Summary
The Soulslikegenre has grown far beyond its grim roots. It’s not just about cryptic lore, punishing difficulty, and haunting boss fights anymore. Somewhere along the way, developers started asking a bold question: What if soulslike mechanics didn’t have to exist in a vacuum? What if they were fused with other genres, like Metroidvanias, third-person shooters, or even Saturday morning cartoons? And weirdly enough, it worked. Some of the best modern games have taken FromSoftware’s DNA and injected it into entirely different ecosystems, resulting in genre hybrids that are both fresh and brutal.
Here are the most memorable Soulslike fusions out there. The ones that didn’t just borrow the formula but transformed it into something that stands on its own.
No one really expectedStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderto wear its Soulslike influence so openly. But there it was: rest points that respawn enemies,stamina-basedcombat, and aggressive parrying baked into every fight. Cal Kestis isn’t just swinging a lightsaber for flash. He has to learn every enemy’s move set, commit to attacks, and eat his mistakes like a proper apprentice of pain.
What makes it a hybrid, though, is how that design philosophy collides with traditional action-adventure pacing. It leans intoUncharted-style traversal, Metroidvania progression, and cinematic storytelling without feeling bloated. One moment, players are analyzing attack patterns from an elite Purge Trooper, and the next, they’re wall-running through ancient ruins on Zeffo. It might not be the most punishing Soulslike hybrid out there, but it’s easily one of the most approachable.
There’s pain, and then there’sBlasphemous. A 2D soulslike Metroidvania that trades in gore-drenched religious iconography and guilt mechanics instead of souls. Every pixel bleeds with Catholic imagery and Andalusian folklore, which fits perfectly with the deliberate weight of its parry-heavy combat and intricate level design.
It’s more than just atmosphere, though.Blasphemouscombines nonlinear exploration with the kind of tight, punishing melee combat usually reserved forFromSoftware’sdarkest corners. Checkpoints are limited, enemy placement is intentionally cruel, and boss fights feel like biblical tests. But its real secret weapon is the lore, which unfolds in item descriptions, half-whispered dialogue, and grotesqueside quests. It’s a Metroidvania that doesn’t want to be charming. It wants to be penance.
If someone flattenedDark Soulsinto a 2D side-scroller and left in all the nasty surprises, they’d end up with something likeSalt and Sanctuary. It’s aggressive, ugly, and beautiful in that deeply uncomfortable way that only souls like can be. The art style might look like a chalk sketch nightmare, but underneath it is a combat system with real depth.
What sets it apart is how directly it lifts fromDark Souls, yet makes meaningful changes to suit its side-scrolling format. Players still level up at sanctuaries, lose salt upon death, and build toward a variety of classes. But the platforming, branching skill tree, and weighty feel of each weapon push it into its own lane. The studio, Ska Studios, even added couch co-op, which feels like a middle finger to the lonely world of Lordran.
IfDark SoulsandTokyo Ghoulhad a moody child obsessed with trench coats and memory loss, it would look a lot likeCode Vein. It’s ananime-styledsoulslike that doesn’t pretend to be subtle. Massive swords, slow and heavy swings, and a bizarrely deep class system built around “Blood Codes” that let players change their build mid-run.
Where it diverges from traditional soulslikes is in the addition of a companion system. Players are never truly alone inCode Vein; their AI partner heals them, revives them, and joins in on fights with their own moveset. It changes the flow entirely, making encounters more manageable and less punishing without completely removing the challenge. That, paired with its visual novel-like storytelling and over-the-top fashion, makes it an oddball but a lovable one.
At first glance,Tuniclooks like a cutesy Zelda clone starring a bright-eyed fox in a green tunic. But behind the innocent art style hides one of the most cryptic and punishing soulslike hybrids in recent years. There’s a stamina bar, brutal enemies, checkpoints that respawn mobs, and an obtuse manual system that replaces traditional tutorials with fragments of a fictional language.
But where it breaks away is in how much it expects players to figure out on their own.Tunicis as much a puzzle game as it is an action RPG. Combat is simple but punishing. Exploration is encouraged but never explained. And that manual? It’s not just a collectible. It’s the key to unlocking everything, from hidden mechanics to entire sections of the world. It’s a love letter to old school mystery layered over a soulslike framework.
Team Ninja didn’t just borrow Soulslike mechanics forNioh 2. They surgically fused them with the studio’s own action DNA, resulting in one of the most mechanically dense entries in the genre. It leans hard into fast-paced combat with multiple stances, Ki management instead of stamina, and a loot system that’s closer toDiablothanDark Souls.
But at its heart, it’s still a soulslike. Levels are tightly designed gauntlets full of hidden paths, trap encounters, and punishing yokai bosses. What makes it unique is its historical fantasy setting. Players fight their way through a twisted version of Japan’s Sengoku period, clashing with warlords and demons alike. Unlike most soulslikes,Nioh 2gives players the ability to fully customize a silent protagonist, shifting the tone from bleak despair to controlled rage.
Soulslike with guns. That pitch alone was enough to get people curious aboutRemnant: From the Ashes, butRemnant 2took it several steps further. Instead of traditional melee combat, players wield shotguns, assault rifles, and pistols alongside their dodge rolls and stamina bars. And they’re not just mowing down enemies in corridors; they’re doing it in procedurally generated worlds that remix bosses, maps, and enemy placements on every new save.
What’s more surprising is how tightly the mechanics hold together. Gunfire feels weighty, melee combat still matters, and build variety explodes thanks to the dual-class system. Pair that with some truly bizarre world designs, like a realm ruled by sentient beetles or another based on a cosmic opera, and what emerges is a shooter that plays like a roguelite wearing a soulslike’s armor.
Everything aboutHollow Knightfeels deliberate. The stiff, frame-perfect parry timing. The soul meter that charges from attacking. The benches serve as both save points and moments of silent reflection. Team Cherry might never have called it a soulslike, but the community did. And with good reason.
It’s also one of the most impressive Metroidvania fusions out there. The world of Hallownest opens up in layers, with new movement abilities leading to deeper secrets and tougher bosses. Death has weight, exploration demands patience, and lore hides in item descriptions and background art rather than exposition dumps. Somehow,Hollow Knightdelivers the loneliness, challenge, and triumph ofDark Soulsthrough the antennae of a silent little bug knight.
