This Game Started One of Gaming’s Most Popular Genres 17 Years Ago Today

by

Many game genres have blurry origins, making it difficult to pinpoint when they began or became popular. However, one genre currently dominating the gaming world has a clear starting point: a game released by a Japanese studio 17 years ago. This game fundamentally changed action games and is largely responsible for the recent surge in popularity of ‘soulslike’ games that have taken the industry by storm.

I remember when Demon’s Souls first came out back in 2009. It took a little while to get to the US, but it was a total gamble by FromSoftware and Sony. Honestly, it really paid off! It didn’t instantly change everything, but it was the start of something huge. It led directly to Dark Souls and, eventually, Elden Ring – basically defining the whole ‘soulslike’ genre and making it super popular. Now, it feels like almost every action RPG out there owes something to that original Demon’s Souls game.

We Wouldn’t Have a Soulslike Genre Without Demon’s Souls

When Demon’s Souls was first released, neither Sony nor FromSoftware anticipated its massive success. It was initially seen as a somewhat obscure role-playing game with unusual online features and a reputation for being very difficult. However, players soon discovered the excitement of overcoming its challenges and the satisfaction of learning its intricate systems. The precise combat, realistic movements, and demanding enemies were all intentionally designed to teach players through gameplay, rather than through tutorials. This unique approach to game design essentially created the “soulslike” genre – and continues to influence it today.

The cycle of progressing, learning from mistakes, and ultimately succeeding was incredibly captivating. It’s easy to forget how different this felt back in 2009. Most games at the time were designed to be easy and forgiving, but Demon’s Souls intentionally made things difficult, using challenge as a core part of its design. The game had complex systems like world tendency, hidden weapon upgrades, and secret storylines that players discovered together as a community over time. For a lot of people, it was their first experience with a game where online forums, rather than in-game help, were the main source of information and story details.

As Demon’s Souls became more popular, it also became highly influential. Its successor, Dark Souls, built upon everything that made the original special and helped launch a wave of similar games. Today, titles like Elden Ring, Lies of P, Lords of the Fallen, Nioh, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, and even 2D games like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous all share elements inspired by the foundation FromSoftware created. The soulslike genre wouldn’t be what it is today without Demon’s Souls.

The 2020 Remake Proved Demon’s Souls Still Has It

Bluepoint Games’ 2020 remake of Demon’s Souls for PlayStation 5 was more than just a graphical improvement. It was a way to see if the original game’s design still worked, particularly for players familiar with later titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. The remake proved that Demon’s Souls’ core gameplay was still excellent. Bluepoint enhanced the graphics, rebuilt the game’s world, and updated the sound, but they kept the combat, enemy actions, and difficulty the same. This made it a fantastic experience for longtime fans and a fresh, challenging adventure for new players.

Playing the remake felt like revisiting a familiar but challenging experience – one I’d overcome before but had largely forgotten. I found myself repeating old mistakes, miscalculating attacks, and still getting that same surge of relief when narrowly defeating a boss. The game stayed true to the original’s mechanics, proving they were still solid, while also feeling fresh and updated thanks to the improvements Bluepoint made.

Playing the remake really hit me – it’s incredible how forward-thinking the original Demon’s Souls was! Everything, from the creepy, immersive levels to those cool, ghostly messages left by other players, and even the way it made you weigh risks against rewards, all worked perfectly in this new version. A lot of younger players, like me, were discovering it for the first time, and it was amazing. But for those who played it years ago, it was a fantastic reminder of how much the genre has evolved, while also proving just how solid and influential those original ideas still are. It’s rare to see a game come back after so long and still feel as fresh and impactful as it did when it first came out.

The Soulslike Genre Is Only Going up From Here

Seventeen years after the original Demon’s Souls came out, the “soulslike” genre has become hugely influential in gaming. Its impact can be seen in games made by both small indie developers, like the upcoming Hollow Knight: Silksong, and large studios creating massive open-world adventures such as Code Vein 2. What’s remarkable is that the genre isn’t stuck in a rut; it’s still changing and improving. Newer soulslike games are experimenting with different worlds, speeds of play, and gameplay mechanics, showing that the core ideas still have a lot of potential.

The popularity of Elden Ring proved that challenging gameplay and a strong sense of atmosphere can work well in large, open-world games. Other titles like Nioh have built on this with complex combat, and Blasphemous successfully adapted the style to a 2D platformer. This genre has become a go-to for players who enjoy difficult but rewarding experiences, exploring expansive worlds, and fighting epic bosses. Its influence is now spreading, with developers from various genres incorporating elements of its gameplay, world design, and storytelling into their own games.

As a huge fan, it’s amazing to see how much this genre is still thriving! Every year brings new games, and so many developers openly talk about how Demon’s Souls inspired them. What I love is that it doesn’t just encourage copies – it pushes creators to be original while still valuing skill, learning the ropes, and building a really immersive world. Seriously, even seventeen years after its release on February 5, 2009, that original spark is still going strong, and it’s incredible to think so many gamers now consider this one of the best genres gaming has to offer.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

Read More

2026-02-05 17:44