10 Recent Soulslike Games That Didn't Get Enough Love

7. Eldest Souls

Lords of the Fallen
United Label

Based on its on-the-nose title, Eldest Souls could be mistaken as a formulaic Souls game. 

But nothing could be further from the truth. Once you pick up a greatsword and step into its desolate world, it's clear Eldest Souls is a labor of love. The pixel-art environments and enemy designs are simplistic but atmospheric. Paired with the gloomy soundtracks, the tension is ever-present, even when there are no enemies in sight. 

The combat is intense, so players must rely on quick reflexes and be sure to manage their stamina carefully. Due to the minimalist storytelling, players are encouraged to uncover lore through exploration and subtle environmental cues.

The skill tree is vast, but it's easy to manage and tweak to suit the players' needs. Once you get the hang of the myriad of techniques, you'll be able to pull off deadly manoeuvres you never thought possible. 

The gameplay is unapologetically difficult, especially when facing the Old Gods bosses. These daunting foes can only be bested with skill, patience, and strategy, so it's deeply rewarding if you emerge triumphant (and that's a big "if").

With the recent release of the boss rush-based DLC, there's nothing stopping Souls purists from giving this underrated treasure a go.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows