Games Like Nioh 3 for Soulslike Fans
Lies of P: Complete Edition
(2026)90WHY IT'S HERE
The closest fit. Fast, parry-forward combat with a weapon system deep enough to reward experimentation, and a difficulty curve that eases if you engage with its systems.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
(2019)90WHY IT'S HERE
Removes builds entirely and asks for pure timing instead. The hardest entry here, and the one that most rewards learning a single enemy properly.
Black Myth: Wukong
(2024)88WHY IT'S HERE
Spectacle-heavy and more forgiving than it looks, with transformations and spells that let you solve fights several different ways.
Bloodborne
(2015)91WHY IT'S HERE
Aggressive by design, since healing requires hitting back. Slower than Nioh 3 but shares the philosophy that defence should cost you something.
Dark Souls III
(2016)86WHY IT'S HERE
The genre baseline. Deliberate, heavy and readable, and still the clearest teacher of the fundamentals every game on this list assumes you know.
Elden Ring
(2022)97WHY IT'S HERE
The exploratory option. Same combat lineage stretched across an open world, which means you can walk away from any wall you hit and come back stronger.
Nine Sols
(2024)88WHY IT'S HERE
Two-dimensional but mechanically strict, built around a deflection system that turns every encounter into a rhythm problem. Shorter than everything above it.
Blasphemous II
(2023)89WHY IT'S HERE
The most forgiving entry, with generous checkpoints and a build system that lets you overpower difficult sections rather than out-execute them.
Methodology & FAQ
Ordered by proximity to Nioh 3 combat design rather than by review score, moving from fast aggressive systems toward slower foundational ones.
Q: I have never played a soulslike. Where should I start?
Start with the entries described as more forgiving in the notes. Difficulty in this genre comes mostly from unfamiliarity, and a gentler introduction teaches the same skills.
Q: Which is the hardest game here?
The entries built around parrying rather than dodging demand the most precision, since they remove the option of simply keeping your distance.
Q: Do any of these have easy modes?
Several offer difficulty options or systems that let you overlevel, and the notes mention where that escape hatch exists.
