- FromSoftware’s creation of Soulsborne games inspired many developers, resulting in the creation of the Souls-Like subgenre.
- Souls games greatly influence new action games, making distinguishing between normal action and Souls-Like games difficult.
- Titles Like Black Myth: Wukong blends Souls elements with fresh ideas, evolving the action genre.
The Soulsborne genre, created by FromSoftware with 2009’s Demon’s Souls, has gained significant notoriety in recent years, particularly with the success of the Dark Souls series. What sets these games apart is their harsh difficulty and focus on gameplay over cinematics, offering a true challenge and a deep sense of satisfaction upon completion.
The genre is known for its intricate lore, unique character design, and punishing difficulty. FromSoftware has continued to evolve this formula with titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring.
The developer has inspired countless games and led to the birth of a Souls-Like genre that includes the Souls element but developed by a different studio. FromSoftware’s impact is so profound that many new action games are often labeled “Souls-like” despite this not being the case.
Why It Matters: FromSoftware has changed how people think of action games because every other game released after Elden Ring is immediately labeled as a Sous-Like, even if that isn’t the case.
How FromSoftware Has Increased The Overlap Between Souls And Action Games
Elden Ring truly brought the franchise to its peak thanks to its open-world setting and freedom. As such, every developer was desperate to implement the same formula in their games to replicate Elden Ring’s success.
The Souls-Like subgenre has been on an incredible run with high-quality releases like Lies of P and Lords of the Fallen. However, the rise of the subgenre has caused other releases that aren’t even from the same subgenre to be called Souls-Like.
Now, every person playing a game with dodge/parry and stamina mechanics thinks that the game is a Souls-Like. However, that isn’t the case, and action RPGs have existed for years.
These newer games were only inspired by the emphasis and combat of FromSoftware games, but that doesn’t make them Souls-like. Black Myth: Wukong and Phantom Blade Zero are all called Souls-like despite the developers’ claims otherwise.
This also applies to character action games like the Star Wars Jedi series. These games can sometimes be tough, but there’s no reason to refer to them as Souls-Like, as they are the same as games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta.
Nothing changes the fact that stamina bars were popularized in the action game world by FromSoftware, who also introduced the concept of limited health items, mainly to increase the difficulty level of the Soulsborne games. People must realize that they aren’t confined to the Souls games and can be used outside of that genre.
What Makes A Game Souls And What Doesn’t
This leads me to believe that Souls and action games have a very fine line between them today. It’s important to realize that borrowing a feature or two or maybe increased difficulty doesn’t make a game Souls-like.
The important features of Soulsborne games are a stamina bar, limited health items, emphasis on parry and block, being unforgiving regardless of the difficulty, more boss battles, a checkpoint-based bonfire system, and a shared XP and currency system that resets after death.
Additionally, shortcuts that open late in the game lead to another place, optional places that hold big secrets, whether it’s loot or lore for the game, skill/knowledge rewards, and unique and grotesque enemy designs combined with a gothic theme of the game, mainly make a game Soulsborne.
Now, a Souls game doesn’t necessarily have to include all these features. If an action game borrows a few features from here, it mashes them up with new ideas and creates something beautiful, e.g., Black Myth: Wukong.
It’s safe to assume that the industry will continue to evolve beyond this point, and we will see more diversity in the action genre, and Phantom Blade will hold true to that testimony.
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[Staff Writer]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheerzahid03@gmail.com
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