After Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, you won’t have to be bored in 2025. For fans of Soulslikes, there is much to offer in the new year.
What defines a Soulslike? Although the term Soulslike is used today for many games that are simply designed to be a bit harder, this article deals with “real” Soulslikes modeled after Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. Three points were important to be included in the list:
- The combat system: Parrying, dodging, and tactical approaches with precise controls are the foundation of a Soulslike.
- The difficulty level: The game is difficult, it takes practice to defeat enemies, and dying is part of it. Furthermore, you cannot change the difficulty level.
- The atmosphere: A dark and oppressive atmosphere with a slightly mysterious flair and no colorful, vibrant world.
Not every difficult game is a Soulslike by this definition, yet in 2025, five promising titles await that you can look forward to:
AI Limit
What kind of game is this? In AI Limit, you take on the role of Alisa, a resurrected mech warrior. In this post-apocalyptic science fiction Soulslike, you explore the last human remnants in the city of Havenswick, aiming to uncover the truth behind humanity’s downfall.
The Soulslike is set to be released on March 27, 2025, for PC and PS5, focusing on an oppressive game world and plenty of atmosphere. In battle, you can expect the classic system with parrying, backsteps, and various types of weapons.
Witches of the New World
What is the game about? Witches of the New World transports you to the 17th century in the city of Salem during the witch trials, bringing a horror approach with it. The Soulslike combines melee and ranged combat with a magic system that aims to offer new tactical possibilities, deviating from the classic combat system.
The world is full of secrets and unexplained phenomena as well as moral decisions surrounding the Salem witch trials. Your choices influence the course of the story and the fate of key characters, which also brings replay value. One special feature, alongside the intriguing atmosphere, is the dynamic weather effects, which very few Soulslikes have.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
What does the game bring? Wuchang: Fallen Feathers tells a story set in a world plagued by chaos and darkness at the end of the Ming Dynasty in China. You take on the role of a mysterious warrior who must face enemies with perfect timing and skilled combat techniques.
Even though the game may not graphically match Black Myth: Wukong, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers offers a coherent atmosphere with particularly fanatical enemies. The beautiful effects in combat are colorful but never disrupt the serious tone of the game. For the game world, the developers took locations from the real world as inspiration, contributing to the credibility of the narrative.
The Relic: First Guardian
What makes the game special? The Relic: First Guardian brings Soulslike to the dark medieval period, characterized by ancient relics and dangerous creatures. You play as the guardian of a powerful artifact who uses the artifact to combat challenging bosses and receives new fragments of the relic from them. In the end, you must drive away the darkness to save the land.
The game offers you five different types of weapons with unique abilities that you can adapt to your playstyle. Instead of leveling up traditionally, your character grows stronger by collecting runes, items, and crafting. As usual, you will also need precise timing in The Relic: First Guardian to defeat the bosses.
The First Berserker: Khazan
Where does the journey go this time? The First Berserker: Khazan presents you with challenging trials in a dark and conflict-ridden world. You assume the role of Khazan, who embarks on a quest for revenge to uncover the conspirators behind the death of the great general. Available weapons include two-handed swords, spears, and axes, each with its own attack and defense mechanisms depending on the desired playstyle.
The game is set to be released on March 27, just like “AI Limit,” and takes you to both snowy mountains and destroyed cities. The art style of the game leans more toward the cartoon, comic, and anime direction without becoming overly colorful and vivid.
The year 2025 is likely to be very interesting for fans of Soulslike games. In all five titles, you can expect dark worlds, a precise combat system, and a high difficulty level that encourages learning. More difficult is also the path taken by a completely different game. Path of Exile 2 is now often compared to Dark Souls: Path of Exile 2 is for many players like Dark Souls, and that’s exactly what causes frustration in the community.
