There have been no shortage of soulslikes over the years, from lesser-known indies on Steam to AA releases like Mortal Shell to souls-adjacent titles like Star Wars Jedi. Practically everyone wants a piece of the pie that FromSoftware crafted the recipe for, especially after the immensely successful Elden Ring proved just how popular the genre is. However, few soulslikes have garnered the level of attention that Lies of P has, as it’s arguably the best non-FromSoft soulslike yet. So, it’s only natural that indie developers would take inspiration from Round8’s hit, with just one example being what Vapor World: Over The Mind seems to be doing.
Obviously, there are some clear differences between a side-scrolling platformer and a third-person soulslike that puts a dark spin on the Pinnochio story. Still, there are some clear similarities, especially when it comes to the main character’s appearance and the overall vibe of the world. If you’re someone who digs games that offer souls-style gameplay from a different perspective, such as the Hollow Knight series, Vapor World: Over The Mind’s challenging metroidvania gameplay could absolutely make it worthy of a spot on your Steam wishlist.
Brand New Hit Soulslike Game on Steam Launches to 97% Very Positive Reviews
The latest Soulslike game to launch on Steam is already a verifiable hit, immediately earning hidden gem status as a 2026 Soulslike game.
Vapor World: Over The Mind Features at a Glance
- EXPERIENCE an interesting story about an amnesiac boy trapped in an unsettling dream world.
- BATTLE a range of basic enemies and endure increasingly challenging boss fights.
- ATTACK head-on or by taking advantage of the stealth system.
- UPGRADE your character as you go and uncover new abilities as you explore the world.
- TAKE IN a stunning, hand-crafted 2D experience, which promises beautiful art from beginning to end.
Lost in darkness, a boy drawn into a twisted dream, no way out. Vapor World is a narrative-driven souls-like platformer focused on deflection combat set in atmospheric world of dream. Descend within shattered mind seeking lost memories. Face dark, beautiful world born of anguish and regret.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Vapor World: Over The Mind’s Lies of P Vibes Are as Obvious as Its Unique Traits
It takes one look at the narrative synopsis available on Vapor World’s Steam page to make some connections to Lies of P. A young amnesiac boy trapped in a dark world with a range of entities trying to kill them? Yep, that sounds pretty much like Pinnochio’s predicament, and when you take in the character’s wardrobe, pale face, and dark hair, the similarities are only clearer. The architecture and environments within this Metroidvania’s setting only strengthen that connection, and with challenging soulslike gameplay that throws tough fights your way at every turn, there’s no denying that the similarities are plentiful.
Still, fans of the Lies of P universe will still find their fair share of differences in this game. The lore of Vapor World, for instance, swaps out twisted puppets and machines for a dream realm, which humanity has been thrown into as a last-ditch effort to survive. However, this dream world went wrong due to humanity being “stained with wounds” from an unknown event, and peoples’ nightmares began invading the new world. This means that you will encounter all kinds of threats as they progress — giant spider bosses, creepy lantern-holding figures, and shadowy humanoid guards are just some examples of what you’ll have to fight.
The mysterious boy that has forgotten who he is will be able to fight these threats head-on using upgrades found through exploration — like many platformers and metroidvanias, looking around pays off — or using stealth. Hiding spots will allow the protagonist of Vapor World to attack from the shadows, taking a sneaky approach to certain encounters. When you need to go loud, you can make use of Projections, launching fiery attacks at your adversaries, blinding them, or electrocuting them (hello again, Lies of P’s Electric Blitz). These options should keep combat varied, and they all look great in action due to the hand-drawn 2D world that developer ALIVE inc. has crafted.
Early Access Means that Vapor World Will Become Deeper With Time
Unlike some other early access Steam games, Vapor World is set to offer all of its core mechanics when it launches in Q2 2026. Instead, it will just be saving the last half of the story for the full launch, using the first two of three episodes as a way to take in feedback and further polish the remainder of the game. While an exact window for the rest of the content is not yet available, ALIVE inc. is shooting to complete the game by the end of 2026. With only 5 hours available in the early-access version, it’s only natural for it to be a bit cheaper than the final 12-hour release, so those who are already sold on this hand-crafted soulsvania game may want to purchase it sooner rather than later.
