Games similar to Dark Souls. Games similar to Dark Souls Games similar to Dark Souls PC
On March 28th the release of the second addition to Dark Souls 3. The creator of the series, Hidetaka Miyazaki, assured that this would be the end of the Dark Souls story. If you have already walked along and across Demon's Souls , Bloodborne and all three parts Dark Souls and now you're afraid of being left without truly challenging action RPGs - don't despair.
Below we have compiled a list of the most interesting Souls clones - both released and still in development.Lords of the Fallen
2014's Lords of the Fallen went down in history as one of the first attempts to copy the mechanics of Dark Souls - the same third-person view and monsters that are resurrected if the hero dies. An important difference between Lords of the Fallen and From Software's projects is the slower pace of combat. In LotF, the character always wears heavy armor with huge shoulder pads in the style World of Warcraft and brandishes a giant weapon, so it’s no surprise that he’s clumsy in battle.
In terms of the elaboration of the world (its mythology, history) and visual style, Lords of the Fallen does not live up to Souls, but the game still turned out to be exciting. Firstly, in LotF, just like in Diablo, equipment items and weapons drop randomly, which gives you a reason to continue playing. Secondly, the developers came up with an interesting feature: the longer the player does not die and does not save at checkpoints, the higher his chance of getting some especially valuable loot. This nuance adds spice to the gameplay, because you have to constantly ask yourself, is it worth saving and losing the luck bonus, or is it better to continue the dangerous journey for the sake of a potential reward?
The Surge
Souls fans often like to fantasize about what a futuristic game in a similar style would look like. The authors of Lords of the Fallen were inspired by this idea and decided to release an analogue of Dark Souls, the events of which take place in the future. In The Surge, the player walks the corridors of space stations and fights crazy killer robots on distant planets, relying on an exoskeleton and powerful weapons. Judging by the first videos, the creators of The Surge also draw inspiration from Dead Space And System Shock. The game will be released on PS4, Xbox One and PC in May.
Salt and Sanctuary
Hardcore platformer Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D Souls wannabe. It has its own analogue of bonfires, at which the hero is revived and healed, and a similar system for improving the character’s characteristics. Text hints that users leave for each other before a fight with a strong monster or boss are also reminiscent of Souls. The combat in Salt and Sanctuary is also quite in the spirit of From Software games: enemies cannot be defeated by clicking, and each hit consumes stamina. And the bosses here turned out to be so interesting and complex that it’s difficult to resist shouting with joy after defeating a dangerous enemy. Salt and Sanctuary impresses with its huge and intricate levels, which can be compared with locations from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night- a classic of the platformer genre. It's hard to believe that such a game was made by a team of just two people. If you have a PlayStation 4 or PC and don't mind 2D graphics, don't miss this adrenaline-filled adventure.
Nioh
Nioh, one of the top PlayStation 4 exclusives this year, is coming out in a matter of days. The authors from the Team Ninja studio do not hide that in its current form their development is an ideological clone of Dark Souls, but here they should be given their due: although Nioh borrows the concept of the famous RPG, it has many new interesting ideas.
The first feature that deserves mention is the surroundings. The game takes place in feudal Japan, and many of the hero's opponents come from Japanese mythology. The enemies turned out to be both colorful and interesting. For example, here you can encounter a nimble demon in the guise of a one-eyed boy: if you don’t kill him in time, the little imp will transform into a huge Cyclops, and then there will be no time for jokes.
As in Dark Souls, in Nioh you need to dodge enemy attacks, block blows and wisely spend the hero’s energy, but it doesn’t stop there. The hero can switch on the fly between three combat stances, each of which helps in combat with different types of opponents. Another interesting innovation is that the player can restore reserves of spent stamina if, at a certain moment in a combo attack, he presses the R1 button. Such nuances force us to reconsider the usual Dark Souls strategy of behavior in battle.
DarkMaus
DarkMaus is an incredibly complex top-down action game. The connection with Souls is immediately visible: the player systematically moves from bonfire to bonfire. If you get distracted during the battle or hurry, the character has already died. The key feature of DarkMaus is the mouse. All characters in the game, including enemies and the main character, are rodents armed with shields, swords and bows.
The main thing to remember when starting up DarkMaus is that it is perhaps more hardcore than any game on this list. Every minute here you are faced with such difficult opponents or situations (for example, a narrow tunnel guarded by three archers at once) that you can spend a whole half hour, and in the end move only ten meters forward. If the hero often dies, ghost mice controlled by AI come to his aid, but even with their support, it is not always possible to win the next battle.
Eitr
The Eitr role-playing game has been in development for two years (with only a couple of people working on it). First of all, it attracts with its graphics - albeit pixelated, but very stylish. Events in Eitr take place in a fictional universe inspired by the Scandinavian sagas: The main character is a red-haired warrior who travels between dimensions to save the world tree Yggdrasil from destruction. Like Lords of the Fallen, Eitr combines Dark Souls with Diablo. From the first game it borrows a complex combat system with blocks and rolls, and from the second - a randomly generated loot system. As the creators of Eitr say, they always liked treasure hunting in Diablo, but wanted more action.
All of these games will help pass the time until the announcement of From Software's next developments. Even though we're saying goodbye to Dark Souls, there's a good chance that Miyazaki will start making RPGs in a similar style but with a different theme, just like he did with Bloodborne. Moreover, it is possible that we will hear about his new project this year: quite recently, representatives of Sony and From Software hinted that they have something to please PS4 owners.
Some people like to cut themselves, some people harm themselves in other ways, and there are some extremists who will go further and play Dark Souls. If you are not mentally prepared, such a game will become torture for you. You will encounter extremely challenging gameplay that will make you scream, break, curse, and may even drive you insane. Unfortunately, there are only 3 editions of Dark Souls, so if you've completed all the series and want to continue screaming at your monitor, then you're out of luck, just kidding. We present to your attention 15 amazing games similar to Dark Souls. You will be so addicted to playing them that you may damage your computer equipment.
15. The Surge
The Surge- another game from the Dark Souls family, where the action takes place in the distant future. Humans have created exo-suits and given them superhuman abilities and strength. The game offers a combat system with a vitality level gauge, where your task is to cut off the limbs of enemies, which will help you improve your own suit. The battles are extremely brutal, and the enemies are incredibly difficult. The Surge, with its fantastic animation, is the closest thing to the Dark Souls series. Be careful with your enemies, they will not hesitate, and at the first opportunity they will knock you down.
14. Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen offers a huge open world where you explore every location. You will face battles with bosses and monsters that will tear you to pieces if you make a mistake. The combat system is grueling, but at the same time very rewarding. Every creature or monster has a weak point that must be found and exploited in order to win. This mechanism will add a completely new flavor to the game.
Attractive graphics, an intriguing plot and a well-thought-out combat scheme will attract Dark Souls fans.
13. Book of Demons
Book of Demons started out as a parody of the game Diablo. However, it very quickly attracted the attention of gamers with its excellent graphics and unique gameplay, where the main focus is on fighting the enemy and leveling up the heroes. It's not a copy of Dark Souls, but if you like to explore dungeons and fight demons, then Book of Demons will live up to your expectations. The game offers delightful gameplay, subtle graphics that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and a varied time management system. In a game with such features, you can positively count on a pleasant pastime.
12. Castle in the Darkness
A new retro platformer with an alluring game design inspired by the Dark Souls games. Players will have to explore a castle filled with the evil forces of a dark magician who is ready to destroy your entire peaceful kingdom. The 8-bit graphics may not be particularly intriguing, but the gameplay, with its insanely difficult bosses and instant defeats, is undoubtedly similar to Dark Souls.
Collect as many weapons, armor and other magical items as possible that will help you along the way. If you like Castelvania and other 2D games, then you will definitely love Castle in the Darkness. This game will satisfy both your love for 2D and your passion for Souls games.
11. Hyper Light Drifter
Independent Hyper Light Drifter is a combination of The Legend of Zelda and Diablo, only much more complex. It has been compared to Dark Souls in terms of difficulty. You will tear and throw, swear near the monitor, and you may even break something out of anger. Proper timing, patience, precision and planning are your tactics, otherwise the monsters will swallow you and spit you out in a minute. The bosses in this game are more aggressive than in Souls, and they attack all the time. You need to accurately calculate your defense and attack to defeat these huge monsters. This Dark Souls-style sci-fi title is definitely worth your time.
10. Exanima
Examina is a game entirely based on the laws of physics. You will have to learn a little better if you had problems with it at school. All underground caves are built according to physical principles, and the unique combat system expands the Dark Souls system. The success of each hit will depend entirely on the movement of the mouse. Pull it a little harder and your hero will turn the wrong way and his weapon will stick into the ground. Examina doesn't imitate, but rather complements, the Souls games. If you want a unique battle experience, try this game.
9. Necropolis
A game Necropolis reveals a mesmerizing underground labyrinth with low-poly characters and dark tones. In addition to excellent graphics, you will find endless underground tunnels, treasure hunts and legendary boss battles. In each cave you will find an unusual trophy and stumble upon a huge monster who will be happy to destroy you. The game's slow and consistent combat system makes it feel similar to Souls, where you feel every hit physically. Necropolis is a beautiful game with a unique design and warfare style borrowed from Dark Souls.
8.DarkMaus
DarkMaus is a complete revival of the Dark Souls games. Only instead of the usual monsters and disgusting creatures you will meet mice, evil monsters, cats and other enemies. The gameplay in this game is simply excellent, you really feel like you are back in Dark Souls. Players will have to turn into a small mouse (Maus) and fight with ferocious animals (in this game they are called Cats). The combat system is so realistic that you will have to quickly repel enemy attacks in order to survive. Look for answers hidden in the depths of the dark world and unravel why everyone around you is so fierce. If you like to use different battle tactics and a rich combat arsenal, then DarkMaus is for you.
7. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
This action game is one of the main releases in the game series. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night completely changed the idea of such a genre as action adventure in 2D reality. Most of the new 2D games are copycats of Symphony of the Night. Even the famous Dark Souls borrows from this exciting adventure the gothic world of Dracula along with the monsters. The gameplay is identical to Souls, only shown in 2D. You battle hordes of monsters, collect resources, strengthen equipment, improve abilities and fight giant impenetrable monsters. It feels like you're playing Dark Souls, only in 2D and with a more interesting storyline.
6.Titan Souls
Titan Souls is a mixture of The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls in terms of graphics and gameplay. However, this game is not much like others; it has its own twist. If you like the brutal combat of Dark Souls, then you will definitely love Titan Souls, where you will encounter stronger bosses every time. There is one simple rule in this game: everyone dies in one hit, and you are no exception. Find the enemy's weak points, repel the attack and kill the enemy. It seems that everything is easy and simple, but in reality, like in Dark Souls, you will have to die many times. If you like exciting and challenging fights with monsters, Titan Souls is waiting for you.
5. Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary is a joint creation of the Castlevania games and the Dark Souls series. If you love playing Souls, but you prefer 2D controls and exciting developments, then Salt and Sanctuary is a game with amazing 2D graphics and an ominous reality that is perfect for you. The player's task is to collect salt and enter sanctuaries to improve the character's abilities and magical abilities. Inspired by Dark Souls, the new game will allow you to enjoy dark adventures in the famous 2D image.
4. Hollow Knight
You will embark on a fascinating journey underground through a destroyed kingdom with treasures and strange monsters. An action-adventure game with side-scrolling technology and 2D controls, it is reminiscent of Dark Souls in its upgrade mechanics and resource extraction. The game encourages you to explore the huge map in any order. Most sites are accessible from the start of the game, so you can start exploring right away.
You will encounter tricky enemies, so you need to quickly upgrade your hero and take on the battle. In the battle with the monster you will test your reaction, where each monster has its own fighting technique. Hollow Knight is a colorful game with artistic design, close in spirit to Dark Souls.
3. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate A bit different from the Dark Souls style, it offers exciting, incredibly challenging, and downright killer boss battles. You enter into battles, fight huge monsters, monitor your level of vitality, amount of health, and control the hero’s capabilities. During the battle, you must not forget about your vitality. It is important to understand when to defend and when to attack, as well as to treat the hero in time so as not to die. You will feel like you are in the combat system from Dark Souls. If you love strategic battles, then this game is for you.
2.Lords of the Fallen
Compared to the Souls series Lords of the Fallen more vibrant computer graphics and rich gaming environments. The combat scheme, upgrade mechanism and hero movement are very reminiscent of Dark Souls, but the pace of battles is lower. Souls has more action.
The new game's boss battles are slow and methodical, much like the Souls games, but the focus is on the action. The combat is difficult and at the same time it will give the player great pleasure. To strike the enemy, you must be extremely careful, otherwise you will be defeated. Lords of the Fallen is a great alternative for fans of Souls games.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is a next-generation role-playing game with a deep story and an immersive gaming universe that you won't find in Dark Souls. The events of the game take place in a fantasy world, where the player will play the role of a Witcher. You have to slay monsters and fight the forces of evil using dark magic and the art of wielding a blade. The Witcher is the story of the lone ranger Geralt, who travels to solve a mystery. The game's combat model is reminiscent of Dark Souls, where the player must always be on guard to avoid being knocked out by powerful enemies. The third Witcher has won several awards for its amazing gameplay and compelling storyline. You won't be able to stop playing the game once you start.
The best games for leisure in the style of Dark Souls
Think you can handle all the games at once? We recommend gradually progressing from one game to another until you have mastered everything and then challenge several games at once, and may the force be with you. Let us know about other games that you think are similar to Dark Souls. Perhaps we missed something. Write about them in your comments.
Developers from the Japanese studio From Software managed to create an unrivaled atmosphere of pain, suffering and an insatiable desire to explore the secret corners of dark locations.
To the surprise of many large publishers, it turned out that such hardcore game mechanics are in demand by a significant part of modern gamers and it is difficult not to notice the growing trend towards the creation of similar projects.
compiled in accordance with the personal gaming preferences of the author of the publication
Lords of the Fallen
The ancient god Adyr, once defeated by three heroes and imprisoned in another dimension, again threatens people. Former criminal Harkin is the only one who can stop the evil invasion.
The project of the German studio Deck13 Interactive and the Polish City Interactive was called by many before its release a clone of Dark Souls, and for good reason. “They almost got it!” - you might think, watching a video from YouTube, but the game has much tighter controls and a not very sane plot... however, the attempt was not bad.
Salt and Sanctuary
The ship of the princess, who went to her overseas groom, is attacked and her bodyguard (the main character) ends up overboard. Having come to his senses, he discovers that he has found himself on a mysterious island inhabited by creepy creatures.
Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, behind the guise is clearly a game made in the style of Dark Souls, where the death and rebirth of the game character are an important game component.
The Surge
A game like Dark Souls, set in a dystopian future where mineral resources are depleted and megacorporations are running the show, conducting creepy experiments in robotics.
Initially, the idea of creating a game about robots with a combat system in the image and likeness of Souls seemed ill-advised, but fears that the futuristic setting would spoil the atmosphere and gameplay, fortunately, were not justified and Deck13’s second attempt turned out to be a test... we can only complain about a small number bosses.
Bloodborne
Residents of the ancient city of Yharnam have long been famous for their knowledge in the field of medicine, which attracted a large number of people who longed for a cure for diseases. Suddenly, the city is engulfed by a plague, turning people into terrible creatures...
The project in a setting clearly inspired by it does not lag behind its ideological inspiration in terms of difficulty of passage, despite the fact that it is the brainchild of the same developers from the From Software studio.
Nioh
The English navigator William Adams, by the will of fate, finds himself in Japan during the Sengoku period, torn apart by a civil war for the title of shogun, the hatred of the parties in which is fueled by supernatural beings.
From the Team Ninja studio, perhaps the first game like Dark Souls from a third-party company, which is in no way inferior to the projects of Hidetaka Miyazaki and K, is not a clone of Dark Souls and adds new facets to the gameplay polished over the years.
Demon's Souls
“Soul of the Demon” is a project that many have heard about, but few have played, and all because one of them has not received (hopefully yet) re-release on other platforms.
The game is completely identical to the “Dark Souls” trilogy (down to the smallest detail) and, moreover, has the charm of the original source... I’ll tell you a secret that in my “table of ranks” this particular game, out of all those presented, is number one .
Are you in love with Dark Souls? We have games like Dark Souls that offer a similar dark and difficult experience.
Released in 2011 for consoles, the game was intended to be a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls. Dark Souls goes back to the roots of the genre, focusing on the dark atmosphere and brutal difficulty levels that caught the attention of gamers.
In Dark Souls, you'll explore the land of Lordran, basically a land that has countless threats around every corner. Scattered throughout this harsh environment, fires serve as the only safe place in this darkness. This lack of safe spaces, combined with an unforgiving death system, creates one of the most challenging RPGs in recent years, and is a major part of the genre's success.
In this list, I suggest other action role-playing games that highlight the dark atmosphere and higher difficulty of the game. If you are looking for another challenging game, then you will find it below.
Don't forget that games like Dark Souls below can be ranked based on your ratings. We encourage all visitors to vote and contribute to this list.
Age of Conan tries to set itself apart from other MMOs by positioning itself as a more mature gaming experience. Like many other MMORPGs, the game initially had a paid subscription, but in recent years has switched to free-to-play. The game is based on the Conan universe, and if you are familiar with the franchise, you will get additional pleasure from your time spent.
Already a member of an impressive franchise, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt takes it to a whole new level of action role-playing gaming, giving you the opportunity to explore large open landscapes, make decisions, engage in combat and take on countless side missions on horseback. The extensive content that The Witcher 3 offers is worth those few dollars.
ELEX is a computer role-playing game in the Action / RPG genre, developed by the Piranha Bytes studio. The game was released on Windows, Xbox One and PS 4 platforms in 2017. The setting of the game is quite unusual; the developers combined elements of medieval fantasy, post-apocalyptic and futuristic cyberpunk.
Among the large number of empty open-worlds, unfinished early acces and gameplay-less adventure games, From Software's creations have always stood out for their beautiful visual design and unforgiving gameplay, where the player is not led by the hand. Bloodborne is true to all these traditions.
We present to your attention the Polish Dark Souls from a company that has been developing crappy shooters throughout its history. Did they succeed? We'll find out now. Despite the fact that almost all game mechanics are copied from recent FromSoftware games, important differences are noticed in Lords of The Fallen, for example, in the presentation of the plot, since here it develops in a completely familiar way, with cutscenes and dialogues.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning offers similar gameplay to the Elder Scroll series, but also includes a number of features that players will recognize from the popular God of War games. The game is an Action RPG and single player. Having been released in 2012, it is available on multiple platforms (Windows, Xbox 360 and PS3).
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a continuation of the popular role-playing series. The game was released on Windows, Mac and Xbox 360, and a large Enhanced Edition was released the following year. It brought a ton of side missions, a bit of a new plot, bug fixes and improvements. The game is based on a series of books with the same name, written by Andrzej Sapkowski.
The Witcher is a role-playing game set in a dark fantasy world, based on a series of books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, with a world filled with difficult moral choices. Players take on the role of Geralt, one of a dying breed of witchers who have special skills and abilities. These witchers work as mercenaries who are hired to kill monsters.
Demon's Souls is the spiritual predecessor to Dark Souls and has the same focus on challenging gameplay without relying on simple tactics. This game is unforgiving and its difficulty is truly amazing. Successful completion requires extraordinary patience. Demon's Souls doesn't try to overwhelm players with story, providing a simple, dark fantasy world of adventure.
Dark Souls turned out to be a game so original that outright clones, or simply inspired projects, immediately began to multiply around it. But what is this – a game in the style of Dark Souls? This is a must-have gloomy atmosphere, a must-have merciless gameplay, a must-roll or simply jumping away, a must-have third-person rear view, and a must-have characteristic combat mechanics, where the enemies have their own attack algorithms, and the hero has to learn these very algorithms. Well, he also has a reserve of vivacity, without which a Souls-like game would turn into an ordinary slasher. It is clear that Souls were not the first, but they became the most popular game with similar mechanics, it was Dark Souls that spread throughout the world everything that other projects had accumulated before it, and it is because of it that you are here to learn about the eleven most interesting games that Dark Souls fans will love.
11th place. Code Vein.
This game is placed on the eleventh line because it has not yet been released, but it is also impossible not to talk about it. It is possible that it will turn out to be a huge hit, and perhaps it will not, but be that as it may, we know about it, and it is impossible to pretend that it is not so.
So, Code Vein is a post-apocalyptic, technogenic action game, designed to be played by two people, but if you don’t have anyone else, you can play it alone. The game has a slightly redesigned, non-soul-like design, and a fundamentally new philosophy, according to which enemies attack one at a time, and never in a crowd. Because of this, from time to time the gameplay looks unnatural, when one guard is fighting, and the second, standing nearby, pretends that nothing is happening, but, apparently, it was decided to take this step due to problems with camera. The game is made by the same Bandai Namco. Its release is scheduled for 2018.
10th place. Ashen.
And one more project that was not released, and which you should definitely take a closer look at. So far, judging by what we have been shown: there are the classic combat mechanics of Dark Souls and the ability to play in co-op. Moreover, all this is flavored with Tomb Raider-style puzzles. Little is known about the game, but I can say for sure that it is planned to be released in 2018 on PC and “big” consoles. It has the potential to be great, although some of the arcade-like cartoonish animation and graphics may be off-putting.
9th place. Lords of the Fallen.
In the wake of the popularity of Dark Souls, the German-Polish tandem of studios Deck 13 and CI Games (you know the latter from the rather wretched shooter series Sniper Warrior), decided to mix up their Dark Souls with blackjack and courtesans. No sooner said than done. We started working and got it done pretty quickly.
Inspired by the trailers, the public was expecting almost a masterpiece, but, to be honest, it didn’t turn out very well. At the start of the release, the game was replete with a bunch of glitches, and its gameplay did not live up to the object of imitation. Although, there were those who liked the game. They passed it and demanded continuation. And, I must say, there could be a continuation. They started making it almost immediately, but then the studios quarreled with each other, and the project was abandoned. It’s a pity, because the developers who had gained experience could have written something really good.
8th place. Demon's Souls.
Here is the main mastermind behind Dark Souls. See what kind of parsley it turns out: ask any gamer under 20 now: does he know what Dark Souls is? Did you play? Without a doubt, the majority will answer in the affirmative, because even if they didn’t play, they knew, saw and heard. But not everyone knows that Dark Souls is just a continuation of Demon’s Souls. And even fewer know that Demon’s Souls is the ideological continuation of Kings Field, a hit from the first PlayStation, which was released in 1994. In short, Demon's Souls is a great game. It's hard to find anything more similar to Dark Souls. But why then is she in such a low place? But because it is exclusive to the PlayStation 3, so it passed by the vast majority of our gamers. And we can only hope that it will someday be released as a multi-platform HD remake. It would be nice.
7th place. The Surge.
This game is the illegitimate child of Deck 13, the co-creator of Lords of the Fallen. The Germans realized that the dark soul theme could be profitable, and decided to make another game in its wake, which, at first glance, is not at all similar to Dark Souls. Here you have robots, and weapons, some strange ones, and bright, one might say, positive locations. But in fact, this is still the same Lords of the Fallen, only with a futuristic theme. The robots have risen, humanity is in danger! Quickly grab this thing, which seems to have been the leg of some android, and go run through landfills and factories, fighting with animated toasters and dishwashers. The game could have been a hit, but it wasn't. This is all due to the monotonous locations, the need to run back and forth through them, monotonous enemies and excessively raised difficulty, which was done, apparently, with the aim of stretching out a rather short campaign. In general, if you like Souls, but you are not familiar with this game, then get acquainted. To expand, so to speak, horizons.
6th place. Dark Devotion.
This game has not yet been released, but its demo version has already fallen into my hands, and after completing it, I can say that this game is very, very worthy. Of course, if you like 2D, that is, with a side view, platformers, which in this case would be more correctly called a metroidvania. The game is flesh and blood of Dark Souls. A real clone, and there is nothing to argue with that. Here you will find rifts, gloomy dungeons, dead men risen from their graves, stylized bonfires, your own Fire Temple, and huge bosses with their own attacking styles. The project has the prefix “indie”, but, nevertheless, it plays and looks quite decent. They promise to release the game in April 2018, but it is not a fact that it will actually be released then. But, if the topic is not alien to you, remember this name and check it periodically. Better yet, come to us - we will definitely tell you.
5th place. Necropolis.
And again Dark Souls, but in a completely unusual atmosphere and polygonal graphics. Many people don’t like polygonal graphics, like pixel graphics, and there is an explanation for this. Not everyone likes to be the owner of powerful hardware and play a game whose authors invite players to use their imagination and draw all the beauties themselves. But, be that as it may, the action turned out to be very entertaining, very complex and has its own characteristics. I wanted to write that the game is great, but I looked at the reviews on Steam and had my doubts. Maybe I don't understand something. Personally, I liked it, although all this procedural level generation and monotonous enemies, of course, are tiring. Yes, it won’t keep you busy for long, yes, the locations are monotonous, but the battles themselves turned out great, and you can also play together with a friend, which in itself is an incentive.
4th place. Salt and Sanctuary.
In my opinion, this is the best 2D embodiment of the Dark Souls theme. There has never been anything cooler, and it is not a fact that there will be. The game is great no matter how you look at it. Excellent and very complex. Without a doubt, its atmospheric atmosphere, intricate levels, interesting battles, and very difficult bosses attract attention. No procedural generation, everything is drawn by hand. The game looks like a night cemetery in which someone dug up all the dead and gave them weapons. These are not cartoonish zombies or skeletons. No, there are, of course, stereotyped skeletons here, but even they are terrifying. The impressive arsenal of weapons also attracts attention. Do you want to swing a sword, do you want something heavier, do you want to shoot with a bow, or poke enemies with a light and fast dagger. And instead of souls there is salt. Salt, with which your clothes will be soaked along with sweat, salt, several pounds of which you will have to eat if you decide to go to the end, salt of your tears, because what this game knows best is to humiliate. And she does it very well.
3rd place. Blade of Darkness.
Nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition? Yes, this game was, is and will be very cool, atmospheric and extremely difficult. This is not a simple slasher, this is exactly what Demons Souls was based on, this is exactly what Dark Souls would not exist without. The game at the time of release pleased with its graphics and absolutely amazing combat mechanics. No matter who you took: a knight, a barbarian, a gnome or an Amazon, not a single hero would give you an easy walk, and if the game seemed overly simple to someone, then the final bosses, among which I especially remember one, pumping up your health, will dispel all doubts - the game is not for everyone. Unfortunately, it seems that we are not destined to wait for either a re-release or a full-fledged second part. It was as if they had forgotten about the game, despite the fact that at one time it was ahead of that very time, and showed that melee battles are not only stupid calling the enemy, but also real tactics in conjunction with a whole system of combo attacks.
2nd place. Nioh.
This game has two drawbacks - it is a PlayStation exclusive, and it is built on the basis of ancient Japanese mythology, which is saturated until the very end credits. Therefore, the plot, the motivation of the heroes, the stories of the bosses and other tinsel may seem strange to many. After all, if Dark Souls has a universal atmosphere of decay and hopelessness, then here it pretty much smacks of Asianism. The rest of the game is great. The developers, due to problems with the camera, saved gamers from having to fight several enemies at once, and also, during pre-release work, listened sensitively to the demands of the public, as a rule, making the gameplay easier. In the end, it still turned out very complex, beautiful and dynamic. And most importantly, the plot seems to hint at the second part.
1 place. Bloodborne.
I think that the presence of this game here is not a surprise to anyone, because this action game, objectively, is the best that a Dark Souls fan can play. If, of course, he has a PlayStation 4. The gameplay here is more dynamic: no anathema shields, and the atmosphere is even more terrifying: the designers did their best, and even the depressing Settlement of the Undead from the third part of Souls does not generally live up to the ambience that is here . Everyone is waiting for the second part, and it looks like it might actually be announced soon. In any case, there were a lot of rumors about this.
These were 11 games that Dark Souls fans would recommend playing. Are some unfairly forgotten? Tell us about it in the comments. Well, that's all. Play only good games, and let no one leave beaten.