The Souls-like Zone

Punishing action RPGs built around stamina, bosses, checkpoints, and deliberate combat.

Latest Standouts

Recent releases that landed well, newest first, filtered to games with enough reviews to trust the score.

Soul Chained - Bound by the Soul Chain, fight through purgatory as chained rival warlords using chain magic, teamwork, and terrible decision-making. Trip enemies, accidentally drag your partner to their death, and survive brutal bosses armed with suspicious amounts of jiggle physics.
Withering Realms - A ghost and her doll guardian explore the mysterious town of Penwyll and the sprawling graveyards, tombs, caves and rotting estates that surround it in this Horror Action RPG from the creator of Withering Rooms.
Rogue Blight - Rogue Blight is a rogue-lite with focus on souls-like combat, featuring a Slay The Spire-inspired map system. Fight your way through ever-changing maps. Customize your playstyle based on what you find. Death is punishing. Only skill and persistence will carry you forward.
ZENONIA 1 - Players say: Choose a Warrior, Paladin, or Assassin, then fight, quest, and build your hero in a 2D fantasy RPG shaped by good-or-evil choices. Players like: Nostalgic Return · Character Progression · Classic RPG Feel ·
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Remember the RPG that defined a generation? ZENONIA is back—faithfully restored and now on Steam. Relive the adventure that kept you playing for hours, or experience it for the first time.

Volkolak: The Will of Gods - Volkolak: The Will of Gods is an epic 2D soulsvania in a dark Slavic fantasy setting, with hand-drawn animation. Explore an enchanted world full of secrets and enemies. Your choices will lead to several endings: become a warrior, a werewolf, or join the darkness.
Mortal Shell II - Players say: Possess fallen warriors in a dark fantasy action RPG, shape your combat style, and explore a connected world to challenge false gods. Players like: Weighty Combat · Distinct Shell Builds · Dark Visuals ·
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Their Flesh Is Your Weapon. Mortal Shell II is a standalone sequel action-RPG with adrenaline-charged, high-stakes combat. Possess warrior Shells, dethrone false gods, redeem a ravaged world.

THE CANON OF BALLS - Hardcore, co-op (or solo) platformer. Dark Souls makes a baby with Super Monkey Ball. An easy-to-learn, hard-to-master experience to explore with your friends. All inside a vast open world, with each platforming course bringing its own twist.
Luminary - Luminary is a solo or co-op OpenZone Action RPG that creates a balanced experience for everyone. Using a unique world and character progression system, explore vast hand-crafted lands together, uncover hidden treasures, level up your town, and push back the darkness with light.
Warhounds - Players say: Lead a mercenary squad in turn-based firefights while managing contracts, faction ties, and a mobile base in an alternate-future Africa. Players like: Positioning And Overwatch · Familiar Tactical Formula · Distinct Mercenary Classes ·
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Warhounds is a turn-based tactical game about an elite mercenary squad with an old-school action movie vibe, inspired by XCOM and Jagged Alliance. Recruit unique fighters, upgrade your base, and fight for Africa’s future. Less fake RNG, more true ballistics and lethal tactics.

On Sale Now

Discounted 25% or more right now, limited to well-reviewed games, steepest cuts first.

Outward Definitive Edition - Players say: Play an ordinary adventurer in Aurai, planning survival-focused expeditions, fighting creatures, and exploring alone or in co-op. Players like: Immersive Exploration · Co-op Adventures · Preparation Pays Off ·
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No remarkable journey is achieved without great effort. In Outward, the cold of the night or an infected wound can be as dangerous as a predator lurking in the dark. Explore the vast world of Aurai solo or in Co-op. The Definitive Edition features both DLCs and quality of life improvements.

Tower Hunter: Erza's Trial - Players say: As Erza, a demon-bound warrior, battle through tower stages, gather upgrades, and defeat bosses to earn a Hunter's License. Players like: Colorful Visual Style · Enjoyable Combat · Fluid Character Movement ·
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Tower Hunter: Erza’s Trial contains core elements of roguelite games, presented in a toon render style. The player explores a mysterious tower with Erza, vanquishes mutant monsters and defeats bosses to acquire a Hunter’s License and become the most powerful Battle Maiden.

Steelrising - Players say: In an automaton-ruled 1789 Paris, Aegis fights the king’s legions, develops her combat skills, and explores a path to stop him. Players like: Revolutionary Paris Setting · Accessible Soulslike Combat · Weapon And Build Variety ·
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Paris, 1789. The French Revolution has been suppressed with bloodshed by Louis XVI and his merciless mechanical army. Aegis, a mysterious automaton masterpiece, must confront the king's army alone to save history in this challenging action-RPG.

Feudal Alloy - Players say: Guide Attu, a fish-piloted farm robot, through an interconnected medieval world, fighting machines and unlocking new paths. Players like: Hand-Drawn Art · Fish-Robot Concept · Exploration And Secrets ·
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Feudal Alloy is an epic action adventure with fish-controlled medieval robots! Explore an unusual medieval world with a fish-controlled robot, Attu. Improve your combat techniques and skills by smashing many kinds of mechanical creatures in a beautiful hand-drawn world.

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Jan 17, 2019
71% 👍
of 972
Slain: Back from Hell - Players say: Guide Bathoryn through six cursed realms in a gothic side-scrolling action platformer built around elemental weapons, parries, and traps. Players like: Dark Pixel Art · Heavy Metal Soundtrack · Challenging Combat ·
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Slain: Back from Hell. A heavy metal inspired arcade combat with puzzle elements and gore galore. Stunning visuals and true old school gameplay accompanied by the most metal soundtrack you've ever heard.

Achilles: Legends Untold - Players say: Revived after his death at Troy, Achilles fights through mythic Greece in an isometric RPG built around stamina-based combat. Players like: Greek Mythology · Satisfying Combat · Weapon Choices ·
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Rewrite fate with every strike. Face gods, mythic heroes, and legendary beasts in this souls-like Action RPG set in ancient Greece. Master brutal combat, unlock divine skills, and shape Achilles into the warrior only you can become.

Going Under - Players say: As an unpaid intern, Jackie fights through cursed startup dungeons with breakable office weapons, skills, and coworker perks. Players like: Startup Culture Satire · Colorful Corporate Art · Funny Character Writing ·
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Going Under is a satirical dungeon crawler about exploring the cursed ruins of failed tech startups. As an unpaid intern in the dystopian city of Neo-Cascadia, you’ll wield office junk as weaponry as you make your way through the offbeat procedural dungeons beneath your company campus.

SCARLET NEXUS - Players say: As an OSF psionic, battle brain-hunting mutants with telekinetic attacks and squad powers across two interwoven story routes. Players like: Psychic Combat · Squad Power Combos · Anime Art Direction ·
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Choose between Yuito and Kasane, elite psionics each armed with a talent in psychokinesis and their own reason to fight. Complete both of their stories to unlock all the mysteries of a Brain Punk future caught between technology and psychic abilities.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill - Players say: Ride a mountain bike down branching trails, balancing risky shortcuts and careful control against crashes and the clock. Players like: Satisfying Time Trials · Risky Shortcut Routes · Peaceful Mountain Atmosphere ·
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Just you and your bike - take it on a thrilling ride down an unspoiled mountain landscape. Make your way through thick forests, narrow trails and wild rivers. Race, jump, slide and try not to crash - all the way from the peak to the valley!

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Oct 23, 2019
91% 👍
of 3.1k
Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition - Players say: As Dandara, leap between surfaces across the shifting world of Salt, fighting foes, solving puzzles, and unlocking new routes. Players like: Distinctive Movement · Beautiful Pixel Art · Memorable Soundtrack ·
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In a bizarre universe where the oppressed are on the brink of oblivion, Dandara has awoken to reshape the world.

Sifu - Players say: Hunt your family’s assassins in precise Kung Fu brawls, where each death revives you older and makes survival harder. Players like: Technical Kung Fu Combat · Skill-Based Mastery · Stylish Art Direction ·
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Sifu is a realistic third-person brawler with tight Kung Fu combat mechanics and cinematic martial arts action embarking you on a path for revenge.

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Mar 28, 2023
92% 👍
of 28k
Blasphemous - Players say: As the Penitent One, cross cursed Cvstodia in a 2D action-platformer, fighting monsters and seeking the source of its curse. Players like: Detailed Pixel Art · Dark World Atmosphere · Memorable Soundtrack ·
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Blasphemous is a brutal action-platformer with skilled hack’n slash combat set in the nightmare world of Cvstodia. Explore, upgrade your abilities, and perform savage executions on the hordes of enemies that stand between you and your quest to break eternal damnation.

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Sep 10, 2019
90% 👍
of 67k

Hidden Gems

Well-liked but under-played: strong scores, small review counts.

your sisters - Players say: Keep animated characters on your desktop as they follow your cursor, react to clicks, and unlock new looks through interaction. Players like: Steam Profile Styling · Desktop Companions · Trading Cards ·
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Who needs one desktop girl when you can have a whole squad? Meet your adorable chaos crew, always cute, sometimes weird and fun. Your Sisters is a little dose of dopamine for your boring desktop.

Freddi Fish 2: The Case of the Haunted Schoolhouse - So who is haunting the schoolhouse, taking the toys and practically scaring the scales off all the guppies?
Duck Souls - Duck Souls is a fast-paced, action platformer about a little duck with an incredible skill to dash and a mission: find all the lost eggs in order to save his species.
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Sep 6, 2018
98% 👍
of 345
REAL WEB LEGENDS: Carter's Quest - Artificial beings, known as 'Homunculi,' have upended the balance of Web. Carter, a young man plucked from his quiet life in the countryside, must rise to the challenge. Explore ancient ruins, meet charming characters, and master combat in this devilish action-adventure of epic proportions.
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Aug 2, 2024
97% 👍
of 235
Lost Flame - Lost Flame is a modern roguelike game featuring unique and challenging turn-based combat. Find your way in the ruined kingdom of Hiraeth while fighting against legendary warriors of the past and spawn of the unfathomable Abysm.
Death of a Wish - THE NEO-SANCTUM SHALL FALL. Claim retribution against the theocratic Faiths as you master vicious hack-and-slash combat in this action-RPG where style is salvation.
Reimu Needs Help!? Aunn-chan to the Rescue! - Speedily solve Reimu's problems by skillfully stopping slot reels to pick two words to create items to give to her!
Frogmonster - Players say: Explore a strange world as a gun-toting frog, catching bugs for bonuses and learning the patterns of challenging bosses. Players like: Distinctive Boss Fights · Charming Voxel World · Creative Combat ·
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Discover some of the most charming and challenging soulslike bosses in Frogmonster, a Metroidvania FPS adventure where you explore a lively world filled with creatures, bugs, and beasts.

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Apr 2, 2024
96% 👍
of 619
Plushie from the Sky - A goofy action RPG. Armed with a plushie, smack down nightmarish foes with cuddly chaos. Cheese the boss. Dodge roll your way to victory!
Void Sols - Abstract ruins. Hostile shapes. No escape but forward... Death isn’t the end as you know it. Here, it’s how you grow! Each defeat teaches you more as you rise again to defeat foes with stolen blades and bows. Pushing through a broken world warped by cruelty and shadows. Welcome. This is Void Sols.

Top Rated

Defining examples of the genre, all rated 85%+ across 1,000+ reviews.

Juice Galaxy - Players say: Roam a surreal open world, fling yourself with floppy physics, fight strange creatures, and drink juice to grow stronger. Players like: Surreal Goofy Humor · Floppy Physics Combat · Distinctive Soundtrack ·
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Juice Galaxy is a happy place to fly around and smack things and drink juice. And explore things. And just, flip around doing stuff.

Bloody Hell - Players say: Play an angelic bird battling through Hell in a top-down bullet-hell adventure, unlocking abilities and routes on the way to Satan. Players like: Enjoyable Boss Fights · Responsive Combat · Exploration And Secrets ·
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A short but sweet game about an Angel on a Bloody Bullet-hell mission to kill Satan! Dash, Double Dash, Grapple & Blast your way through Hell to fulfill your Holy Mission. Will you be able to kill Satan? Or will you fail to master your abilities and DIE in this BLOODY HELL?

BLACK SOULS II - Players say: Search a warped Wonderland for Alice in a dark RPG of open-ended exploration, tactical turn-based battles, and looping endings. Players like: Layered Storytelling · Hidden World Lore · Replayable Story Cycles ·
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Despair. Fear, Madness, once again. An original work based on "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass." Dark Fairy Tale Fantasy x Psychological Horror RPG focusing on the themes of "Exploration of a Mad World" and "Life or Death Combat against Demonbeasts".

Journey of Realm:Dawn Dew - Players say: Guide Dew through a corrupted fantasy realm, exploring side-view maps and building turn-based tactics against the black beast tide. Players like: Flexible Build Crafting · Tactical Turn-Based Combat · Atmospheric Visuals ·
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"JOR: Dawn Dew" is a 2D turn-based game with a box-like map. In the game, act "Dew" to adventure. On adventure, collect and freely choose your way of fighting. As the exploration progresses, deter the threat of the black beast tide, and finally defeat the monstrous malice.

Hollow Knight - Players say: Explore a ruined insect kingdom as a small knight, opening new routes with abilities and facing demanding 2D battles. Players like: Hand-Drawn Art · Haunting Soundtrack · Rewarding Exploration ·
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Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

Dead Cells - Players say: Possess fallen bodies and fight through a shifting island, combining fast 2D combat with branching routes and permanent unlocks. Players like: Fluid Combat · Weapon Variety · Replayable Runs ·
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Dead Cells is a roguelite, metroidvania inspired, action-platformer. You'll explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle... assuming you’re able to fight your way past its keepers in 2D souls-lite combat. No checkpoints. Kill, die, learn, repeat.

Nightmare Kart - Players say: A conscripted beast hunter races copper-and-steam vehicles through gothic streets, fighting rivals, hunting beasts, and facing bosses. Players like: Retro Gothic Style · Chaotic Combat Racing · Dark Comedy References ·
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Zoom through gothic streets in this horror themed vehicular combat racing game!

Black Myth: Wukong - Players say: As the Destined One, battle mythic foes with staff techniques, spells, and transformations while uncovering the truth behind Sun Wukong. Players like: Satisfying Staff Combat · Memorable Boss Fights · Mythic Visual Design ·
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Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. You shall set out as the Destined One to venture into the challenges and marvels ahead, to uncover the obscured truth beneath the veil of a glorious legend from the past.

FlyKnight - Players say: As a wingless fly squire, explore first-person dungeons, target enemy limbs, and fight a witch alone or with friends. Players like: Enjoyable Co-op · Retro Bug World · Limb-Targeting Combat ·
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Explore, fight, loot and fish! Solo or in co-op mode in this Old School First Person Dungeon Crawler. Earn your knighthood as you oppose the evil witch Lunamoth and stop her curse which prevents everyone from growing wings.

SUPER CHICKEN JUMPER - Players say: Guide a spy chicken through six worlds in a fast 2D runner, jumping hazards, shooting enemies, and facing bosses. Players like: Addictive Quick Retries · Distinctive Pixel Art · Funny Dialogue ·
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A spy-chicken tries to save the world from doom in this runner/shooter game that has a little bit of everything with a touch of chicken and anime girls on top. Run for your life in 6 different worlds and shoot your way through tons of enemies until you become a legend.

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Sep 24, 2021
96% 👍
of 5.4k
Last Command - Players say: Guide a digital crawler through bullet patterns, collecting data to attack bosses and equipping modules to shape your abilities. Players like: Distinctive Boss Patterns · Snake-Bullet-Hell Mix · Catchy Battle Music ·
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Last Command is a fast-paced Snake x Bullet Hell action game. Maneuver through enemies’ barrage of attacks, collect Data Points to deal damage! Mix and match skill chips as you progress, overcome intense Boss battles, and uncover the secrets of their program world...

Withering Rooms - Players say: Explore a shifting Victorian nightmare as Nightingale, balancing stealth, combat, puzzles and risky loot-driven RPG builds. Players like: Gothic Worldbuilding · Haunting Atmosphere · Build Variety ·
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Withering Rooms is a challenging 2.5D horror RPG set in a procedurally generated Victorian mansion that changes each night. Explore Mostyn House to collect the perfect items for your build and face a huge cast of overgrown undead, invisible ghosts, devious witches, and more.