Lies of P clicked because it takes the soulslike formula and sharpens it around perfect guards, tight boss fights, and a dark mechanical world that never really lets the pressure go.
Lies of P
Release Date: September 19, 2023
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
That is what makes it harder to replace than a standard action RPG. The best alternatives are not just difficult games. They need to understand timing, aggression, and the feeling of staying close enough to turn defense into momentum. Some of the picks below lean into parries, others into oppressive atmosphere or boss design, but all of them capture a part of what makes Lies of P so satisfying.
TL;DR – Games Like Lies of P
Table of Contents
Finding games like Lies of P is not just about finding another soulslike.
What makes it stand out is the combination of exact guard timing, weapon weight, sharp animation reads, and a world that pushes you into one punishing boss wall after another. It feels deliberate in a way that a lot of action RPGs never quite manage.
That means the best alternatives come from a few different directions. Some match the perfect-guard rhythm, some match the oppressive atmosphere, and others get close through mechanical enemies, tightly built levels, or a similarly hostile boss-first structure. None of them are identical, but each one captures an important part of what makes Lies of P work.
Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade is probably the cleanest recommendation if your favorite thing about Lies of P was the feeling of staying in the enemy’s face and winning through timing instead of pure evasion. Even though it is not a traditional soulslike, its combat has that same deliberate pressure where perfect defense matters as much as offense.
The reason it fits so well is rhythm. You are not simply mashing through encounters. You are reading attack strings, timing parries and dodges, and building toward moments where you can break the enemy open for bigger damage. That makes boss fights feel closer to Lies of P than a lot of action games with similar presentation.
It also helps that the game understands spectacle without sacrificing tension. The combat looks flashy, but it still asks for precision, and that balance is a big part of what makes it such a strong follow-up for players who liked Lies of P’s more aggressive defensive style.
It is a different setting and a faster visual package, but the core appeal of learning patterns and punishing with confidence feels very familiar.
Stellar Blade
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Why You Might Like It
- Strong emphasis on parries, dodges, and exact timing
- Boss fights reward pattern recognition and composure
- Combat feels aggressive without becoming sloppy
- One of the best non-soulslike matches for Lies of P’s rhythm
Steelrising
Steelrising makes immediate sense if the mechanical world and puppet aesthetic were a huge part of what pulled you into Lies of P. It trades Belle Époque nightmare energy for an alternate-history French Revolution, but the core appeal is still there: automatons, clockwork enemies, and a dark action RPG built around fighting through a hostile city.
Combat is less razor-sharp than Lies of P, but it still leans into deliberate melee exchanges, stamina awareness, and learning how different weapon types change your approach. The setting does a lot of heavy lifting too, because few games in this space commit so fully to a world built around artificial enemies and mechanical horror.
That aesthetic overlap is why Steelrising belongs on the list even if it is not the tightest mechanical match. If Lies of P worked for you as much because of its atmosphere as because of its perfect-guard system, Steelrising scratches a very similar itch.
It is the game here that comes closest to recreating the same “beautiful but wrong” clockwork vibe, which makes it a very easy recommendation for players who loved that side of Lies of P most.
Steelrising
Release Date: September 08, 2022
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Mechanical enemies and clockwork world feel naturally close to Lies of P
- Soulslike combat structure stays deliberate and readable
- Strong alternate-history atmosphere helps it stand out
- Best pick if the setting mattered as much as the combat
Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong is a strong recommendation for players who care most about demanding bosses, stylish melee combat, and a game that constantly asks for clean execution. It is not built around perfect guarding in the same way Lies of P is, but it absolutely understands the appeal of learning a fight properly instead of simply overpowering it.
The staff combat feels fast and committed at the same time, with stance changes, transformations, and abilities giving you room to adapt to different enemies. That helps it stay fresh, especially once the boss fights start demanding sharper reactions and better decision-making.
It also fits because of presentation. Like Lies of P, it feels high-budget and focused, with encounters designed to leave an impression rather than blur together. The setting is completely different, but the sense of fighting through a world built around dangerous, memorable bosses is very much intact.
If your favorite thing about Lies of P was the challenge curve and the feeling of finally mastering difficult fights, Black Myth: Wukong is one of the best modern alternatives to try.
Black Myth: Wukong
Release Date: August 20, 2024
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Why You Might Like It
- Strong boss design with a similar learn-and-improve loop
- Fast melee combat still rewards discipline
- Stances and abilities give fights variety without removing challenge
- Great choice for players who want a modern action RPG with teeth
Dark Souls Series
Dark Souls as a series belongs here because Lies of P is clearly in conversation with it, especially in the way it structures levels, boss progression, checkpoints, and that constant sense of dread around every new area. The feel is slower, heavier, and less centered on perfect guards, but the DNA overlap is obvious.
What makes the series such a strong recommendation is its foundational design. Tight enemy placement, shortcut-heavy maps, and bosses that force patience and observation all feed directly into the kind of experience Lies of P players usually want more of after finishing the game.
It is also the best place to go if what you liked most was the broader soulslike loop rather than the exact parry timing. Dark Souls teaches spacing, stamina management, and respect for enemy movesets in a way that still holds up extremely well, especially once you get into the stronger boss lineups later in the series.
Dark Souls III | Deluxe Edition
Release Date: April 11, 2016
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
If Lies of P made you want more classic soulslike structure with less emphasis on mechanical puppets and more emphasis on oppressive fantasy, Dark Souls is still essential.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Release Date: May 25, 2018
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Release Date: April 01, 2015
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Classic soulslike structure with strong level and boss design
- Heavy combat rewards patience and spacing
- Directly shares a lot of Lies of P’s progression philosophy
- Great next step if you want the genre roots behind the formula
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the broadest recommendation on this list, but it still fits because it takes the same punishing combat philosophy and places it inside a much larger world. It is less locked into the tight, linear boss gauntlet feel of Lies of P, but the same satisfaction of learning enemies and overcoming hard fights is still there.
The biggest difference is freedom. Where Lies of P keeps pushing you down a focused path, Elden Ring gives you much more room to leave, experiment, and come back stronger. That changes the pace, but it also makes it a great option if you want the same challenge without the same degree of confinement.
It earns its place because the core FromSoftware feel remains intact: deliberate combat, dangerous bosses, and a world that rewards patience and curiosity. The build variety also gives it a different kind of replay value compared to Lies of P’s more controlled weapon system.
If you want a bigger, more open-ended version of that same hostile action-RPG thrill, Elden Ring is one of the easiest recommendations to make.
Elden Ring
Release Date: February 25, 2022
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Huge world built around difficult encounters and exploration
- FromSoftware combat philosophy still feels strong and punishing
- More build variety than Lies of P if you want experimentation
- Excellent choice if you want a larger-scale challenge
Mortal Shell
Mortal Shell is a more minimal, mood-heavy take on the soulslike formula, but it makes sense here because of how much it focuses on timing and defensive control. Its harden mechanic gives combat a distinctive pace, asking you to absorb pressure at exactly the right moment and turn it into a counterattack.
That is why it feels more relevant to Lies of P than some broader soulslikes do. It is not just about difficulty. It is about finding the correct rhythm inside an exchange and learning how to use defense actively instead of purely reactively.
The world is slower and more stripped-back, which can be a plus if you want something moodier and less overloaded with systems. It is not as polished or as varied as Lies of P, but it does have a strong identity, and that matters a lot in this genre.
If you want a shorter, more atmospheric game that still understands the appeal of precision and measured defense, Mortal Shell is a solid pick.
Mortal Shell
Release Date: August 18, 2021
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Indie
Why You Might Like It
- Harden mechanic gives combat a unique defensive twist
- Slower, more deliberate fights reward timing and restraint
- Strong atmosphere and minimal presentation
- Good choice if you want a smaller but still focused soulslike
CODE VEIN II
CODE VEIN II is the anime action-RPG wildcard on this list, but it fits better than it might first seem. The official framing leans into a dark world, fierce battles, and a partner-based structure, which makes it a natural option for players who want another hostile action RPG with a strong visual identity.
The biggest difference from Lies of P is tone. CODE VEIN II pushes much harder into anime melodrama and companion dynamics, which gives it a different kind of energy from the bleak puppet-horror style of Lies of P. Even so, the core overlap is still there in the boss-driven progression and melee combat emphasis.
It is also worth including because some players come out of Lies of P wanting more stylized combat rather than more exact aesthetic similarity. CODE VEIN II looks positioned to serve that crowd well, especially if you like dramatic worldbuilding and action-RPG structure with a bit more overt character focus.
It is not the closest mechanical match, but it is a very reasonable recommendation for players who want another dark, stylish action RPG in the same broad space.
Code Vein II
Release Date: January 30, 2026
Genres: Role-playing (RPG)
Why You Might Like It
- Dark action-RPG structure with strong boss emphasis
- Stylized anime presentation gives it a distinct identity
- Companion-driven design offers a different twist on the formula
- Good fit if you want something more character-forward after Lies of P
The Surge 2
The Surge 2 is one of the better recommendations if what you liked most in Lies of P was precise melee combat mixed with a strongly defined world concept. Instead of puppet horror, it uses a sci-fi setting built around exo-rigs, targeted limb damage, and technical fights that reward careful reads.
The directional parry system is a big part of why it belongs here. It gives combat a more intentional feel than many other soulslikes, since you are not only dodging and punishing, but actively reading where attacks are coming from and responding correctly.
That makes it a surprisingly good fit for Lies of P players, even though the setting is completely different. Both games care about sharp combat feedback, weapon feel, and a world that feels hostile in a very designed, mechanical way.
If you want another action RPG where the combat has a clear system-level hook beyond just stamina and dodge rolls, The Surge 2 is definitely worth a look.
The Surge 2
Release Date: September 24, 2019
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Directional defense adds more precision to melee combat
- Sci-fi setting still delivers a similar mechanical edge
- Targeted limb system gives combat its own identity
- Strong choice if you want a more system-heavy alternative
Salt and Sanctuary
Salt and Sanctuary takes the soulslike formula into 2D, but that does not make it any less relevant here. In some ways it actually highlights what makes Lies of P work, because it strips things down to positioning, timing, stamina, and brutal boss fights without relying on lavish presentation.
What makes it fit especially well is structure. You are still exploring dangerous spaces, unlocking paths, and fighting through bosses that demand attention and patience. The side-scrolling format changes how you read encounters, but the underlying tension feels very familiar.
It is also one of the best picks if you want something that feels dense and oppressive from the first hour. Lies of P does that through atmosphere and visual design, while Salt and Sanctuary does it through compact level layouts and relentless pressure.
If you are open to a 2D take on the same overall formula, this is one of the smartest alternatives on the list.
Salt and Sanctuary
Release Date: May 17, 2016
Genres: Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Why You Might Like It
- 2D format still captures the same soulslike tension
- Bosses and exploration feel focused and punishing
- Strong atmosphere despite a very different presentation style
- Great fit if you want a smaller but very concentrated challenge
STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor is a great recommendation for players who liked the more readable, timing-based side of Lies of P and want something a little broader and more cinematic. It is still action-adventure first, but its combat remains grounded in parries, stance choices, and learning how to deal with different enemy types.
Compared to Lies of P, it is a bit more forgiving and much more mobile, but the core pleasure is similar. Good defense matters, spacing matters, and tougher enemies can still punish you hard if you stop paying attention. The added stances also give combat more variety without making it feel unfocused.
It fits especially well for players who want the same kind of “read, react, punish” combat language without diving straight back into another oppressive soulslike. You still get strong boss encounters and satisfying melee exchanges, but inside a larger adventure structure.
If you want a smoother, slightly more accessible follow-up that still values timing and pressure, Jedi: Survivor is a very strong choice.
STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
Release Date: April 28, 2023
Genres: Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Parries and melee timing are still central to combat
- Different stances add variety to the fight flow
- More accessible than a full soulslike without losing challenge
- Great pick if you want a broader action-adventure around the combat
Which games come closest to Lies of P?
Final thoughts
Lies of P works so well because it combines several things that do not always come together in one game: exact defensive timing, oppressive atmosphere, memorable bosses, and a world that feels distinct instead of just generically grim. That combination is what makes it so easy to get attached to and so hard to follow up.
The games above each capture a different piece of that formula. Stellar Blade gets closest on the combat rhythm, Steelrising covers the mechanical-aesthetic side, and Dark Souls or Elden Ring are the best calls if you want to dig deeper into the broader soulslike lineage behind it.
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 Stellar Blade first – it is the strongest overall follow-up if you want that same pressure-heavy combat rhythm where parries, timing, and clean boss execution matter more than just mashing attacks.
On the other hand, if you want something that feels much closer to Lies of P’s clockwork atmosphere and mechanical enemy design, then Steelrising will be the best choice.