59.99 (831,960 recs) |
| Best combat exam | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | $59.99 GOTY (259,653 recs) |
| Best non-From, on sale | Lies of P | $29.99 (50% off $59.99) |
| Best 2026 sequel | Mortal Shell II | $49.99, out 20 Aug (19,034 recs) |
| Best PS exclusive gothic | Bloodborne | PS4/PS5 disc or Plus. No PC |
| Best linear Dark Souls | Dark Souls III | $59.99 (278,102 recs) |
| Best loot stances, on sale | Nioh 2 Complete | $19.99 (60% off $49.99) |
| Best co-op in the Lands Between | Elden Ring Nightreign | $39.99 (129,581 recs). Not the story game |
| Best 2025 rage-and-parry | The First Berserker: Khazan | $59.99 (21,092 recs) |
| Best PS5 exclusive remake | Demon’s Souls | PS5. The 2009 one started the name |
| Best gun-souls co-op | Remnant 2 | $49.99 |
| Wait / skip as auto-buy | Wuchang: Fallen Feathers | $34.99 (30% off). Mixed Steam (~57%) |
What is a soulslike game?
A soulslike is an action RPG built like Dark Souls. You fight with stamina or posture. You rest at a bonfire-like checkpoint. You drop your currency when you die and you go back for it. Levels are loops, not a mission list. Bosses are exams.
FromSoftware made the template: Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Elden Ring. Other studios copy the checkpoint and the weight. Some copy only the boss HP bar. We kept the ones that still feel like recovering a corpse, not a character-action combo video.
These are not soulslikes (even when lists say they are)
- Hollow Knight / Silksong are Metroidvanias. Benches, map, 2D air. Hard is not a genre.
- Cuphead is a boss-rush shooter. Pretty. Not a bonfire.
- God of War (2018 / Ragnarök) is an action-adventure with a son. Accessibility is excellent. It is not a soulslike.
- Monster Hunter is a hunt loop. You carve a monster. You do not drop souls in a puddle.
- Black Myth: Wukong is a boss-rush action RPG with some souls DNA. It sold a mountain. Ranking it as “the best soulslike” because the Steam rec count is huge skips the checkpoint grammar this search is about. Play it if you want Wukong. Do not play it because a scraper titled it Souls.
What ranking lists still get wrong in 2026
- Nightreign as the new Elden Ring. It launched 29 May 2025 at $39.99. It is a co-op survival spin-off. 129,581 recs. Fun with friends. It does not replace the open world or Shadow of the Erdtree.
- Mortal Shell II ignored because the first game was small. Cold Symmetry shipped the sequel 20 August 2026. Steam is $49.99. OpenCritic sat around 83. GamesRadar called it the best soulslike they had played since Elden Ring. That is the 2026 news other roundups still skip.
- Lies of P treated as full price. It is $29.99 today (50% off). If you were waiting, the wait is over for this week.
- Wuchang auto-ranked on vibe. July 2025 launch. Steam recent pile has been messy (Mixed, about 57% in comparison scrapes). Atmosphere is real. We will not put a Mixed game at #1 because the armor looks cool.
- Phantom Blade Zero ranked as playable. It is 29 October 2026. Not tonight.
The 12 best soulslike games to play in 2026
Ranked for US players who can press Start this week. Sale prices are from 21 September 2026. FromSoftware still sits high because the template is theirs. Non-From games can beat a $60 leftover if they are half off and actually good.
1. Elden Ring — best soulslike, still
US price: $59.99 · Steam recs: 831,960 · DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree extra · PS5, Xbox, PC, later other ports
Open world. Builds. You can walk around a boss and come back later. That is why it is the beginner FromSoft and the best one. Nightreign is the other product. This is the Lands Between. If you have not played it, stop reading and install it. If you have, the DLC is the second game.
- Best first soulslike that is not a brick wall with one door
- Summoning and Spirit Ashes exist. Using them is allowed
- Huge file. SSD. Clear space
The catch: $60 plus DLC is a pile. It sales. Best for: almost everyone who typed this keyword.
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — best sword exam
US price: $59.99 GOTY Edition · Steam recs: 259,653
Posture. Mikiri. One build. You cannot hide in a magic dumpster. It is the FromSoftware game that is about your hands. If Elden Ring felt too wide, this is the thin knife. It is not a loot RPG. It is a rhythm fight.
- Best combat in the family
- Resurrection is a tool, not a live-service revive
- Skip if you wanted 20 weapon classes. Play Nioh 2
The catch: the skill floor is honest. Best for: people who say they want to “git gud” and mean it.
3. Lies of P — best non-From, and it is half off today
US price: $29.99 (50% off $59.99) on 21 September 2026 · Steam recs: 58,571 · Overture DLC extra · Neowiz / Round8
Pinocchio in a Belle Époque nightmare. Parries. Blade on a handle. A story that actually talks. Polygon’s non-From decade list put it at #1 for a reason. If you have $30 this week, this is the buy. Full price was the only thing holding people. Full price is not the thing this week.
- Best parry soulslike that is not Sekiro
- Multiple endings. The DLC deepens Krat
- Skip if you refuse dolls and lying. That is the whole plot
The catch: sales end. If you already own it, play Overture. Best for: “I like Souls but I want a story I can quote.”
4. Mortal Shell II — best 2026 soulslike sequel
US price: $49.99 on Steam · Released: 20 August 2026 · Steam recs: 19,034 · Also PS5 and Xbox · OpenCritic ~83
You wear shells. You harden. The first game was small and stiff. This one is an open-ish world with toys. GamesRadar’s review called it the best they had played since Elden Ring and dinged night navigation. Giant Bomb liked the fun-first stance. Our own launch-week notes: early access timing (the $59.99 Devout window is over; $49.99 is the live list).
- Best “2026, not 2022” soulslike you can start tonight
- Night Mode exists if the default feels soft
- Enemy variety is the usual ding. Exploration is the usual praise
The catch: if you bounced off the first game, watch 20 minutes of the sequel before you assume it is the same sludge. Best for: people who wanted a new shell, not another 2024 leftover.
5. Bloodborne — best gothic, PS only
US price: $19.99–$39.99 depending on the store week · PS4 disc, PS5 backward compat · No PC
Regain health by hitting back. Trick weapons. A city that hates streetlamps. It is still the FromSoftware game people mean when they say vibe. Sony has not ported it. Emulator talk is not a recommendation. If you own a PS5, it is in the catalog more often than it is not. If you are PC-only, play Lies of P and wait.
- Best atmosphere in the family
- 30 fps on base PS4. PS5 is still that frame rate in compatibility
- The missing 60 fps patch is a meme because it is true
The catch: no PC. Best for: PlayStation owners who have not gone to Yharnam.
6. Dark Souls III — best linear Dark Souls
US price: $59.99 list (sales are frequent) · Steam recs: 278,102 · Fire Fades Edition is the one to buy
Lothric. Faster than 1, tighter than Elden Ring. If you want the series without an open map, this is the disc. Dark Souls Remastered is the history lesson. 3 is the one people still invade.
- Best “I want Dark Souls, not a horse” pick
- Buy the complete edition. The DLC bosses are the point
- Skip if Elden Ring already filled that tank
The catch: $60 list is a 2016 tax. Wait for 50% if you can. Best for: linear FromSoft.
7. Nioh 3 — best 2026 Team Ninja soulslike, 43% off
US price: $39.89 (43% off $69.99) on 21 September 2026 · Steam recs: 11,798 · Released 6 February 2026 · PS5 Metascore sat around 86 at launch
Nioh 3 is out. Lists that still say “wait for 3” are stale. Open field, samurai and ninja styles you can swap, yokai, ki. GamesRadar noted the PS5 score beat Nioh 2 while the original Nioh still held the series’ 88.
Nioh 2 Complete is $19.99 (60% off) with 33,915 recs. Never played a Nioh? Buy 2 this week. Finished 2? Buy 3 on the 43% sale.
- Best 2026 loot soulslike you can launch tonight
- PS5 and PC
- Skip if menus make you tired. Elden Ring is quieter
The catch: some PS5 Performance-mode notes called it blurry. Try the demo if you are picky about image quality. Best for: people who wanted Nioh 2, but bigger.
8. Elden Ring Nightreign — best co-op spin-off (not the story)
US price: $39.99 · Released: 29 May 2025 · Steam recs: 129,581
FromSoftware made a session game in the Elden Ring kit. You drop in. You fight a night. You do not tour Limgrave for 80 hours. Buy it if your friends will show up. Do not buy it as “Elden Ring 2.” There is no Elden Ring 2 here.
- Best if the base game is done and you want a night with two people
- Solo exists. Co-op is the point
- Skip if you never finished the story game. Finish that first
The catch: live session design. Friends’ calendars matter. Best for: co-op, not lore YouTube.
9. The First Berserker: Khazan — best 2025 parry-and-rage
US price: $59.99 · Released: 27 March 2025 · Steam recs: 21,092 · Nexon / Neople
A Dungeon Fighter spin that plays like a meaner Lies of P cousin. Brink of Death. Brutal bosses. It is a soulslike even if the IP is a brawler. $60 list is steep next to Lies of P at $30 this week. Buy Khazan if you already have P and Sekiro and you still want a fight.
- Best if parries are the whole hobby
- Story is serviceable. Combat is the store
- Wait for a sale if $60 is the same money as Elden Ring
The catch: full price vs a sale P. Best for: combat heads.
10. Demon’s Souls (PS5 remake) — where the name started
US price: $69.99 list, often cheaper used · PS5 exclusive remake by Bluepoint
2009 invented the grammar. 2020 made it pretty. World tendency. Short levels. It is the history disc and still a great PS5 exclusive. PC players play the original through unofficial means we will not walk through. The legal path is a PS5.
- Best if you own a PS5 and you like museums that still hit
- Shorter than Elden Ring
- Skip if you already did it in 2020 and you want Mortal Shell II instead
The catch: exclusive. Best for: PlayStation owners doing the homework.
11. Remnant 2 — best gun soulslike
US price: $49.99 · Steam recs: 46,246 · Gunfire Games
Shoot. Dodge. Roll a campaign seed. Co-op. It is the one for people who want Souls weight with a rifle. DLC adds campaigns. If melee is why you bounce, try this before you quit the genre.
- Best co-op that is not Nightreign’s session timer
- Builds in mods and guns
- Skip if you wanted a katana exam. That is Sekiro
The catch: $50 list. Sales happen. Best for: gun-and-dodge nights.
12. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers — play if the mix does not scare you
US price: $34.99 (30% off $49.99) on 21 September 2026 · Released: 23 July 2025 · Steam recs: 44,929 · Mixed recent pile in 2026 scrapes
Ming dynasty. Skybound Might. Interconnected maps. The vibe is soulslike. The Steam temperature has not been. Performance and balance complaints stuck. We keep it at #12 so you know it exists, on sale, with eyes open. It is not a safe #1. It is not a ban. Read recent reviews the day you buy.
- Best if you want 2025 China-set souls and you accept Mixed
- $35 is less painful than $50
- Skip if you want a safe first soulslike. That is Elden Ring or Lies of P
The catch: Mixed is the story. Best for: genre veterans on a discount.
Best soulslike for beginners
Start with Elden Ring. You can leave and come back. Use spirits. Then play Lies of P at $29.99 if you want a tighter story. Do not start with Sekiro. Do not start with Nightreign. Do not start with Khazan at $60.
If you only have a PlayStation, Demon’s Souls or Bloodborne are legal and local. If you only have a PC, Elden Ring and Lies of P are the door.
On sale as we wrote this (21 September 2026)
- Lies of P — $29.99 (50%)
- Nioh 3 — $39.89 (43%)
- Nioh 2 Complete — $19.99 (60%)
- Wuchang — $34.99 (30%)
If you were going to own Lies of P anyway, today is the week. Nioh 2 at $20 is the loot bargain. Wuchang is only a bargain if Mixed is acceptable.
Coming later (do not rank as playable now)
- Phantom Blade Zero — 29 October 2026, PS5 and PC. Wait for reviews. First big S-Game swing. Sekiro energy in the trailer is not a score.
- The Duskbloods — Switch 2 exclusive, 2026 date still soft. Do not plan a month around it.
- Nioh 3 — play 2 on the 60% cut first if you have never touched the series.
Easiest soulslike / best for beginners
- Elden Ring — ride away. Summons exist.
- Lies of P — readable parries. $29.99 today.
- Another Crab’s Treasure — $29.99, 16,887 recs. Assist options. Use it if Dark Souls made you quit in 20 minutes.
- Not Sekiro as a first souls game. It is the exam.
Best soulslike games for a low-end PC
- Dark Souls III — 2016. Linear FromSoftware.
- Lies of P — scales down better than Wukong.
- Sekiro — older world, brutal fights.
- Skip Black Myth: Wukong as a low-end pick. Rec count is huge. GPU bill is too.
Soulslike vs soulsborne (and is Sekiro one?)
Soulsborne is fan slang for FromSoftware’s line: Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring. Sekiro is the argument. It drops RPG builds. It keeps posture, death, and a checkpoint. We rank it #2 because the combat is the cleanest sword test those studios shipped. If a page said “Sekiro is not a soulslike,” they meant “no stats menu.” Both sentences can be true.
Nightreign is FromSoftware and it is still a co-op spin-off. It is not Elden Ring 2.
Skip these as auto-buys
- Hollow Knight as a soulslike. Wrong genre.
- Nightreign instead of Elden Ring. Different product.
- Wuchang as a first soulslike. Mixed Steam. Start with P or Elden Ring.
- Black Myth as proof you “did Souls.” You did a boss-rush action game. Fine. Different.
- Phantom Blade Zero tonight. October.
How to pick a soulslike in 10 minutes
- If you have never played one, install Elden Ring.
- If Lies of P is $29.99, buy it as your second or as a story-first pick.
- If you want 2026, play Mortal Shell II at $49.99 after you know the grammar.
- If friends will show up, Nightreign. If they will not, do not.
- If Nioh 2 is $19.99 and you like loot, buy it. If you like one sword, Sekiro.
Comparison (US Steam, 21 September 2026)
| Game | Kind | US price | Recs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Open world | $59.99 | 831,960 | Best overall |
| Sekiro GOTY | Posture combat | $59.99 | 259,653 | Hands |
| Lies of P | Parry story | $29.99 sale | 58,571 | Best non-From |
| Mortal Shell II | Shells, 2026 | $49.99 | 19,034 | New sequel |
| Bloodborne | Gothic | PS store | — | PlayStation |
| Dark Souls III | Linear Souls | $59.99 | 278,102 | No horse |
| Nioh 3 | Loot / open field | $39.89 sale | 11,798 | 2026 Team Ninja |
| Nioh 2 Complete | Loot stances | $19.99 sale | 33,915 | Cheap backlog |
| Nightreign | Co-op sessions | $39.99 | 129,581 | Friends |
| Khazan | Parry-rage | $59.99 | 21,092 | Combat vets |
| Demon’s Souls | Remake | $69.99 | — | PS5 history |
| Remnant 2 | Gun souls | $49.99 | 46,246 | Rifles |
| Wuchang | 2025 China-set | $34.99 sale | 44,929 | Veterans only |
How we picked
- Bonfire grammar: checkpoints, corpse runs, stamina or posture, boss exams. Not every hard game.
- Playable this week. Phantom Blade Zero failed. Duskbloods failed.
- Live US Steam prices including Lies of P at 50% and Nioh 2 at 60% on 21 September 2026.
- Mortal Shell II store recs and the GamesRadar / OpenCritic launch read, plus our timing piece.
- Who / how / why: Aditya Singh, AndroidHire. Editorial ranking. Corrections.
Related reading
Bottom line
If you download one of the best soulslike games in 2026, make it Elden Ring if you have never played one. Make it Lies of P at $29.99 if you want the non-From story on sale this week. Make it Mortal Shell II if you want the 2026 sequel. Leave Hollow Knight off this installer. Leave Nightreign until you have friends. Leave Phantom Blade Zero on October.
Do this next: pick Elden Ring or the Lies of P sale. Beat one boss without watching a 40-minute video first. If that hour is fun, you found the hobby. Then pick a second from the table — not a twelfth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best soulslike game in 2026?
Elden Ring is still the best soulslike overall: $59.99, huge build variety, and you can walk around a wall. Lies of P is the best one not made by FromSoftware and was $29.99 (50% off) on 21 September 2026. Mortal Shell II is the best 2026 sequel at $49.99 after its 20 August launch.
What is a soulslike?
A soulslike is an action RPG built like Dark Souls: stamina or posture combat, bonfire-style checkpoints, currency dropped on death, looping levels, and boss exams. FromSoftware made the template. Hard platformers and God of War are not automatic members just because they can kill you.
Is Hollow Knight a soulslike?
No. Hollow Knight and Silksong are Metroidvanias. You keep a map, benches, and movement abilities. They are hard. Hard is not a genre. Cuphead, God of War, and Monster Hunter also get misfiled. Play them if you want those games. They will not scratch a bonfire itch.
Is Elden Ring Nightreign a sequel to Elden Ring?
No. Nightreign launched 29 May 2025 at $39.99 as a co-op session game in the Elden Ring kit. It has 129,581 Steam recommendations. It does not replace the open-world story or Shadow of the Erdtree. Finish Elden Ring first. Buy Nightreign if friends will actually show up.
Is Mortal Shell 2 good?
Yes for a 2026 soulslike sequel. It launched 20 August 2026 at $49.99, has 19,034 Steam recommendations, and OpenCritic sat around 83. Reviews praise exploration and shells, and ding enemy variety and some night navigation. It is a big jump from the smaller 2020 original.
What is the best soulslike for beginners?
Elden Ring. You can leave a boss and come back, and Spirit Ashes are allowed. Lies of P at a sale price is the better tight-story start if open worlds overwhelm you. Do not start with Sekiro, Khazan, or Nightreign.
What is the best soulslike not made by FromSoftware?
Lies of P. Parries, weapon assembly, a real story, and it was $29.99 (50% off) on 21 September 2026. Mortal Shell II is the best 2026 non-From sequel at $49.99. Nioh 3 is $39.89 (43% off) if you want loot stances in 2026. Nioh 2 Complete is $19.99 if you never played a Nioh.
Is Bloodborne on PC?
No official PC version exists. It is a PlayStation game (PS4 disc, PS5 backward compatible). If you are PC-only, play Lies of P or Elden Ring. We do not recommend unofficial ports or piracy. Sony has not announced a 60 fps remaster.
Is Wuchang: Fallen Feathers worth buying?
Only with eyes open. It launched 23 July 2025, sits at $34.99 (30% off) on the day we checked, and Steam’s recent pile has been Mixed. Atmosphere and movement have fans. Performance and balance complaints stuck. It is a veteran discount buy, not a first soulslike.
When does Phantom Blade Zero come out?
29 October 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC. It is not playable now. Do not rank it as a soulslike you can finish this week. Wait for reviews; it is S-Game’s first major console release.
Is Sekiro a soulslike or a soulsborne?
Soulsborne is FromSoftware slang. Sekiro is FromSoftware, drops RPG builds, and keeps posture and checkpoints. We rank it #2. If you need a stats menu, play Elden Ring or Nioh 3.
What is the easiest soulslike game?
Elden Ring if you will leave a boss and explore. Lies of P if you want a shorter campaign ($29.99 today). Another Crab’s Treasure if you need assist options after bouncing off Dark Souls.
Is Nioh 3 out?
Yes. 6 February 2026 on PS5 and PC. $39.89 on US Steam on 21 September 2026 (43% off $69.99), 11,798 recommendations. Nioh 2 Complete is $19.99 if you have never played a Nioh.
What soulslike should I play after Elden Ring?
Lies of P for a tight non-From campaign. Sekiro for a parry exam. Nioh 3 for loot and ki. Mortal Shell II for the 2026 sequel. Bloodborne if you have a PS5 and missed it.
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