Dark Souls might not be on PS Plus, but Sony’s service has quite a few Souls-like games.
Who could have predicted that FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls would usher in a new subgenre of gaming? The 2009 release set the stage for its spiritual successor, 2011’s Dark Souls, to take the world by storm. FromSoftware’s titles have undoubtedly influenced gaming as a whole and engrained themselves in pop culture.
The best Souls-like games are typically difficult, prioritize boss encounters, and feature weighty combat that incorporates a degree of strategy. While some games such as Lords of the Fallen wear their Dark Souls influence on their sleeves, others like Death’s Door are a bit more subtle in their comparisons. Except for a few notable exceptions, PS Plus Extra and Premium do not have many Souls titles in their library; however, there are quite a few games like Dark Souls on PS Plus.
While every upcoming Souls-like game is on PS Plus Premium, some are not part of the Extra tier. Also, Amazon links have been provided in case somebody prefers to purchase a physical copy.
Updated June 29, 2023 by Mark Sammut: While not a bad month by any stretch of the imagination, the June 2023 PS Plus lineup did not include any Soulslike projects. However, one addition might satisfy fans of hack and slash games. Demon’s Souls (2020)
Platform
PS5
Approximate Game Length
25 Hours
Genre
Action RPG
Developer
Bluepoint Games
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Demon’s Souls
Dark Souls and Elden Ring might have ingrained the Souls-like subgenre into the public consciousness, but 2009’s Demon’s Souls got the ball rolling. Bluepoint’s PS5 remake revitalizes this medium-changing game for a modern audience, greatly fine-tuning the visuals and combat while preserving the things that made the original version so memorable.
A fresh coat of paint aside, 2020’s Demon’s Souls incorporates plenty of minor tweaks and quality-of-life adjustments that improve some shortcomings of the PS3 version. Except for one FromSoftware game, this remake is the best Souls-like game on PS Plus. Ashen
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
20 Hours
Genre
RPG
Developer
A44
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Despite having a completely different aesthetic, Ashen screams “Souls-like” out of every fiber of its being. The combat system is nearly identical to FromSoftware’s Dark Souls, including a focus on melee weapons and enemy attack patterns. While more colorful than Lordran or Drangleic, Ashen’s world is also drenched in melancholy and sadness. That said, this universe is quite inviting for this style of game, and it encourages players to explore rather than dares them to see if they can survive.
Ashen’s progression system is built around its armor and weapons, which is a nice twist from the typical Souls formula. At first glance, Ashen might seem a bit too similar to its inspiration, but the game’s voice grows gradually clearer as the campaign progresses. Blasphemous
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
12 Hours
Genre
2D Metrodivania
Developer
The Game Kitchen
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Blasphemous Deluxe Edition
Blasphemous is a 2D Metroidvania that undeniably uses FromSoftware’s property as inspiration. Set in Cvstodia, this indie game envisions a grim kingdom filled with decrepit NPCs, haunting architecture, and religious iconography. It is not quite as desolate of a world as the regions found in the Dark Souls franchise, but Cvstodia is certainly heading in that direction.
As the Penitent One, players must travel all across the kingdom to complete Three Humiliations, which naturally come with awesome boss fights. Once done, this opens the way to face Escribar, this land’s Holiness. Blasphemous’ hard-hitting combat is relatively straightforward, and it is elevated by fantastic animation that makes even the more basic of moves feel special. This game consists of almost nothing but combat, but it is at least satisfying. Nioh
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
35 Hours
Genre
Action RPG
Developer
Team Ninja
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Nioh
Team Ninja’s Nioh takes the Dark Souls formula and throws a few dozen or so mechanics on top of it. Featuring three stances, a plethora of weapon types, and an expansive world filled with secrets, Nioh’s similarities to FromSoftware’s franchise are immediately apparent, however, the game does set itself apart quite well. The Japanese setting makes for a pleasant change of pace, especially since it is inspired by the Sengoku Period.
The combat is quick and vicious, reflecting Team Ninja’s history with franchises like Ninja Gaiden. Nioh’s campaign is split into smaller maps rather than one large interconnected world, although each area does come with shortcuts and plenty of secrets. Also, Souls players who love collecting loot will find that Nioh does not hold back in dishing out goodies. In fact, it might give away too many drops. The Surge 2
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
20 Hours
Genre
Action RPG
Developer
Deck13 Interactive
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
The Surge 2
Both of The Surge games are available on PS Plus Premium and Extra, and together they should provide more than 50 hours of Souls-like gameplay. While the first entry has its strengths, the sequel improves nearly every aspect of its predecessor. The combat is smooth and satisfying, especially since players have the option to target specific limbs of enemies.
The Surge 2 shows off a lot more of this universe’s dystopian setting, fleshing out the world’s backstory through its environmental storytelling. The Surge 2 is for anyone who has always wanted a sci-fi take on the Dark Souls formula, and the game does it well. Code Vein
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
27 Hours
Genre
Action RPG
Developer
Bandai Namco Studios
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Code Vein
Dubbed “anime souls,” Code Vein takes the Dark Souls formula and throws in a hint of God Eater. Even if not quite as polished as FromSoftware’s most recent releases or something like Nioh, Bandai Namco’s project is still ambitious in its own right. With the world succumbing to all sorts of monstrosities, Revenants are tasked with fighting off these creatures. While they were once human, these soldiers are now basically reanimated corpses, a state that brings with it a few neat powers.
Code Vein’s core combat is very similar to Dark Souls, albeit slightly faster than that series’ earliest entries. Bandai Namco adds a twist to the core loop by introducing companion characters along with a couple of unique customization mechanics such as Blood Veils. In fact, Code Vein supports a wide range of builds, and players are encouraged to play around with various classes as they are gradually unlocked throughout a playthrough. Darksiders 3
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
15 Hours
Genre
Action
Developer
Gunfire Games
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Darksiders 3
After sampling The Legend of Zelda and God of War, Darksiders opted to take a page from the Dark Souls book for its entry about Fury. Darksiders 3 is a 3D Metroidvania that sees the horseman going up against the Seven Deadly Sins. With a solid selection of weapons, enhancements, and elemental forms, Fury is a lethal and versatile warrior.
The combat isn’t all that similar to Dark Souls, outside of it being somewhat methodical, but the world’s layout, enemy placement, and progression system are similar. Darksiders 3 is a significant departure from the previous two entries in the series and, consequently, the most polarizing; however, it is a great Souls-like title. Mortal Shell
Platform
PS4, PS5
Approximate Game Length
10 Hours
Genre
Action
Developer
Cold Symmetry
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Mortal Shell
Mortal Shell wears its Souls-like influences on its sleeve, although the game does introduce a couple of fresh ideas. As tends to be the case with this sub-genre, the core gameplay loop revolves around exploring a dark fantasy world filled with enemies that pack a punch and respawn whenever the player dies. While a bit more linear than most FromSoftware’s projects, Mortal Shell’s level design is cut from the same cloth.
Even though the combat system is relatively typical for these sorts of games, Cold Symmetry shakes things up in two major ways. For one, Mortal Shell incorporates different shells that correspond with classes, and players can swap between them at specific locations. These shells serve as replacements for traditional loot. Another unique concept is that players can harden their shells to block incoming attacks, a mechanic they will need to master if they want to overcome the campaign’s reasonably challenging bosses. God Of War
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
20 Hours
Genre
Action
Developer
SIE Santa Monica Studio
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
God of War
Santa Monica soft rebooted God of War for the franchise’s 2018 entry, turning the over-the-top hack-and-slash series into a more intimate over-the-shoulder action game. Utilizing Norse mythology, God of War sees Kratos and his son, Atreus, undergoing a journey to fulfill the dying wish of the former’s wife and the latter’s mother.
Although not quite as complex as a Souls game, God of War’s combat is visceral and fluid, particularly once Kratos expands his arsenal and Atreus unlocks a few new moves. God of War pushes its emotional and gripping story to the forefront, but once the main campaign is complete, players can just roam the gorgeous map to complete leftover quests and take on some Valkyries. Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight
Platform
PS4
Approximate Game Length
5 Hours
Genre
Action, Metroidvania
Developer
Bomservice
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
A 2D side-scroller, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is a traditional Metroidvania, and the game really demonstrates that genre’s influence on Souls-likes. Set in Karst, a city that has seen better days, players take charge of Kaho, a priestess on a mission to eradicate a curse that has transformed these streets into a hellscape. Naturally, she will need to defeat a wide plethora of monsters, including some rather enjoyable bosses.
Like any Souls-likes, Momodora emphasizes the importance of reading an enemy’s moves to react to them accordingly. As this is not an RPG that supports grinding, players genuinely need to “get gud” and master all of Kaho’s abilities and skills. Even though the visual style is overused in this day and age, Momodora’s pixel art is nevertheless impressive and does a great job of bringing alive this world. Thymesia
Platform
PS5
Approximate Game Length
8 Hours
Genre
Action RPG
Developer
OverBorder Studio
Available With PS Plus Extra
Yes
Amazon Listing Page
Thymesia
For all intents and purposes, Thymesia is a budget Souls-like, one that primarily takes inspiration from Sekiro. Considering it was developed by a rather small team, the game does an impressive job of embracing the subgenre. Now, Thymesia does leave something to be desired in most areas, particularly level design, but it nails arguably the most important part of a Souls-like: combat. The gameplay is fast-paced and purposefully aggressive since blocking is not a thing, forcing players to dodge furiously or master parrying. Corvus, the main character, is armed with plague weapons, which are generally fun to use. The campaign could use more enemy variety as fodder opponents get old rather quickly, especially when taking into account that a playthrough should only last about 10 hours. That said, the bosses are pretty good.
Thymesia is not the greatest Souls-like of all time, and its shortcomings can be frustrating since they hold back a solid combat system. Nevertheless, the title is a passion project that does justice to a style of game that even large AAA studios have struggled to properly replicate.
