Soulslikes is the perfect balance of difficulty and enjoyment

Soulslikes has recently been released fast and loose, offering a wide-ranging take on a beloved genre, an incredibly challenging experience for a more accessible genre, and can serve as an excellent entryway for players looking to enter the genre for the first time. And even if you like FromSoftware's more challenging offerings, it's nice to have a few things that won't push you to your limits.

This is a very punishing genre that rewards patience, observation, and adaptability, but that doesn't mean everything has to be that way. We love this genre so much, but that's because we've been there from the beginning and crave the nearly impossible challenges they can pose. But we also love relaxing with a tamer title!

cord vein

Anime Souls strikes a solid balance.

First of all, there is Code Vein. This great anime-inspired Soulslike does a fantastic job of balancing difficulty with a variety of in-game options that make the in-game experience much more manageable and less frustrating. Some encounters will still be intense, but you won't feel as helpless as you would in other large-scale titles the genre has to offer.

Code Vein has a number of co-op companions you can bring along to help you in combat, and they're actually quite capable, allowing you to focus on other aspects of combat. Again, it can be quite difficult at times, but nothing too extreme!

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

A soul-like person who has a heart and is easy to approach.

Next up is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, another solid choice for anyone looking to dive into the Soulslike genre for the first time. If you're looking for a title that isn't as punishing as other titles in the genre, this is the title for you. It also helps that the story, characters, and level design are overall excellent.

Fallen Order can be very difficult at times, but it never feels unfair or impossible, so you're more likely to spot your mistakes, adapt to your next attempt, and succeed. The sequel is also very solid and ticks all the same boxes!

AI limitations

Focused recruits join the fight.

Then there are this year's AI limitations, which are soul-like and fly a bit under the radar compared to the excellent Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and The First Berserker: Khazan. However, unlike those entries, AI Limit takes a much more focused approach, resulting in a much more manageable experience by comparison.

Don't misunderstand. AI Limit still provides a very fun, challenging, and rewarding experience, but it feels fair. There's rarely a moment where you wonder what happened or swear that the game is trying to overwhelm you. Every boss encounter and death overall feels very grounded and fair, and we love it!

Another crab treasure

Entertaining in all the right ways

Speaking of fair-minded souls, Another Crab's Treasure is as fair as can be, as many of the gameplay systems and mechanics can be tweaked to fine-tune them to your liking. Want to grant extra dodge invulnerability and increase your parry window? complete. How about reducing incoming damage and increasing shell durability? Yeah, it's there too.

Another Crab's Treasure may be a surprisingly challenging title in some ways, but you can't simply tackle it if you want to, and that's entirely acceptable. Other than this game, I'm not sure there is a better title that allows players to easily adapt to other genres, and it's a must-play!

Elden Ring

FromSoftware strikes the perfect balance.

Oooh, Elden Ring, FromSoftware's first open world Soullike game. And of course, with Miyazaki at the helm, they knocked it out of the park. While I'm still looking forward to FromSoftware's spice of making you feel like you've never played the genre before while getting scolded by a boss for six straight hours, it's also their most accessible title yet.

Being able to utilize the online co-op aspect, summon NPCs, and use Spirit Ashes makes the experience much more manageable while still providing the challenges we all know and expect. If you've always found FromSoftware games too intimidating in the past, don't sleep on Elden Ring. Because it's a great jumping off point to the best of the best in the genre!

Nostalgaia's last hero

Attractive, easy to maintain, and stunning.

Finally, there's The Last Hero of Nostalgaia, which is an incredibly fun, engaging and generally fair experience from start to finish. It's full of pop culture references, has a surprisingly unique art style, is a joy to explore, and there's rarely a moment where the game itself feels brutal.

All of The Last Hero of Nostalgaia's boss encounters feel well-rounded, and progression feels steady and rewarding. If you're looking for one of the more underrated and quirky experiences the genre has to offer, this is the title for you!