The soulslike genre is becoming increasingly popular in recent years, with several indie developers who have decided to take this tortuous path of producing works that belong to this genre. Succeeding in what games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring have managed to do is not easy at all, but there are valid alternatives that manage to take inspiration from these great productions and then create something unique. In this article, we have decided to compile a list of 5 of the best indie soulslikes on the market. For clarity, we have decided not to include titles like Blasphemous, Salt and Sanctuary, Dead Cells, etc because we have already talked about them on the occasion of the best indie metroidvanias and roguelikes/roguelites.
5. Hellpoint
Hellpoint is a soulslike with a dark soul, in which everything around us derives from a cosmic horror. The line between science and the occult is really thin. The game is set in a space station called Irid Novo where our protagonist wakes up. Without memory and without any kind of equipment, he will have to try to discover the secrets that are hidden in every single corner of the space station (literally) in order to shed light on everything that is happening. The undertaking will be far from simple since Irid Novo is dotted with large and small enemies ready to kill us at any moment. Hellpoint’s difficulty is slightly lower than soulslike standards, but we invite you to pay particular attention to the platforming sections which could put you in more difficulty than a few bosses on occasion. If you love sci-fi settings and cosmic horror, Hellpoint could be the right game for you.
4. Thymesia
Thymesia is a soulslike inspired by Bloodborne. The tones are much darker than other productions belonging to this genre and this is why it is often more compared to Bloodborne rather than other titles such as Dark Souls. The game is set during a plague epidemic and our character, the crow, is the only hope of salvation for the kingdom of Hermes. In Thymesia you will be called upon to fight against horrific and gruesome enemies to try and save your kingdom and put an end to this plague. The game’s combat system is much more frenetic than the standards of the genre and is therefore suitable for those who prefer a slightly more action and “chaotic” approach than a more reasoned one.
It got a 9/10 in our review.
3. Steelrising
Steelrising is set in 1789, during the French Revolution. What the developers wanted to tell in their story is a different version of this historical period, in which Louis XIV has androids at his disposal to carry out his misdeeds. Players play as Aegis, an android who will have to make his way through the streets of Paris trying not to succumb to the mechanical fury of the tyrant king’s disciples. In addition to Louis XIV, there are also other real historical characters that players will meet during their adventure. If you are curious to experience a French revolution different from how you have always studied it, Steelrising could be the right choice to make.
2. The Surge
The Surge is a sci-fi soulslike set in a world where everything has become mechanical by now. The enemies we will meet, the helpers and even our protagonist himself, are now heavily conditioned by the disproportionate evolution of robotics which has come to partially or completely replace the organic component. The Surge offers an excellent challenge and it will not always be easy to be able to find the right direction or the right approach to defeat the enemies we will meet during our journey. However, The Surge is an excellent exponent of the genre that cannot be played by anyone who is passionate about it.
1. Ashen
In Ashen, we play a wanderer looking for a fixed abode. The world of Ashen is populated by very dangerous creatures of all sorts who will try to make our mission the most difficult one. The level of difficulty of the game, in fact, is quite high and needs painstaking planning and programming in order to be able to survive and not succumb to the enemies that populate the game world. During our mission, however, we will also meet potential allies who could join our cause. If you are a soulslike lover, Ashen is definitely a game you should miss.
estnn.com
