9 Best Soulslikes for Players Tired of Open World Bloat

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Best Soulslike Games For People Tired of Open World Bloat

Christian has 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.

There comes a time when you may want to kick back and enjoy a linear adventure, with no unnecessary bloat. The Soulslike genre is the perfect choice for when you’re feeling like this, as there are a handful of options in this genre that are genuinely fantastic and focus on linear level design.

However, having a linear level design isn’t the only factor determining whether a game has bloat or not. For example, bloat can result from having too many mechanics to comprehend, too many levels to explore, or simply being too lengthy. There are some Soulslikes that fall into these categories.

The gaming industry appears to be producing bloated games more frequently lately, which can be exhausting. Luckily, we got a list for you here where we detail the 10 best Soulslikes games for players who are tired of open-world bloat and bloat in general.

Keep in mind that this list will not include any of the Dark Souls games or Demon’s Souls, since those are considered “Soulsborne” games and not Soulslikes.

9 Enotria: The Last Song

Welcome to Italy

Enotria: The Last Song is an underrated Soulslike that focuses on Italian folklore. The game was overshadowed by other releases at the time, and honestly, it didn’t receive the recognition that it deserved. While the game isn’t revolutionary and doesn’t do much to push the genre forward, it’s still a solid adventure that doesn’t have any unnecessary bloat and is perfect for those looking for their next Soulslike journey. Players can expect to encounter brutal bosses, play around with build variety that includes both magic and swords, and even a unique status effects system.

The status effects system is the standout for Enotria: The Last Song and isn’t what you’d come to expect from typical status effects. Instead of status effects being debuffs to your character, players can actually use them to their advantage for stronger attacks, increased stamina, more potent spells, etc. Also, I really respect Enotria for being a linear adventure with no bloat, as it makes it an easy game to just pick up and play without having to focus too hard, making it one of the more relaxing Soulslikes available.

8 Thymesia

Use the Power of Plague Weapons

Thymesia focuses on fast-paced combat, with a focus on dodging, parrying, and using special abilities to leave enemies stunned. It's a game that got a bad wrap when it first released, but over the years, players have come around and begun to realize how special it actually is. The best part about Thymesia is that it doesn't try to be the best Soulslike around by overloading the player with tons of stuff to do, and instead offers a focused and linear experience that can be beaten in a couple of weekends. Out of all the games on this list, Thymesia probably has the most linear areas.

It took me a couple of years to actually give this game a go, and I'm really happy I finally got around to it. The combat feels great, bosses have cool designs (shoutout to Odur), and it offers a challenge that isn't over the top, but still requires fast reflexes and demands focus. Thymesia also utilizes a unique system called "Plague Weapons," which consists of acquiring abilities from enemies and then using them in future combat encounters. Plague Weapons include claw and bow attacks, knives, fists, and much more. There are tons of Plague Weapons to unlock in Thymesia, adding plenty of replayability as you can test out different options on a second playthrough.

7 Mortal Shell

Acquire the Shells of Your Enemies

Mortal Shell is a Soulslike that came out of nowhere, but still made a name for itself. It’s primarily recognized as having one of the most unique mechanics out of all Soulslike games through its “Shell” mechanic. This system basically allows players to absorb the bodies of fallen warriors, allowing them to take on their classes, changing abilities, playstyle, and overall feel of combat. It’s actually such a cool idea that the game executes well, and I can’t wait to see how Mortal Shell 2 expands on this idea.

Mortal Shell is a fairly short game, only taking around 10 to 20 hours to complete, depending on your skill level. However, it’s one of the most challenging Soulslikes on this list, where even the most basic enemies can give you a run for your money. Expect to die a ton in this game at first, but once you fully understand the Shell mechanic and put in the practice, the game will eventually click, and combat feels incredible. Also, Mortal Shell has a beautiful and dark world that doesn’t ever feel bloated, always feeling focused.

6 AI Limit

Futuristic Souls

AI Limit is a surprisingly good entry into the Soulslike genre, offering beautiful visuals, tight combat, and accessible features that welcome newcomers. While the game does require skill and has challenging bosses, especially in the second half of the game, it's generally on the easier side compared to others in the genre. What makes AI Limit so unique is the Sync Rate system, which replaces stamina and rewards players who play aggressively. Filling up the Sync Rate meter will allow you to execute stronger attacks, skills and spells. It can be compared to the Rally system from Bloodborne with its own unique twist.

AI Limit not only excels in combat, but it also does a phenomenal job with its level design and enemy variety. Each level has its own feel to it, all representing a futuristic world, which is a setting we rarely see in the genre. In classic Soulslike fashion, players will focus on gathering consumables to stay alive, increasing stats to ease the difficulty, and speaking to mysterious NPCs who offer side quests with valuable rewards. It's a great game that got overlooked when it released, but one that you should definitely give a try if you haven't yet, especially if you're tired of open world bloat.

5 Code Vein

For Fans of Anime

With Code Vein 2 on the horizon, it’s time to hop into the popular anime Soulslike, Code Vein. This cult classic offers a deep and flexible class system with easy build experimentation, intense boss fights with insane abilities, and a solid story that is interesting to see through to its conclusion. Code Vein also has a unique companion system where side characters will help throughout dungeons, unlike other games that only have companions during boss fights.

Speaking of dungeons, Code Vein excels in that department. The level design is top-notch, having branching pathways and optional locations to explore, all culminating in memorable boss fights that are up there with some of FromSoftware’s creations. The great news is that Code Vein’s dungeons offer fair difficulty and are never overbearing, meaning you can explore them without feeling anxious or worried about dying constantly. In other words, the true challenge is saved for the boss fights.

4 The First Berserker: Khazan

Hardest Soulslike Yet

The First Berserker: Khazan

The First Berserker: Khazan is a stylish Soulslike that is all about its boss fights, offering some of the most difficult and brutal encounters in the entire genre. I mean, some of its bosses are so challenging that it can take up to 20 times to finally overcome them, depending on skill level. However, that isn't a bad thing at all, as each boss is so meticulously designed and well-crafted that they are a joy to learn. Sometimes with Soulslikes, you'll encounter bosses that take many attempts to defeat due to poor design, but that is not the case with The First Berserker: Khazan. You are getting S-Tier bosses throughout the entire game.

The First Berserker: Khazan also has incredible build variety, allowing players to create a unique character through a bunch of skills, weapons, and armor pieces. With a linear structure to its levels, players will rarely feel overwhelmed or exhausted, and the fact that the hub area is easily accessible at every checkpoint, taking a break to focus on selling items, improving your build, and accepting side quests, is a breeze. While the game isn't for everyone due to its demanding difficulty, there's no doubt that it's one of the best Soulslikes around and every fan of the genre should give it a try.

3 Remnant 2

Go in Guns Blazing

Remnant 2 is one of the most unique Soulslikes on this list, mainly because it focuses on third-person shooter gameplay rather than melee weapons. While there are melee weapons in Remnant 2, the primary weapons are guns and long-ranged attacks. This game is the perfect choice for players who are tired of open-world bloat, mainly because the game consists of a handful of biomes with small maps, with only a few directions a player can go. It’s also very replayable since it's only around 20 to 30 hours long, and each playthrough can turn out completely different than the last.

Even though the gameplay in Remnant 2 is different from other Soulslikes, it still has the same level of challenge the genre is known for, with each level and boss getting progressively more difficult. Throughout these levels, players can discover secrets such as hidden locations, secret bosses, unique NPCs with deep storylines, legendary weapons, and much more. There are even three DLCs out now for Remnant 2 that expand the journey in positive ways and without adding bloat.

2 Lords of the Fallen (2023)

Incredible World to Explore

With the upcoming release of Lords of the Fallen 2, there is no better time to play 2023’s Lords of the Fallen. While the game received mixed reviews among critics and fans when it was first released, mainly due to performance issues, there’s no denying that the game knows exactly what a true Soulslike is all about. The dark fantasy atmosphere, incredible build variety, and its unique umbral realm mechanic are what make Lords of the Fallen stand out among the crowd.

While Lords of the Fallen has large levels, it never adds up to feel like there is unwanted bloat. Each level is very focused, with a clear path of progression, so you never really feel lost or overwhelmed. However, there are shortcuts and interconnecting paths leading to secret items and such, which are a staple of the genre that make you feel a good sense of exploration. The developers have put out a ton of updates to fix its issues, focusing on revamping combat and improving performance, so now is the best time to hop in and give it a try.

1 Lies of P

Best Soulslike Around

One of the best Soulslikes for fans tired of open world bloat, and simply the best Soulslike of all time, is Lies of P. Not only does Lies of P have superb level design, reminiscent of classic Dark Souls titles, but it also has an engaging narrative based on the story of Pinocchio. If you asked me a while ago if a game inspired by the famous puppet would be any good, especially a Soulslike, I would say absolutely not. However, this game took the Souls community by storm and surprised everyone with how amazing it really is.

Lies of P has everything you want in a linear Soulslike game. It has incredible boss designs with challenging movesets and attack patterns, a plethora of weapons to find with unique abilities, mysterious NPCs with their own quests, an interesting and dark world, secrets to discover, and much more. It even has a unique mechanic where players can decide to “lie” or “tell the truth” to characters they encounter, and the decisions will affect the ending and outcomes of quests. Additionally, Lies of P recently got a DLC called "Overture" featuring its own story that is just as good as the base game.

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