Why I’m Sick of Soulslikes

A Groundbreaking Genre Becomes A Difficult Chore

Soulslike games were once my favorite genre to play, but I’m starting to get sick of them. Don’t get me wrong – FromSoftware revolutionized gameplay with Dark Souls back in 2011, and having the option to play something that pushes your ability to adapt and grow as a gamer is incredible. I just think we need a breath of fresh air.

I first tried Dark Souls in 2011 when the gaming community was nearly unanimous in calling it the best title of the year. Even my friends were raving about it, so I had to see for myself. Upon trying it, I was hooked. Despite requiring a month to complete the campaign – not including the DLC – I couldn’t get enough.

I’ve played through most soulslikes over the years since then, especially those made by FromSoftware. Games like Bloodborne and Sekiro were and still are popular, but things really exploded Elden Ring. Despite the genre arguably being at the peak of its popularity right now, my opinion of these experiences has waned.

For example, as great as Elden Ring is, I can’t help but feel the journey is overly familiar. Soulslikes always start out thrilling, allowing you to dodge, roll and parry through overwhelming odds. You learn how to overcome massive enemies who used to one-shot you. I love the appeal of overcoming a challenge because it builds your sense of self through hard work and actionable results. In soulslikes, the challenge is often about sticking around long enough to defeat an entire world that’s out to kill you.

Now, it feels like I’m walking away from every soulslike in frustration. The appeal of difficulty was initially thrilling, but it’s less so now. Let’s use Sekiro as an example, as it’s one of the most demanding titles. Getting killed by a boss after just a few hits is unreasonable and more frustrating than fun to me. I enjoy the challenge of new gameplay patterns, but defeating its bosses feels like more luck than skill at times. When I do finally defeat a difficult boss, I feel less like I’ve earned it and more like things just happened to work out in my favor that time around.

Along similar lines, boss fights in many soulslikes often feel impossible – which is what we sign up for when we download them. However, that expectation only goes so far. I just can’t get into spending 40 hours of repetitive gameplay between bosses that take another 40 hours to overcome, and don’t get me started on overly-long run-ups. Nothing’s more discouraging than backtracking through enemies you’ve already defeated countless times just to lose to the same boss again.

Of course there are other soulslikes I can turn to if I want a break from FromSoftware. Unfortunately, Lies of P, Hollow Knight, Remnant II, Code Vein and countless more lean on the same formula of challenging gameplay, and often feel as though they’re trying to one-up each other in terms of difficulty. I don’t want a game that holds my hand, but I also need to feel like I can breathe while I play. I want to enjoy these games, but the developers often go overboard, and if every title tries to be the most challenging, nothing feels fun anymore. At what point do we become oversaturated with increasingly-impossible levels?

before you rush to leave a comment let me say that I already know that I can’t discuss this topic without seeing inevitable “git gud” comments. Critiquing soulslike bosses and game mechanics often brings out the worst in fans who think these titles are perfect.

We need to find a better balance in gameplay for the sake of our sanity. Frustration and improvement are part of the soulslike appeal, and I get an adrenaline rush from defeating a boss or finishing a storyline. I do understand why people like this content. That said, I often get to the end of a tough section and regret how much time I’ve logged just to make an inch of progress.

We’ve also lost a sense of online community to Souls game difficulty. To be fair, every fanbase has its elitists. However, I find hardcore soulslike fans to often be a thorn in my side, as all games should be open to criticism despite the number of accolades they claim. When responses to comments or requests for aid are more harmful than helpful on gaming forums, why would I want to continue playing games with this fanbase?

People who need help figuring out how to kill a boss are commonly laughed at. Even if you beat the game with built-in features, like summons that bring characters into fights with you, it’s a common refrain that the hardcores say you haven’t worked hard enough, creating newfound shame that makes already-present frustration worse. Should a video game and its fanbase make you feel this way?

This brings me to the issue of bragging rights. Many gamers aim to defeat challenging games on the hardest difficulties with minimal help, and I admit that I fall into this category more often than not. That should never be the only option though — compare this to a game like God of War. Allowing players to choose a higher “Give Me God of War” difficulty allows the most competitive gamers to get the ultimate challenge without limiting the enjoyment of those who just want to experience the game.

All in all, I think soulslikes deserve a healthy dose of critiquing. Having a cult mindset about these titles holds the gaming industry back, especially now, when many modern games are seeing massive improvements in terms of increased accessibility and customization. By choosing to ignore these improvements, soulslikes take steps backwards instead of forward. How does removing basic features like pausing help anybody?

If your definition of fun is diving into a tough-as-nails soulslike, I get it. I used to feel the same way myself. However, as I get older I find myself among players who prioritize entertainment over brutal challenge. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feel like the competition to make the next near-impossible game will stop anytime soon…

— Jack Shaw

Jack Shaw is the Games editor of Modded and has been writing professionally since 2017. With a pulse on innovations both in the industry and out, he’s covered video games, pop culture and breaking tech gear developments. You can find his work featured in The Outerhaven, GamesCreed, GameFragger and more, or follow his Modded Minute newsletter.

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