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The best soulslike game in 2026 is Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s open-world masterpiece, which still sits at a Metascore of 96 and has no real rival after the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The strongest non-FromSoftware soulslike is Lies of P, and the best new release of the year is Nioh 3, Team Ninja’s open-world pivot that scored 86. This ranks the toughest, most rewarding action-RPGs in the genre right now.
Soulslikes are defined by deliberate, stamina-based combat, punishing bosses and a run-back-to-your-corpse loop. The list below judges each on critical acclaim, combat depth and how well it carries the FromSoftware formula; Metacritic scores are current as of August 2026.
The best soulslike games in 2026
Sixteen of the finest soulslikes you can play today, from FromSoftware’s own catalogue to the best of the challengers. Ratings are Metacritic critic scores where available; a dash means the score varies by platform, so the game is placed on reputation and combat depth.
| Rank | Game | Developer | Platform | Year | Metascore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Ring | FromSoftware | PC, PS5, Xbox | 2022 | 96 |
| 2 | Bloodborne | FromSoftware | PS4 | 2015 | 92 |
| 3 | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | FromSoftware | PC, console | 2019 | 90 |
| 4 | Dark Souls III | FromSoftware | PC, console | 2016 | 89 |
| 5 | Demon’s Souls (Remake) | Bluepoint Games | PS5 | 2020 | 92 |
| 6 | Nioh 3 | Team Ninja | PS5, PC | 2026 | 86 |
| 7 | Nioh 2 | Team Ninja | PC, PS | 2020 | 85 |
| 8 | Lies of P | Round8 / Neowiz | PC, console | 2023 | 84 |
| 9 | Black Myth: Wukong | Game Science | PC, PS5 | 2024 | 83 |
| 10 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty | Team Ninja | PC, console | 2023 | — |
| 11 | Lords of the Fallen | Hexworks | PC, console | 2023 | — |
| 12 | Stellar Blade | Shift Up | PS5, PC | 2024 | — |
| 13 | The First Berserker: Khazan | Neople | PC, console | 2025 | — |
| 14 | Remnant II | Gunfire Games | PC, console | 2023 | — |
| 15 | Code Vein | Bandai Namco | PC, console | 2019 | — |
| 16 | Dark Souls Remastered | FromSoftware | PC, console | 2018 | — |
The top five soulslikes in detail
Best overall
Best non-FromSoft
Best combat
Cult classic
Best new 2026
Elden Ring is the peak of the genre, taking the Dark Souls formula into a vast open world where you can walk away from a wall-like boss and come back stronger. With the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion it remains a Metascore-96 giant and one of the best-selling games of the decade — you can see where it lands on our list of the best-selling video games of all time. Lies of P is the strongest soulslike not made by FromSoftware, a Belle Époque retelling of Pinocchio with razor-sharp parrying, made even better by its Overture DLC.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has the most refined combat in the genre, trading dodging for a rhythmic parry-and-posture system that feels like a lethal duel. Bloodborne is the cult favourite, a gothic nightmare whose aggressive, health-regaining combat pushes you to attack rather than turtle. Nioh 3 is 2026’s standout newcomer, an open-world pivot with the series’ signature stance-switching and loot depth that scored 86 — the best fast-action soulslike of the year.
FromSoftware vs the challengers
The genre splits between the studio that invented it and everyone chasing it. Both camps have essential games now.
| Category | Best picks | Why |
|---|---|---|
| FromSoftware | Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Dark Souls III | The originals; the deepest worlds and boss design |
| Samurai / stance combat | Nioh 3, Nioh 2, Wo Long | Faster, loot-driven action with weapon stances |
| Best challengers | Lies of P, Black Myth: Wukong, Lords of the Fallen | Non-FromSoft games that nail the formula |
| Approachable spins | Stellar Blade, Remnant II, Code Vein | Softer difficulty, guns or anime styling |
Elden Ring, Black Myth: Wukong and Nioh 3 are among the biggest PC releases of recent years — our roundup of the most played Steam games of 2026 shows how they hold up against the multiplayer giants.
Best soulslikes for beginners
Soulslikes are hard by design, but some ease you in. Elden Ring is the friendliest FromSoftware game because its open world lets you grind levels, explore elsewhere or summon help when a boss walls you. Lies of P has generous checkpoints and a clear upgrade path, while Remnant II and Stellar Blade soften the curve with guns and adjustable difficulty. Avoid starting with Sekiro or Nioh, whose timing-heavy systems punish newcomers hardest.
