Soulslikes Games That Reward Slow, Thoughtful Play More Than Grinding

The Souls-like is a genre that has become one of the most popular ones in gaming. Year after year, we are flooded with games that have you running from bonfire to bonfire, just hoping you make it there before you lose all your precious currency.

But some Soulslikes make you grind, forcing you to suffer the endless waves of basic enemies before the boss reveals themselves. They can get old pretty quickly when this is the case. Luckily, there are a handful of games in the genre that do things a bit differently. Ones that rely on your skill, not your numbers, to get the job done.

We're going to check out some Souls-likes that reward thoughtful styles of play rather than grinding.

10 Enotria: The Last Song

Painted Love

Enotria: The Last Song Action RPG Soulslike Released September 16, 2024 ESRB Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Violence Developer(s) Jyamma Games Publisher(s) Jyamma Games Engine Unreal Engine 5 Number of Players Single-player Steam Deck Compatibility Playable PC Release Date September 16, 2024 Xbox Series X|S Release Date December 12, 2024 PS5 Release Date September 19, 2024 Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Genre(s) Action RPG, Soulslike How Long To Beat 13 hours X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 12.56 GB OpenCritic Rating Fair

Enotria: The Last Song is a beautiful-looking game that calls back to the old days of the Souls-likes, where careful, precise attacks and well-timed parrying and counterattacks are the key to everything, from basic enemies to bosses. Defense first is the best way to play this game. Weapon weight in particular factors in big time here. If you've got a big sword equipped, it will feel as such, so while you have abilities to make combat easier in bigger groups, you need to be patient and learn the somewhat difficult timing on the parry and unravel maneuvers.

You will have your different masks throughout the game that can change up the combat a bit, but it still comes down to an old-school, Dark Souls style of carefully circling your opponent before going for your strike. It's a deliberate approach to combat, but for me, it's that type of slow-paced, study-and-react type of combat that drew me into the original Dark Souls, so I was mighty happy to see a game embrace that and try to expand upon it. Results were mixed for sure, but that slow-paced, thoughtful approach to combat is here in a big way.

9 Lords of the Fallen

Imitation Flattery

Lords of the Fallen Action RPG FX Wiki Wiki Released October 13, 2023 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence Developer(s) HEXWORKS Publisher(s) CI Games Engine Unreal Engine 5 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer Platform(s) PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PC Genre(s) Action RPG How Long To Beat 30 Hours Wiki

Fextralife Wiki

OpenCritic Rating Fair

Lords of the Fallen is one of my favorite Souls-likes out there, and while you can grind levels out like most games in the genre, it's not going to do you much good unless you learn how this rather complex combat system works. The parrying in this game is the most interesting because it costs you health, but it's necessary to overcome some of the toughest challenges in the game.

There are also endless mobs to face off against in the game, and rushing in just because you've leveled up will humble you awfully fast. Some of the bosses in the game downright demand you take it slow, as they can be some of the most challenging in the genre, especially if you show your hand early in the fight and forget that you're never the aggressor in these battles. It's oh so satisfying when you time those parries right and open up a critical attack, so getting comfortable using it is the only way you're going to succeed in this dark and dangerous world.

8 Mortal Shell 2

The Waiting Game

Mortal Shell II Soulslike Action RPG Fantasy FX Wiki Wiki Released August 20, 2026 ESRB Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Cold Symmetry Publisher(s) Playstack Prequel(s) Mortal Shell Franchise Mortal Shell Number of Players Single-player Steam Deck Compatibility Playable PC Release Date August 20, 2026 Xbox Series X|S Release Date August 20, 2026 PS5 Release Date August 20, 2026 Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Genre(s) Soulslike, Action RPG, Fantasy How Long To Beat 17 hours X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 32.04 GB OpenCritic Rating Mighty

Mortal Shell 2 is a game that pays tribute to the old-school Souls game in so many ways, and one of those is the way you approach enemy encounters. I haven't seen a lack of healing in Soulslike like Mortal Shell 2 has in quite some time, so that old method of rushing enemies with your biggest weapon is often going to end in a brutal defeat. Instead, you need to be methodical and smart. Your ammo is limited, and depending on the shell you use, so is your health.

You need to read enemies, regardless of what level your weapons or shells are. Parrying is absolutely crucial to learn here, not only for normal enemies, but the bosses too. Plus, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to learn the system because every enemy has their own parry and counter animation that are just too awesome-looking to ignore. A lot of the attacks in the game also feel pretty slow, so you need to make sure you know when you have an opening because weapon weight is especially noticeable in this bloody, gothic world.

7 ​​​​​​Lies of P

Master the Strings

Lies of P Soulslike FX Wiki Wiki Released September 19, 2023 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence Developer(s) Round8 Studio, Neowiz Publisher(s) Neowiz Engine Unreal Engine 4 Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One Genre(s) Soulslike How Long To Beat 20 Hours X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 35 GB (November 2023) Metascore 84 PS Plus Availability N/A Wiki

Fextralife Wiki

OpenCritic Rating Strong

Lies of P is up there for the best games of the decade for me, and one of the reasons why is that it managed to take the Souls-like formula and give you so many options for how to approach it. You can learn the parry system to slowly wear down your opponents to deliver a furious fatal blow; you can master the Legion Arms that give you a variety of offensive and defensive maneuvers, or you can mix and match your weapons to become a whirling dervish of destruction.

There is no wrong way to do things, but regardless of your path, grinding is pretty much never the answer. Experimenting almost always is. If you're finding a boss too hard, maybe it's time to switch up your weapon handle, or try a new blade. So many of the weapons have additional effects, so you can almost always find something your enemy is weak against. I think the purest example of this is when I fought the final boss, The Nameless Puppet, over the course of two days. I didn't grind to beat it; I didn't find some ultimate weapon lying around. Instead, I merely learned to use a different Legion Arm that I had been ignoring. I shifted around some of my stats to make sure it was effective, and it was a cakewalk from there. No grinding, just ingenuity. Lies of P rewards those who dare to think.

6 Hellpoint

In Space, No One Can Hear You Git Gud

Hellpoint Action RPG Fighting Shooter FX Wiki Wiki Released July 30, 2020 ESRB t Engine Unity Platform(s) PS5, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC Developer Cradle Games Publisher tinyBuild Genre(s) Action RPG, Fighting, Shooter How Long To Beat 16 hours Wiki

Fextralife Wiki

OpenCritic Rating Weak

Hellpoint is one of the coolest Soulslikes out there, and while it's not a critical darling or a graphical masterpiece, it's got a ton of cool ideas and an atmosphere that just drips with creepiness and really gives you the feeling of desolation. Combat is tough as hell here and meant to be approached as methodically as possible.

It's a bit janky, but the methodical nature of it harkens back to Dark Souls, where you need to circle your opponents in a delicate dance, ready to pounce at any opening you can find while being prepared to time a well-placed dodge. This is especially true in the early hours of the game, as you're extremely fragile and enemies can delete you in an instant. It's all about waiting for the right time to strike here, and no matter what gear you've got on or how much grinding you've done, that aspect does not go away.

5 Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

The Beauty in the Blade

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Action RPG Soulslike Hack and Slash Released July 24, 2025 ESRB Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases Developer(s) Leenzee Publisher(s) 505 Games Engine Unreal Engine 5 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Number of Players Single-player Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown PC Release Date July 24, 2025 Xbox Series X|S Release Date July 24, 2025 PS5 Release Date July 24, 2025 Platform(s) PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Genre(s) Action RPG, Soulslike, Hack and Slash How Long To Beat 32 hours File Size Xbox Series 60.06 GB OpenCritic Rating Strong

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an utterly gorgeous Soulslike that skimps out on the need for grinding and instead rewards you for your patience. Every fight you have here is a delicate dance. Enemies do an enormous amount of damage here, so you really can't afford to mash the attack button. Classic Soulslike traps will befall you if you do that, like far-away enemies launching a pile of rocks at you, an enemy jumping out from behind a corner, and other painful tropes the genre has fallen into.

All of that is there to say slow down. It's not a sprint, and the game world is designed as such. It's relatively linear, with no jumping option, so your path is the path, and you're not going to be able to steamroll it. You're going to have to study your enemies here, as the more you die, the more dire the consequences become, eventually leading to a boss fight that you likely don't want any part of. That consequence means you need to be mighty careful no matter who the enemy is. Treat each one as a threat, because they all are, and regardless of how much you're grinding, it's not going to save you when you're rushing through an area and get smacked off a cliff for your troubles.

4 Blades of Fire

That 360 Soul

Blades of Fire Action Adventure Tactical FX Wiki Wiki Released May 22, 2025 ESRB M17+ For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) MercurySteam Publisher(s) 505 Games Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Genre(s) Action, Adventure, Tactical

Blades of Fire is a game that drips with that old-school Xbox 360 mentality and feel. It's got the Soulslike elements we know and love, but it has unique mechanics as well; not least of which is the ability and need to forge your own weapons. It's not just about leveling up and endlessly grinding here, but rather figuring out the best materials for your equipment and doing the dirty work yourself. The combat is also wildly challenging and is as skill-based a Soulslike as I've ever seen.

You need to mix and match not only weapons, but your stances to get the best outcome against the variety of enemies you'll fight. Luckily, combat is fantastic here, with a fast-paced, almost rhythmic style to it that makes you study your enemy's every flinch, because you'll need to counter it in some way. It pays off, though, with some incredibly bloody execution attacks. Even if you're terrible at the forging minigame, you can still come away with a lot of wins here just based on you thinking before you act, even if you're stuck with the worst weapon in the game.

3 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Fighting for the Balance

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Action-Adventure Soulslike Sci-Fi Released April 28, 2023 ESRB T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence Developer(s) Respawn Entertainment Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Engine Unreal Engine 4 Franchise Star Wars Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Genre(s) Action-Adventure, Soulslike, Sci-Fi How Long To Beat 20 Hours X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 134 GB (May 2024) PS Plus Availability N/A OpenCritic Rating Mighty

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is one of the best Soulslikes out there, with a huge focus on story, world, and characters. The combat is no slouch either, with arguably the best gameplay a Star Wars game has ever had. But you can't just grind your way to supremacy here, as instead, the game is heavily focused on parrying and countering attacks. There are a ton of different enemy types in this game, so you'll find yourself needing to adapt your strategy constantly, as taking on a random bounty hunter is much different than coming toe to toe with a giant hammer-wielding monstrosity.

Unless your timing and mastery of all of Cal's abilities are on point, the number of times you've leveled up won't matter all that much. That's especially true for the boss fights, which have you consistently on your heels against some of the toughest fights that any Souls-like has to offer. But that methodical dance is what keeps you invested in every single battle. Jedi were always supposed to be the Samurai of the Star Wars universe, and this game finally gives you that feeling to the combat.

2 The Surge 2

Limb from Limb

The Surge 2 Action RPG FX Wiki Wiki Released September 24, 2019 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language Developer(s) Deck13 Interactive Publisher(s) Focus Home Interactive Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Franchise The Surge Platform(s) Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4 Genre(s) Action RPG How Long To Beat 21 Hours PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium Wiki

Fextralife Wiki

OpenCritic Rating Strong

The Surge 2 is a criminally overlooked Soulslike that lets you build your own half-man, half-machine character with a ton of customization options along the way. While you'll be upgrading your weapons and damage-dealing capabilities throughout, the key to this game is reading and reacting. That's because not only do you have to block specific directions depending on where your enemy is attacking from, but you'll also be dodging specific ways as well.

This turns these hulking battles into something resembling a martial arts movie. If you're not hitting your cues on time, it doesn't matter how much you've upgraded, because you're going to be mincemeat before you even get a chance to use that shiny new weapon you acquired. It can be frustrating, but rushing into battle impetuously will get you cut down in seconds, so drawing out one enemy at a time until you learn how to dodge and counter everything is the only way to get through this one.

1 Black Myth: Wukong

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Black Myth: Wukong Action RPG FX Wiki Wiki Released August 20, 2024 ESRB M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence Developer(s) Game Science Publisher(s) Game Science Engine Unreal Engine 5 Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown PC Release Date August 20, 2024 Xbox Series X|S Release Date August 20, 2025 PS5 Release Date August 20, 2024 Platform(s) PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Genre(s) Action RPG How Long To Beat 39 hours PS Plus Availability N/A Wiki

Fextralife Wiki

OpenCritic Rating Strong

Black Myth: Wukong is one of the more impressive games of the Soulslike genre, and though people want to call it an action game, we know where the inspiration for this one came from. The best part is the total lack of need to grind. There is no level gating with enemies here, and everything you encounter, you can certainly overcome. You can improve your odds, of course, by adding skill points into various slots, but it never determines if you win or lose.

These multiphase bosses couldn't care less how much time you've spent grinding, because if your dodges aren't spot on and you're not using your transformation abilities, you can find yourself getting obliterated in short order. Knowing what is in your arsenal, using your abilities effectively, and learning enemy patterns will go a long way here. Meanwhile, grinding will just tire you out and is pretty much the worst way to play that game.