Feature: The Best Xbox Soulslike Games NOT Made By FromSoftware

Another Crab’s Treasure (Xbox Series X|S)

We begin, as all good lists do, with the tale of a crab who is on the hunt for his shell, which has been nicked by a loan shark. Deary me. Have we gone mad? Nope. Another Crab’s Treasure pulls off something very special, you see.

This is a delightful platformer/soulslike action adventure that plays things for laughs, loves a bit of silliness, but also ensures that its combat and souls-y mechanics are immaculate.

So you get a funny adventure, a light-hearted romp, that’s cracking in both its platforming and its battles. With shells to swap out for different effects, and even a flippin’ Sekiro-styled stun system (alongside a grappling hook), this one is a super surprise, and far from the “coddamn shipshow” you may have been expecting. Play it!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Blasphemous (Xbox One)

We first played through The Game Kitchen’s spectacular Blasphemous back when it released in 2019, and it’s genuinely an experience that’s stuck with us ever since.

Yes, we could put the sequel, Blasphemous 2, in here as well, it’s every bit as good, but we feel as though the precursor to that gem deserves its place just that little bit more, since it was first to bring us this most macabre – and devastatingly beautiful world. As the Pentinent One, you hack and flail your way through the most lusciously animated environs and enemies, in a violent and tough game that draws a wealth of rich lore and inspiration from its creator’s religious experiences and traditions. A must-play that combines slick combat, moreish platforming and some of the best death animations in the biz.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Code Vein (Xbox One)

Bandai Namco’s Code Vein, which released on Xbox back in 2019, is another soulslike that edges its way to the upper echelons of this most zeitgeisty of genres.

Code Vein’s tale is a sumptuously told one, indeed this is one alternative soulslike that skimps on none of the excess of a AAA title. Telling a gripping story of post-apocalytic woes, Code Vein takes lessons and combat cues from the Souls games, giving you stamina-based battles fraught with tension and danger, and implants them in a no-holds barred epic. It may take a bit to get firing on all cylinders, but it’s worth the wait, as unique additions such as NPC pals and ‘Blood Codes’ round out a top-drawer anime experience that gets its combat right.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Dead Cells (Xbox One)

Much like our first time playing Blasphemous, Motion Twin & Evil Empire’s Dead Cells is a game that dazzled us when we first got a shot on it. It’s also another prime example of an indie take on a genre that’s taken its place right up top with any and all of the bigger boys.

Dead Cells’ loop of risk and reward is a finely balanced one, and it’s enhanced by some of the best pixel art out there, with lovingly crafted animations bringing beautiful combat to life. Every new area is a sight to behold, and its mixing of weapon-types and new gear keeps things exciting all the way through. Dead Cells benefited hugely from a prolonged early access period, one that allowed its creators to back and forth and take onboard suggestions, to tweak and refine (and add a ton of new content) until, finally, we’re left with this masterpiece of the soulslike genre.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Lies of P (Xbox Series X|S)

Lies of P came straight off the back of our initial excitement for, and subsequent disappointment over, Thymesia, another indie soulslike that aimed high, but didn’t quite hit the mark. This South Korean gem, on the other hand, may just be the closest you’ll come to FromSoftware levels of soulslike goodness, outside of FromSoftware levels of soulslike goodness.

From its wonderful character and world design, deep lore, fantastical enemies and absorbing Pinocchio-inspired narrative, this is a must-play for any Souls fans. It’s also got combat that manages to evade the feeling that it’s a slightly lesser version of something better by, well, being every bit as good, whilst also brining its own neat tricks to the edgy, tough combat table.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Lords Of The Fallen (Xbox Series X|S)

Now, we’re talking about Lords Of The Fallen (2023), and not Lords Of The Fallen (2014). Oh, and we’re also specifically talking about Lords of the Fallen (2023) in its 2.0 form. Good. That’s that sorted.

This is a soulslike that impressed this writer on playing through for the first time, but with some caveats that (were I to have reviewed it at the time) would have seen it score around a 7, for what it’s worth. However, Hexworks didn’t give up on their baby, oh no, and so it goes that it’s earned a place on this list of very good things.

The 2.0 patch, which released for free a few weeks back, makes some seriously big changes to the feel and flow of combat. It tightens things right up to where they need to be, removes the slight floatiness of the combat, and replaces it with some real hefty stuff. The difficulty has been balanced much more effectively, and they even fixed co-op progression (and added a free friend pass so a pal can join in for free). Lords of the Fallen 2.0 has done the work required to raise its game right up to must-play status for soulslike aficionados. Nice job.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Mortal Shell (Xbox One)

We were skeptical about Mortal Shell in the build up to its release, we weren’t fully trusting that something that looked this good could actually be this good but, and especially in its ‘Enhanced Edition’ form, it’s a cracker as it turns out. Good job, Cold Symmetry.

Mortal Shell gives you all the strange collectibles, weird lore and confusing…well…everything, that you could possibly want from a soulslike, and it does this whilst bringing a very, very cool Shell system to the combat (whereby you switch between shell types found around the world) in order to switch your fighting style up. Honestly, turning into a block of cement and having your opponent then smash their dumb sword off you…it never gets old. What’s more, Mortal Shell can be done and dusted in just 20 hours. It’s fully achievable!

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Remnant 2 (Xbox Series X|S)

The first Remnant was a fine game, the epitome of a bang average soulslike that gets the job done, gives you a little juice, and then is forever forgotten about.

However, not be defeated, Gunfire Games returned, proving their first effort naught but a blueprint for the majesty that would follow. Yep, any issues we had with the intense (often terrifying) combat on offer in these games have been well and truly taken care of, as this is one shooter-based soulslike that’s an absolute blast (and a great big juicy challenge) to blast through. Especially with a few pals in tow. Part looter-shooter, part squad-based tactical FPS, this is a soulslike that brings depth, some amazing enemy and boss designs and tons of options for smart builds. Remnant 2 is a bonafide belter.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox Series X|S)

We were blown away by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor when we played it back at release. This is a sequel that goes bigger, badder and much more open world in all the right ways, and is easily one of our favourite SW games of all time.

It’s also a damn fine soulslike with regards to its core combat loop – just as its predecessor was – and there’s a real challenge – even for hardened Souls folk – when the big baddies and bosses show up. Especially if you crank up that difficulty (which is one too easy set on normal, in this writer’s opinion).

Where the first Jedi game from Respawn was close, but a little too janky and loose at times, the combat in this sequel feels way better. More fluid animations, easier to read enemy attacks and better fight design overall, leaves this one in a much better place, and even the shortcuts and looping level design here has been honed to an almost FromSoftware-worthy sheen. It’s also Star Wars, so it’s just good anyway, right?

• Xbox Game Pass? No

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The Surge 2 (Xbox One)

Another soulslike sequel that set out to fix its predecessor’s shortcomings, The Surge 2 gives us a brutal and brilliantly unique experience that – beyond a few boring level design issues – absolutely gives fans of all things HARD AS NAILS™, more than plenty to think about. Oh, and by boring level design, lest you’re immediately turned off, we’re only really talking about a few bland corridors amidst some proper good stuff. Everyone loves corridors, anyway. What’s the big deal?

Of course, on top of borrowing the same core loops of combat based on stamina, recollecting lost gear on death, and all that jazz, this futuristic affair brings its own excellent mechanic to the table in the form of severing limbs and cutting off gear from your enemies. It worked well in the first game, but it shines here, as do the boss scraps and the overall quality of world-building (which is stunningly oppressive). The Surge 2 takes the best parts of a dicey first entry and elevates them to must-play status for soulslike fans.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (Xbox Series X|S)

Our final entry, but only because someone made the alphabet wrong, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty sees Team Ninja give us poor old Xbox owners some soulslike loving. Yep, seeing as they won’t allow us to have the incredible Nioh series, we guess this amazing action game will just have to do. You b******s.

You do get the essence of Nioh here, though. And to this writer’s mind, Wo Long may actually be the better game for return visits. Perhaps. It’s of that level of high standard that it can certainly go toe-to-toe with the team’s other games. In our review back at release time we said the following:

“Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty serves up top-notch combat in a hugely atmospheric setting which incorporates real-life historical events, Chinese mythology and dark fantasy elements. There’s a clever battle system at the heart of proceedings here, with deflections, ripostes and screen-shaking fatal attacks the order of the day, whilst an innovative morale rank and recruitment system makes for action that’s flexible enough to cater for newcomers to the genre.”

Another must-play, in short.

Xbox Game Pass? No