The Best Soulslike Games for Beginners
Want to get into Soulslikes without throwing your controller? The most beginner-friendly Soulslikes, from Star Wars to Elden Ring, and tips to survive them.
“Soulslike” is the name for games inspired by FromSoftware’s Dark Souls: tough, deliberate combat where every enemy can kill you, checkpoints are far apart, and when you die you drop everything you were carrying and have to go back for it. They have a reputation for being brutally hard, and that reputation scares a lot of people off.
Here’s the thing: these games are hard, but they’re also fair, and the feeling of finally beating a boss you’ve died to twenty times is like nothing else in gaming. The trick is picking the right first one. These are the most beginner-friendly Soulslikes, roughly from easiest to hardest, with tips for surviving them.
The boss that took the longest in our group was Malenia in Elden Ring. Rook kept count: 87 attempts over four evenings, with a break in the middle to rethink the whole build. The win came at nearly two in the morning, and the cheer probably woke the neighbours.
What makes a Soulslike “beginner-friendly”?
- Difficulty options. Some games let you lower the challenge without shame.
- Help from other players or companions. Summoning help for tough bosses makes a huge difference.
- Ways to get stronger. If you’re stuck, you can explore elsewhere, level up and come back.
- Clear feedback. Readable enemy attacks make it easier to learn from each death.
1. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
The perfect first step. These Star Wars games borrow the core ideas (careful combat, checkpoints where enemies respawn, losing experience when you die) but add multiple difficulty modes, including a story mode where combat is very forgiving. You play Cal Kestis, a young Jedi on the run, with a lightsaber and growing Force powers. Start on the normal difficulty, and drop it if a boss becomes a wall. Nobody’s watching.
2. Elden Ring
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Wait, Elden Ring, the famously hard one? Yes. Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s most beginner-friendly game, because it’s open-world. Stuck on a boss? Ride off in another direction, explore, level up and come back stronger. You can summon spirit allies to fight alongside you, or call in other players online. And it’s one of the best games ever made, so even the struggle is worth it.
Its huge expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, is much harder, so save it for later. There’s also Elden Ring Nightreign, a co-op spin-off, but it’s built for people who already know the series.
3. Lies of P
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
A dark retelling of Pinocchio, set in a gorgeous, crumbling Belle Époque city overrun by puppets. Lies of P plays a lot like Bloodborne, with fast, precise combat and a weapon system that lets you mix blades and handles. It’s tough, but a later update added difficulty options, which makes it much more approachable than when it launched. A fantastic game that deserves more attention.
4. Nioh 2
Platforms: PC, PlayStation
Samurai versus demons in Japan’s Sengoku period. Nioh 2 is faster and more combo-focused than most Soulslikes, with tons of weapons, skills and loot. It sounds intimidating, but you can summon other players or AI helpers into almost every mission, and the missions are split into levels, which keeps things manageable. Great if you like action games such as Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden.
5. Black Myth: Wukong
Platforms: PC, PlayStation
Based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, you play the Destined One, a monkey warrior with a staff, transformations and magic spells. It’s spectacular to look at, with some of the most dramatic boss fights in recent memory. Technically it’s more of an action game with Soulslike elements: you don’t lose anything when you die, and checkpoints are generous, which makes it a great entry point.
6. Hollow Knight (and Silksong)
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2
A 2D Soulslike set in a ruined kingdom of bugs. Hollow Knight has all the classic ingredients (tough bosses, losing your currency when you die, a world full of secrets), but in a side-scrolling package. It’s challenging but forgiving in its own way, and it’s cheap. Its long-awaited sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, finally arrived in 2025 and is harder, so start with the original.
7. Dark Souls Remastered
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Once you’ve played a few games above, try the one that started the genre (well, after Demon’s Souls). Dark Souls’ interconnected world is still one of the best ever designed, and the moment you discover a shortcut back to an early area is pure magic. It’s harder and older than the others on this list, but it’s essential.
The ones to try later
These are brilliant, but not where we’d start:
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: no summons, no levelling to make bosses easier, just you and perfect timing. Incredible, and incredibly hard.
- Bloodborne: a gothic masterpiece, still stuck on PS4, and very aggressive.
- Dark Souls III: fantastic, but tough from the start.
Tips for surviving your first Soulslike
- Every death teaches you something. Learn enemy patterns. Most bosses have tells before their big attacks.
- Don’t be greedy. Hit once or twice, then back off. Trying to squeeze in a third hit is how most deaths happen.
- Manage your stamina. Attacking, dodging and blocking all drain it. Running out at the wrong moment is fatal.
- Use summons. Asking for help isn’t cheating. It’s part of the design.
- Explore when you’re stuck. Levelling up, upgrading your weapon or finding a new item often turns a wall into a win.
- Take breaks. Frustration makes you play worse. Come back tomorrow and you’ll often beat that boss on the first try.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest Soulslike game?
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Black Myth: Wukong are the most forgiving. Of the “real” FromSoftware games, Elden Ring is the most beginner-friendly.
Should I play Elden Ring or Dark Souls first?
Elden Ring. Its open world lets you avoid bosses you’re stuck on and come back stronger, which makes it much easier to learn the genre.
Are Soulslike games too hard for casual players?
Not with the right game and the right mindset. Start with a game that has difficulty options or summoning, and treat every death as practice.
