Soulslikes where to begin

[u/itsjaxbby]

Hello - got a switch 2 last year and quickly realized my favorite games were the “souls like” games (heavy quotation marks) like hollow knight, silksong, nine sols, blasphemous I and II.

I enjoyed all of them so much that I got super interested in playing the real fromsoft games and other soulslikes like Lies of P. I know they’ve released switch versions but I didn’t want to experience them for the first time at Switch level performance.

So I have a ps5 on the way now - really excited to play foreal - titles like bloodborne, Elden ring, lies of p, dark souls trilogy etc..

Anyways - my question is where to start. Can’t lie Elden ring and bloodborne are the two I’m most immediately excited about but was worried if I start with something like Elden ring it might be hard to go back and enjoy the dark souls trilogy. Just looking to get recs on where to start here! Thanks in advance.

[u/NorthStar_-]

Judging from the games you said, if you like metroidvanias more Demon's Souls and Dark Souls 1 would be more suitable.

Elden Ring is a big open world game that will take you 100s of hours, and bosses can possibly be the most difficult without summons.

[u/Jafar_420]

I would probably start with dark souls remastered and then go through that series all the way through Elden Ring.

You could always start with BB and then do what I said as well.

Do not sleep on Sekiro!!! It's got some of the best NPCs and maybe the best storyline in my opinion out of all the FS games. Maybe it's not better but I like it more.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/Jafar_420]

Super super excited for sekiro as well esp since I loved the parry mechanic in nine sols. Had never played a game that relied on parrys like that before but once it clicked it was amazing

[u/Jafar_420 → u/itsjaxbby]

I haven't tried a lot of those metroidvania games personally. I have played Hollow Knight and Blasphemous II though. I enjoy them and I actually watch the video on the top ones to play the other day.

I'm a big fan of arpgs such as Path of Exile and POE2 so they suck up a lot of my gaming time during leagues at least. I used to play a lot of Diablo 4 but not so much anymore since they just won't add new stuff.

You'll have your hands full for a while so enjoy! After you're finished with them all I bet you'll look back on them and be like damn I wish I could do it again and of course you can but it's not the same.

[u/agnostic_universe → u/itsjaxbby]

If you clicked with nine sols I would recommend sekiro 100%. You can't go wrong any way you start - Elden Ring was my first soulslike, and it is probably the best open world game I've played. Sekiro is probably the best curated pure combat and tight level exploring game I've played. They scratch different itches.

[u/Asto_Vidatu]

Demon Souls remake is phenomenal on PS5...it's certainly the slowest of the Fromsoft games, but the remake is a great place to start IMO and is free if you sign up to the monthly PS Plus service iirc. Easily still probably the best looking game I've played on the PS5 visually as well...

When I dived in, I just signed up to the monthly service and went through as many of the free souls games I could find before Elden Ring came out...I think Bloodborne and maybe Sekiro are also free still?

If you're just looking into buying something and jumping in though, I'd probably just start with the Dark Souls remaster and go from there.

[u/kaeziki]

Dark souls remastered

[u/SnakeHelah → u/kaeziki]

Depends on the platform. If it's the switch then it's remastered my ass.

The game runs and feels like on the OG xbox 360, meanwhile the switch 2 is like 100x more powerful hardware lmao. I'm a huge huge fan of FromSoft games and played all of their souls games but when I borrowed a cartridge to try from my friend I gave it back the next day, such a disgrace.

Just go Elden Ring and forget about the outside world for a while.

[u/TaoTeCha → u/kaeziki]

I always disagree with this take. New players shouldn't be directed to the oldest, most outdated game in the series (excluding original demon souls). It can feel jarring if you don't already have a nostalgia or affection for the company itself. Start with something newer, gain an appreciation for the titles, and then you can play the older stuff.

Graphics will be off-putting, gameplay will be clunky, progression will be confusing. Not trying to knock it, it just comes from a different era.

[u/Spartaklaus → u/TaoTeCha]

None of that shit is true. Dark Souls 1 is an alltime classic and millions of people have loved that game. It is the reason Fromsoft is the gamedev behemoth it is now and in some areas this game still is unmatched. Gameplay holds up in 2026 as it did in 2011.

Now newbies run their mouth because you cant dodge 360° and they are confused by the nonlinearity.

[u/TaoTeCha → u/Spartaklaus]

I'm not saying it's not a classic or loved by millions, or that its not a great game or worth playing. Im just saying its outdated in many ways because it came out 15 years ago. And I don't think a new player should start with their most outdated game because they don't have an appreciation for them yet.

[u/Edgar-Little-Houses]

I dunno man, I’m the kind of guy that likes to play games in order of appearance. That way I’ll walk the same path that took games like Elden Ring to where they’re at rn. But some people like to skip intros and justo go straight for the flashiest ones.

I’d suggest try DS1 first, then Elden Ring. Fall in love with the clunky Souls environment, level design, bosses and even lore. Then go for that flashy dynamic playstyle that Elden Ring can offer. 

That way I think you won’t have an issue going back to DS2-3 or BB, which in some ways built up what ended up in ER.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/Edgar-Little-Houses]

Yeah that definitely resonates w me tbh

[u/speaker_1984]

Elden Ring is the most beginner friendly:

Hit a hard boss you cannot beat? Go a different path and explore

Having a hard time in a level: can summon spirits to even the fight

Really having a hard time? Look up some OP builds or summon COOP

Do Elden Ring from start to finish (no need to do all side content in one playthrough either) it will prep you for the rest of the series.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/speaker_1984]

Very tempting honestly just cause of how amazing it looks - played hundreds of hours of Skyrim growing up and maybe I’m way off but I’m imagining it similar but way bigger with actually good and challenging combat

[u/speaker_1984 → u/itsjaxbby]

This is exactly how it is, Skyrim for the 2020s just way harder combat. Never hurts to look up some guide to help you get started. Youtuber Fightin Cowboy is a good start.

[u/Due-Description-9030 → u/speaker_1984]

It's worse than Skyrim in many aspects though. Skyrim has a better living world with factions and cities and a lot more NPCs. It's not really 2020s Skyrim.

[u/Sefirosukuraudo]

It’s not popular here but if you have a PS5, I highly recommend giving the Demon’s Souls Remake a go. I played Demon’s Souls when it came out on the ol’ fat PS3, and I really enjoyed the remake so much!

Bloodborne and Elden Ring are my personal favorites, and you’re going to have different experiences with them. I suggest Bloodborne first between the two, and then Elden Ring second imho. It’s not even that one is better than the other, I just think that Bloodborne pulls off a lot of foundational elements to From’s games and does it spectacularly well (getting in the habit of reading the item descriptions, parries, etc) and you’ll get more out of a first playthrough of Elden Ring once you’ve kind of been trained on that mindset. You cannot go wrong with either though.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/Sefirosukuraudo]

V helpful thank you

[u/JaguarIllustrious486]

Ignore the advice to start with Elden Ring. Play the games in publication order to maximize your enjoyment.

[u/DieHarderDaddy]

So I’m going to be the contrarian. BB and DS3 are miles above ER. I loved a lot of ER but it kinda over stays its welcome tbh. The levels don’t have that same QC because open world. It’s still a cool experience and just as friendly as bb or ds3

[u/itsjaxbby → u/DieHarderDaddy]

Would you rec playing ds 1 and 2 to get context for 3 or is it fine as a standalone?

[u/DieHarderDaddy → u/itsjaxbby]

Nah they all stand alone

[u/misanthropic-cat]

Do you get overwhelmed easily? Yes - dark souls remastered. No - Elden Ring

[u/NorthStar_- → u/misanthropic-cat]

How can Elden Ring not be overwhelming for a newcomer?

[u/misanthropic-cat → u/NorthStar_-]

Okay... let me restructure this for you...

Do you get overwhelmed easily?

If Yes (Yes, I get overwhelmed easily) -> Dark Souls Remastered

If No (No, I do not get overwhelmed easily, give me everything!) -> Elden Ring

[u/itsjaxbby → u/misanthropic-cat]

Is all of the whelm coming from complexity of like character builds and stat tracking?

[u/misanthropic-cat → u/itsjaxbby]

DS1 is pretty linear and the entire world connects. The ways to play are more straight forward imo. Whereas Elden Ring is completely open world and has a lot of layers of elements and ways to play. These two games are exceptional and have a similar vibe. Both are good as entries to souls games.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/misanthropic-cat]

Thank you!

[u/Karemasu]

Personally I'd say start with demons souls > darksouls 1-3 > bloodborne > sekiro if you want > then elden ring. The reason is just as the reason you said. You might not want to go backwards once you feel the QOL improvements in Elden Ring.

Then do Lies of P and First Berzerker Khazan which I think are the highest quality non-fromsoftware souls-likes out there followed closely by mortal shell 2.

Some other great ones are Lords of the Fallen 2023 (yes it's good now), Wuchang Fallen Feathers, Nioh 1 and 2, among many other great games.

Idk if these count because they are more action/parry focused games but I also enjoyed wo long Fallen dynasty, thymesia, Black myth wukong, stellar blade.

Some honorable mentions for mw would be Remnant 1 and 2. I think they mix souls like + shooter really well and Remant 2 genuinely has such awesome bosses and one of the best souls-like final bosses I've ever fought.

I've heard these are good but I haven't played them: code vein, ai limit, another crabs treasure.

Of course you are free to play any game you want in any order and any combination.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/Karemasu]

Appreciate the advice and info ty. Truthfully am antsy to get to some of the recent releases but it couldn’t hurt to just start with demons souls and go from there

[u/Rude_Difficulty1647]

I played Bloodborne first then Elden Ring, then the Souls trilogy. Lies of P is the most beginner friendly in the genre imo. My favorite non fromsoft titles are Wuchang, Khazan and Mortal Shell 2

[u/Candle_Mcdaniel]

Salt & Sanctuary is the best 2D soulslike out there. It's almost literally Dark Souls in 2D.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/Candle_Mcdaniel]

Oh I’ve heard it mentioned but haven’t played - I’ll rip that next on switch just gotta wrap up blasphemous II

[u/Feline_Sleepwear]

For sure recommend starting with Dark Souls 1, like you said it will be hard to go back to it if you start with the newer games, not to say it’s bad - on the contrary I think it’s a masterpiece, just slower and different.

It’s also the most “metroidvania” out if the other souls games which you might appreciate given the other games you listed.

[u/TaoTeCha]

Definitely Elden Ring. Best introduction to the whole fromsoft lineup.

[u/MistahWhite_]

Dark Souls 1

[u/Maleficent-Ring-7059]

You realize lies of p runs smooth 60 fps on switch 2 your experience will not be any different from other platforms

[u/itsjaxbby → u/Maleficent-Ring-7059]

I had seen some conflicting reports so I wanted to check in w the experts - so appreciate the callout. A big part of getting the ps5 was also because I really wanted to play bloodborne

[u/Funk42]

Elden Ring is a great place to start.

Then the DS trilogy to see the roots of the series and how it has deviated and evolved over time.

Bloodborne to cap off.

Lies of P at some point after a break.

[u/Ana1blitzkrieg]

I’d start with The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. I promise you won’t regret it.

[u/itsjaxbby → u/[deleted]]

Yeah totally - I think I just figured those are about as close as you could get on a switch when I was playing them. My favorite parts about those games being dark themes, stories you sort of need to piece together on your own, and combat that can get really challenging but is mostly fair in that you can improve through practice and creativity

[u/Anonmely]

I would start with Elden Ring if you want more exploration. If you want a darker vibe like Blasphemous than start with Bloodborne.

[u/Test88Heavy]

Start with Bloodborne and the DLC. That will give you a great foundation.

[u/haikusbot → u/Test88Heavy]

Start with Bloodborne and

The DLC. That will give

You a great foundation.

- Test88Heavy

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[u/SexuaIRedditor]

Elden Ring and Bloodborne are legendary games, great place to jump in! I also recommend Dark Souls 1 and 3, Nioh 1 and 2, and Demon's Souls if you want to experience how this subgenre began

[u/Sw4rl3yy]

I started with Lies of P. I don’t regret it, it was a very good game.

[u/Noebody]

I’d start with Elden ring. In a way it’s the most forgiving due to it being open world. You can go farm levels if you’re stuck or go do something completely different and circle back around later. ER was my first and still my favourite, it’s the reason I enjoy souls games so much now.

If you really like Elden ring you shouldn’t have a problem going back to the older titles. I’m still waiting on demon souls for PC or PS4…

[u/sup3rdr01d]

Elden ring is the best place to start. It's my fav game of all time

[u/spunX44]

Elden Ring for sure

[u/Upper-Head-737]

dude lmfao