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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe best Soulslike for a beginner is the one that gives you a way to learn without making every setback a dead end. Some let you leave a tough encounter and return later; others offer adjustable difficulty, assists, or a companion. The ten picks below are editorial recommendations, not a universal difficulty ranking. They reflect three useful questions: how you can recover from a rough stretch, how clearly combat teaches you, and whether persistence feels rewarding. GameGeeker’s beginner guide explains its selections using those criteria.
How to choose your first Soulslike
“Beginner-friendly” does not always mean easy. A game can still demand patience and careful combat while giving you practical ways to handle frustration. Before choosing, consider which kind of support matters most to you:
- Room to regroup: Can you explore elsewhere and return to a difficult encounter later?
- Adjustable challenge: Can you lower difficulty or turn on assists?
- Help during combat: Can an AI companion or co-op partner take some pressure off?
- Combat feedback: Do encounters help you understand what to change after a defeat?
- Style and setting: Would you rather explore a vast fantasy world, follow a familiar story, or try a shorter, unusual adventure?
The picks below are organized by the kind of first experience they suit, rather than by a supposedly objective easiest-to-hardest scale. The available recommendations do not establish a controlled comparison of difficulty across all ten games.
Best picks for different kinds of beginners
1. Elden Ring — for exploring your way past a wall
Elden Ring suits newcomers who want a large, full-scale genre experience and are willing to learn through exploration. If an encounter is too difficult, its open world lets you leave the area and return later, according to GameGeeker’s guide. That flexibility is not the same as a conventional easy mode: the appeal is having somewhere else to go while you build experience.
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- Explore a land of vast wonders - A world unseen, where new sights rise with every stride- Enter a fascinating realm filled with the wonders and discoveries of ancient Chinese mythology! Confront mighty foes, old and new - Heroic Monkey, might and fame, adversaries rise, to test his name. One of the major highlights of Journey to the West is its diverse cast of adversaries, each with unique strengths.
- Temper your mastery of varied spells - Spells unbound, knowledge's flight, infinite abilities take their height. Spells, transformations, and magic vessels in all manifestations, complementary yet adversarial, have long been iconic combat elements of Chinese mythology.
- Discover heartfelt tales behind every façade - Uncover the stories behind a variety of characters. Beneath the ferocity of your foes is a tapestry of their origins, personalities and motivations waiting to be revealed.
- Digital Deluxe Edition Voucher Code Included - PSN voucher code provides Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, Wind Chimes, and selected Digital Soundtrack.
- Languages – In-game voice: Chinese and English. In-game text: English, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese.
2. Another Crab’s Treasure — for assists and a playful setting
Another Crab’s Treasure is a strong candidate if you want a colorful, unusual world and options to ease the challenge. GameGeeker describes its assist mode as granular, while GamesRadar’s Soulslike guide highlights its undersea setting as a creative entry point. Those are editorial assessments, rather than results from a comparative difficulty test.
3. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — for adjustable challenge and a familiar story
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a good fit if you want a story-driven action adventure with recognizable characters and selectable difficulty. PlayStation describes its lightsaber combat around striking, parrying, and dodging, and lists adjustable difficulty, simplified quick-time events, control reminders, and the ability to pause offline. See the official PlayStation page for its features and platform information.
Rank #2
- Soulslike Video Game design.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
4. Code Vein — for an AI partner at your side
Code Vein may suit players who would rather not face every fight alone. GameGeeker highlights its AI partner as a safety net. Choose it if having help alongside you sounds more appealing than relying mainly on exploration or difficulty settings.
5. Remnant II — for learning with friends
Remnant II is the pick here for players who prefer to tackle challenges with friends: GameGeeker identifies three-player co-op as one of its beginner-friendly routes. Check the game’s current platform-specific multiplayer requirements before buying or planning a session, since those details can vary.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- 2-Pack Gamer Towels: Includes two matching hand towels with the phrase “You Dried,” styled after the iconic “You Died” screen from Soulslike games
- Perfect Size: Each towel measures 16 x 27 inches, making them ideal as hand towels, guest towels, or kitchen towels.
- Soft & Absorbent: Made from 100% cotton for a comfortable feel and everyday practicality.
- Subtle Gamer Decor: A fun, understated reference to Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Nightreign, and Bloodborne that fans will instantly recognize.
- Great Gift for Gamers: Makes a unique housewarming, holiday, or birthday gift—perfect for gaming bathrooms, kitchens, or display decor.
6. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor — for a follow-up to Fallen Order
If you enjoy Fallen Order’s blend of story, exploration, and Soulslike-adjacent combat, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a natural next choice. GameGeeker frames it as a step up, while GamesRadar points to its exploration hub and combat hallmarks. It is better approached as a follow-on than as the first recommendation for someone unsure whether this style of combat is for them.
7. Lies of P — for a more focused, traditional challenge
Lies of P is a candidate for newcomers who want a focused experience closer to the genre’s traditional combat demands. It appears in GameGeeker’s beginner selection, and GamesRadar describes its strong relationship to the Soulslike form. The available evidence does not independently establish its difficulty relative to the other games here, so choose it for that focused style rather than a promise that it is easy.
Rank #4
- Overhauled Character Creator – Create more lifelike characters with improved facial detail, body shapes, and visual fidelity
- Shared-Progression Cross-Play Cooperative Play – Both players now save all main story progress as long as they’re on the same “New Game” and have defeated a similar number of main bosses within one. Both players retains all loot, 100 percent vigor, and can revive each other in all online sessions.
- Free Friend’s Pass – Invite any friend to join your adventure in online co-op even if they don’t own the game. Friends keep loot and character progress, plus get full offline access to the tutorial and character creator
- Revamped Combat and Movement – V2.0 adds smoother animations, better weapon response, refined lock-on, improved evasions, and new grievous strike prompts
8. Black Myth: Wukong — for spectacle and boss fights
Black Myth: Wukong may appeal if striking presentation and boss encounters are what draw you into action games. GameGeeker includes it among its beginner recommendations, but the sources here do not independently establish how its difficulty compares with the rest of this list.
9. Thymesia — for a compact trial of the genre
Thymesia is one of GameGeeker’s compact options for a newcomer who wants to sample the genre without committing to a sprawling adventure. No specific completion time is established here, so treat “compact” as a relative recommendation, not a promised number of hours.
Best Value
- The essence of battle: Wield and master various weapons with unique combinations of Fable Arts and Legion Arms to find out what fits your playstyle
- Variety of attraction: Enjoy the beautiful, yet dark atmosphere of the Belle Époque era and explore the once prosperous city of Krat
- Lie system: P is made of a puppet's heart, but he learns how to think and feel like a human by lying
- Legacy of the classics: The city of Krat, the characters, and even the smallest objects reflect our deepest admiration for the original tale of Pinocchio
10. Mortal Shell — for another shorter-form introduction
Mortal Shell also appears in GameGeeker’s suggestions for players seeking a shorter trial. It offers an alternative to starting with a large open world, but the available sources do not establish a precise playtime or a measured difficulty comparison.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which one should you start with?
Match the game to the kind of support you want, rather than assuming the list identifies one objectively easiest choice:
- Want freedom to walk away from a tough fight? Start with Elden Ring.
- Want explicit assists and a bright, offbeat setting? Try Another Crab’s Treasure.
- Want selectable difficulty and a story-led adventure? Start with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
- Want an AI companion or friends to help? Consider Code Vein or Remnant II, respectively.
- Want a more focused genre-style challenge? Look at Lies of P.
- Want to test the genre with a more compact game? Consider Thymesia or Mortal Shell, without relying on an unverified hour count.
Availability and editions depend on platform and region. Check the current store listing for the version you intend to play; the official PlayStation listing confirms Fallen Order for PS4 and PS5, but not current physical stock.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
