Soulslike games are renowned for their punishing nature, but not all of them require superhuman reflexes and an endless supply of patience. Whileunforgiving boss fightsand high-stakes combat are a consistent theme across the genre, some games manage to incorporate these elements without making players want to throw their controllers at the wall.
These highly accessible soulslikes still strike a solid balance between challenge and reward, although they do so without punishing players quite as harshly as most of their peers. Some crank down the difficulty, while others allow players to explore at their own pace, making them perfect for people who don’t usually enjoymore traditional soulslike games.
1Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
A Gateway Game for Soulslike Newcomers
With itsforgiving checkpoint systemand cinematic storytelling,Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderis a great option for people who don’t usually enjoy soulslikes. It’s one of the very few Soulslike games that allows players to adjust the difficulty, which can make combat a lot more forgiving. The fact that it’s aStar Warsgame helps a lot, too, as this familiarity makes it much easier for franchise fans to forget that they’re playing a soulslike.
2Elden Ring
The Most Beginner-Friendly Soulsborne to Date
Ofall the Soulsborne games,Elden Ringis by far the most accessible. The huge variety of weapons and spells on offer allows players to tweak and tailor their build to match their ability, while the beautifully crafted open world means that they can choose the order in which they tackle boss fights and change course if ever they get stuck. Being able to avoid difficult combat encounters while you find your footing really does make a huge difference and can help to flatten out the learning curve and minimize frustration.
3Hollow Knight
A Moody Metroidvania That Won’t Make You Quit
When most people think of soulslikes, they tend to picture dark and dreary settings with washed-out color palettes. Eschewing this trend, thebeautiful hand-drawn visualsofHollow Knightmake the game feel infinitely more inviting than a lot of its peers, while its platforming and exploration elements help to break up the punishment a little. It can still be difficult in places, but the challenge always feels fair, making it an excellent alternative for those who usually shy away from soulslike games.
4Nioh 2
For Those Who Like to Learn byDoingDying
If you’re one of the many people who dislike soulslike games due to their difficulty, you’re probably going to have a bad time withNioh 2, especially while navigating the early stages of the game. However, if your disdain for the genre is derived more from the rigid repetition that so many soulslikes demand, you might find that this is the perfect game for you.Nioh 2’s combat is fluid and highly customizable, witha huge emphasis placed on builds and stances. The game’s tutorials and training missions also do an excellent job of explaining new mechanics.
5Lords of the Fallen (2014)
A Classic Soulslike with Training Wheels
Lords of the Fallenis a great option for those seeking amore forgiving soulslike. Combat is a lot slower than some of the genre’s more recent offerings, and the enemy AI tends to be far less aggressive. That’s not to say that the game is easy, but it does make it a lot more accessible for newcomers while still providing a traditional soulslike experience with enjoyable exploration. Players are given some control over the game’s difficulty as well, although this is generally used to up the stakes rather than lower them.
6Immortal: Unchained
A Soulslike Adventure with an FPS Twist
Immortal: Unchainedlacks polish in a few key areas, which may be off-putting to some potential players. However, its hybrid nature makes it the perfect entry point for FPS fans who are looking to dip their toes into the soulslike waters, with much less emphasis placed on close-quarters combat than in similar titles. Being able to attack enemies from a distance gives players a bit more time to think, which can makeImmortal: Unchaineda lot less stressful thanmore demanding soulslike games.
