Summary
Soulslikes are massively popular, even more now than ever before, with the success ofElden Ring. Still, nothing quite compares to the gothic and Lovecraftian horrors ofBloodborne, which is arguably FromSoftware’s best release of all time. An argument we’d likely get behind, as there’s no denying its setting is masterclass.
Still,while we can hope and beg for Bloodborne to get remasteredor receive a sequel until we lose our sanity, there are some other excellent gothic-themed Soulslikes out there just waiting to be picked up and played. While they may never scratch that FromSoftware itch, they will tide us over until whatever they’re working on next is released to the world!
Despite being a 2D action platformer,Moonscars is a Soulslike through and through,not only in its narrative presentation, but also in its challenging and unforgiving world. And don’t even get us started on the game’s stunning art direction.
While it lacks a little in the ‘RPG’ side of things, it more than makes up for it in its raw gameplay prowess, fascinating enemy design, and phenomenal level design. If you want a gothic-inspired Soulslike and love 2D action platformers, then you must check Moonscars out!
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Winding up a giant swing with its debut release in 2014 and whiffing tremendously,Lords of the Fallenreturns to the scene with the same name and a completely overhauled engine and coat of paint,delivering a pretty dang good Soulslike experience.
This dark fantasy, gothic-inspired Soulslike fires on all cylinders, making it a worthy title to pick up if you love the genre and the aesthetic. While it’s still far from anything you’d get from the team over at FromSoftware, it will scratch the itch nicely until we receive another gothic masterpiece from them!
Blasphemous 2is arguably one of the best, if not THE best, Metroidvania Soulslikes out there today, offering astonishing artwork, complex enemy designs, and rewarding combat that forces you to master its systems to come out on top.
If you’re looking for an unforgiving title set in a gothic aesthetic,complete with some of the most devastating stories you could ask for,then give Blasphemous 2 a chance if you haven’t already. It won’t disappoint if any of the above is your cup of tea!
With the kingdom on the verge of ceasing, you assume the role of Corvus. You must banish the monsters bearing the plague inThymesia, placing you smack dab in the center of one of the most breathtaking gothic-inspired Soulslikes you could ask for, with a killer combat system to boot.
Thymesia is fast-paced, rewarding, and stunning to take in,making it a must-play for fans of Soulslikes with an action-oriented gameplay style.The art direction alone should pique your interest in checking it out, as a single glance at its fluid gameplay had us on board!
Shifting gears a bit, we havethe Last Faithup next, a far-from-perfect Soulslike that takes inspiration from Dark Souls, Castlevania, and even Blasphemous, but trips every now and again. Still, even with that said,it’s worth checking out if 2D action platformers fused with Soulslikes interest you at all.
Last Faith is pretty linear, with many of its secrets and off-the-beaten-path items being consumables, making one of the most beloved aspects of this genre (exploration) feel a bit underwhelming.
However, its combat, art direction, aesthetic, and boss encounters are still very, very good, and we recommend it if you can snag it on sale. Don’t miss the chance to play it if you have the opportunity!
Finally, we haveLies of P, one of the best Soulslikes to emerge outside of FromSoftware in the past few years. While it is technically a French Baroque setting first and foremost, it also clearly has some heavily inspired Gothic elements, making it qualify for this list.
Like, come on, it was literally referred to as Bloodborne Pinocchio after it was initially revealed. You can’t get more on point than that, even if you tried.We love Lies of P to piecesand urge any fan of the genre and Gothic aesthetic to check it out if they somehow haven’t already. It’s worth every second and penny!
