Whether it’s the punishing difficulty or epic boss encounters, these are the best Soulslike games available on Xbox Game Pass.
Dark Souls forever changed the gaming landscape when it was first released. The challenging, yet engaging mechanics that made this FromSoftware title so popular became so well-loved that the series spawned a whole new genre of games known as Soulslikes. These titles copied many attributes of the Dark Souls formula, catering to players who enjoyed excruciating boss fights, unforgiving combat encounters, intriguing world progression, and incremental character development.
And now, thanks to the wide library available on Xbox Game Pass, more people than ever before can try their hand at Soulslike titles. From indie darlings to triple-A giants, these games cover the gamut of elements and mechanics that have endeared the Soulslike genre to so many. Read on to discover the best games like Dark Souls on Xbox Game Pass.
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Approximate Game Length
30 Hours
Genre
Action
Developer
Team Ninja
X|S Enhanced
Yes
Xbox Store Page
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
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Team Ninja has spent the last half a decade cementing its place in the Soulslike world through the Nioh games. While those releases are not on Xbox Game Pass, the developer’s most recent project debuted directly on Microsoft’s subscription service. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty utilizes many of the same ideas introduced in Team Ninja’s previous outings, including a loot system that drowns players in weapons and armor. Similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Wo Long prioritizes deflecting attacks over guarding or dodging; just to be clear, the latter two are still important tools in the player’s arsenal, but everyone will need to somewhat master parrying if they want to last long in the campaign.
Set during China’s Three Kingdoms era, Wo Long blends reality with fiction by incorporating historical figures alongside supernatural monsters. Like any good Soulslike, Team Ninja’s game is absolutely stuffed with challenging boss fights, and players can expect to face usually a few of these sorts of enemies in most stages. Rather than a continuous world, Wo Long is divided into parts, with each one dropping players in a new Metroidvania-style area. Besides the main missions, there are side missions that can have unique bosses and drops. Dead Cells
Approximate Game Length
25 Hours
Genre
Roguevania
Developer
Motion Twin
X|S Enhanced
No
Xbox Store Page
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is Roguevania in design but its steep difficulty at times and its punishing bosses are enough to have Souls fans coming back for more. Players will take control of a mysterious being that’s seemingly immortal, reappearing from a slush of who-knows-what each time it’s slain in battle.
The 2D sidescrolling adventure features beautiful visuals, visceral yet challenging combat, and a massive « blueprint system » in which players can unlock weapons, outfits, and accessories to infuse into future runs. With multiple branching paths and a deep playstyle customization system, Dead Cells is a must-play Indie hit. Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition
Approximate Game Length
35 Hours
Genre
Action-Adventure Metroidvania
Developer
Team Cherry
X|S Enhanced
No
Xbox Store Page
Hollow Knight
Though appearances may not indicate it at first blush, Hollow Knight features a whole host of Soulslike elements that are sure to please fans of the niche. This 2D Metroidvania romp ticks most of the essential boxes — punishing death mechanics that put progression at risk, the signature checkpoint system, and exhilaratingly challenging boss encounters are all sure to delight.
That said, Hollow Knight certainly carves out its own identity. The insectoid character designs and the setting are as compelling as they are charming, and it’s difficult not to fall in love with the surprising depth of the lore as players guide the Knight through the ruins of Hallownest. Death’s Door
Approximate Game Length
9 Hours
Genre
Adventure Metroidvania
Developer
Team Cherry
X|S Enhanced
Yes
Xbox Store Page
Death’s Door
Death’s Door is incredibly charming, thanks to its beautifully-designed worlds and characters. Players will hop in as a small yet expressive crow and set forth on an adventure to collect souls from some pretty imposing bosses. Along the way, they’ll uncover new items, abilities, and weapons. The aesthetic feels like a « happier » Dark Souls, with the crow making its way through some pretty interesting areas, including a castle-like manor.
Death’s Door is a fantastic adventure for players that are looking for something mysterious and story-driven. Combat-wise, the game is fast-paced and offers a decent amount of variety, even if it is not exactly a loot-driven experience. While sharing similarities with Soulslikes, Death’s Door also takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda’s isometric entries in its level layout, exploration, and puzzles. For Honor
Approximate Game Length
7 Hours
Genre
Hack And Slash
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
X|S Enhanced
Yes
Xbox Store Page
For Honor
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Who among us has not pondered who would win in a fight between a Viking and a samurai? These questions are destined to frustrate humanity until the end of time, but For Honor at least attempts to provide an answer. This multiplayer-focused title splits players into different factions based on popular warrior archetypes as they seek to determine who reigns supreme on the battlefield.
Although sharing precious little in common with a Souls game, For Honor’s challenging melee combat should feel right at home for players fond of FromSoftware’s titles. The gameplay revolves around reacting to the opponent’s actions by correctly positioning the user’s weapon. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Approximate Game Length
20 Hours
Genre
Action-Adventure
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
X|S Enhanced
Yes
Xbox Store Page
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
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Certain level design choices and game-saving mechanics in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order can remind one of a Dark Souls game. The parrying and dodging seen in most Soulslike combat encounters are conceptually copied with Cal Kestis and his lightsaber. However, the game is more easily accessible than a typical Dark Souls experience, proving to be less of a challenge for a true, Bonfire-forged Souls fan.
That said, Fallen Order is a more balanced Soulslike experience that all sorts of players can dive into. It makes for the perfect stepping stone into the genre, inviting newcomers to try the water before attempting to tread through deeper fare. As such, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order fulfills a valuable role in introducing beginners to Soulslikes with an amiable helping hand. Moonscars
Approximate Game Length
8 1/2 Hours
Genre
2D Action
Developer
Black Mermaid
X|S Enhanced
No
Xbox Store Page
Moonscars
Not all Dark Souls-inspired content looks and feels like the original series. Though there are many 3D adaptations that have attempted to perfect the formula, there are also quite a few stylized 2D offerings that should appeal to side-scroller fans.
