7 reasons why souls-like games have risen in popularity

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of more souls-like games, with each trying to be better than the other. A genre that emerged out of nowhere, thanks to FromSoftware's acclaimed titles like Dark Souls and Demon Souls, has quickly become a haven for cult classics. Over the years, other companies have developed their own souls-like games such as Lies of P and the upcoming Black Myth Wukong.

These games are known for featuring challenging boss fights, where you will spend hours mastering the moveset of the enemies to attain a perfect victory. The genre emphasizes patience as you try to get better with each attempt, to reach the end of the game.

Recent releases like Elden Ring Shadow of the Erd Tree and Lies of P, have also contributed to the rise of souls-like games. In this article, we will look at seven reasons why souls-like titles have risen in popularity.

NOTE: This article is subjective, solely reflects the writer's opinions, and is not ranked in any particular order.

---

These reasons have contributed to the rise of souls-like games recently

1) Challenging gameplay

Elden Ring features difficult bosses (Image via FromSoftware

Unlike other games, souls-like genre presents players with a challenging playthrough where the difficulty spectrum rises with each boss you take down. The only way to get past a boss fight is by learning their move set and, practicing your strategy for hours. There are no settings to lower the difficulty in these games either, as it eliminates the challenging aspect.

---

2) Rewarding progression

Elden Ring rewards progression by defeating difficult bosses (Image via FromSoftware)

Souls-like games might be popular for their high difficulty, however, they also offer rewards that make up for these challenges. The rewards can range from crafting materials to new buffs, weapons, and even armor sets for your character. This reward system motivates players to take on a challenge, and even fight the bosses who are not part of the main story.

---

3) Intricate world design

Elden Ring has a massive open world to explore (Image via FromSoftware)

The souls-like games offer an intricate world to explore. These open-world titles allow players to explore, which rewards them with in-game currency, resources, or an unwanted encounter with a boss. These worlds are also littered with NPCs that provide you with side quests and lore, which deepens your knowledge about the land you are walking on.

---

4) Engaging combat system

The combat in souls-like games requires a lot of practice to master (Image via FromSoftware)

Souls-like games often feature a similar combat system which revolves around correctly timing your hits and rolling around to avoid enemy attacks. While this may sound repetitive at first, it requires a great amount of practice as wrong timing can make the difference between life and death. The combat is always in a third-person mode, so the field of view always includes you and the bosses.

---

5) Unique multiplayer mechanics

The multiplayer can be a fun time (Image via FromSoftware)

Unlike other games, certain souls-like titles feature multiplayer mechanics where you can explore the open world with another player. By allowing other players to enter your game, you can face bosses together and even have PvP battles, and test your builds. This allows for friendly competition and a chance to figure out difficult bosses in unison.

---

6) Release of Black Myth Wukong

Black Myth Wukong is around the corner (Image via PlayStation, Game Science)

One of the reasons why there recently has been a rise in the popularity of the souls-like games is because of Black Myth Wukong. This is one of the most anticipated games of 2024, as players are excited to experience a new current-gen exclusive soul-like. It is an attempt at the souls-like genre by developers at Game Science, as it explores a story based on Chinese mythology.

---

7) Community engagement

The community is wholesome (Image via FromSoftware)

The players in the souls-like community have a strong bond with each other. They are very supportive towards newbies, not only providing tips but also sharing their builds to help them. This creates a positive atmosphere in the community, allowing the genre to thrive.