TheSoulsborneseries is considered by many to be one of the most influential and important series in video game history, withDark Soulsbeing the catalyst for the video game industry to finally cater to a market that had been fed scraps for the longest time — a community that actually treasured games which challenged them throughout and didn’t hold their hands at every step of the way.
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Thus, a new wave of Soulslikes perforated the market, each of them bringing their own unique twist to the formula that players all over the world had fallen in love with.Code Veinis one such title that is easilyamong the top of the best Soulslikes around… although this might be a rather debatable topic, given that numerous games that fall under theSoulsumbrella have seen the same amount of praise onto them.
Keeping this in mind, here are five reasons whyCode Veinis one of the best Soulslikesthat players can try out, coupled with five other games that nail this formula just as well, if not better.
10BEST SOULSLIKE: The Anime Artstyle Is Definitely Quite Charming
The idea of an animeDark Soulsseems so ludicrous, and yet that’s exactly whatCode Veinemulated with excellent results.
One can’t help but look at the game and feel the charm just oozing out of every pore… which admittedly does feel a bit at odds with brutal nature of the game’s combat, but it’s still a positive regardless.
9BETTER TITLE: Hollow Knight
Hollow Knightis definitely one of the best Soulslikes around, and arguably one of the best Metroidvania games of all time. The fusion of this genre with the Soulslike formula is rather popular in indie gaming, butHollow Knightmanages to be a cut above the rest with its amazing presentation and gameplay.
People who are into tough Metroidvania games should definitely try this game out — they certainly won’t regret it.
8BEST SOULSLIKE: The Combat Is Challenging And Enjoyable
Code Veinstays true to one of the main aspects of Soulslike games — challenging combat that never oversteps its boundaries and always manages to entertain the player at every step of the way.
Playing solo is definitely the way to go if the player wants to experiencethe toughest version ofCode Vein. The odds are stacked against the player at every step of the way, and the act of clearing areas and beating bosses just feels all the more enjoyable as a result.
Not that one shouldn’t try out the co-op of this game… but that will be elaborated upon later.
7BETTER TITLE: Nioh 2
The originalNiohwas a great game that certainly ticked all the Soulslike boxes, but its sequel is such a massive improvement in every way that it almostfeels like an entirely new experience.
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Nioh 2is a must-play for anyone who is invested inSoulsbornetitles. The combat is excellent, the bosses are grand, and the locations are a joy to explore.
6BEST SOULSLIKE: Co-Op Makes The Experience Way More Enjoyable
Code Veinfeels like a completely different game if you choose to play co-op. All of a sudden, characters can be revived, enemies can be taken out easily, and bosses can be distracted to make for a smarter way to fight.
The fights are still challenging, and players who communicate and mow down waves of enemies will definitely be satisfied with the overall experience.
5BETTER TITLE: Mortal Shell
One of the more recent Soulslike games to come out isMortal Shell, and its a testament to the quality of this title that most people already consider it to beone of the best Soulslikes ever made.
It’s not just the combat — the environments and atmosphere ofMortal Shellfeels as bleak, oppressive, and mysterious as any From Software game, making for a Soulslike game that definitely does justice to its moniker in every way.
Plus, the ability to harden the middle of combat certainly adds a much-welcome layer of strategy to the tried-and-tested combat of anySoulsbornegame.
4BEST SOULSLIKE: The Areas Are A Blast To Explore
Code Vein’s art style is delicious to behold, and this hold true for the areas that the player explores as well.
Whether it be a rather mysterious cathedral or a ruined city, rest assured that each zone will be a ton of fun to navigate, whether with a friend or solo.
3BETTER TITLE: Blasphemous
Another Metroidvania Soulslike makes an appearance on this list, this time in the form ofBlasphemous. This title is undoubtedly one of the goriest games on this list, with religious motifs and allegories across the board.
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The platforming in this game might be somewhat frustrating — with the instant-death spike pits being the number one cause of death for most players — there’s no denying that playing this title is as satisfying as a Soulslike can get.
2BEST SOULSLIKE: The Story Is Actually Quite Intriguing
The setting ofCode Veinis genuinely quite interesting, and this background fuels what is definitely one of the better stories in any Soulslike title.
The fact that this game has multiple endings as well goes to show that Bandai Namco definitely put a ton of work into the plot.
1BETTER TITLE: Demon’s Souls
It might be somewhat easy to put a From Software title in the list, but the fact of the matter is that most people have never really got to enjoy the masterpiece that isDemon’s Souls.
It’s a title that lit the spark for From Software’s unmitigated success, and this game is finally being given the love it deserves asa remade launch title for the PS5after all time time. Bluepoint Games seem to be doing a truly brilliant job of remastering this title, and one can’t wait to get their hands on this game — along with the PS5 — on November 12th.
NEXT:Code Vein: 10 Things To Do After You Beat The Game
