10 Soulslikes Designed for Players Who Love Getting Lost

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Soulslikes Designed for Players Who Love Getting Lost

Published Feb 24, 2026, 11:24 AM EST

Christian has over three years of experience writing in the gaming industry, including guides and reviews, for publications such as DualShockers, Attack of the Fanboy, and PC Invasion. He has been an avid gamer since he was a kid, viewing it as the best possible art form and medium. Some of his favorite genres include Survival Horror, Soulslikes, and RPGs, but he finds joy in almost any type of game.

The Soulslike genre is known for its challenging difficulty and high skill ceiling. However, it can also be known for its exploration and the opportunity to get lost in the game world. While not all Soulslike games are designed like this, with many being focused on linear experiences, there are some that are designed for players who love getting lost.

When I say "love getting lost", I don't just mean not knowing where to go or hitting a roadblock in progressing the main story. Instead, getting lost in this list refers to the feeling of exploration, discovering secrets off the beaten path, and just getting absorbed in the world. Soulslikes games are very good in this department.

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If you are looking for your next Soulslike game that is filled with exploration, interconnected paths, optional areas, and more, this list has the perfect game for you. Here are 10 Soulslikes designed for players who love getting lost.

10 Lords of the Fallen

A Dark World to Explore

Lords of the Fallen has one of the best worlds in the Soulslike genre, clearly drawing inspiration from the Dark Souls genre. Not only is the world an absolute stunner, with beautiful environments with a dark atmosphere, but the level design of each area is created for players who love to get lost. Each area is interconnected and overlaps with each other, creating one large map, just like the original Dark Souls. Being on one side of the map, just to return to the starting area, makes you sit and wonder "how the hell did I get back here?"

That's what Lords of the Fallen does so well, you're always wondering how you reached an area. It's a clear sign of great level design and makes the player want to explore further, just to see if they can stumble upon another path that branches off to a hidden area. Outside of level design, players will also get lost when attempting to complete the game's numerous side quests. The game gives almost zero tips on how to complete them, forcing the player to backtrack and go off the beaten path in an attempt to solve a quest.

9 Dark Souls 3

The Best of Dark Souls

Dark Souls 3 is the final installment of FromSoftware's most popular trilogy and arguably one of their best games to date. While it doesn't include the interconnected level design of the original Dark Souls, it's still designed in a way that will please players who love getting lost in their games. Each area has hidden paths, shortcuts, secret NPCs, and missable bosses that are just waiting for the player to come and challenge them. Players can spend over 100 hours trying to complete everything this game has to offer, and those looking to do it all, can easily get lost in its world.

Dark Souls 3 was sure-fire evidence that FromSoftware knew what they were doing and is proof that they are one of the best developers in the business. If it wasn't for Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring probably wouldn't exist, or at least it wouldn't be as amazing as it turned out to be. You can find Dark Souls 3 influence in a lot of games, especially Soulslikes, when it comes to level design, sense of discovery, and just an overall sense of wonder. While the base game of Dark Souls 3 is massive, there are two major expansions that add even more to the game to help you get lost again.

8 Remnant 2

Get Lost With a Friend

The original Remnant game did a great job at making players feel lost, but the second one took it to a whole other level. If you aren't familiar with the game, Remnant 2 is a procedurally generated Soulslike that constantly switches up the map, making each run feel different than the previous one. Because of the procedural generation, players will constantly be forced to learn the map and choose which path to take, leading to randomized bosses, enemies, and puzzles.

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Each time you boot up Remnant 2, you will be served a fresh take on the experience. Even better is that the game encourages co-op play, meaning you can get lost with a friend or two. Many Soulslikes have co-op built into the game, but it feels better in Remnant 2 since you are uncovering the map together, rather than following a friend who knows the map like the back of their hand. This alone makes Remnant 2 a Soulslike designed for players who love getting lost.

7 Nine Sols

A Detailed Metroidvania Map

Nine Sols can be compared to Hollow Knight, except it draws heavy inspiration from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Focused on a parry-heavy combat system, Nine Sols excels in almost every way, especially when it comes to level design and making the player feel lost. Nine Sols has a large Metroidvania map, arguably one of the largest in the genre, that can be fully explored once you acquire all necessary abilities. As you progress through this game, you will discover optional areas that are the size of the main story levels.

Players can also get lost in Nine Sols quest design, as there are plenty that aren't mandatory but are worth doing for valuable rewards and storylines. Completionists will find themselves checking every nook and cranny of the large map looking for collectibles, of which there are a ton and are very well hidden, requiring thorough exploration and a keen eye. Still, even non-completionists will find themselves going off the beaten path and getting lost throughout their Nine Sols journey.

6 Code Vein 2

A Bigger Sequel

The original Code Vein was a linear experience, focusing on small dungeons with not much exploration and a pretty straightforward path. However, Code Vein 2 switched this up and opted for an open world experience. While the open world isn't anything to write home about, it does add a sense of freedom and is great for players who love getting lost. The world is massive, featuring hidden dungeons, bosses, and secrets galore.

The greatest feature of Code Vein 2 is it takes place during two timelines, where players can switch freely between them and change the world around them. This helps with the sense of getting lost, as there are certain quests only completed in the past and vice versa. While not even close to Elden Ring in terms of discovery (even though it tries to reach those heights), Code Vein 2 does a good job at keeping the player engaged in exploration to find hidden paths leading to rewards and loot for your character.

5 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Get Lost in the World of Star Wars

There is a ton of debate in the gaming community about whether Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a Soulslike or not, but it's safe to say that it is. It features difficult bosses that require a methodical approach to combat and includes a checkpoint system, where you will lose experience points upon death. Literally the backbone of the Soulslike genre. It also, most importantly, features a large, open, map that is designed for players who love getting lost. It features multiple areas filled with secrets, hidden bosses, puzzles, and items to find, all in the beautiful world of one of the most famous franchises ever, Star Wars.

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Jedi: Survivor being based off Star Wars is a huge reason why it's so easy to get lost. Being able to live in a Star Wars world through the game is pure joy, and the developers at Respawn Entertainment did a fantastic job at bringing the world to life and making it feel as realistic as possible. If you're a die-hard Star Wars fan as much as I am, I recommend playing this game and its original, Fallen Order, immediately to get lost in a galaxy far, far away.

4 No Rest for the Wicked

So Much Content

While No Rest for the Wicked is still in early access, it has proven to Soulslike fans that it's a game that is worth exploring. It includes tons of areas brimming with content and complex features for its progression system, such as cooking, upgrading equipment, building, and more. Each area is incredibly detailed, filled with beautiful environments, and encourages exploration that can easily lead to players getting lost in its world. If you are looking to pass the time, without having to focus on a main quest, look no further than No Rest for the Wicked.

With the recent release of the Together Coop update, players can now get lost with their friends. Even better, it's possible to make the server shared among friends, meaning that other players can make progress in your world even when you are logged off. This makes No Rest for the Wicked feel like a team effort, as you and your friends work to build up your homebase, cook meals for future adventures, and work to complete side activities and the main quest together.

3 Hollow Knight: Silksong

The Ultimate Soulsvania

While Hollow Knight: Silksong is a Metroidvania at its core, it's easy to forget that it's also a Soulslike game. Not only is it a Soulslike, but it's also one that is perfectly designed for players who love getting lost. It features one of the largest Metroidvania maps in the genre, and almost half of it is completely optional and not required to finish the main story. Stumbling upon hidden areas, secret quests, and uncovering mysterious lore is the name of the game here.

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I have over 80 hours in Hollow Knight: Silksong, and that is just one playthrough. That is saying a lot considering it only takes around 25 to 30 hours to complete the game if you're just focusing on the main story. There's simply just so much content here that it's almost impossible not to get lost, and not in the frustrating way. Getting lost is the point of Silksong, just like how it was the point in the original Hollow Knight. The best part about this game? It's only 20 bucks.

2 Nioh 3

Team Ninja's Best Game

Team Ninja has released absolute bangers in the past, but it's safe to say that Nioh 3 is its best game yet. The change to an open world was a bold move, but it paid off, as the world is filled with worthwhile activities and satisfying exploration. If you love to get lost, Nioh 3 is one of the best choices on offer in the Soulslike genre.

Whether you go off the beaten path to upgrade your character, or want to complete the various side quests with engaging stories, there is so much to do that is completely optional and away from the main quest. It's also worth mentioning that the world of Nioh 3 is absolutely gorgeous, and it's easy to get lost in its atmosphere, just sitting back and enjoying the views of the landscapes. It's a game that gets better the longer you play it and one that Soulslike fans shouldn't miss.

1 Elden Ring

Discover The Lands Between

This list would not be complete if it didn't have the magnum opus of the genre, Elden Ring. FromSoftware's open world game is the definition of exploration and getting lost, as it has the biggest map out of any game on this list.

Elden Ring is filled with optional content, completely hidden areas such as caves, and a whole underground city that can be completely missed on one playthrough. As you explore this world, you will simply stumble on content that will keep you lost and engrossed for hours on end.

While the main quest only takes around 40 hours, players can expect to spend over 100 hours fully exploring the world of Elden Ring. There is simply so much to do that you will completely forget about the main quest, and before you realize it, you have been playing for 5 hours straight. Elden Ring is a once in a lifetime type of game that will be hard for any developer to beat and is the perfect game for players who love getting lost.