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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe best next Soulslike depends on which part of the challenge you want to repeat. Choose Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Nine Sols for parry-led play, Nioh 2 for faster, more action-heavy combat, Lies of P for a focused 3D Soulslike, or Salt and Sanctuary for a 2D interpretation of the formula. Elden Ring and Dark Souls III are useful baseline choices when you want the established FromSoftware style itself.
Steam’s Souls-like tag is a discovery tool, not a promise that every tagged game has the same combat, map design, or progression. The guide below sorts games by the challenge they emphasize rather than pretending there is one objective easiest-to-hardest ranking.
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Quick comparison: which Soulslike fits your preferred challenge?
| Game | Best match for | Combat emphasis | Presentation | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Players who want defensive timing to be the main test | Parry-centered reactions | 3D action game | A strong choice when the satisfaction comes from learning precise counter timing rather than relying on a broad Souls toolkit. |
| Nine Sols | Players seeking a 2D game influenced by Sekiro | Parry-oriented encounters | 2D action game | It carries the parry-forward idea into a side-scrolling format. |
| Nioh 2 | Players who want speed and constant action | Faster, action-heavy combat | 3D action RPG | GamesRadar describes it as a faster-paced option, making it a natural alternative to more deliberate Soulslikes. |
| Lies of P | Players who want a concentrated 3D Soulslike experience | Soulslike-style encounters | Focused 3D action RPG | It is a prominent Steam-listed comparison point for players asking what to play after another modern Soulslike. |
| Salt and Sanctuary | Players who want the formula in two dimensions | Dark Souls-inspired structure | 2D action RPG | GameSpot presents it as close to “Dark Souls, but 2D,” which is a useful shorthand for its intended appeal. |
| Elden Ring | Players who want a large-scale modern FromSoftware baseline | Soulslike challenge in a broad setting | 3D action RPG | A major Steam-listed reference point when defining what “Soulslike” means to you. |
| Dark Souls III | Players who want the classic series structure | Traditional Souls combat and progression | 3D action RPG | Another Steam-listed anchor for the genre’s established conventions. |
The table is a fit guide, not a difficulty ladder. The available descriptions distinguish combat rhythms and formats, but they do not provide a controlled test that can prove one game is objectively harder than another.
What “Soulslike” actually tells you on Steam
Steam’s Souls-like search results include games such as Elden Ring, Lies of P, Dark Souls III, Sekiro, and Nine Sols. That list is useful for finding candidates, but the tag is broad metadata. It does not establish that all of those games use identical checkpoint rules, equipment systems, level layouts, or defensive mechanics.
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A better way to compare them is to ask what kind of repeated challenge the game creates. Steam Curator descriptions identify bonfire-like recovery and progression systems, along with parry-based combat, as recognizable similarity markers. Those are clues rather than a complete genre checklist. One title may emphasize a recovery loop, another may make parrying the central skill, and another may use the same broad vocabulary while moving at a much faster pace.
Pick by combat rhythm
Choose parry-first combat if timing is the appeal
If your favorite Soulslike moments are the seconds before an enemy strike, when you must read the animation and answer with a precise defensive input, start with Sekiro or Nine Sols. Both are useful comparisons for a parry-forward branch of the genre. This is a different demand from simply having a parry button: the timing challenge becomes a defining part of how you approach encounters.
This choice suits players who enjoy deliberate practice. You are not selecting a promise of an easier game; you are selecting a game whose challenge is concentrated around recognizing attacks and responding correctly. If you dislike repeating a fight to improve a narrow timing skill, a broader action-focused option may be a better fit.
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Nioh 2 is the clearest choice in this set for players who want a faster, more action-heavy feel. GamesRadar’s recommendation description uses that distinction directly. The relevant question is not whether the game is “harder” than another Soulslike; it is whether you prefer encounters that keep you making rapid offensive and defensive decisions.
Players moving from a slower game should expect the adjustment to be about pace. A fast action game can feel more demanding because it asks for quicker choices, even when its systems provide more ways to act. Conversely, a player who finds slow attack patterns monotonous may find Nioh 2’s tempo more engaging.
Choose a conventional Soulslike rhythm when you want a familiar baseline
Lies of P, Elden Ring, and Dark Souls III are useful when you want a recognizable 3D Soulslike foundation rather than a specialized parry experiment or a deliberately accelerated action game. They are all present in Steam’s Souls-like discovery results, so they also provide clear reference points for discussing what you want next.
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That does not mean they are interchangeable. The evidence available here supports their role as comparison anchors, not a claim that their encounters, maps, or progression systems are identical. Use the next sections to decide which baseline is closest to your reason for playing.
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The best picks, explained by player type
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — for a parry-centered challenge
Choose Sekiro when the specific skill you want to sharpen is parrying. Steam Curator material and GameSpot’s comparison language place it at the center of the parry-focused branch. That makes it a particularly good answer to “I want a Soulslike where defense is active and timing matters constantly.”
Do not assume that “similar to Souls” means every Souls convention carries over unchanged. The useful comparison is its combat demand, not a claim that it reproduces every progression or equipment feature associated with Dark Souls. If you want the feeling of learning an opponent’s rhythm and turning a defensive read into an opening, Sekiro is the most direct 3D recommendation here.
- Choose it if: precise parry timing is the feature you want to practice.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a 2D presentation, a faster action-heavy pace, or a broad conventional Soulslike baseline.
Nine Sols — for Sekiro-style ideas in 2D
Nine Sols is the choice for players who want a 2D action game with a clear Sekiro influence. GameSpot uses that relationship as a comparison, making it a useful answer for someone who likes the idea of parry-led combat but does not require a 3D world.
The format changes how the comparison works. A 2D game presents threats and movement on a different plane, so “Sekiro-like” should be read as a description of combat influence rather than a promise that the two games play identically. Pick Nine Sols when both parts of the brief matter: you want the parry-oriented direction and you specifically want a 2D game.
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- Look elsewhere if: you want a large 3D environment or a more traditional Dark Souls comparison.
Nioh 2 — for faster, action-heavy play
Nioh 2 belongs on a different branch of the decision tree. GamesRadar characterizes it as faster-paced and action-heavy, so it is the recommendation for players who find slower Soulslike exchanges too restrained and want more immediate action.
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Speed changes the nature of practice. Instead of focusing primarily on a single parry response, you are choosing a game that emphasizes a higher-tempo flow of decisions. That can be the right follow-up after a deliberate game, but it may be a poor match if your favorite part of the genre is patiently waiting for one safe opening.
- Choose it if: you want momentum, rapid decisions, and a more action-forward feel.
- Look elsewhere if: your priority is a narrowly focused parry test or a 2D interpretation.
Lies of P — for a focused 3D Soulslike
Lies of P is a strong fit when you want a focused 3D Soulslike rather than a 2D game or a specialist parry comparison. It appears in Steam’s Souls-like results and is a common community reference point for the question “What should I play after this modern Soulslike?”
Because “similar” can mean several things, define your target before choosing it. If you want another concentrated 3D experience with a recognizable Soulslike structure, Lies of P is a sensible candidate. If you specifically want Sekiro’s parry-centered identity, Nine Sols or Sekiro are more direct comparisons in the evidence available here. If you want faster action, Nioh 2 addresses that preference more explicitly.
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- Choose it if: you want a focused 3D entry in the modern Soulslike conversation.
- Look elsewhere if: your deciding factor is 2D presentation, a distinctly faster pace, or parry-first combat as the central identity.
Salt and Sanctuary — for “Dark Souls, but 2D”
Salt and Sanctuary is the clearest 2D alternative for someone whose reference point is Dark Souls rather than Sekiro. GameSpot presents it as close to “Dark Souls, but 2D.” Treat that as the outlet’s characterization of the game’s appeal, not as a formal rule that settles every mechanical comparison.
This pick is about translation. You are looking for the recognizable shape of a Dark Souls-style challenge while accepting a two-dimensional presentation. That makes it different from Nine Sols, whose recommended comparison is Sekiro’s parry influence. Decide whether your anchor is Dark Souls’ overall identity or Sekiro’s defensive timing.
- Choose it if: you want a 2D action RPG framed as a Dark Souls-like experience.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a 3D world or a specifically Sekiro-inspired combat comparison.
Elden Ring — for a broad modern reference point
Elden Ring is one of the established titles surfaced by Steam’s Souls-like discovery results. It works best in this guide as a baseline: choose it when the thing you want next is the broad, modern FromSoftware version of the Soulslike challenge.
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That recommendation is intentionally not a promise about a particular map structure or difficulty curve. The available evidence identifies Elden Ring as a prominent tagged comparison, not a complete feature-by-feature specification. If you are trying to move away from the familiar FromSoftware formula, use one of the specialized choices above instead.
Dark Souls III — for the classic series reference
Dark Souls III is another Steam-listed anchor. It is the appropriate choice when you want to return to the series that established much of the vocabulary people use when discussing Soulslikes.
Its value in a “what next?” decision is clarity. If you are unsure whether you want a different format, faster action, or a parry-focused design, a classic Dark Souls reference point helps you identify what you are actually seeking. If you already know that you want a major change, skip the baseline and choose by combat rhythm or presentation.
Which game feels closest to Lies of P?
There is no single answer because “close” can refer to different dimensions. For another focused 3D Soulslike, keep Lies of P itself as the reference point and compare it with the other 3D anchors: Elden Ring and Dark Souls III for the established FromSoftware lineage, or Nioh 2 if your real request is for faster action.
Choose Sekiro only if the part you want to reproduce is parry-centered combat. Choose Nine Sols if you want that parry-oriented direction in 2D. Choose Salt and Sanctuary if what you mean by “similar” is a Dark Souls-like idea translated into two dimensions. These are different answers to different meanings of similarity, not a ranking of substitutes.
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- Name the skill you want to practice. If it is precise defensive timing, shortlist Sekiro and Nine Sols. If it is rapid action decisions, shortlist Nioh 2.
- Choose your viewpoint. Keep Sekiro, Nioh 2, Lies of P, Elden Ring, and Dark Souls III in the 3D group; consider Nine Sols or Salt and Sanctuary when you specifically want 2D.
- Decide whether you want a specialist or a baseline. Specialist choices emphasize parries, speed, or 2D translation. Baselines provide the familiar 3D Soulslike frame.
- Separate structure from atmosphere. A game can share bonfire-like recovery or progression ideas without matching another title’s combat rhythm. Decide which system actually made the original game enjoyable for you.
- Verify the current Steam page. Check the title’s store listing in your region immediately before buying. Availability, displayed pricing, editions, and sale status can change.
Steam price, availability, and activity caveats
Steam prices and sale labels are time-sensitive and regional. The search results used to identify these games are a snapshot, not a permanent price list. Confirm the current listing for your country, including whether the page is for the base game or a bundle, before treating any displayed amount as a purchase cost.
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Player activity has the same limitation. SteamDB exposes a live player chart, which is useful for seeing activity at a particular time, but a live chart is not an evergreen statistic. If you use concurrent players to judge whether a game is active, record the date and identify SteamDB as the publisher of that snapshot. Do not turn a momentary count into a claim about the game’s overall popularity.
Common mistakes when comparing Soulslikes
Using the tag as a difficulty ranking
The Souls-like tag groups games for discovery; it does not arrange them from easiest to hardest. The descriptions available for these recommendations identify distinct designs rather than results from a controlled difficulty test. “Hardest” is therefore not a defensible universal verdict here.
Assuming parry-focused means universally better
Parry-centered combat is a preference, not an upgrade that every player wants. Sekiro and Nine Sols make sense when that timing challenge is the point. A player who prefers broader action choices may be happier with Nioh 2 or a conventional 3D Soulslike.
Ignoring the 2D-versus-3D decision
Salt and Sanctuary and Nine Sols are not merely smaller 3D Soulslikes. Their 2D presentation changes the comparison itself. If viewpoint and movement are part of why you enjoy the genre, decide that before comparing individual combat systems.
Quoting an old price or player count
A store price, discount, or activity chart can become outdated quickly. Treat those figures as dated observations, not permanent specifications, and recheck the relevant Steam or SteamDB page when making a purchase decision.
A practical shortlist
- Want the purest parry-focused direction: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
- Want parry influence in 2D: Nine Sols.
- Want the fastest action in this group: Nioh 2.
- Want a focused 3D Soulslike: Lies of P.
- Want Dark Souls translated into 2D: Salt and Sanctuary.
- Want a broad modern FromSoftware baseline: Elden Ring.
- Want the classic series reference point: Dark Souls III.
The Bottom Line
Choose by the challenge you want to repeat: Sekiro or Nine Sols for parry timing, Nioh 2 for faster action, Lies of P for a focused 3D Soulslike, Salt and Sanctuary for a 2D Dark Souls-style experience, and Elden Ring or Dark Souls III for established FromSoftware foundations. Check each regional Steam listing before buying, because prices, availability, and activity data change.
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.
