Best Soulslike Games That Aren't Painfully Difficult, Ranked

Updated on July 1, 2026, by Mark Sammut: We've updated this article with a few more games: Lords of the Fallen and Ashen.

The Soulslike genre has evolved significantly since its creation over a decade ago, but one thing that has always been closely associated with it is difficulty. Bosses that take hours to take down, brutal enemies that unleash an array of attacks around every corner, and a world that is more out to get the player than even the enemies in it — these are all staples. There is no margin for error, and the challenge can often feel a bit unfair.

Thankfully, there are still plenty of Soulslikes that capture the satisfying gameplay and expert worldbuilding without forcing the player to strain every muscle in their body just to clear a single boss. It is nice when the game is aware of its own challenge, and when the developer turns the dial down just a bit, it can make the game a lot more enjoyable.

10 Lords of the Fallen Is Dark Souls On Easy Mode... Or Easier Mode

The Perfect Soulslike Game For Beginners

2023's Lords of the Fallen has a positive but not glowing reputation, but it is more than deserving of a playthrough for fans of not only Soulslikes but action RPGs in general. Through a series of updates, Hexworks fine-tuned and rebalanced the campaign, resulting in a more consistent experience that's also way easier. The launch version was already arguably too easy, so this change wasn't really that necessary.

When played on default, LOTF plays like a traditional but forgiving Souls-like, with an automatic safety net: you auto-revive if you die while in a certain state. The casual enemies aren't too easy by the genre's standards, but LOTF's bosses really don't deliver much of a challenge at all. Don't get me wrong, they are still visually impressive and fun, but most people probably won't need more than a few tries to overcome them all.

Veteran Mode provides a harder base experience, and you can even randomize enemies or increase the density of mobs.

9 Steelrising Takes You On A Soulslike Stroll Through The French Revolution

Aggressive Automatons That Don't Push The Limits

Steelrising is an interesting title that takes the world of the French Revolution and fuses it with a mechanical nightmare that is just as frightening as it is awesome. The world is gorgeous, and the gameplay follows suit, taking elements from the Soulslike genre but keeping things manageable by keeping enemy patterns simpler and easier to read.

There is even an assist mode that lets players play around with damage numbers and stamina consumption, and even makes them immortal. Everything feels more linear and less overwhelming. The enemy designs are still satisfying to fight, but never make the player feel out of their depth, even at the start.

8 Ashen Is The Easy Open-World Soulslike

Bring A Friend, Human or AI

Elden Ring wasn't the first Soulslike open-world game, although it certainly ranks as the hardest. Beating it to the punch by a couple of years, Ashen was also one of the first entries in the genre to attempt to deliver a more accessible experience, and it succeeded. The "easiness" comes from a few elements: Co-op implementation, leveling system, and less intense atmosphere.

Rather than going with the typical progression system, Ashen ties your level to NPC quests, while you really become stronger by upgrading your gear. As you explore the world further, you build a hub area that serves as a tiny safe zone, reflecting the game's co-op implementation. Even if you don't bring a friend along, you can and will go on missions with AI companions, lowering the bar of entry even further.

7 Remnant 2 Defines Soulslike Co-Op Shooters

Crispy Gunplay With A Decent Challenge

Remnant 2 builds on the DNA of the original, creating a much more well-rounded experience that enables immersive co-op battles against fearsome foes. Bringing the Soulslike genre to a more shooter-oriented game is a nice change, and the enemies still put up a decent fight whilst still allowing for plenty of counterplay and strategy.

The customization is what really sets the game apart, letting players swap out their weapons and abilities on the fly and upgrade them however they choose. More importantly, the ability to play with a group of other players means that even if a fight is proving to be more of a challenge than expected, the extra firepower ensures that any boss can go down without too much trouble.

6 Thymesia Provides A Brief Challenge

Short, Sweet, And Never Too Much

A short-lived entry that still shows off plenty, Thymesia is a great Soulslike that brings the face-paced action of games like Bloodborne but keeps things more restrained when it comes to difficulty. The key feature is the ability to use the enemy's weapons against them through powerful abilities that transform the combat in every encounter.

When a boss does turn up, the attack patterns are fairly short and simple, meaning it's possible to play as fast or slowly as they feel comfortable and still find just as much success. The HP pools of each boss are never too high, and they always fall after a satisfying, simple, yet still rewarding battle.

5 Salt And Sanctuary Captures The Dark Souls Magic In 2D

Simplistic Gameplay With A Unique Art Style

Salt and Sanctuary is a solid entry in the genre, made by two talented individuals with a lot of passion. The level design clearly pays homage to the early Dark Souls games. It encourages players to venture out into the world without giving them the safety net of fast-travel back to a hub.

The combat is simplistic yet fun. Every new enemy provides a new challenge to overcome, and they all feel intuitive in their design. It is easy to get lost in the world, as there is so much hidden lore and information all over. For fans of the Soulslike genre, there is more than enough challenge to still feel engaged throughout.

4 Mortal Shell Is Accessible Thanks To Pre-Defined Loadouts

Great For Soulslike Fans And Newcomers To The Genre

Mortal Shell is a compact yet immersive Soulslike game that introduces a few unique mechanics that keep it feeling fresh from the crowd. Players can use the Harden ability to absorb damage and follow up with an attack of their own, and the class system is replaced by different Shells that each have their own attributes and playstyles.

The combat is heavy and extremely satisfying, with each swing of the sword giving a real sense of power. Enemies are fairly standard and never feel overwhelming in their attacks or numbers, allowing players to take every fight at their own pace and still progress through the story without too much challenge.

3 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Force Powers Mixed With Satisfying Melee Combat

The Jedi games have always taken a slightly different route from other games in the genre, but they still keep a lot of the gameplay feel that makes Soulslikes so enjoyable. With swordplay that rewards precision and timing, difficulty settings that provide meaningful differences, and battles that feed into the fantasy of being a force user, Survivor is the perfect way for a player to enter the genre without feeling out of their depth.

Every upgrade changes how the player interacts with enemies. There are so many options in terms of customization and combat, giving all the power to the player without compromising in any way. Puzzles are a big part of the world too. Each area presents a unique set of challenges, both in the enemies found there and in the environmental threats they encounter.

2 Blasphemous 2 Drops You In A Nightmare World Without Nightmare Difficulty

Focuses More On The Gorgeous World Than Unfair Difficulty

Metroidvanias have always shared some elements with Soulslike games, and Blasphemous 2 is one of the best in both. The setting is beautiful, drawing inspiration from Renaissance Italian architecture and religious imagery to create a universe that is both brutal and stunning.

The brutality extends to the fighting, as players dash and slash across the screen with a selection of weapons that each have their own style to mix up the gameplay throughout the playthrough. The game isn't a cakewalk by any means, but the difficulty is a nice steady curve. Even when it reaches its peak, it is still manageable even for less seasoned players.

1 Another Crab's Treasure Is Harder Than It Looks, But Still One Of The Easiest Soulslikes

An Undersea Journey Unlike Any Other

Another Crab's Treasure was a surprising addition to the genre, bringing so much charm and humor that just wasn't seen anywhere else. Playing as the lovable crab, Krill, players float across the ocean floor in search of their stolen shell, encountering plenty of other crustaceans and sea-dwelling critters that are set on taking them out.

The combat blends a parrying foundation with more forgiving attack windows, which means that the player can get all the satisfaction that comes from the more challenging titles, without pulling their hair out in order to get by. With all the side content available, it is very easy to become borderline overpowered, turning even the harder fights into pushovers that die in a matter of seconds.