Best souls-like games
Souls-like is the rare genre named after a difficulty philosophy rather than a mechanic — and players police its boundaries hard. Games that earn the tag and keep a high rating have survived the most demanding audience on Steam, which makes this ranking more selective than the tag count suggests.
Everything below holds at least 80% positive reviews from a meaningful player base, ordered by KingsPrice Score. Live prices from every store we track are attached to each entry — several of the genre's best entries are indie titles that sell for a fraction of the AAA names they compete with.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifies a game as souls-like?
The community tag: deliberate combat, meaningful death penalties, and bosses that demand learning. Players apply it strictly, so the tag is a better filter than any marketing label.
Are souls-likes only for hardcore players?
The top of this list is more approachable than the genre's reputation. Several highly rated entries include difficulty options or co-op that soften the learning curve.
Do souls-likes go on sale often?
The indie entries do — discounts of 40-60% are common. The big AAA names discount slower, which is exactly what the live prices on this page are for.