Sometimes, you just crave a game that presents a serious challenge. Such games contribute significantly to maintaining a reasonable playtime for shorter games, especially considering the frequent boss refights. Without a doubt, the ideal genre for this kind of experience is a Soulslike game.
On the PS5, there are several games that borrow the exceptional attributes of Dark Souls and incorporate them in innovative ways. While some may strongly evoke the Dark Souls feel, it’s easy to overlook that when a game introduces unique mechanics or settings that set it apart.
Updated on June 13, 2025, by Mohamed El Ouardighi:If you want to dive into some challenging Soulslike games on your PS5 this year? Look no further, as this list has everything you need to scratch that brutal, rewarding itch!
14Biomutant
Beginner Friendly
If you played through the core Dark Souls games and felt like there weren’t enough animal creatures doing battle, then Biomutant is for you. This game sticks to the Dark Souls-style gameplay loop while standing out from its peers through its fun exploration and the use of unique mounts.
You can fully customize your own little creature before being dropped into the world to figure things out. The experience will immediately feel familiar to Souls fans, though the story is far less ambitious by comparison.
13Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Can Be A Soulslike As Well
If you want your soulslike game to come with a large story, look no further than Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The quiet worlds you must explore will feel like a more sci-fi take on Dark Souls, and the combat will feel eerily similar.
For a long time, this was one of the longest Star Wars games to truly master, so a Dark Souls fan like you should have a great time learning every aspect of it. Don’t forget to meditate often, as those meditation points act as your bonfires in this game.
12Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Sequel That We Needed
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds on Fallen Order in nearly every way, making it a strong sequel that improves upon the original while staying true to its foundation. The first major improvement is the enhanced combat, which introduces new lightsaber stances that provide more combat options. The world is also larger, filled with side quests, characters, and plenty to explore.
It’s rare these days for a sequel to excel, but Survivor definitely learned from the first game and listened to its players to deliver this. And yes, the Souls-like aspect is still very much present.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
WHERE TO PLAY
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a 2023 sequel from Respawn Entertainment that continues the story of Cal Kestis, a Jedi Knight who fights to survive the brutal Galactic Empire.
11The Nioh Collection
Underrated Series
Why just get one soulslike game when you could get two? They both have remastered versions, too. If you pick up The Nioh Collection, you’ll have access to two great games that give you Dark Souls combat through the vessel of a samurai or a yokai spirit.
The original Nioh was already a triumph, but Nioh 2 somehow managed to make almost every aspect even better while providing an experience that will remind you of the Dark Souls series. The gameplay is familiar, but there are some unique quirks to each game that keep them unique.
10Code Vein
Soulslike Come In Anime Too
You might bea big fan of anime and anime games, and that means you’ll love Code Vein. The game is relatively short, and most people consider it to be a lot easier than Dark Souls, but taking that formula and translating it into a brooding anime is exactly what this game is like.
You get to create your own character before joining a group to find various Bloodsprings. The level of customization is much greater than the average Dark Souls, but you won’t find yourself shouting at the TV nearly as much.
9Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Must Try At Least
Depending on who you ask, some might say that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a much more skill-based game than any other Soulslike. This is mainly due to the necessity of mastering deflections in order to succeed.
The beauty of this game lies in its straightforward nature. If you find the Dark Souls games too obtuse at times, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty delivers a more direct experience from start to finish. You can focus on mastering the combat while still enjoying the story.
8Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
A Final Fantasy Souslike??
This game is essentially the Final Fantasy series take on the Dark Souls formula, and to a lot of people, it’s a surprise hit. You aren’t going to have as much customization at your fingertips in this game, but luckily, you aren’t stuck with a single gameplay style.
You take control of Jack, someone interested in destroying Chaos. Since the game hasa heavy emphasis on story, it’s best to experience the rest yourself, but just know it isn’t anything mind-blowing for the Final Fantasy series by any means.
7Lords Of The Fallen
Best Thing To A Dark Souls Game
Since there’s no word on a new Dark Souls installment anytime soon, the closest thing right now is the 2023 reboot of Lords of the Fallen. This game captures the full Soulslike experience, from customizing your character and picking a starting class to facing constant death as part of the learning curve.
What makes this reboot stand out is the Umbral World mechanic. It lets you shift between Axiom, the realm of the living, and Umbral, the realm of the dead, revealing hidden paths, secrets, and plenty of extra danger. With tons of weapons and spells to try out, you can mix and match builds to suit how you like to fight.
Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen is a next-gen soulslike action RPG, and a soft reboot of the 2014 original. Developed by Hexworks, it features two parallel worlds - the living Axiom, and the dead Umbral.
6Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
A Test Of Skills
This game should feel incredibly Soulslike, considering it was made by the same developers behind the Dark Souls series. Much like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes the genre in a new direction and makes some bold changes to the familiar Soulslike formula.
You play as a shinobi in a classic rendition of Japan’s Sengoku period. Instead of leaning heavily into RPG elements, the game offers a more straightforward story and introduces fun stealth mechanics that add a refreshing twist to the experience.
5Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition
New Concept, Still Difficult
Mortal Shell will immediately remind you of Dark Souls both in playstyle and overall world design. What sets it apart is the shell mechanic you can access to battle the game’s many threats.
The different shells you have access to all have unique play styles, so it’s worth swapping them out when possible to have an easier time in certain areas or against certain bosses. Of course, you can just stick to one style and try to brute force your way through the game if you wish.
