5 Action RPGs To Play If You Like Dark Souls
1 - Bloodborne
Bloodborne is easily one of the greatest games that FromSoftware has ever developed. The Gothic architecture and Lovecraftian influences turn the game into a hauntingly beautiful nightmare of sorts, which engrossed players from the first few minutes itself.
FromSoftware’s first experimentation with advanced dodging mechanics, as opposed to blocking, was done in this title, which has some of the most nerve-wracking combat one can enjoy in a video game. Every perfect dodge feels like a massive accomplishment, surpassed only by the joy of stunning an enemy with a perfectly timed countershot and following it up with a powerful visceral attack.
2 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
It would be impossible to talk about games similar to Dark Souls without mentioning the other games released by this company. FromSoftware has been on a roll ever since this legendary 2011 release and has constantly diversified the IPs it has handled over time.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the latest games under FromSoftware’s belt, and it’s as great as one might expect. While Dark Souls might be slower and more meticulous when it comes to everything from its pacing to its combat, Sekiro throws this philosophy out of the window with some of the most fast-paced and adrenaline-inducing combat ever featured in a video game.
3 - Mortal Shell
A recent souls-like to come on the market is also considered to be an absolute gem of a title that, while sporting a somewhat short runtime, still managed to capture fans’ attention with its deep lore and intricate gameplay mechanics.
Mortal Shell might not be as challenging as any of FromSoftware’s games — or any of the other souls-likes on this list for that matter — but there’s no denying that the game is an absolute blast to play through.
4 - Nioh 2
Nioh 2 decided to delve completely into the spirit of Soulsborne games, featuring a custom-made character, a lesser focus on an in-your-face story, and some of the most challenging combat that the gaming industry has seen.
Any fan of Dark Souls will find themselves right at home with the combat system of Nioh 2, which is brutal yet fair in its execution.
5 - The Surge 2
For the most part, Deck13 was considered to be nothing more than the poor man’s FromSoftware… but that was before the release of The Surge 2.
The first Surge game wasn’t anything to write home about — in fact, some might argue that the title was painfully mediocre in comparison to some of the other great souls-likes out at that time. However, The Surge 2 completely blew its predecessor out of the water, featuring better combat, visuals, and a story that was actually quite coherent.