Ever since "Demon's Souls" came out in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, two things quickly took over the gaming industry: From Software being a company who could produce a Game of the Year-winning title, and a strange new subgenre of action RPGs called "Soulslikes" named in honor of the "Souls" series.

If you've never played a Soulslike before, you've met people who have, or know of these games through social media, Twitch streams, award shows and memes. The series from From has gone onto sell millions and millions of copies, spawned an entire online community and created a rabid fanbase of developers making their own inspired Soulslikes.

So while us Souls freaks are patiently waiting for "Black Myth: Wukong" and doing summoning circles for "Silksong" and "Shadow of the Erdtree" we've created the ultimate ranking of Soulslikes, and have a handy dandy breakdown of what exactly makes a game fit into the category. Some games won't hold your hand, or won't have a map, but that doesn't automatically make you a Soulslike.

What a Soulslike Is

The criteria of what it means to be a Soulslike is not set in stone, but there are some similarities between all of the games included in the ranks. Not every game follows these bullet points exactly, but has enough of them that the internet at large can safely canonize a Souls-inspired game if it has most of the following:

• Difficulty is increased, all enemies of all sizes have dangerous lethality throughout the entire game
• Trolling in level design, traps and enemy placements
• A resting spot that acts as a respawn or checkpoint, and you can level up your stats there. This is typically a bonfire or gravestone
• Lock-on for combat, methodical inputs, and commitments for actions like attacking, dodge rolling or parrying

• A dark fantasy setting, sense of scale, and interconnected map and levels
• Lack of overt storytelling, deep worldbuilding only in the margins of the game — lore entries are in item descriptions
• Dying results in losing your currency, typically used for leveling, and you must travel back to that exact spot to retrieve it or you lose it forever
• Simultaneous co-op of other players ghosts, and dynamic multiplayer with invaders
• The ability to write messages for others in their world

40 Through 31: Only for hardcore fans of the subgenre

"Lords of the Fallen (2014)," "Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption," "Titan Souls," "DarkMaus," "The Last Oricru," "Hellpoint," "Death's Gambit," "Chronos: Before the Ashes" and "Dark Devotion"

These games are mostly the earliest attempts to cash in on the hot trends From innovated on, and the attempts are hit and miss. Some had no original ideas, and others simply didn't have the best execution. These first Soulslikes are still worth considering if you're super into the genre, but are not essential at all.

30 Through 21: Some new interesting ideas and wrinkles to the formula

"Thymesia," "Steel Rising," "Ashen," "Salt and Sanctuary," "Salt and Sacrifice," "Code Vein," "Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins," "Darksiders III," "Mortal Shell" and "Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty"

It took a while, but Soulslikes would eventually start to branch out and mix up what a Soulslike could be. Roguelike elements were introduced, new art styles were used, and these games opt for their own unique worlds instead of the standard medieval gothic and European-centric designs most commonly used.

20 Through 11: Play these games

"Nioh 2," "The Surge 2," "Remnant: From the Ashes," "Blasphemous," "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor," "Blasphemous 2," "Remnant 2," "The Surge," "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" and "Lords of the Fallen (2023)"

These games truly stand out from the pack, and just missed the cut. They're all great games on their own, and evolve the genre in progressive ways that expand and add onto the tropes that From created back in 2009. Difficulty is no longer required to be a part of the DNA of a Soulslike. Sword and shield fighting is also mostly abandoned with these games, and they all iterate on their own ideas of what a Soulslike can be.

10. "Dark Souls 2"

This is the worst From Software game of the modern era, but it's still good enough to land at the top part of the list. There are more boss battles than ever, more locations and DLC, and Scholar of the First Sin edition runs at 60 frames per second. It's more of the same, but did introduce power stancing (dual wielding) to the series.

9. "Nioh"

This was the first amazing Soulslike to come out from Team Ninja, and it rivals From's own work. Maybe not in terms of music or graphics or level design, but definitely in terms of combat. You choose between fast, medium or slow attack forms which triples the number of moves you can do with your weapon.

8. "Demon's Souls"

The original, in all of its glory. The world tendency system quickly got removed, as it was way too unrefined at the time, but this started everything else we love about these games. The PS5 remake is the one you want to play, as it's the easiest From game ever (just use magic — that's very overpowered).

7. "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice"

You can't choose your weapon, customize your character, nor can you ignore the deflect button when you play, but if you're willing to go at "Sekiro's" pace there's a fantastic and beautiful game underneath. This is a GOTY winning spin-off that might never get a sequel, but should be remembered among the greats.

6. "Lies of P"

This game only came out a month ago, and the level of quality in the craftsmanship is up there with From Software's other works. This is heavily inspired by "Bloodborne," but manages to create its own unique concoction of Italian folklore, puppetry and addicting gameplay.

5. "Dark Souls III"

People argue the best boss fights are in "DS3" and I'm not sure I can disagree with that sentiment. This is a love letter to fans of the Souls series, incorporating elements from all of the previous (to that point) From games in a buttery-smooth experience that might not top the original "Dark Souls," but comes close.

4. "Hollow Knight"

This is the highest ranking non-From game and for good reason: it's also one of the best Metroidvania titles ever released. 2D Soulslikes are hard to master, but "Hollow Knight" effortlessly pulls off the vibe and atmosphere of what Souls games are all about.

3. "Dark Souls"

The best level design of any game on this list, finding the shortcuts that lead back to Firelink Shrine was the thing that lifted the veil for me. This is a special game that is oftentimes downright mean and hostile to the person playing it. It can be cheap, unfair and busted, but once you figure out how to conquer its systems and enemies, you'll never come close to matching the dopamine hit of beating the first "Dark Souls."

2. "Bloodborne"

I think this is actually the hardest game to beat of anything on this list. If you don't play "Bloodborne" the way it's meant to be played, you're going to have a bad time. But if you're willing to trust in your ability to parry enemy attacks, there is no cooler game ever made. The horror in "Bloodborne," the architecture of its world, the haunting score and the sick bosses are all one-of-a-kind.

1. "Elden Ring"

If you're going to start anywhere, start here. This is just "Dark Souls 4" in all but name — an open world interpretation of the genre at its finest. Everything has been improved and expanded upon from From's other works, especially the tutorials, pathing, pacing, co-op play, storytelling and accessibility. But it also brings the goods for the usual From staples: boss fights, replayability, enemy variety, exploration and ability to surprise the player until the very end. This is their best game, and the best Soulslike by far.

[Image: YouTube]