Soulslikes with adjustable difficulty are perfect for players who enjoy stamina-based combat, boss fights, dodging, parrying, and exploration, but still want some control over how punishing the experience gets.
Classic Soulslikes are famous for fixed difficulty, but not every game inspired by that formula follows the same rule. Some let you choose a difficulty mode, use assist options, tweak incoming damage, or pick a more forgiving path through brutal bosses and demanding combat.
TL;DR – Best Soulslikes With Adjustable Difficulty
Table of Contents
- Lies of P
- Another Crab’s Treasure
- Steelrising
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Remnant: From the Ashes
- Remnant II
- Asterigos: Curse of the Stars
- Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
- Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
- Which soulslikes with adjustable difficulty should you play first?
For this list, “adjustable difficulty” means the game gives players a real way to tune the challenge, whether through difficulty modes, assist settings, or selectable combat presets. That matters because many Soulslikes are flexible through builds or grinding, but still do not offer actual difficulty control.
The games below keep major Soulslike ingredients: stamina or commitment-based combat, dodges, parries, boss encounters, checkpoints, risky exploration, punishing mistakes, and build decisions. The difference is that they are more willing to meet players halfway.
Lies of P
Lies of P is one of the strongest modern Soulslikes, taking the Pinocchio concept and twisting it into a dark Belle Époque nightmare full of puppets, ruined streets, strange alchemy, and brutal boss fights.
Its combat is sharp and demanding. Perfect guards, dodges, weapon assembly, Legion Arms, stagger windows, and boss pattern recognition all matter, which makes it feel close to the traditional Soulslike formula. It is not a casual action RPG hiding behind the label.
It fits this list because the game now offers easier difficulty options while preserving the core appeal: tense melee combat, carefully designed encounters, exploration, and progression through dangerous zones. That makes it a great choice for players who want a serious Soulslike but do not want to be locked into one unforgiving setting.
Lies of P is still best enjoyed by learning its timing and systems, but adjustable difficulty makes its excellent world and combat more approachable without removing what makes it memorable.
Why You Might Like It
- One of the best traditional Soulslikes with a strong identity of its own.
- Precise melee combat built around guarding, dodging, staggering, and weapon choices.
- Dark puppet-horror setting with memorable bosses and atmospheric areas.
- Difficulty options make the experience more flexible than it was at launch.
Lies of P
Release Date: September 19, 2023
Genres: Role-playing (RPG)
Another Crab’s Treasure
Another Crab’s Treasure is a colorful underwater Soulslike where you play as Kril, a hermit crab using trash as armor while battling sea creatures, bosses, and the horrors of pollution-themed ocean life.
Do not let the bright art fool you. The game uses recognizable Soulslike ideas: dodge timing, parries, stamina pressure, boss patterns, status effects, exploration, shortcuts, and currency risk. The shell system also gives combat a unique flavor, since different shells act like different defensive tools.
It fits perfectly because its Assist Mode gives players meaningful ways to soften the challenge. You can make the game more forgiving while still enjoying the combat, exploration, humor, and boss structure that make it feel like a playful Soulslike.
Another Crab’s Treasure is especially good for newcomers. It teaches genre habits without the usual grim fantasy presentation, and it lets players adjust the experience if a boss or section becomes too frustrating.
Why You Might Like It
- Soulslike combat with dodging, parrying, bosses, and risk-reward exploration.
- Assist options make it one of the most accessible games in the genre.
- Bright underwater world with comedy, environmental themes, and surprising challenge.
- Great entry point for players who are curious about Soulslikes but nervous about difficulty.
Another Crab's Treasure
Release Date: April 25, 2024
Genres: Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Steelrising
Steelrising is a Soulslike action RPG set in an alternate version of the French Revolution, where Paris is overrun by mechanical soldiers and royal automatons. You play as Aegis, a clockwork warrior sent into a city full of collapsing streets, deadly machines, and political chaos.
The game follows many familiar Soulslike rules. You explore connected districts, fight enemies with committed animations, manage stamina, unlock shortcuts, upgrade weapons, and face bosses that punish sloppy timing.
It earns its place here because Assist Mode lets players adjust several parts of the challenge. Instead of forcing one fixed difficulty, Steelrising allows a more personalized experience for people who want the setting and combat loop without the full punishment curve.
It is also a good pick if you want a Soulslike that feels less cryptic than FromSoftware’s games. The historical fantasy setting, clearer structure, and accessibility options make it easier to settle into.
Why You Might Like It
- Alternative-history Paris gives the Soulslike formula a fresh setting.
- Assist Mode lets players tune the experience more directly.
- Stamina-based combat, shortcuts, boss fights, and weapon upgrades keep the genre feel intact.
- Good option for players who want a stylish but more approachable Soulslike.
Steelrising
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an action-adventure game with clear Souls-lite DNA. You play as Cal Kestis, a young Jedi survivor, while exploring planets, unlocking Force abilities, resting at meditation points, and fighting enemies built around timing, defense, and pressure.
The combat is the main reason it belongs here. Blocking, parrying, dodging, posture pressure, enemy reads, boss duels, and limited healing all echo Soulslike design, but the Star Wars structure makes the experience more cinematic and accessible.
It fits this list especially well because it includes multiple difficulty modes. These change things like parry timing, incoming damage, and enemy aggression, so players can decide whether they want a story-first Jedi adventure or a more demanding lightsaber challenge.
Fallen Order is one of the best recommendations for players who want a Soulslike flavor without being thrown into the deep end. It has tough fights, but it also respects players who want to enjoy exploration, story, and Force powers at their own pace.
Why You Might Like It
- Lightsaber combat uses parries, dodges, posture pressure, and limited healing.
- Multiple difficulty modes make the challenge easy to tune.
- Planet exploration, shortcuts, meditation points, and upgrades create strong Souls-lite structure.
- Great for players who want accessible Soulslike combat with a strong story.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Release Date: November 15, 2019
Genres: Action-adventure, Platform, Metroidvania, Souls-like
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor expands almost everything from Fallen Order. Cal has more combat options, larger areas to explore, stronger traversal, more side content, and multiple lightsaber stances that let you shape your fighting style.
The Souls-lite elements are still easy to spot. Resting resets enemies, healing is limited, bosses test your timing, shortcuts make exploration satisfying, and combat asks you to manage aggression instead of button-mashing through every encounter.
It fits this list because it gives players several difficulty modes, including lower-stress options and tougher settings for players who want more demanding duels. The stance system also adds another layer of adjustment because different setups change your range, speed, defense, and crowd-control options.
Jedi: Survivor is an excellent choice if you liked Fallen Order but want a bigger, more flexible version with stronger combat variety and more room to explore.
Why You Might Like It
- Five lightsaber stances create more build-like combat variety.
- Selectable difficulty modes let players control how punishing fights feel.
- Larger worlds, shortcuts, bosses, and limited healing keep the Souls-lite rhythm.
- Perfect for players who want cinematic action with adjustable challenge.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Release Date: April 28, 2023
Genres: Action-adventure, Platform, Metroidvania, Souls-like
Remnant: From the Ashes
Remnant: From the Ashes is often described as “Dark Souls with guns,” and the comparison makes sense. It mixes third-person shooting, dodge rolls, boss fights, stamina management, co-op, and dangerous world exploration.
The game is not a melee Soulslike, but it captures the same pressure in a different way. Enemies hit hard, bosses often summon adds, positioning matters, and your build depends on weapons, armor, mods, traits, and gear synergy.
It fits this list because it offers selectable difficulty levels and a rerollable world structure. You can choose how hard your campaign or adventure mode should be, then chase better loot and builds as you grow stronger.
Remnant is especially good if you want a Soulslike that feels less lonely. Co-op makes the experience more social, while difficulty settings let your group decide whether the run should feel manageable or punishing.
Why You Might Like It
- Soulslike structure mixed with third-person gunplay and dodge-based combat.
- Difficulty options let players tune the campaign and repeatable adventures.
- Co-op makes boss fights and exploration more flexible.
- Great for players who want buildcrafting, loot, and ranged combat.
Remnant: From the Ashes
Release Date: August 20, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Remnant II
Remnant II builds on the first game with stronger archetypes, better procedural variety, more elaborate bosses, and deeper buildcrafting. It still feels like a Soulslike shooter, but the sequel gives players more identity through classes, traits, rings, relics, and weapon mods.
Combat is fast and dangerous. You dodge through attacks, manage ammo, learn boss mechanics, clear mobs under pressure, and prepare builds that can survive increasingly nasty encounters.
It fits this list because its difficulty modes are clear and important. Survivor, Veteran, Nightmare, and Apocalypse give players a wide range of challenge levels, from a more forgiving first run to a brutal endgame test.
Remnant II is one of the best adjustable-difficulty picks for players who love Soulslike tension but prefer guns, co-op, randomized worlds, and flexible character builds over medieval melee combat.
Why You Might Like It
- Clear difficulty modes ranging from accessible to extremely punishing.
- Strong co-op and solo play with deep archetype-based builds.
- Boss fights reward dodging, positioning, preparation, and pattern learning.
- Excellent choice for players who want a Soulslike shooter with replay value.
Remnant II
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is a fantasy action RPG with Souls-lite elements, set in the cursed city of Aphes. It is not as harsh or opaque as many traditional Soulslikes, but it borrows enough from the genre to fit players looking for a softer version of the formula.
You explore interconnected areas, fight bosses, manage stamina-like combat pressure, upgrade weapons, and switch between different combat styles. The game is more colorful and direct than most Soulslikes, which makes it easier to read and less punishing overall.
It fits this list because it offers difficulty selection while still giving players dodge-heavy action and boss-focused progression. You can enjoy the fantasy adventure and combat systems without committing to a fixed challenge wall.
Asterigos is a smart pick for players who want Soulslike ideas but prefer a more traditional action-RPG feel, clearer storytelling, and a less oppressive tone.
Why You Might Like It
- Souls-lite action with bosses, exploration, upgrades, and stamina-aware combat.
- Difficulty options make it friendlier than many genre staples.
- Multiple weapons give combat a flexible action-RPG feel.
- Good for players who want adventure and accessibility alongside challenge.
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars
Release Date: October 11, 2022
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an accessible Souls-lite action RPG about gods, gunpowder, magic, and rebellion. You play as Nor Vanek, fighting through a world where melee combat, firearms, mobility, and a fox-like companion all shape encounters.
The game is faster and more approachable than many traditional Soulslikes, but it still uses familiar genre ideas. You dodge, punish openings, fight bosses, manage risk, improve your character, and explore hostile zones where mistakes can cost progress.
It fits this list because it includes selectable difficulty options, making it a solid choice for players who want Soulslike structure without being locked into one severe challenge level. Its reputation-style risk system also adds tension without making every fight feel impossible.
Flintlock is best for players who want a modern, cinematic Souls-lite with smoother onboarding, fantasy action, and a wider margin for error than hardcore genre entries.
Why You Might Like It
- Accessible Souls-lite combat with dodging, melee, firearms, and magic.
- Difficulty options help players choose their preferred challenge level.
- Fast movement and companion abilities create a different rhythm from classic Soulslikes.
- Good pick for players who want style and approachability together.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Release Date: July 18, 2024
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a fast, aggressive action RPG from Team Ninja, mixing Final Fantasy themes with combat DNA that will feel familiar to fans of Nioh and other demanding action games.
It is more mission-based and loot-driven than a traditional Soulslike, but the connection is obvious in its boss pressure, stamina-style break systems, punishing enemy patterns, co-op, gear builds, and high-skill combat flow.
It fits this list because it offers multiple difficulty settings, including easier story-focused options and harder modes for players who want the full Team Ninja punishment. That makes it much more flexible than fixed-difficulty Soulslikes.
Stranger of Paradise is a strong pick if you enjoy action RPGs where difficulty can scale with your confidence, build knowledge, and hunger for chaotic boss fights.
Why You Might Like It
- Multiple difficulty modes, including more accessible story-focused play.
- Fast Team Ninja combat with jobs, loot, break gauges, and boss pressure.
- Co-op support makes the harder content more flexible.
- Best for players who want Soulslike intensity with Final Fantasy build variety.
Stranger of Paradise - Final Fantasy Origin
Release Date: April 6, 2023
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Which soulslikes with adjustable difficulty should you play first?
The best soulslikes with adjustable difficulty prove that challenge does not have to be one-size-fits-all. These games still reward patience, timing, exploration, build choices, and boss learning, but they also give players more control over how hard the road should be.
If you want the most traditional pick, start with Lies of P. If you want a smoother entry point, Another Crab’s Treasure is excellent. If you prefer cinematic action with strong story and lightsaber combat, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are the easiest recommendations.
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 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor first. Both games capture the Souls-lite feel through parries, boss fights, checkpoints, exploration, and limited healing, while their difficulty modes make the experience much easier to tailor.
On the other hand, if you want something more colorful, beginner-friendly, and surprisingly faithful to the Soulslike formula, then Another Crab’s Treasure will be the best choice.