Soulslike games click because they turn every fight, shortcut, and boss win into something that feels earned.
The problem is that the genre has a reputation for being punishing right from the start. That is why this list focuses on Soulslike games that still deliver tense combat, careful progression, and satisfying exploration, but do it in a way that is easier to learn. Some offer better tutorials, some let you outlevel tough encounters, and others give you more forgiving systems that help new players settle into the formula.
TL;DR – Games Like Soulslike Games for Beginners
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Not every Soulslike is designed to crush you in the first few hours. Some are much better at teaching the genre’s basics, whether that means clearer progression, more forgiving checkpoints, party support, difficulty options, or worlds that let you walk away from a wall and come back later.
That is what makes the games below great starting points. They still have the core appeal people come to the genre for – weighty combat, risk-reward exploration, meaningful builds, and bosses that test what you have learned – but they give newer players more room to improve without bouncing off immediately.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s open-world take on the Souls formula, blending deliberate melee combat, dangerous legacy dungeons, character builds, and cryptic worldbuilding into a much larger adventure.
What it does especially well is player freedom. Instead of getting stuck in one brutally linear path, you can roam the map, find easier caves, collect upgrade materials, summon Spirit Ashes, improve your weapon, and return to hard bosses much stronger than before.
That flexibility is exactly why it works so well for beginners. It still teaches spacing, stamina management, dodge timing, and boss pattern recognition, but it rarely forces you to slam into the same roadblock for hours. In that sense, it gives new players a gentler way to understand what makes Soulslikes satisfying.
It also helps that there are many viable playstyles. You can build around sorcery, heavy weapons, shields, bleed, summons, or hybrid setups, which makes it easier to find a style that feels comfortable instead of being locked into one demanding approach.
Why You Might Like It
- Open world structure lets you avoid difficult encounters and come back later
- Spirit summons give you extra breathing room during boss fights
- Huge build variety helps you find a style that fits your skill level
- It teaches core Soulslike habits without trapping you in a narrow path
Elden Ring
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an action-adventure game that mixes Soulslike checkpoint structure, respawning enemies, stamina-like pressure in duels, and interconnected exploration with a much more cinematic Star Wars presentation.
One of its biggest strengths is how readable it is. Enemy attacks are easier to parse, platforming breaks up the combat, and the game clearly communicates progression through new Force powers and ability unlocks.
It is a strong beginner pick because it borrows Soulslike ideas without committing fully to the genre’s harsher edges. You still rest at meditation points, recover after mistakes, and learn boss patterns, but difficulty options make the overall experience much more approachable than a traditional Soulslike.
For players curious about the genre but not ready for something much harsher, this is often the ideal bridge. It gets you used to measured swordplay, timing-focused defense, and backtracking through layered levels in a much more forgiving package.
Why You Might Like It
- Difficulty settings make the learning curve much less intimidating
- Meditation points and respawning enemies introduce classic Soulslike structure
- Lightsaber combat rewards timing without feeling overly punishing early on
- Strong story and presentation keep the pace engaging between tough fights
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Release Date: November 15, 2019
Genres: Action-adventure
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
It does a great job of making players feel more capable. The extra stance options, mobility tools, and expanded skill trees give you more ways to solve encounters, which makes experimentation more rewarding and failure less frustrating.
As a beginner-friendly Soulslike-style game, it works because it retains the checkpoint loop, enemy reset system, and duel-heavy combat while giving you more comfort and control. It is less about surviving with almost nothing and more about learning how to use a growing toolkit well.
That makes it especially good for players who want the rhythm of Soulslikes but prefer a more modern, fluid action game feel. It still asks you to read enemy behavior and commit to your attacks, but it usually gives you enough tools to stay proactive rather than overwhelmed.
Why You Might Like It
- Combat stances add flexibility and let you tailor fights to your style
- Traversal and exploration feel more dynamic than in many traditional Soulslikes
- Difficulty options help new players ease into timing-based combat
- It blends cinematic action with enough Soulslike structure to feel familiar
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Release Date: April 28, 2023
Genres: Action-adventure, Platform, Metroidvania, Souls-like
Lies of P
Lies of P is a dark Belle Époque-inspired action RPG that leans heavily into traditional Soulslike structure, with precise melee combat, tightly designed levels, punishing bosses, and a grim world full of hostile puppets and twisted humans.
What it does especially well is focus. Its progression is fairly linear, its mechanics are clearly defined, and its zones are built to funnel players through a deliberate learning curve. That makes it easier to understand than more sprawling games, even if the combat itself can be demanding.
For beginners, this is one of the best “next step” games after the gentler entries. It feels much closer to a classic Soulslike than the Jedi games do, but it is also polished, readable, and structured in a way that helps players learn one lesson at a time.
The weapon assembly system adds another layer of accessibility too. You can mix blades and handles to tweak speed, reach, and move sets, making it easier to adapt your weapon to what feels natural rather than forcing yourself into a style that never clicks.
Why You Might Like It
- Linear progression makes it easier to stay focused and learn the genre
- Enemy and boss design strongly rewards pattern recognition
- Weapon customization helps you tune combat to your comfort zone
- It feels very close to the traditional Soulslike formula without being overly messy
Lies of P
Release Date: September 19, 2023
Genres: Role-playing (RPG)
Code Vein
Code Vein is an anime-styled action RPG with dungeon exploration, build crafting, stamina-based melee combat, and a post-apocalyptic setting full of ruined cities and monstrous enemies.
Its standout feature is the companion system. Most of the game can be played with an AI partner who can draw enemy attention, help with damage, and even revive you in dangerous moments, which dramatically lowers the pressure compared to more unforgiving Soulslikes.
That support is exactly why it fits beginners so well. You still get the core loop of careful exploration, risky combat, build experimentation, and recovering from mistakes, but you are not always facing every boss completely alone.
It also has a very flexible class system through Blood Codes, letting you switch builds without as much commitment as many RPGs demand. For new players still figuring out whether they prefer heavy melee, magic, or hybrid setups, that freedom is a major advantage.
Why You Might Like It
- AI companions make exploration and bosses much more manageable
- Flexible build swapping encourages experimentation without heavy punishment
- Classic Soulslike level flow is present but less oppressive
- Great option for players who want challenge with a safety net
Code Vein
Release Date: September 27, 2019
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
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Nioh
Nioh is a samurai action RPG that combines Soulslike progression with mission-based structure, deep loot systems, stance-based melee combat, and a heavy emphasis on speed, precision, and mastery.
What it does best is combat depth. Between high, mid, and low stances, weapon-specific move sets, Ki Pulse management, and gear optimization, it offers a much denser mechanical sandbox than many games in the genre.
That complexity can sound intimidating, but it can actually help some beginners – especially those coming from action games or looters. Because stages are broken into missions, the overall structure is easier to digest, and the constant gear drops create a steady sense of progress even when skill is still catching up.
Nioh is less about slow, oppressive survival and more about learning systems. If traditional Souls combat feels too rigid, this faster and more technical approach can be surprisingly inviting once its basics start to click.
Why You Might Like It
- Mission-based progression makes the game easier to tackle in chunks
- Frequent loot upgrades give consistent forward momentum
- Fast combat rewards practice and gives you many tools to improve
- Excellent for players who enjoy action depth more than pure punishment
Nioh
Release Date: February 07, 2017
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is Team Ninja’s dark fantasy action RPG set in a supernatural version of the Three Kingdoms era, built around aggressive melee combat, morale-based progression, and a highly important deflection system.
Its biggest strength is how cleanly it centers combat around one core idea. Instead of juggling quite as many overlapping systems as in Nioh, you are mainly learning to deflect, counter pressure, and stay aggressive.
That makes it an excellent beginner-friendly option for players who like the look of difficult action RPGs but do not want to deal with quite as much build or gear complexity at first. Once the deflection timing clicks, the entire game becomes much easier to understand.
It also has a brisk tempo that keeps fights exciting rather than oppressive. For some players, that is less intimidating than the slower, heavier pacing of more traditional Soulslikes, because success feels tied to one readable skill rather than ten different systems at once.
Why You Might Like It
- Deflection-based combat gives you one strong central mechanic to learn
- Faster pace feels more immediate and less heavy than classic Souls games
- Morale system softens progression by rewarding exploration and momentum
- A great entry point for players who enjoy reactive action combat
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Release Date: March 03, 2023
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Steelrising
Steelrising is an action RPG set in an alternate-history Paris during the French Revolution, where you play as a mechanical bodyguard fighting automaton enemies through streets, mansions, gardens, and industrial districts.
What it does well is accessibility. Its combat is readable, the overall pacing is gentler than many genre peers, and it includes assist options that can reduce frustration for players who mainly want to learn the structure and feel of a Soulslike.
That makes it one of the safest recommendations for absolute beginners. It still has stamina-conscious fighting, checkpoints, dangerous enemy groups, and methodical level design, but it deliberately leaves room for players who are not looking for maximum punishment.
The setting helps too. Its world is distinctive enough to stand on its own, so even if you are coming to the genre mostly out of curiosity, the atmosphere and premise can pull you through the learning process.
Why You Might Like It
- Assist options make it one of the most approachable Soulslike experiences
- Combat pace is slower and easier to read for new players
- Classic checkpoint-and-retry loop is present without feeling too harsh
- Unique setting gives the adventure extra personality beyond its mechanics
Steelrising
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Ashen
Ashen is a minimalist action RPG with a muted art style, cooperative design, and a quieter tone than most games in the genre. It focuses on exploration, careful melee combat, and building up a settlement over time.
Its strongest feature is how approachable its mood and structure feel. The combat still has weight and consequence, but the game is less oppressive in presentation, which can make the learning process feel less exhausting for players turned off by darker, more hostile Soulslikes.
It is also a good beginner choice because of its co-op leanings and companion support. Having another body in fights changes the rhythm of encounters and makes the challenge feel more manageable without removing the genre’s core identity.
That balance between danger and calm gives Ashen its own niche. It is not the flashiest or most mechanically dense Soulslike on the market, but it is often one of the easiest to settle into when you want the formula without the usual crushing atmosphere.
Why You Might Like It
- Co-op and companion support make the adventure less punishing
- Minimalist presentation feels calmer than most dark fantasy Soulslikes
- Exploration and settlement growth create a steady sense of progress
- A good fit if you want challenge without nonstop pressure
Ashen
Release Date: December 9, 2019
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Remnant: From the Ashes
Remnant: From the Ashes mixes Soulslike progression with third-person shooting, dungeon crawling, boss fights, and cooperative play across hostile worlds filled with unpredictable enemies.
What it does especially well is translate the genre’s structure into a more familiar combat language. Instead of relying purely on swords, dodges, and stamina-minded melee spacing, it gives players guns, mods, ranged builds, and a combat rhythm that will feel more natural to shooter fans.
That makes it one of the easiest Soulslike-adjacent games to recommend to beginners who do not usually enjoy melee-heavy action RPGs. You still get tough encounters, checkpoint tension, boss mechanics, and build progression, but the basic act of fighting feels more immediately accessible.
Co-op is another huge advantage. Bringing in another player can smooth out difficult sections and make repeated attempts more enjoyable, which is often exactly what newer players need when learning how these games create tension and reward persistence.
Why You Might Like It
- Gunplay makes the combat easier to approach for shooter players
- Boss fights still capture the pattern-learning appeal of Soulslikes
- Co-op makes difficult encounters more manageable and more fun
- A great gateway game if melee-focused Soulslikes seem too intimidating
Remnant: From the Ashes
Release Date: August 20, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Which games come closest to beginner-friendly Soulslikes?
Final thoughts
What makes Soulslike games special is not just difficulty. It is the feeling of learning a hostile world piece by piece, understanding enemy patterns, building confidence after failure, and finally overcoming fights that once looked impossible.
The best beginner-friendly entries keep that core appeal intact while giving you more room to breathe. Whether that comes through open-ended progression, difficulty options, companion support, or more familiar combat systems, each game here offers a smart way to discover why so many players fall in love with the genre.
Author Recommendations
The list is quite extensive, so choosing the right title might be a bit difficult.
That is why I honestly recommend checking out Elden Ring first. It gives you the richest version of the Soulslike formula while also letting you walk away, explore, level up, and return stronger when a boss blocks your path.
On the other hand, if you want a more guided and forgiving starting point with smoother onboarding, then Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order & Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be the best choice.