8 Best Soulslikes To Play During The 2026 Winter Season

People generally say that no experience is truly individual, and one of the biggest examples for me is how many players agree (even if silently) that certain games just pair better with specific seasons.

We can't always explain the "why" for that; you just need to feel it! And just like a horror game hits differently on a rainy October night, there is something special about tackling a punishing Soulslike when it is freezing outside.

Probably it is because these games demand a high amount of patience, focus, and that classic “just one more try” mindset – all of which feel much more manageable when you are wrapped in a blanket like a burrito with hot chocolate. So, for this list, we are looking today at titles that capture that specific winter energy and deserve to be taken off your backlog this season.

Whether they are literally covered in snow and freezing rain or just possess a cold, desolate atmosphere that makes you want to stay inside and warm, these are the best Soulslikes to keep you busy during the coldest months of the year.

8 Lords of the Fallen

A Lesson in the Cold

If you want a Soulslike that can really teach you the importance of pacing and having a nice map layout, Lords of the Fallen is a perfect pick. Its combat is quite a bit slower than what we are used to in the genre, and the environments are stitched together in a way that makes the atmosphere feel deep and immersive.

But what really gets me in this game is the Fief of the Chill Curse area, which is drenched in freezing rain and packed with enemies around every corner.

This forces you to face both a harsh environment and adversaries that require you to learn how to pick them off one by one. And it’s funny how all of its paths are relatively straightforward, but the enemies just keep spawning like crazy in there.

What makes this place so special, though, is that it feels completely different from the rest of the game and is so well-done, even if it is a bit of a "love it or hate it" location. It will definitely make you look at the cold and the freezing rain differently.

7 No Rest for the Wicked

Cold as Ice by Nature

I know that No Rest for the Wicked, the new game from the creators of the Ori franchise that is currently in Early Access, doesn't necessarily rely on literally having snowy peaks as scenarios, but I feel like it is one of the "coldest" games I have ever played.

By that, I mean it doesn't need a blizzard to get its point across, managing to use an incredibly intelligent lighting system to make the player feel truly solitary and chilled.

You can practically feel the frost and the darkness as you explore the corners of each region, and that, my dear reader, is an example of excellent world-building, which is further deepened by its punishing combat.

Because the atmosphere is so "cold," it feels genuinely comforting when you finally find a warmer light source, like a flickering campfire or the interior of a house. It is the kind of game that goes perfectly with a hot cup of whatever you like.

6 Mortal Shell

Cold, Silent, and Unforgiving

Mortal Shell is a fraction of the size of other Soulslikes, making it a nice, short experience from the indie studio Cold Symmetry – and just by the name alone, we already know what these developers like, right?

Jokes aside, the studio lives up to its name and delivers a beautiful snow-covered realm that is easily one of my favorite levels in the entire genre: the lovely Crypt of Martyrs.

It is an atmospheric, brutal, and often overlooked region that makes the environment itself your enemy. And it also perfectly prepares you for the chilling fight against Tarsus, the First Martyr, who serves as the area's final boss.

There’s also something impactful about seeing the blood spray against the white snow in this game, being a contrast (of something so chilly that it is broken by violence) that really stays with you even after you are done with the place.

5 Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

Ratatouille Meets Dark Souls

Imagine Ratatouille, but with the gritty edge of Dark Souls and the monster-hunting vibes of The Witcher, and you have the Tails of Iron franchise (or something close to it).

The first Tails of Iron is a very charming 2D indie action-RPG with a striking storybook art style and challenging combat, bringing a different flavor to the Soulslike formula. But it is the sequel, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, that truly fits the season by bringing environments designed specifically with this wintry vibe.

While some might argue it is not quite as tight as the first, it is an experience completely worth visiting, especially this time of year. With its snow-ravaged kingdom setting and a new day and night cycle, it’s perfect for a couple of cozy winter evenings.

4 Death’s Door

A Monochromatic Winter

Maybe Game of Thrones just ruined me, but crows automatically make me think of winter. Any game featuring them always makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a cold snap – and that is exactly what happens with Death’s Door.

Developed by just two people who form the studio Acid Nerve, the game puts you in the role of a crow working as a reaper for a bureaucratic afterlife.

The game plays with this “cold” concept beautifully, not only by having "death" and grief as its main themes but also through its almost monochromatic art style and well-constructed environments. After all, isn't a gray office full of repetitive tasks one of the coldest things we can ever feel?

In the end, Death’s Door feels like a cold, lonely journey through a world that has seen better days, but there is still a tiny spark of hope somewhere, making every discovery feel like a true victory.

3 Blasphemous

Feel the Cold, Penitent One

I don't think there is a single person who has played Blasphemous and hasn't struggled with the snowy peaks region. This is where you really need to take things a few clicks slower and learn a thing or two about patience.

Most screens in these frozen areas have some pretty tricky enemies that seem insanely difficult at first, at least until you understand that each has a very specific weak point. You will need to find safe spots where you can pick off flying enemies (and those annoying "coffin dudes") before making a timed jump, for instance.

It is arguably the hardest main area in the game, mostly because you usually arrive there underpowered and inexperienced. But trust me, you must try enjoying your suffering, because there is nothing quite like the feeling of the biting cold toughening you up for the rest of your pilgrimage.

2 Lies of P: Overture

A Storm Before the Frenzy

This might sound like a very strong statement, but Lies of P is probably my favorite Soulslike not made by FromSoftware, especially since it transforms the classic story of Pinocchio into a dark, atmospheric RPG, and it does it brilliantly (a quite bold try!).

But we are here to talk about more than just the base game, specifically the Overture expansion, which adds a very wintry coat to the experience.

The DLC sends us back several years before the main game, following the trail of our former mentor during a massive winter storm that predates the chaos of Krat. This means there are plenty of snowy environments and enemies that practically beg for a warm drink to accompany the session.

The best part is that it feels like a standalone tale. So, if your memory is as bad as mine and you don’t recall every detail of the base game, you can jump into this experience without a problem. Plus, a little bonus: the winter skins in this expansion are stylish as hell.

1 Dark Souls 3

The Beauty of Irithyll of the Boreal Valley

As someone who loves snowy regions in both real and fictional lives, I will never forget seeing Irithyll of the Boreal Valley for the very first time in Dark Souls 3.

Sure, it can be an annoying place to navigate the first time you play it, but for Soulsborne, that frustration is literally part of the experience. Besides, it looks absolutely amazing while you are exploring it.

For me, it is one of the best wintry areas in the entire genre (and maybe even in gaming as a whole) because it isn't just "white snow", and the blue-tinted aesthetics are perfectly on point.

All of this makes it feel like a painting you can actually explore. Beyond the visuals, it is also a great farming spot with some of the best PvP experiences in the series. Just watch out for those three dogs on the stairs – they are still the stuff of nightmares.