Few games demand the extreme patience, ambiguous stories, and challenging combat found in the Soulslike genre. These games have carved out a dedicated fanbase by appealing to players who enjoy a uniquely difficult and thought-provoking experience.
2025 brought some good content for fans of challenging games, including new DLC for Lies of P (Wuchang: Fallen Feathers) and a difficult update for Clair Obscur (Thank You). But overall, it was a pretty slow year for the genre. That’s about to change, though, with several new, intensely difficult games on the horizon that are sure to test players’ skills.
Join us as we take a look at some of the brand-new Soulslikes coming your way in 2026 and beyond!
1. Code Vein 2
The highly anticipated follow-up to the 2019 game Code Vein aims to improve upon everything players loved about the original. It promises a larger, more expansive, and ambitious experience that will keep you captivated.
This sequel features a fresh story, new characters, and a much larger world to discover. It looks like a great entry point for players new to the challenging Soulslike genre, offering a more accessible experience.
2. Lords of the Fallen 2
We’re excited to return to this gritty world, and for good reason. The trailers look fantastic, showing gameplay that’s just as captivating and challenging as the original game. The new boss and level designs are particularly impressive, with the Axial and Umbral worlds offering breathtaking scenery.
If the new game is similar to the first one, it’ll really appeal to players who enjoy learning from failures and improving with each attempt.
3. Nioh 3
The latest installment in this beloved series arrives in just a few days, and it’s packed with fresh content. Players will take on the role of a new hero who can journey through time to change Japan’s destiny after being betrayed by their sibling. The gameplay you’re familiar with will return, but with some exciting new changes.
The game now features a Samurai playstyle, and will soon add a Ninja style. Unlike previous games, the Ninja won’t use the Ki Pulse system, instead focusing on unique weapons and abilities. This mix of familiar and new elements stays true to the series’ reputation for challenging players – and often sending them back to their last save!
4. Mistfall Hunter
This game combines the challenging combat of Soulslike titles with exciting PvP and PvE elements, and a unique extraction-based gameplay loop. Players take on the role of a Gyldhunter, exploring fantasy-filled levels and battling diverse enemies and bosses with a wide array of weapons and spells.
This game boasts fluid animations, precise timing for blocking and dodging, and demands skillful gameplay. Get ready for an intense and exciting experience when it launches later this year.
5. Phantom Blade Zero
Although the game’s creator says it’s not like the ‘Souls’ series, it shares enough similarities to be included here. The combat and movement are beautifully done, inspired by wuxia films, and the enemies are challenging. You’ll have 66 days to investigate a mystery and uncover a conspiracy connected to your character.
The game should be fairly easy on simpler settings, but playing on the hardest difficulty will be incredibly challenging. Expect tough fights where enemies deal as much damage as they take, forcing you to fight desperately to survive.
6. Valor Mortis
This game offers a unique premise. It’s set in a twisted 19th-century Europe where Napoleon’s conquests led to disaster. You play as William, a British soldier brought back to life who must fight off waves of the undead – alongside former allies now among the monsters.
This game looks like a promising new Soulslike experience, played from a first-person perspective. You’ll battle through a mysterious and intriguing story using swords, pistols, and magic, relying on skillful combat like dodging and blocking. We’re excited to play it when it comes out later this year.
7. The Relic: First Guardian
This gritty action RPG takes the familiar Souls-like style in some exciting new directions. Unlike other games in the genre, your attacks don’t require stamina, and abilities recharge over time instead of using mana. Plus, every weapon and piece of equipment you discover is completely one-of-a-kind, adding to its appeal.
The game’s story is likely to be the most memorable part, as you play as the Keeper and uncover the remains of a lost civilization. It heavily focuses on the memories of those who came before, and early impressions suggest it’s a deeply moving tale. It’s scheduled for release in May, and we anticipate it will stay with players long after they finish playing.
8. Fatekeeper
If you enjoy challenging action games like the Souls series, you’ll likely be captivated by Fatekeeper. It features a compelling fantasy world and a unique twist: the main character travels with a talking rat hidden in their backpack. With its striking visuals and addictive gameplay, Fatekeeper promises a deeply immersive experience that you could easily lose yourself in for hours.
The game’s demo highlights gameplay elements players will likely recognize, and a combat system that appears simple to pick up, though it will likely take skill to truly become proficient. It will be available in Early Access on Steam later this year, and a version for consoles will follow at a later date.
9. Beast of Reincarnation
Game Freak’s new game feels like a successful departure from Pokémon, vividly bringing a futuristic, troubled Japan to life. Players and their canine companion will face a tough challenge as they journey to restore the land from a strange, destructive force and defeat the creature responsible. Expect to encounter terrifying monsters and colossal robots along the way.
The game looks fantastic, and its combat is similar to Sekiro, which is a great sign for a title with such ambitious goals. It’s scheduled for release later this year and appears to be a promising investment of your time and money.
10. The Duskbloods
Hidetaka Miyazaki is creating a new game, and it will be available exclusively on the Switch 2. Players will choose from a variety of characters called Duskbloods, who have vampire-like powers, and explore a dark fantasy world featuring both player-versus-player and player-versus-environment gameplay.
The director hasn’t revealed much, but we know each character in Bloodsworn will have their own special weapons, equipment, and skills. They’ll be battling creatures who’ve lost their humanity while searching for a strange power throughout time and space. That’s definitely caught our attention, and we expect to be playing this one a lot on the Switch 2 when it comes out later this year.
11. Lies of P 2
Neowiz is developing a sequel to their popular game, but they haven’t announced a release date yet. The studio has shared that they’re enjoying the development process, and it sounds like the sequel will feature a larger, more open world for the main character, P (also known as Carlos), to discover.
The first game ended on a cliffhanger that hinted at characters from a well-known childhood story joining the action, and fans are eager to find out how they’ll connect to the dark world of Krat. We expect to hear more details throughout the year, and the game might be released either this year or in 2027.
12. Knights Path
This game is set in the Roman Empire and puts you in the role of Alryk, a fallen nobleman trying to reclaim his honor. It’s perfect for players who enjoy a careful, strategic approach to battles. You’ll need to learn the game’s systems thoroughly, as every action is meant to be deliberate – a hallmark of the Soulslike genre.
How you defeat your opponents will directly shape your character’s development. The game offers a compelling story where you can choose to play with honor or prioritize your own goals, making it one to keep an eye on—though we don’t know when it will be released yet.
13. Shadows of The Lost
I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen of Lies of P. It just proves how much a good story can add to a Soulslike game. The world they’re building, with all its dark fantasy and mythological vibes, looks amazing. I’m super hyped to finally play it, even if I have to wait until 2026 or 2027!
Beyond the narrative, we’re really excited to try the combat system, which encourages and rewards skilled players. We believe this game has the potential to be one of the best Soulslike titles ever made – and it definitely seems to be striving for that level of quality.
14. LUOYANG
Although it’s still some time from being fully released, LUOYANG, a single-player action RPG, appears to be a fantastic combination of the best elements from popular Chinese-inspired Soulslike and action-RPG games.
The game’s combat is among the best in the genre, and we’re really excited about the world and enemy designs. Unfortunately, there’s no confirmed release date yet, so it might be a while before we can actually play it.
15. Spark in the Dark
This dungeon crawler is definitely worth checking out. It features five different hero classes, each with its own special abilities in combat. Plus, there’s a huge, ever-expanding Abyss to explore with a wide variety of enemies. What could possibly go wrong?
With randomly generated equipment and a need to maintain your gear after battles, this game has the potential to be incredibly engaging for hours on end. Plus, it’s releasing this March, so you won’t have to wait long to join us in exploring its challenging dungeons.
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2026-02-04 18:02