when Satan's spirit Started the Soulslike genre, also reimagined the RPG. Many later games used RPG mechanics to build a character and increase their stats (sometimes with the help of level grinding) to survive tough combat.
However, as more and more Soulslike games appear, some have tried to move away from the traditional RPG elements that are usually offered. Although players can still upgrade certain abilities and weapons in an RPG-like manner, it's hard to find a game that does this in the same way. Games have had high powers since the beginning. Here are some Soulslike games that go beyond RPG mechanics.
6 insulting
Pixel souls
With its dark and gothic art style, insulting It's everything players expect from a Solsik. However, while the style and brutal combat follow the traditions of the genre, the game has its own distinct identity as an action platformer.
Amid the action-platforming, players will encounter battles that require precise timing to defeat enemies and bosses. Each death teaches players techniques on how to move around enemy patterns and get that timing right. Unlike other Souls likes, insulting It has no stat leveling or character building, replacing this with Metroidvania-style exploration. Players will gain new abilities, but they only enhance the core mechanics of combat and navigation.
5 hollow knight
Cute but deadly
hollow knight It has become popular among Metroidvania and Soulslike fans. The game sees players exploring the interconnected and winding world of Hallownest to discover new abilities and reach new areas where they will face challenging enemies and bosses.
The beautiful hand-drawn 2D art style may fool players at first, but beneath the surface lies a game that is as challenging as the Soulslike genre has to offer. There are some soul-like elements here though, such as a dark, melancholic atmosphere, precision-based combat, and collecting (and losing) Geo (the game's equivalent). ghosts currency), instead trading RPG mechanics for Metroidvania features.
4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Souls Without The Character Building
Instead of customizing the appearance of the player character, choosing a class, and then creating them with stats and leveling, FromSoftware departs from its usual formula to come up with something new. Skiro. The player controls a special character, a shinobi known as Greg but later named Sekiro.
The emphasis on action, which features mechanics like jumping and grappling, is now a far cry from the developer's previous low-key nature. ghosts series But while the combat is still brutal, many of the RPG elements are completely gone. That being said, there are no stats and progression instead comes in the form of unlocking skills and techniques, something found in many non-RPG games. This makes the game harder than Dark SoulsWith full focus on mastering challenging combat, reacting, and countering at the right time to ensure a successful game.
3 Sifu
Every time you die, you get older
Many games are compared Dark Souls Simply because of their difficulty, sometimes as a behavior pattern, with cup head One of the best examples in this case. However, falling under the Soulslike umbrella requires much more than difficulty or aesthetics. While it's hard to find Soulslikes that don't use some sort of light RPG element, Sifu It is one of the purest examples of A ghosts-Inspired gameplay that lacks RPG mechanics.
Sifu It takes the precise, time-based combat from Soulslikes and puts it in a martial arts format. It also takes time ghosts The original game of losing currency after death but with a unique twist. Instead of gambling by losing all valuable “souls” (or equivalent) every time players enter a fight, the post-death penalty causes the player character to age. This adds to the pressure, especially since there are no RPG elements like the high level.
2 Dead cells
A fusion of many genres (except RPG)
Dead cells It combines notes of Roguelike, Metroidvania and Soulslike flavors in its gameplay. There's fast-paced action in the form of exploration and combat that sees players jump, dodge and use special abilities.
Instead of losing money or souls when you die, everything is lost, similar to a rogue. However, exploration is more Metroidvania-like, while combat is much more Spirit-like, requiring precision and pattern retention. Combining these elements leaves no room for RPG elements, so again players won't find any levels or stat building here.
1 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order & Serious: Survivor
serious soul
particle for direct object Apart from Star Wars The games are probably some of the best and most successful examples of an action-adventure game incorporating elements of the Soulslike formula. Borrow heavily from ghosts genre, seriously It has several familiar mechanics, such as losing all XP when you die and then hunting down the enemy that outmatched the player to regain the lost XP. The combat is also a challenging mix of stamina management, with the usual focus on blocking and dodging enemies to avoid massive damage.
Meditation points are also a borrowed feature that serves as the game's equivalent Dark Souls Bonfires These act as checkpoints and fast travel points where health is restored and skills are upgraded at the cost of respawning enemies. Although abilities can be upgraded throughout the game, seriously The series doesn't go as deep into its customization as an RPG, instead it's more Metroidvania-like in its progression. Instead of building their own character, players also control a special character, Cal Kestis.
