Unlocking Hidden Gems: Must-Have Features in Soulslike Games Inspired by FromSoftware's Masterpieces

The Soulslike genre has experienced a surge in popularity over the past decade, largely due to the success of FromSoftware's renowned Dark Souls series. FromSoftware's influence on the genre can be seen in other hit games like Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the recently released Elden Ring. However, despite the critical acclaim these titles have received, they are not without their flaws. As more developers strive to advance and refine the genre, it becomes evident that there are certain elements that should be avoided in Soulslikes, by learning from both the successes and missteps of FromSoftware games.

An abundance of new Soulslike games continue to emerge, spanning from indie to AAA developers, with no sign of slowing down. Upcoming titles such as Remnant 2, Lies of P, and Lords of the Fallen clearly inherit traits from FromSoftware's designs, despite being created by entirely different developers. Given the degree to which these games draw inspiration from FromSoftware titles, it is crucial for developers to acknowledge the limitations of their source material and endeavor to avoid making the same mistakes in their own creations.

Elden Ring's Side Quest Design

Elden Ring, released in 2022, was one of the year's most anticipated games and received widespread acclaim, winning numerous awards and earning the coveted title of game of the year for many players. However, despite its success, Elden Ring had its shortcomings, particularly in its handling of side quests. The game's open-world nature allowed players to freely explore the Lands Between, but the design of its side quests seemed better suited for a more linear game, almost like a leftover from FromSoftware's previous titles.

In the typical FromSoftware fashion, players would initiate a side quest by interacting with an NPC in one area, and then encounter them again later to make progress. While this formula worked well for the more linear Dark Souls series, it created complications in Elden Ring's open world, where players were not confined to the same progression intended by the developers. Consequently, many players found themselves puzzled about how to advance certain side quests upon the game's release. As a solution, an update was eventually introduced, which added map icons indicating the locations of important NPCs, helping players navigate and progress through their side quests.

Bloodborne Requiring Players to Return to Hunter's Dream to Level Up

One of the reasons why Bloodborne has such a fervent fanbase among FromSoftware games is its timeless nature as one of the developer's finest titles. However, compared to other Soulslikes, there is one aspect that feels outdated - the necessity for players to return to Hunter's Dream using Bloodborne's lamps in order to utilize their Blood Echoes and level up. Unlike most Soulslikes where players can rest and level up directly from a checkpoint like bonfires in Dark Souls or Sites of Grace in Elden Ring, Bloodborne inexplicably lacks this feature.

Dark Souls 2's Hollowing Mechanic

Often deemed the outcast among FromSoftware games, Dark Souls 2 incorporates a number of controversial elements, with the most noteworthy being its approach to Hollowing, a fundamental mechanic of the Dark Souls franchise. In Dark Souls 2, Hollowing manifests when the player perishes, resulting in a 5% reduction to their maximum health with each death, which accumulates to a 50% decrease with subsequent fatalities. While remedies, like utilizing a Human Effigy or obtaining Vendrick's blessing in the DLC, exist to reverse this setback, the mechanic ultimately introduces an unnecessary layer of frustration to an already challenging genre that other FromSoftware Soulslikes manage to navigate smoothly without.