Summary
Soulslikes are among the most popular action games nowadays, with plenty of reasons to love these kinds of titles. From unforgiving and flexible combat systems to the variety of enemies and bosses to slay, soulslikes offer an exciting and tense experience that teaches players to cautiously take every step and always be on their guard. However, it’s not just the combat that fans appreciate — in most cases, soulslikes also boast intriguing worlds to explore, with unique atmospheres and plenty of secrets to uncover between fights.
The following soulslikes are some of the best based on how exciting it is to explore their worlds. This topic will focus only on the exploration aspect of a single game. This is why some great representatives of the genre, such asDemon’s Souls RemakeandLies of P, are left out due to their rather linear nature and limited exploration options compared to the games below.
Ashenis a fine soulslike by A44 Games, bolstered by a unique visual style and a huge world to explore. Moreover, players won’t be alone on their journey, as an NPC will always accompany them, making the experience inAshenfeel less lonely than in other soulslikes.
In terms of exploration, things are pretty standard here, with valuable loot, armor, and weapons to discover and upgrade, optional areas with hidden bosses, and plenty of mysterious consumables players have to try out to learn their effects. Simply put, fans of the genre will feel right at home inAshen.
Mortal Shellby Cold Symmetry is another diligent follower of FromSoftware’s signature approach to exploration, throwing players into maze-like areas with no explanation whatsoever. It is easy to get lost, with plenty of branches from the mandatory path, hidden secrets, and a constant feeling of discovery at every step, forcing players to learn the principles of the world.
The only downside toMortal Shellis that it’s not the largest game out there and has fewer areas to offer than other entries. With amoderate playtime of about 15 to 20 hours, this journey could be over much earlier than some players would hope.
TheNiohseries features Team Ninja’s traditional separate-mission structure, which can be a bit disappointing for players who prefer an uninterrupted experience. However, that doesn’t mean thatNiohandNioh 2won’t surprise players with a closer look.
Despite being separate levels, areas inNiohhave all the traits fans would expect from soulslikes: dozens of shortcuts and alternate pathways, well-hidden chests and loot, and even optional bosses to kill for powerful rewards. Think of each level inNiohas one separate area in theDark Soulsseries, and players will get a clear picture of what to expect.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis a different breed in FromSoftware’s soulslike portfolio, with an original take on movement and exploration due to the grappling hook ability. This unlocks anentirely new layer of possibilitiesthat just wasn’t possible before. However, such quick movement and flexibility come at a cost, even with stellar-level design.
Sekirois considered one of the more linear soulslikes made by this iconic studio, with fewer interconnected environments than found in its other works. Additionally, due to the game not having any build variety with its parry-focused combat system, there is much less valuable loot available, making the exploration less exciting than some might wish.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s various worlds are huge. With vast open areas, there’s a huge emphasis on platforming sections and environmental puzzles. The game often rewards players' curiosity with valuable cosmetics for Cal Kestis and his lightsaber or even combat buffs like extra stims. The progression is built on the principle of metroidvania games, allowing fans to revisit many areas later and unlock new secrets with new abilities. Additionally, there aremany NPCs with traditional queststo enrich the journey.
Despite being smaller in scope,StarWars Jedi: Fallen Orderis a great action game that shares all the sequel’s traits, so it shouldn’t be overlooked either.
TheRemnantseries by Gunfire Games occupies a unique spot here. Not only are they the onlysoulslikes with a primary focus on ranged weapons(though players can still opt for a melee build), but they also emphasize procedural generation rather than hand-crafted levels. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, but procedural generation truly elevates the exploration, allowing for constant map rerolls with new secrets, quests, and bosses with every new reroll.
With two major expansions released so far, several original worlds, various secret character classes, and a robust Adventure mode,Remnant 2offers plenty of areas to explore and loot to collect. Just like the originalRemnant: From the Ashes, the game is also known for its intricate puzzles and non-obvious solutions, adding to player satisfaction when they finally uncover yet another mystery in its intriguing worlds.
Bloodborne’s setting is truly unique, crawling under players' skin the more time they spend in Yharnam and its twisted surroundings. FromSoftware’s approach to level design is unparalleled, with countless missable areas and bosses, hidden shortcuts and treasures, and a fascinating weaving of city streets, elegant buildings, and pitch-black catacombs. It’s all covered with Lovecraftian lore so deep that only a few can make sense of what’s actually going on.
Exploring the vast, gothic city and nearby villages is as exciting as it is dangerous, hiding all manner of deadly beings. The giant network of procedurally generated catacombs known asChalice Dungeons offers additional challengesand rewards and is still one of the studio’s weirdest experiments. If only fans would get a proper sequel or at least a decentBloodbornePC port…
Despite an underwhelming launch full of technical issues, several months later,Lords of the Fallenis in great shape and could be considered one of the better non-FromSoftware soulslikes. Aside from the very impressive graphics and aesthetics, Hexworks studio’s creation also stands out due to the original idea ofexploring two expansive, parallel worldsof the living and the dead, which players can do whenever they need.
This seamless transition between two realms is not only visually stunning but allows for exciting exploration, with plenty of environmental puzzles and hard-to-reach areas that contain secret rewards. Not to mention that the level design inLords of the Fallenis quite stunning on its own, with maze-like interconnected areas and no loading screens throughout the journey.
The originalDark Soulswas FromSoftware’s second take on the genre afterDemon’s Soulsbut with a huge difference in structure. Instead of small, separate levels, the world ofDark Soulsis a huge, interconnected environment that constantly surprises, and many fans still believe it to be one of the greatest in the entire genre.
The game offers a great amount of entirely optional areas, secret bosses, enemies, and rewards. Each level is intricately constructed, with many pathways and shortcuts that players unlock gradually, along with some breathtaking vistas.
Unsurprisingly, FromSoftware’s latest is currently considered not only the pinnacle of the soulslike genre but one of the best games ever made. With atruly gigantic multi-region worldand a huge emphasis on exploration,Elden Ringlets players choose their own path and reach almost every corner of the world if they’re strong enough to overcome all the obstacles in their way.
With many intricately designed and unique Legacy Dungeons that’ll take fans dozens of hours to fully clear, hundreds of different bosses to defeat, and an enormous roster of weapons, spells, and armor for every taste,Elden Ring’s exploration is as exciting as it is rewarding. The scope of the game and the amount of content here is truly massive.
