Developer From Software's next game, Elden Ring, was revealed last year but there are other Bloodborne fix. Thankfully, game developers have done a great job translating the Souls formula to other styles, crafting the genre colloquially referred to as Soulslike.
"The Elden Ring. Oh, Elden Ring!" A mysterious narrator groans these words during Taipei Game Show, updates on Elden Ring essentially withered on the vine.
In this drought of news, Souls fans are seeking Soulslike RPGs outside the From Software umbrella. "Soulslike", much like the "Roguelike" and "Metroidvania", defines a genre where player characters die and resurrect repeatedly against punishing opponents. Among the many Soulslikes, the following are notable for combining challenging gameplay with narratives that justify the player's immortality in interesting ways.
Ashen: The Dawn of a New Era
The action RPG As with Journey, players can wander in and out of each other's game worlds using a co-op mode that fosters a sense of solidarity and impromptu friendship.
Outward: You Are Not the Chosen One
An indie title released by Ninedot Studios in 2019, Outward combines Dark Souls-inspired gameplay with survival mechanics to put players in the shoes of an everyday person in a world of fantasy adventure. With no special destiny or heroic lineage, the player character must not only defeat monsters and bandits but keep their backpacks well-stocked with the supplies to survive a hike through the wilds. Instead of dying and reviving, felled players are thrown into a variety of "defeat scenarios" ranging from being rescued by wandering hunters to getting captured by bandits.
Code Vein: Teen Vampires With Attitude
Described as a mix of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and anime, Code Vein takes place in a world of Revenants, humans transformed into vampire-like creatures who quest for a sustainable source of blood to keep their kind from devolving into mindless monsters. Code Vein builds on the Dark Souls formula with blood-based powers, gothic environments, Goth fashion, and an extremely versatile character creation engine. The story and characters are edgy, melodramatic, and heartfelt – fitting for a title styled so heavily after Japanese anime tropes.
Nioh 2: Samurai, Yokai and Guardian Spirits
Released on March 13th, challenging bosses and guardian spirits are modeled after the beautiful and grotesque Yokai creatures of Japanese myth.
From Software fans can also take this opportunity to explore or revisit the studio's other Souls spin-0ffs, such as the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a stealth game of ninjas also set in the Warring States period. More news about Elden Ring should show up in time but until then, fans should the adage they use to get themselves through difficult levels and bosses: "Don't get greedy."
Source: Rock, Paper, Shotgun
