9 Soulslikes That Feel Bigger As You Learn About Them

While there are many great games out there, few have as much to offer as Soulslikes in terms of the challenge they pose, the intricate mechanics they possess, and the fearsome bosses they pit players against. While some focus heavily on combat and leave other aspects behind, there are others that have complex backstories to them.

When it comes to the latter, there's a very extensive lore to discover, which not only helps you understand certain bosses and areas better, but also makes the experience feel a lot more immersive. Here are some Soulslikes that feel bigger the more you learn about them.

9 Lords Of The Fallen (2023)

A Soft Reboot That Corrected Several Mistakes

When the original Lords of the Fallen was released, it wasn't a complete failure, but it certainly wasn't as polished as this version, which came out in 2023. Treated not as a remake, but rather as a soft reboot, Lords of the Fallen (2023) gets several more things right than its predecessor got wrong.

While it doesn't have the level of lore that other titles like Elden Ring possess, learning more about the world and the details that make it up can help make the experience of playing it feel more "complete".

8 Mortal Shell

Proving AA Soulslikes Can Also Shine

While Mortal Shell doesn't have some of the intricate game mechanics that other titles do, it still delivers an entertaining experience, which goes to show just how far an AA title can go if it's done carefully—even when it's following a well-established blueprint and standing on the shoulders of giants.

Mortal Shell doesn't really break the Soulslike mold in terms of combat or bosses. However, if you take a deep dive into the lore and start learning about the goddess Vatra, for example, you'll soon find there's much more to this title than meets the eye.

7 Lies Of P

All-Out Puppet Mayhem Set In A Victorian Landscape

When I first heard of Lies of P, I couldn't help but think that it was going to be another shameless copy of the Dark Souls franchise or something of the sort. However, I'm glad to have been proven wrong the moment I picked up the game and started exploring the streets of Krat. Granted, the formula is very similar to other Soulslikes—explore an area, defeat a few enemies, get to the boss arena, upgrade, rinse and repeat.

However, while it follows a very similar style to other games in its genre, Lies of P feels unique thanks to its familiar concept and the Victorian environment it uses as a setting to unfold. The more you learn about corrupted puppets, carcasses, and other enemies, the more interesting everything becomes.

6 Blasphemous 2

Easier Than The Original, But Also Better Designed

Although many people consider Blasphemous 2 to be all-around better than its predecessor, there are some things I miss from the original, including the increased sense of difficulty that characterized it. Now, I'm not saying Blasphemous 2 isn't hard, because it certainly is. However, the first one made me feel a lot more hopeless. Like I was powerless in front of the various nightmarish threats I had to face.

That said, I'm including the second installment of the franchise on this list because it expands on what was already presented to us in the first game, while also adding a few things of its own, such as the Altarpieces of Favour. These not only increase the different Stats you can maximize, but also allow you to take a trip down memory lane with Altarpieces like Crisanta and Nacimiento—both present in the first title.

5 Salt And Sanctuary

A Huge Skill Tree To Take Advantage Of

There are many great things to say about Salt and Sanctuary, starting with the fact that it has one of the biggest skill trees I've seen in a Soulslike. Moreover, this game has one of the features that many despise in Soulslikes, but that I personally love: fights against multiple bosses at once. A great example of this is the fight against the Architect and the Unskinned.

Putting aside the combat mechanics and boss encounters, Salt and Sanctuary presents us with a bleak world and a fascinating lore behind it, which, while not as extensive as that of other titles, still holds up rather well. If you don't believe me, look up the lore behind the Nameless God and thank me later.

4 Hollow Knight

The Hallownest Is Much More Complex Than It Seems

At a glance, Hollow Knight probably looks like a game for children due to its cartoonish design and the goofy character voices in it. However, those who have played it know that the story behind the Hallownest is rather bleak. And once you read into the lore and learn more about the game, every corner feels cold, every character feels sadder than it used to, and every ruined or abandoned location comes to life in the worst possible way.

For me, at least, it's sometimes hard to make my way through the game while killing the zombified insects now that I know what I know, and how they are, for the most part, victims of circumstance and "The Infection". That said, even with that knowledge, defeating some of the hardest bosses in Hollow Knight is still a lot of fun, with the Sisters of Battle being one of my favorites.

3 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The Lore Complements The Story Wonderfully

Maybe it was just me. But when I first started Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, I thought that it would be like playing any of the games from the Dark Souls franchise. And since I consider myself somewhat of a veteran in those, I didn't really think I'd have a hard time beating it. Boy, was I wrong. Those of you who've already played and beaten it know that the game mechanics are extremely different, focusing on facing the danger head-on, rather than trying to dodge it.

As you explore every corner of Ashina, you'll uncover various secrets, come across interesting NPCs, and face fearsome enemies—all pieces of a bigger picture that you'll only be able to see if you take the time to learn more about the game. A great starting point I'd recommend is reading about the Headless mini-bosses. Corrupted heroes turned into ghostly creatures that dwell in the dark. Doing sidequests in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the best ways of learning more about Ashina and its lore.

2 Bloodborne

Even In A Nightmarish World, There's Lots To Discover

Out of all the bleak, nightmarish games FromSoftware has released, Bloodborne is probably the greatest representation of what Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team think of as horror. I can't remember a single second playing the game where I wasn't on the edge of my seat and waiting for the next terrifying thing to come at me with vicious intent. And that's exactly what makes Bloodborne great—especially if you know the lore behind it.

Learning more about the Hunters, the City of Yharnam, and the unorthodox blood-focused practices and beliefs of The Healing Church makes the entire Bloodborne experience feel a lot deeper. The more you learn, the higher the stakes, and the more immersive the experience. Whether that is something good or something that will give you nightmares is up for debate.

1 Elden Ring

There's A Library Worth Of Content To Learn

Few titles have made history like Elden Ring among the gaming community. It took the best parts of the Dark Souls franchise and combined them with a massive open-world that gave players the freedom they'd always wished they had. The Lands Between hold many secrets that can only be uncovered through exploration and a few hours' worth of reading through the lore.

Once you understand the backstory of Radagon, Godfrey, Mohg, Morgott, and other divine beings in The Lands Between, even the boss fights against them take on a whole new level of meaning and depth. I've always been a Dexterity user who focuses on twin-sword fighting.