I love a good Souls-like. Yes, the action RPG subgenre has been overexposed in recent years, and not every game needs or should utilize a Souls-like combat system… but I still look forward to every upcoming title that makes that FromSoftware connection. This year has already given us a few pretty great entries in the genre, but the best might be yet to come.
As the wait for a Bloodborne remake or The Duskbloods stretches on, we need to look beyond Soulsborne to find our dark fantasy universes and dodge roll simulators. At this point, Souls-like has become so ubiquitous that the concept has been adopted by both relatively big-name developers and indie companies, and the upcoming lineup showcases that variety.
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Mortal Shell 2 Launches, Well, Now (August 20)
An Open-World Soulslike That’s Like Bloodborne’s Combat Mixed With Dark Souls’s Aesthetic
- PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
- No Stamina bar in favor of aggressive combat.
- Open-world structure.
- You get a shotgun.
Full disclosure: this game inspired me to write this article, as it’s been really cool to see the hype gradually build around Cold Symmetry’s sequel. Mortal Shell 2 retains a few of its predecessor’s selling points, while incorporating changes that (on paper) should significantly alter the overall experience. The first game holds up as a respectable budget alternative to Dark Souls, but it kind of felt like a proof of concept.
Mortal Shell 2‘s main “gimmick,” for lack of a better word, is its Shell system, which allows players to wear the bodies of fallen warriors. Acting as the RPG’s class system, each Shell locks in specific specs and traits, covering an archetype in the process. As you can swap between them at a specific location or use a consumable, you are meant to adapt your moveset for the current challenge, rather than sticking to the same build.
Compared to the original game, Mortal Shell 2 looks set to be a far, far bigger experience, including the incorporation of a proper open world. While Mortal Shell can be completed within 10 hours, the sequel should take close to 30, and that’s just counting the core content.
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Crimson Moon Debuts On September 1
A Co-Op Souls-like That Takes A Page From Hades’ Playbook (And Other Roguelites)
- PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
- Roguelite structure.
- You play as a Nephilim.
If there’s one genre more overexposed than Souls-likes, it would have to be roguelikes/roguelites… but these two don’t actually cross over all that often (especially in 3D). Crimson Moon structures its gameplay around runs into the demon-infested gothic city of Gildenarch. You gather temporary run-specific equipment, perks, and Boons, while funneling resources back to the Church hub for permanent character upgrades and gear progression.
To be honest, Crimson Moon‘s setting seems like every Souls-like ever, while its structure seems like every hack-and-slash roguelite ever. However, I don’t believe a game needs to be wildly original to be worth playing, and Crimson Moon still has a couple of ideas that help set it slightly apart from the crowd. Mainly, it prominently features 2-player co-op, allowing you to play the campaign with a friend.
Beyond co-op, Crimson Moon shakes things up with cooldown skills, weapon arts, and its $19.99 price tag.
Click on the game with the higher OpenCritic rating.
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False Hero Lands On October 1
An Indie Souls-like With Big Ambitions
- PC
- Copy abilities.
- Surreal setting.
Let’s dive deep into indie territory now, and False Hero could very well be the nicest Souls-like surprise of the year once it comes out. Don’t take my word for it; the Steam demo should provide more than enough evidence to suggest that could be the case.
Developed by one person, False Hero has one particularly enticing selling point: skill stealing. Rather than relying on a skill tree, you unlock new abilities by learning them from your fallen enemies, allowing you to build a vast arsenal of combat arts that can be relied upon in battle. Although not the first to incorporate this type of mechanic, False Hero weaves these moves into fluid combos rather than using them as separate attacks.
The combat is pretty darn brilliant, and the demo showcases that really well. Give it a go.
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Valor Mortis Releases On October 13
Imagine A Souls-Like That Mixes Lies Of P With BioShock
Like every Souls fan, I can spend months lost in a dark fantasy world, or years in the case of Elden Ring. That said, new games should consider looking to other sources for inspiration, just to help set themselves apart from the crowd. Valor Mortis accomplishes that by turning to history; specifically, the Napoleonic era.
Welcome to 19th-century Eastern Europe, where life is hard, war is inescapable, and a plague has somehow introduced even worse layers to this hell. From the team behind Ghostrunner, Valor Mortis leans into that expertise through its first-person combat, which seems to prioritize melee weapons while using guns as a secondary option. You also unlock magical abilities as you move along, so you don’t have to rely solely on a rapier and musket.
I know the shift to first-person is fairly unusual for a Souls-like RPG, but Valor Mortis has a demo that lets you check things out.
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Elden Ring Tarnished Edition Arrives On August 28
Imagine A Souls-Like Game That Is Even More Elden Ring
To be honest, I wasn’t sure whether to even include Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, as the game hardly qualifies as “new.” Ultimately, FromSoftware’s masterpiece is entering a new ecosystem that could very well include players who never had the chance to enter The Lands Between.
In terms of new content, this version includes two new starting classes, torrent customization, and new armor sets. The “Shadow of the Erdtree” expansion is also packed in with the base game, so Tarnished Edition is the definitive version of Elden Ring.
