A soulslike is judged on its combat and boss design, then on the world that frames the fight. We scored seven of the best, all real and available in 2026. Our pick is Elden Ring, with an SR Score of 95, the open-world standard the whole genre chases. Lies of P (90) is the runner-up for storytelling. For the most refined fast combat, Nioh 3 is the pick.
The ranking
| Rank | Game | Best for | Typical price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elden Ring | Open-world soulslike | $59.99 | 95 |
| 2 | Lies of P | Story + combat | $59.99 | 90 |
| 3 | Nioh 3 | Fast action combat | $69.99 | 89 |
| 4 | Bloodborne | Gothic action | ~$19.99 | 92 |
| 5 | Lords of the Fallen | Dual-world exploration | $59.99 | 83 |
| 6 | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty | Parry-focused action | $59.99 | 85 |
| 7 | Elden Ring Nightreign | Co-op runs | $39.99 | 86 |
Methodology
The Soulslike Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Combat & boss design (30) — the heart of the genre.
- World & atmosphere (25) — how compelling the setting is.
- Build variety (20) — how many viable ways there are to play.
- Value for money (15) — cost vs. hours.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — critical and player consensus.
Combat leads because boss fights define a soulslike. Re-weight toward atmosphere and Bloodborne climbs.
Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s open-world soulslike, $59.99, the genre’s gold standard. Brutal combat, vast build variety, and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adding a huge region.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 29/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 24/25 |
| Build variety | 20/20 |
| Value for money | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 10/10 |
Trade-off: its difficulty and cryptic design frustrate newcomers.
Lies of P
Neowiz’s soulslike, $59.99, with a Bloodborne-esque feel and a dark Pinocchio story. One of the best soulslike narratives in years.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 27/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 23/25 |
| Build variety | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: its weapon-assembly system is deep but fiddly.
Nioh 3
Team Ninja’s action soulslike, $69.99, with the series’ fastest, most refined combat and deep stance-and-loot systems.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 28/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 21/25 |
| Build variety | 18/20 |
| Value for money | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: its loot grind and systems overwhelm some players.
Bloodborne
FromSoftware’s gothic action game, ~$19.99, with aggressive, rally-based combat in a nightmarish Yharnam. A beloved benchmark.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 28/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 25/25 |
| Build variety | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: it is locked to PS4/PS5 and runs at 30fps.
Lords of the Fallen
Hexworks’ soulslike, $59.99, with a dual-reality mechanic that lets you traverse a layered second world. Ambitious exploration.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 24/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 22/25 |
| Build variety | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: a rough launch and uneven enemy density.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Team Ninja’s action soulslike, $59.99, built around deflection in a Three Kingdoms fantasy. Great for parry-focused players.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 26/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 21/25 |
| Build variety | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: its morale system and pacing divide opinion.
Elden Ring Nightreign
FromSoftware’s co-op spin-off, $39.99, with procedural encounters, a day/night cycle, and three-player runs in the Lands Between.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Combat & boss design | 26/30 |
| World & atmosphere | 22/25 |
| Build variety | 16/20 |
| Value for money | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: it is a run-based experiment, not a traditional campaign, and solo play is harder.
How to choose
Decide whether you want a single big world or something more focused. Elden Ring is the all-round pick and the entry point thanks to its open structure. Lies of P is the story standout; Nioh 3 and Wo Long serve fast-combat fans, with Wo Long built around parrying. Bloodborne is the atmosphere classic if you have PlayStation hardware, and Nightreign is the co-op option. Re-weight toward atmosphere and Bloodborne challenges; weight combat, as we do, and Elden Ring wins.
Verification
- Elden Ring — pricing and expansion verified on bandainamcoent.com / store.steampowered.com.
- Lies of P — pricing verified on liesofp.com / store.steampowered.com.
- Nioh 3 — release and pricing verified on playstation.com / teamninja-studio.com.
- Bloodborne — pricing verified on playstation.com.
- Lords of the Fallen — pricing verified on lordsofthefallen.com.
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty — pricing verified on koeitecmoamerica.com.
- Elden Ring Nightreign — pricing verified on bandainamcoent.com.
Related rankings
- Best Open World Games 2026: 7 Scored
- Best PC Games 2026: 7 Titles Scored
- Best RPGs 2026: 7 Role-Playing Games Scored
- Best Xbox Series X Games 2026: 8 Scored
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best soulslike in 2026?
- Elden Ring. It remains the gold standard for open-world soulslikes, with brutal combat, deep build variety, and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion adding an enormous new region.
- What is the best soulslike for story?
- Lies of P. Its Bloodborne-inspired, Pinocchio-themed tale is one of the better-told soulslike stories in recent years.
- What is the best soulslike for newcomers?
- Elden Ring or Lies of P. Elden Ring's open world lets you grind levels or explore elsewhere when stuck; Lies of P offers a guiding spirit and tuned difficulty.
- Is Elden Ring Nightreign a full soulslike?
- It is a co-op-focused spin-off with procedural runs and a day/night cycle for up to three players, rather than a traditional single-player soulslike. It is great for friends but structured differently.