FromSoftware’s remarkable impact on the gaming industry has given rise to the Soulslike sub-genre, inspiring a wave of developers eager to capture the essence of their iconic Souls games. While some of these titles have come close to replicating the brilliance of their FromSoftware ancestors, others fall significantly short, leading to frustrating experiences.
This article serves as a cautionary guide, highlighting several Soulslike games that, despite their well-meaning intentions, ultimately disappoint. From abysmal gameplay mechanics to uninspired designs, we’ve compiled a list of titles that struggle to meet the lofty standards set by the Souls series.
Expect to see not just poorly received games, but also those that, while not terrible, have failed to live up to their hype or the expectations set by their predecessors. We’ll be steering clear of the most obvious examples of shovelware, focusing instead on those that had the potential but missed the mark.
10 Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
Rough Around The Edges
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Jedi Fallen Order, while being a surprisingly competent entry in the Star Wars franchise, suffers from numerous issues. Despite its enjoyable narrative and interesting characters, the gameplay features a clunky map system and frustratingly linear exploration paths. Players often encountered unfair platforming segments and combat that lacked variety, making high difficulty levels feel unnecessarily tedious.
While it certainly laid the groundwork for the well-received sequel, Jedi Survivor, the original game ultimately fell short of being the masterpiece it aspired to be.
9 Salt And Sacrifice
A Sub-Par Sequel
Following the acclaimed Salt and Sanctuary, fans anticipated a worthy sequel with Salt and Sacrifice. Unfortunately, the sequel traded its predecessor’s polished mechanics for a convoluted mix of untested ideas. The flawed multiplayer integration came off as a burden rather than a feature, and the majority of bosses felt uninspired. With a needlessly grindy progression system, this title ultimately pales in comparison to its predecessor.
8 Stencil
A Solo-Dev Bloodborne
Estencel emerges as a title with significant ambition but ultimately delivers an uneven experience. Echoing the style and themes of Bloodborne, it showcases beautiful visuals and intriguing boss designs. However, balancing issues lead to frustrating difficulty spikes that make engaging with the game a daunting task. Players often find themselves lost in its world due to the lack of navigational aids, detracting from the overall experience.
7 Morbid: The Lords of Ire
Dull, Drab, Depressing
Morbid: The Lords of Ire captured initial attention but quickly fell flat upon release. With an uninspired world design and forgettable story elements, this game fails to engage the player. Combat feels shallow, and the ease of its bosses undermines the expected challenge present in a Soulslike title. Combined with technical issues, players are left with little incentive to endure its bleak environment.
6 Immortal: Unchained
Sloppy Sci-Fi
While Immortal: Unchained has some unique ideas and an engaging sci-fi aesthetic, it quickly becomes a letdown. Players are met with simplistic enemy AI and clunky gunplay, reminiscent of outdated gaming mechanics. Unbalanced combat setups lead to frustrating encounters, muddling any innovation the game attempts to introduce.
5 Chronos: Before The Ashes
Remnant: This Is Not
Chronos offers an interesting age-based leveling system but falls flat in execution. Lacking in depth and complexity, it feels more like a hollow replica of its Remnant cousins than a fully realized experience. Basic combat and a mundane narrative lead to underwhelming gameplay that can be easily disregarded in favor of more compelling titles.
4 Lords of the Fallen (2014)
Baffling That It Got A Reboot
The original Lords of the Fallen offers a bewildering experience poorly aligned with what fans desire from a Soulslike game. Complexity is sacrificed in favor of shallow gameplay elements, resulting in a frustrating journey marred by unmemorable bosses and hollow challenges. It’s perplexing that a game of such low caliber warranted a reboot, which only serves to highlight its shortcomings.
3 Dolmen
I’d Rather Kiss A Necromorph
Dolmen attempts to fuse the work of iconic horror titles and Souls mechanics but does so ineffectively. Clunky controls and an uninspiring environment plague gameplay, transforming what could have been a thrilling experience into a very frustrating one. A limited arsenal and repetitive enemies detract from enjoyment, solidifying Dolmen as a title best avoided.
2 Stray Blade
Dark Souls for Dummies
Stray Blade received mixed reviews, with many casting it as a simplistic take on the Souls format. The game lacks depth, with generic biomes and uninspired mechanics. Poorly executed combat systems further frustrate, leading to a lack of engagement. Players seeking meaningful challenges will find nothing but disappointment in this uninspired entry.
1 Deathbound
The Death of Souls Combat
Deathbound showcases a captivating narrative premise but fails to deliver an enjoyable gameplay experience. With an inconsistent class system, laughably poor combat, and poorly designed enemies, it emerges as a contender for one of the worst in the Soulslike genre. Players are better off seeking other titles that honor the legacy of Souls games without punishing their time.
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