When one thinks of some of the hardest games ever made that featurefast-paced combat, a well-realized world, and some of the best bosses in video gaming history, then it’s only a matter of time beforeBloodbornerears its head in this conversation. The fact of the matter is that this game isone of From Software’s best offerings, injecting a ton of adrenaline in the establishedDark Soulsformula tocraft an experiencethat is truly revolutionary in every sense of the word.
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There aren’t really many games likeBloodborneout there, and any player who wishes to fill the void left behind after finishing this title might find themselves suffering from a lack of options. However, this isn’t the case at all — with the massive number of Soulslikes currently available on the market, the player actually has no dearth of games to choose from.
So, keeping this in mind, here are ten excellent games that will elicit the same feelings in players that they experienced when playingBloodbornefor the first time.
10Nioh 2
When it comes to fast-paced combat that requires near-perfect reflexes just likeBloodborne, one can’t really go wrong withNioh 2.
This game took everything that made the firstNiohan enjoyable experience and cranked it all the way to the max,crafting an experiencethat is genuinely one of the hardest video games ever made.
9Blasphemous
The aesthetics ofBloodborneequal parts fascinating and terrifying — something that the game shares withBlasphemous.
A Metroidvania Soulslikethat borrows heavily from religious themes and motifs, the world ofBlasphemouscan definitely elicit the same emotions that one felt while exploringBloodborne.
8Hollow Knight
Hollow Knightis easily one of the greatest games ever made, and to label it as nothing more than another run-of-the-mill Soulslike would be doing a massive injustice to the sheer fidelity of this amazing title.
Any person who has even the smallest interest in Metroidvania should make it a point to play this game sooner rather than later. It’s an experience that they won’t forget any time soon.
7Remnant: From The Ashes
The idea of a Soulslike third-person shooter might sound like it’s destined to fail from the get-go, butRemnant: From The Ashesactually manages to execute this idea with great flair and panache.
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The end result is a wildly enjoyable ride, either with friends or solo. However, you might approach this title, rest assured that you’ll be in for one hell of a ride indeed.
6Code Vein
Just like the scenario mentioned above, combining the gameplay of a Soulslike title with anime aesthetics could’ve proven to be a massive disaster. Thankfully,Code Veinactually managed to bea fairly competent titlein this regard.
While the game is meant to be played in co-op — either with an AI partner or a human one — playing this title alone is definitely feasible… although it’ll definitely be a massive challenge as well.
5Mortal Shell
Mortal Shellis the newest Soulslike to hit the market, and it’san absolute blast to play throughas well. While the game might be short, its areas are jam-packed with a ton of things to do, making the game a highly enjoyable experience from start to end.
The idea of using different Shells as classes is a rather unique one, and coupling this with the tactical nature ofMortal Shell’s combat is definitely quite entertaining. Props should also be given to the harden mechanic for adding a surprisingly deep and intricate layer toMortal Shell’s combat.
4Hyper Light Drifter
A top-down game that’s reminiscent of classicZeldatitles might not seem like a game that’s reminiscent ofBloodborne, but one need only to playHyper Light Drifterto understand why this comparison makes sense.
The combat in this absolute gem of a title is fast-paced, crunchy… and extremely unforgiving if the player doesn’t get the rhythm of every encounter down to a Tee.Hyper Light Driftercan definitely prove to be a punishing experience, but it’s a brilliant title once players get accustomed to the game’s mechanics.
3Furi
Imagine aDark Soulsgame where all the boss encounters have been isolated, turning runs into a boss rush of sorts that most people would actually look forward to. Well, that’s exactly whatFuriis — a boss rush game with challenging yet fun combat.
Players who are accustomed to the fast-paced nature ofBloodborne’s combat will find themselves right at home withFuri, where dodging and parrying is pretty much essential to surviving. Each boss encounter is a nail-biting experience, and beating these imposing obstacles who obstruct The Stranger’s journey is almost always a satisfying experience.
2Dark Souls
It would be impossible to talk about games similar toBloodbornewithout mentioning From Software’s magnum opus, which launched the studio into incredible heights of popularity and allowed them to become an absolute behemoth in the gaming industry.
Dark Soulsis widely considered by many as one of the most important video games to have ever released, opening the floodgates for numerous developers — both AAA and indie in nature — to try and emulate the core aspects of what made this game successful.
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One can argue that some of the most unique, challenging, and fun gameplay experiences — includingBloodborneitself — would’ve never existed without the existence ofDark Souls.
1Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
However, whileDark Soulsmight be a must-play that anyBloodbornefan should check out, there’s one other title by From Software that truly encapsulates the frenetic nature ofBloodborne’s combat. In fact, one might argue that it improves upon the formula by quite a bit as well.
Instead of the slow-paced and methodical nature ofDark Souls' combat, players now need to be quick, accurate, and incisive with every move inSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Dodging and deflecting are two of the most important moves in Sekiro’s arsenal, and need to be performed with utmost precision to make the most of every encounter.
NEXT:5 Ways Bloodborne Is The Best Dark Souls Spinoff (& 5 It’s Sekiro)
