TheDark Soulsfranchise has become somewhat infamous for reshaping the modern action-RPG. So many games have sought to emulate the design elements found inSoulsgames that“Souls-like” has become a genrerecognized by the industry.
These elements have become so well-known that it’s not hard to draw up a checklist, examine any givenSouls-like, and find how much they relate to their inspiration. However, as the latest culpritENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knightsshows, that doesn’t mean its designs aren’t unique in and of itself.
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New Roads Abound
The first thingENDER LILIEShas in common withDark Soulsis the all-important world design.ENDER LILIESis a 2D metroidvania with checkpoints and fast travel points in the form of benches, an equivalent toDark Souls 1’s interconnected 3D world and multi-purpose bonfires. The bonfire checkpoint system and the ability to find shortcuts to earlier areas are two of the most notable traits associated withSouls-likes, though the wayENDER LILIESandDS1’s worlds unfold are quite different. WhereasDark Soulsprovides multiple paths that sometimes intersect if they travel in the same general direction,ENDER LILIEShas a more classic approach to levels and progress. Certain abilities and movement options required to proceed are found only by defeating bosses.
Speaking of which, another similarityENDER LILIEShas toDark Soulsis how it deals with boss souls. After defeating aboss inDark Souls, players gain a soulthat can be made into a weapon, armor, or spell with the help of certain NPCs.ENDER LILIESharkens back to this, but instead transmutes souls into new abilities right away. The protagonist Lily isn’t trained to fight, so she has the purified spirits of warriors she faces fight alongside her. Even normal enemies can drop their souls for Lily’s use. These souls can be equipped at a bench, and they, along with assorted relics, serve as Lily’s equipment. And of course, like in any goodSoulsgame, these enemy souls and relics all have lore in their descriptions.
Happiness Amidst Horror
The fairly grim aesthetic and post-apocalyptic fantasy setting ofDark Soulsis maintained inENDER LILIES, but with a twist:ENDER LILIEShas a subtle sense of hope. While both games take place in kingdoms that have fallen prey to zombie-raising ancient curses, Lily herself does not seem to be affected by said curse like all theDark Soulsprotagonists. In fact, she seems able to repel it and sets out with the intent to do so. As mentioned above, most of the player’s abilities stem from enemies who become sane and purified on death, pledging themselves to the cause. That’s considerably more convenient than needing to figure out whether players need tokill Ornstein or Smoughfirst to get the desired weapon.
ENDER LILIES’ unique sense of hope can be felt immediately in its protagonist’s design, and how she contrasts with the world around her. Lily is a young woman with white hair and nearly pure-white clothing, completely at odds with the dark, crumbling environments she often finds herself in. Indeed, there is even a subtle glow surrounding her at all times. This contrasts with the massive importance ofThe Abyss inDark Soulsand how fire is often presented as destructive and uncontrollable, and players quickly realize just how far-reaching this small design choice goes. It even opens the door to rare environments with bright colours and a peaceful, whimsical feeling, something largely absent in theDark Soulsuniverse.
Still, peace can only last for so long. Outside of both franchise’s occasional sidequests and NPC interactions,combat is still a central aspect.ENDER LILIESandDark Soulsare fairly close in this respect, focused on learning enemy patterns and dodging past them to attack when an opening presents itself. As always, a trusty Estus Flask-equivalent is at the player’s side.
ENDER LILIESallows for more speed and maneuverability than the averageSouls, with actions present both on the ground and in the air, but this comes at the cost of taking damage on contact with an enemy. Lily is an unarmored girl fighting abominations, after all. Regardless, once players get a handle on how to dodge enemy attacks, things start to feel a lot more manageable — though, due to its early access nature, fans have yet to see exactly how hardENDER LILIEScan get.
Despite all the similarities it has toDark Souls,Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knightsstill ends up feeling unique thanks to a few aesthetic and gameplay choices. TheDark Soulsformula has proven to be a massive success for From Software, so it makes sense to use it as a base when constructing an exploration and combat-heavy action-RPG.ENDER LILIESstill has a ways to go in Steam Early Access, with more areas andmultiple endings (another hallmark of theSoulsseries)planned for the final release. Still, even in its present state, it is worth any hardcoreSoulsfan’s time.
ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knightsreleased on Jul 16, 2025, for PC via Steam Early Access.
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