10 Best Soulslikes of the 2020s (So Far)

There have been plenty of Soulslikes to release in the 2020s so far, with many to come on the horizon. While not all of them have been massive hits, there have been a solid number of Soulslikes that do a great job at replicating the FromSoftware formula.

Whether you are looking for deep lore, a ton of build variety, or a great challenge that will have you breaking your controller, there is a Soulslike game out there for you.

In this list, we take a look at Soulslikes that fit right at home in the genre, but also bring their own unique elements to the table. Here are the best Soulslikes of the 2020s so far.

10 AI Limit

An Immersive Sci-Fi World

AI Limit stands among the best Soulslikes of the 2020s because it successfully blends familiar genre fundamentals with fresh ideas of its own. While many Soulslikes imitate FromSoftware's formula, AI Limit creates its own identity through its post-apocalyptic sci-fi setting, aggressive-based combat, and unique Sync Rate mechanic that replaces the traditional stamina system.

The game does a great job with its presentation, featuring memorable boss designs and an interconnected world that rewards exploration. It is also surprisingly deep in character progression, giving players the chance to create a build that is genuinely unique compared to others. It's also simply a great choice for players who are looking to get into this genre but may find it too difficult, since AI Limit is on the easier side.

9 Remnant 2

Shooter Souls

The original Remnant, Remnant: From the Ashes, was a niche game and didn't have a major following behind it. However, word of mouth did its job, and Remnant 2 did surprisingly well for itself. The greatest aspect of the Remnant franchise is that it's a Soulslike with guns, something you never see in the genre. In other words, it's a unique experience compared to others in the genre.

Remnant 2 does a great job in many departments, but it stands out when it comes to exploration and discoverability. The game follows a procedural generation structure, where each run has different rooms, new secrets to discover, quests to complete, weapons to find, bosses to fight, etc. This alone kept the game feeling fresh throughout the entire playthrough, and because of that, I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

8 Lords of the Fallen

Many Updates Made This Shine

Lords of the Fallen had a rough launch in 2023, releasing filled with bugs, too many enemies, and questionable design choices. Luckily, the game has some great developers behind it who genuinely care about its players. Over the course of three years, Lords of the Fallen has received over 50 updates, turning it into one of the best Soulslikes of the 2020s.

Some notable updates include a completely reworked combat system, improving overall animations and making it feel good to play, a new final boss that actually makes the ending feel worth it, and quality of life improvements that make inventory management feel less of a chore. Lords of the Fallen has come a long way since its launch, making Soulslikes fans super excited about its sequel.

7 Elden Ring Nightreign

An Addictive Experience

When Elden Ring Nightreign was first announced, fans of the genre were super confused as to what FromSoftware was doing. Some people thought it was a cheap asset flip to ride off the success of Elden Ring, and while part of that is probably true, Nightreign turned out to be a massive hit that is genuinely super fun.

The round-based structure of dropping into a map Fortnite style, getting as powerful as possible in a race against the clock, and then taking down a challenging boss is an addicting experience that makes it hard to put the controller down. Once you finish a round, you can't help but want to jump in for another, and then another, and then another. It's just a really fun time and proves that FromSoftware can even do well in the multiplayer space.

6 The First Berserker: Khazan

Incredible Bosses All Around

If you ever want to play a Soulslike with brutal boss fights that make you want to pull your hair out, look no further than The First Berserker: Khazan. I mean, this game has some of the hardest boss fights you will ever encounter in the genre. However, it never feels unfair and never boils down to luck. That right there is a sign of well-designed bosses, rather than just bosses made for difficulty's sake.

I would say that 80% of the bosses in The First Berserker: Khazan are some of the best the Soulslike genre has to offer, offering intense battles that demand fast reflexes and skill. While everything between these bosses is pretty mediocre, such as level exploration and standard enemies, the bosses are so incredible that the game deserves to be on this list.

5 Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Dark Feathers

Out of all the Soulslikes released in the 2020s, I would have to say that Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is arguably the most underrated and underappreciated. While it had its issues, such as some mediocre boss fights, it did most things right that make it stand with some of the greats. For example, its level design is probably the most similar to the original Dark Souls, which, let's be honest, is the best level design in the Souls genre.

Additionally, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has incredible combat that has real weight to it, making each combat encounter feel satisfying. There are plenty of weapons to mess around with, spells that allow for range-focused builds, and unlockable skills that help make your character feel unique. Add on the fact that the game offers deep lore, and you have one of the best Soulslikes of the 2020s.

4 Demon's Souls Remake

A Beautiful Remake

Talking about the Demon's Souls remake always makes me a bit sad due to the recent closure of Bluepoint Games. This developer, often regarded as the king of remakes, took the classic Demon's Souls from 2009 and gave it a fresh coat of paint to make one of the best Soulslikes of the 2020s. This was a tough task considering the original Demon's Souls is what started the entire Soulslike genre.

The Demon's Souls remake did a lot more than just enhance the graphics of the classic. It added new character models, added more detail to some of the most notable locations in the game, added quality of life improvements, and just made the entire product feel modern. It's such a good game that many fans wanted Bluepoint Games to be the ones to remake Bloodborne, but unfortunately, that won't ever happen due to Sony closing it down.

3 Nioh 3

Nioh Takes On Open World

The Nioh series is known for its fast-paced combat, aggressive bosses, and mission-focused structure. The first two games in the franchise were mostly linear, but the most recent entry took the Nioh experience to a massive open world. It seemed like a risky endeavor at first, but it turned out that Nioh is at its absolute best in an open world environment.

Nioh 3 is the closest the Soulslike genre has come to Elden Ring in terms of scope and adventure. However, while the open world is a standout, Nioh 3 does an even better job with its bosses and builds variety. There is so much equipment in this game, allowing players to test out a multitude of different builds and playstyles. It's extremely challenging, but once you get the combat down, the overall feel of Nioh 3 is unmatched.

2 Lies of P

A Dark Reimagining

When it comes to great Soulslikes that aren't developed by the king of the genre, FromSoftware, Lies of P stands as one of the best. While there was a good amount of hype leading up to its release, no one expected it to be as good as it was. I mean, a Soulslike that has to do with the fairytale Pinocchio? That just sounds like a strange idea.

However, developer Neowiz took this strange premise and did a phenomenal job with it. The dark version of the fairytale turned out to have a great story behind it, intense combat with great boss fights, and simple, yet fantastic level design that was reminiscent of Dark Souls. Lies of P turned out to be one of my favorite Soulslikes of the 2020s and I still find myself returning for another playthrough every year since its release.

1 Elden Ring

The Best Soulslike of the 2020s

The absolute best Soulslike of the 2020s so far is Elden Ring and the competition is not really close. When Elden Ring was first announced, everyone knew it was going to be an undeniable banger due to the developer FromSoftware's pedigree. However, no one could have expected just how truly incredible this game turned out to be.

Offering one of the most detailed and diverse open worlds in recent memory, exploring The Lands Between felt like you were truly going on a massive adventure. With secrets around every corner, some of the greatest boss designs in the genre, and an insane amount of build variety, Elden Ring stands as one of the best Soulslikes and greatest video games of all time.