8 Obscure Soulslikes That Have Innovative Features

Soulslikes are a relatively new genre when compared to others like FPS or RPGs. This makes it especially exciting as there's still so much room for it to change and innovate. And, despite the genre being in its infancy, there have been several Soulslike games that have brought innovation.

Some of the best Soulslike games have gotten the attention they deserve, but there are a lot of other Soulslikes that included some incredible innovations but have been largely forgotten. Reasons for this range from poor stories, campaign length, or not ideal implementation of other mechanics, but their innovation in other areas shouldn't be ignored. Future Soulslikes should consider these innovations, and doing so would make the genre richer and even more challenging.

8 Death's Gambit (Afterlife)

Better Combat in a Soulsvania

Sometimes games that get bad launches improve significantly after some updates. The most significant example of this is Cyberpunk 2077, but Death's Gambit is another example that brought some interesting ideas to the Soulslike genre. Death's Gambit's expansion, Afterlife, brought changes to the combat, addressing criticism from its initial release.

Death's Gambit introduced a 2D platformer format to the Soulslike genre, combining the Soulslike and Metroidvania genres. It also experimented with Heroic boss rematches that completely reimagined familiar encounters, instead of turning enemies into damage sponges. This combination of rich lore and satisfying 2D combat meant that revisiting bosses could feel fresh rather than repetitive, and I feel like Soulslikes should embrace this approach.

7 Thymesia

Combat and Lore

One of my favorite parts of game design is connecting lore to gameplay mechanics like combat. Thymesia does this with its wound system. You play as a plague doctor, and the medieval setting lends itself to bloodletting, which is exactly what you do to enemies. Standard attacks inflict temporary wounds, but you could switch to plague weapons, which result in more permanent damage.

This does a lot to change the pace of combat, and encourages you to be more aggressive. Thymesia has other combat mechanics that are standard in a Soulslike, but the redesign of enemy health bars gives it a different feel to other Soulslikes and is a pleasant deviation from the norm.

6 Hellpoint

Dynamic Enemy Evolution

Hellpoint is a science-fiction Soulslike, and its innovation lies in its environment design that works closely with gameplay. It's set on a space station that orbits a black hole, and the positioning of where the space station is relative to the black hole affects how enemies behave, unlocks events, and even changes certain boss encounters.

What this means in practice is that you get to revisit familiar locations at different orbiting locations. It works well with the level design typical of Soulslikes, and is definitely something that could change how Soulslike environments work. Adopting something similar could go a long way in innovating the genre, especially as it's something dynamic.

5 Ashen

A Soulslike Without the Despair

Ashen includes several interesting spins on the Soulslike formula, particularly in regard to its art style and atmosphere. Soulslike games tend to be dark fantasy with a matching color palette and art style, but Ashen goes for a more peaceful and quiet atmosphere with a minimalist art style.

These characteristics give Ashen a sense of hope and wonder, and depict a world that feels like it's healing rather than in a state of collapse. This is something the Soulslike genre rarely sees, but it breathes new life into a formula that could use a new perspective and open it up to new players who aren't keen on the darker atmosphere Soulslikes typically embody.

4 Mortal Shell

Changing the Traditional Class System

Smaller studios obviously have more limitations when creating video games, especially when it comes to scale and assets. Limitations can push creativity, though, and Mortal Shell takes advantage of this through its Shell system, which takes the fore instead of the more typical classes.

The Shell system changed combat in significant ways while still retaining the Soulslike identity that is key to the genre. Instead of traditional classes, you inhabit different Shells of which there are four to choose from. the game established a unique identity. Few Soulslikes have introduced a combat mechanic that feels this original or immediately memorable.

3 Code Vein

More than Anime Soulslike

One of the most important parts of excelling at a Soulslike game is getting your character build right. Code Vein removes a lot of the frustration that some Soulslikes have when it comes to character builds, and lets you swap out Blood Codes at any time. This unlimited amount of change lets you experiment as much as you want.

It also suits players of all levels, as incorrect builds can be a major barrier to newbies, while veteran players can experiment and adapt however they like. This combination of difficult gameplay with flexibility is a welcome innovation in the genre.

2 The Surge

Get That Sweet Loot

One of the most satisfying parts of playing Soulslike games is loot drops, and The Surge went out of its way to innovate this area.

Rather than relying on random drops, you target specific enemy limbs to harvest the equipment you want. This makes every encounter a tactical one, and you influence the kind of loot drops you get.

Alongside this system, The Surge is also just a really clever take on the Soulslike genre. It's set in a gritty sci-fi world that gives satisfying environmental hazards to overcome, exosuit upgrades, and an engaging combat system. It went a long way in proving that Soulslike games still have room to grow and innovate in mechanical areas.

1 Salt and Sanctuary

The First Soulsvania

Salt and Sanctuary innovated the Soulslike genre in several notable ways. It ventured into the Soulsvania genre long before even Death's Gambit. It gave us all the joys of the Soulslike in a Metroidvania package, with some gorgeous hand-drawn art, interconnected world design, and a deliberate combat system that rivals any other Soulslike.

While inspiring the wave of Soulsvania games that followed, it's the latter titles that receive far more attention, while Salt and Sanctuary is often overlooked. It did a lot to innovate indie action RPGs, and created a new kind of game from the ground up, showing that Soulslike and side-scroller genres weren't incompatible.