Best PS Plus Soulslikes

Who could have predicted that FromSoftware’s

Demon’s Souls

would usher in a new subgenre of gaming? The 2009 release set the stage for its spiritual successor, 2011’s


Dark Souls


, to take the world by storm. FromSoftware’s titles have undoubtedly influenced gaming as a whole and engrained themselves in pop culture.

The

best Souls-like


games

are typically difficult, prioritize boss encounters, and feature weighty combat that incorporates a degree of strategy. While some games such as

Lords of the Fallen

wear their

Dark Souls



influence on their sleeves, others like

Tunic

are a bit more subtle in their comparisons. Except for a few notable exceptions,

PS Plus Extra and Premium

do not have many

Souls

titles in their library; however, there are quite a few

games like

Dark Souls

on PS Plus

.

While every upcoming Souls-like game is on PS Plus Premium, some are not part of the Extra tier. Also, Amazon links have been provided in case somebody prefers to purchase a physical copy.

Each game’s average

time

is based on

HowLongToBeat’s

stats.

Demon’s Souls (2020)

Dark Souls

and

Elden Ring

might have ingrained the Souls-like subgenre into the public consciousness, but 2009’s

Demon’s Souls

got the ball rolling. Bluepoint’s PS5 remake revitalizes this medium-changing game for a modern audience, greatly fine-tuning the visuals and combat while preserving the things that made the original version so memorable.

A fresh coat of paint aside, 2020’s

Demon’s Souls

incorporates plenty of minor tweaks and quality-of-life adjustments that improve some shortcomings of the PS3 version. Except for one FromSoftware game, this remake is the

best Souls-like game on PS Plus

​​​​​​, bar none. While the classic version is still worth playing due to its status as a landmark release and simply because of its quality, the remake is likely to be a more satisfying experience in this day and age.

Ashen

Despite having a completely different aesthetic,

Ashen

screams “Souls-like” out of every fiber of its being. The combat system is nearly identical to FromSoftware’s

Dark Souls

, including a focus on melee weapons and enemy attack patterns. While more colorful than Lordran or Drangleic,

Ashen

‘s world is also drenched in melancholy and sadness. That said, this universe is quite inviting for this style of game, and it encourages players to explore rather than dares them to see if they can survive.

Ashen

‘s progression system is built around its armor and weapons, which is a nice twist from the typical Souls formula. At first glance,

Ashen

might seem a bit too similar to its inspiration, but the game’s voice grows gradually clearer as the campaign progresses.

Blasphemous

Blasphemous

is a 2D Metroidvania that undeniably uses FromSoftware’s property as inspiration. Set in Cvstodia, this indie game envisions a grim kingdom filled with decrepit NPCs, haunting architecture, and religious iconography. It is not quite as desolate of a world as the regions found in the

Dark Souls

franchise, but Cvstodia is certainly heading in that direction.

As the Penitent One, players must travel all across the kingdom to complete Three Humiliations, which naturally come with awesome boss fights. Once done, this opens the way to face Escribar, this land’s Holiness.

Blasphemous

‘ hard-hitting combat is relatively straightforward, and it is elevated by fantastic animation that makes even the more basic of moves feel special. This game consists of almost nothing but combat, but it is at least satisfying.

Nioh

Team Ninja’s

Nioh

takes the

Dark Souls

formula and throws a few dozen or so mechanics on top of it. Featuring three stances, a plethora of weapon types, and an expansive world filled with secrets,

Nioh

‘s similarities to FromSoftware’s franchise are immediately apparent, however, the game does set itself apart quite well. The Japanese setting makes for a pleasant change of pace, especially since it is inspired by the Sengoku Period.

The combat is quick and vicious, reflecting Team Ninja’s history with franchises like

Ninja Gaiden

.

Nioh

‘s campaign is split into smaller maps rather than one large interconnected world, although each area does come with shortcuts and plenty of secrets. Also,

Souls

players who love collecting loot will find that

Nioh

does not hold back in dishing out goodies. In fact, it might give away too many drops.

The Surge 2

Both of

The Surge

games are available on PS Plus Premium and Extra, and together they should provide more than 50 hours of Souls-like

gameplay

. While the first entry has its strengths, the sequel improves nearly every aspect of its predecessor. The combat is smooth and satisfying, especially since players have the option to target specific limbs of enemies.

The Surge 2

shows off a lot more of this universe’s dystopian setting, fleshing out the world’s backstory through its environmental storytelling.

The Surge 2

is for anyone who has always wanted a sci-fi take on the

Dark Souls

formula, and the game does it well.

The Surge

is certainly worth a playthrough, even if it falls short in a few areas when compared to its predecessor. Still, if someone wants to complete all the Souls-like games on PS Plus Extra, they should start with the first game in Deck13’s duology.

Code Vein

Dubbed “anime souls,”

Code Vein

takes the

Dark Souls

formula and throws in a hint of

God Eater

. Even if not quite as polished as FromSoftware’s most recent releases or something like

Nioh

, Bandai Namco’s project is still ambitious in its own right. With the world succumbing to all sorts of monstrosities, Revenants are tasked with fighting off these creatures. While they were once human, these soldiers are now basically reanimated corpses, a state that brings with it a few neat powers.

Code Vein

‘s core combat is very similar to

Dark Souls

, albeit slightly faster than that series’ earliest entries. Bandai Namco adds a twist to the core loop by introducing companion characters along with a couple of unique customization mechanics such as Blood Veils. In fact,

Code Vein

supports a wide range of builds, and players are encouraged to play around with various classes as they are gradually unlocked throughout a playthrough.

Darksiders 3

After sampling

The Legend of Zelda

and

God of War

,

Darksiders

opted to take a page from the

Dark


Souls

book for its entry about Fury.

Darksiders 3

is a 3D Metroidvania that sees the horseman going up against the Seven Deadly Sins. With a solid selection of weapons, enhancements, and elemental forms, Fury is a lethal and versatile warrior.

The combat isn’t all that similar to

Dark Souls

, outside of it being somewhat methodical, but the world’s layout, enemy placement, and progression system are similar.

Darksiders 3

is a significant departure from the previous two entries in the series and, consequently, the most polarizing; however, it is a great Souls-like title.

Mortal Shell

Mortal Shell

wears its

Dark Souls

influences on its sleeve, although the game does introduce a couple of fresh ideas. As tends to be the case with this sub-genre, the core gameplay loop revolves around exploring a dark fantasy world filled with enemies that pack a punch and respawn whenever the player dies. While a bit more linear than most FromSoftware’s projects,

Mortal Shell

‘s level design is cut from the same cloth.

Even though the combat system is relatively typical for these sorts of games, Cold Symmetry shakes things up in two major ways. For one,

Mortal Shell

incorporates different shells that correspond with classes, and players can swap between them at specific locations. These shells serve as replacements for traditional loot. Another unique concept is that players can harden their shells to block incoming attacks, a mechanic they will need to master if they want to overcome the campaign’s reasonably challenging bosses.

Eldest Souls

Eldest Souls

does not hide its appreciation for FromSoftware’s genre-defining

Souls

series, but it is also not afraid to try and establish a distinct identity. Played from an isometric point-of-view, the indie game tells a simple story about humanity’s revolt against the gods and the latter’s counterattack that pushes the former to the brink of annihilation. As such, players must eliminate a string of gods to ensure their species’ survival.

Eldest Souls

is a boss-rush game, so the campaign centers solely around a collection of enemies that must be defeated. This is a notable change from the typical Souls-like since exploration is not really part of the package, although there are some interludes between the boss encounters.

Eldest Souls

plays well, and it should hit the spot with people who seek out direct and aggressive combat. Each boss comes with their own arena, all of which are visually impressive in their own right. The bosses are, generally, enjoyable, and they pack a challenge without venturing into unfair territory all that often. The game even has skill trees to provide some build options, which does add an element of replayability to what is ultimately a fairly short experience.

Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight

A 2D side-scroller,

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight

is a traditional Metroidvania, and the game really demonstrates that genre’s influence on Souls-likes. Set in Karst, a city that has seen better days, players take charge of Kaho, a priestess on a mission to eradicate a curse that has transformed these streets into a hellscape. Naturally, she will need to defeat a wide plethora of monsters, including some rather enjoyable bosses.

Like any Souls-likes,

Momodora

emphasizes the importance of reading an enemy’s moves to react to them accordingly. As this is not an RPG that supports grinding, players genuinely need to “get gud” and master all of Kaho’s abilities and skills. Even though the visual style is overused in this day and age,

Momodora

‘s pixel art is nevertheless impressive and does a great job of bringing alive this world.

Thymesia

For all intents and purposes,

Thymesia

is a budget Souls-like, one that primarily takes inspiration from

Sekiro

. Considering it was developed by a rather small team, the game does an impressive job of embracing the subgenre. Now,

Thymesia

does leave something to be desired in most areas, particularly level design, but it nails arguably the most important part of a Souls-like: combat. The gameplay is fast-paced and purposefully aggressive since blocking is not a thing, forcing players to dodge furiously or master parrying. Corvus, the main character, is armed with plague weapons, which are generally fun to use. The campaign could use more enemy variety as fodder opponents get old rather quickly, especially when taking into account that a playthrough should only last about 10 hours. That said, the bosses are pretty good.

Thymesia

is not the greatest Souls-like of all time, and its shortcomings can be frustrating since they hold back a solid combat system. Nevertheless, the title is a passion project that does justice to a style of game that even large AAA studios have struggled to properly replicate. Even with its flaws, there is still a lot to love here.

Vampyr

Dontnod Entertainment’s

Vampyr

cuts players loose in 1918 London, a grim place made even worse by the introduction of vampires. As Doctor Jonathan Reid, players join the ranks of the nightwalkers, and they are free to decide whether they will drink human blood or not.

Vampyr

‘s combat is reminiscent of

Dark Souls

, although it isn’t quite as precise or fine-tuned as FromSoftware’s combat system. Incorporating melee and ranged weapons along with vampire-themed abilities,

Vampyr

‘s gameplay has flashes of brilliance and is a respectable first attempt by the developer. However, the game setting is its true calling card since Dontnod did a fantastic job bringing to life the streets of London.

Dead Cells

Dead Cells

is a 2D Metroidvania with rogue-lite elements in the sense that death sends players back to the start. As the Prisoner, players must traverse a dangerous island in

order

to kill its king, a process that entails defeating plenty of bosses along the way. During a run, the Prisoner picks up new weapons, items, and upgrades, all of which outside a select few are lost upon death.

Due to its procedurally generated levels,

Dead Cells

constantly shake things up so no two playthroughs are exactly the same. This design not only extends the game’s replayability and lifespan but also ensures that players never feel too comfortable as they traverse this challenging world. The combat system is fast-paced and addictive.

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

is an admirable indie project that could easily pass for a triple-A release. Ember Lab created a beautiful and immersive fantasy world that just demands to be explored, even if the campaign itself is fairly linear. Cast as the eponymous spirit guide, players must use their skills to put the deceased to rest and also fight back corruption as it spreads across the mountain. Along with a small pool of abilities, Kena is armed with a staff that can also be used as a bow.

Although not quite as combat-driven as some Souls-likes,

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

nevertheless incorporates frequent fights, including a myriad of boss encounters that can pack a considerable wallop. Melee actions are reasonably satisfying to execute, and they are complemented well by Kena’s ranged and spiritual abilities. When not engaging in battles to the death, the game shifts its focus to puzzles, exploration, and light platforming. None of these elements are particularly original, but they are generally executed well.

Bloodborne

FromSoftware’s


Bloodborne


is the

best Souls-like game on PS Plus Extra and Premium

. A Gothic masterpiece set in the nightmare-inducing Yharnam, this PS4 exclusive is a masterclass in atmosphere, environmental design, music, and gameplay. Even post-

Elden Ring

, an argument could be made that FromSoftware peaked with

Bloodborne

, reaching a high that precious few developers ever get to achieve.

Utilizing a far more aggressive battle system than the

Souls

games,

Bloodborne

does not allow players a single restful moment. When playing this game, every instance is spent on edge as a new terrifying beast lurks around every corner, waiting to brutally demolish the Hunter. It is glorious. Compared to

Dark Souls

or

Elden Ring

,

Bloodborne

has a smaller pool of weapons and armor, allowing for a more limited range of builds. Even though this decision can be disappointing, the included items are valid candidates that can carry players for most of the campaign, and the weapons have multiple forms. That said, the game still has a decent selection of options, so it is not fully a case of quantity over quality.

Hollow Knight Voidheart Edition

Team Cherry’s

Hollow Knight

was one of the most popular indie games of the 2010s, and time has not dulled any of the project’s shine. This 2D Metroidvania is set in Hallownest, a deceptively massive underground kingdom that is filled with beauty and nightmares. Cast as the Knight, players must traverse this strange world, battling enemies and defeating bosses along the way.

Similar to

Dark Souls

,

Hollow Knight

does not hold the player’s hand in any significant way. Encouraging exploration and backtracking, the game fills its world with lore drops and NPCs that deliver side quests.

Hollow Knight

is not only one of the

best PS Plus Souls-like games

but also one of the greatest titles on the service.

Demon’s Souls (2009)

PS Plus Premium and Extra subscribers with a PS5 can jump into 2020’s

Demon’s Souls

remake, but PS4 owners are not ignored either. Part of PS Plus’s Classic catalog, FromSoftware’s

Demon’s Souls

set the groundwork for

Dark Souls

, and some might even argue that the 2009 game is better than its spiritual successor.

Although some aspects are antiquated,

Demon’s Souls

‘ fantastic level design, incredible boss fights, and limited but still rewarding combat pick up the slack for some of the game’s obtuse mechanics or rough edges. The fact PS Plus Premium only allows subscribers to stream FromSoftware’s

Demon’s Souls

puts it firmly behind the remake, but it is still a landmark release that spawned an entire subgenre.

Other Games On PS Plus Dark Souls Fans Might Love

Ultimately, there is only a limited number of games that fit the Souls-like


descriptor. However, that does not mean PS Plus Premium and Extra subscribers who are fans of FromSoftware’s franchise have nothing to play once they have exhausted the above titles – they just have to expand their criteria. While the following

PS Plus games

are not cut from the same cloth as

Dark Souls

, they scratch a similar itch through their combat, lore delivery, or level design.

Scarlet Nexus

Bandai Namco has tried its hands at a few new IPs in recent years, and

Scarlet Nexus

might be the company’s crown jewel. The action JRPG throws a lot at the player: two protagonists with connected but still unique storylines, deep lore, a somewhat convoluted plot, and a fairly complex combat system. While not everything hits the mark, the overall package is ambitious and impressive, especially since a full playthrough should require roughly 50 hours. That is a lot of content, and most of it is of high quality.

Scarlet Nexus

opts for a fast-paced battle system reminiscent of something like the

Tales

franchise, albeit with only one playable character per playthrough. The game does a good job of rolling out new mechanics and supporting party members at a steady pace to avoid overwhelming players, particularly since they also have to manage an expansive skill tree.

Source Of Madness

Source of Madness

is an indie roguelike set in a horrifying hellscape that takes clear influence from Lovecraftian tales. Utilizing procedurally generated levels and incorporating continuation through a permanent upgrade system,

Source of Madness

is rough around the edges but enjoyable in a ghoulish type of way. That said, someone’s mileage with this game will come down to their fondness of 2D roguelikes rather than Souls-likes, although the latter is somewhat represented through the combat system.

Source of Madness

casts players as acolytes charged with finding the eponymous item, a goal that leads them through an unforgiven journey filled with creatively designed monsters. En route, an acolyte can pick up and purchase new items like rings to improve their performance in battle, all of which are lost upon their death. However,

Source of Madness

leans into roguelite territory by allowing permanent upgrades to be purchased using blood. The game’s combat is hard-hitting and challenging, even if it can feel clunky at times.

Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow

Except for

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

, the

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

games are the only representatives of Konami’s franchise on PS Plus Premium. The latter titles are rather polarizing among long-time fans since they largely push exploration to the side in favor of combat similar to

God of War

and, to a lesser extent,

Devil May Cry

. All three titles have their positives and negatives, but the original

Lords of Shadow

is overall the most satisfying experience.

Set during the 11th century,

Lords of Shadow

brings to life an exceptional Gothic-esque Medieval world that feels massive despite the linear level design. The combat system is flashy and fairly deep, especially once Gabriel unlocks most of his combos.

God Of War

Santa Monica soft rebooted

God of War

for the franchise’s 2018 entry, turning the over-the-top hack-and-slash series into a more intimate over-the-shoulder action game. Utilizing Norse mythology,

God of War

sees Kratos and his son, Atreus, undergoing a journey to fulfill the dying wish of the former’s wife and the latter’s mother.

Although not quite as complex as a

Souls

game,

God of War

‘s combat is visceral and fluid, particularly once Kratos expands his arsenal and Atreus unlocks a few new moves.

God of War

pushes its emotional and gripping story to the forefront, but once the main campaign is complete, players can just roam the gorgeous map to complete leftover quests and take on some Valkyries.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Assassin’s Creed Origins

marked a turning point in Ubisoft’s franchise that has gradually seen the license incorporate more and more RPG elements.

Origins

also introduced a more action-oriented combat system reminiscent of Souls-likes, albeit not as weighty or challenging.

Set in Ancient Egypt, the game drops players into a massive and gorgeous open-world filled to the brim with content. That said, the main story can be completed in a reasonable time frame, so it is up to the player to decide whether they want to pursue all the secondary content.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

leans even more into RPG mechanics than

Origins

, while also continuing to fine-tune the latter’s combat system. While polarizing,

Odyssey

is great in its own right.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

For the remake of

Final Fantasy 7

, Square Enix opted to go in an entirely new direction. Besides the obvious visual upgrade, the remake’s biggest modification is its battle system. Rather than turn-based,

FF7R

utilizes real-time combat with the option to pause encounters to execute special moves or use items. The base game has four playable characters – Cloud, Barret, Aerith, and Tifa – all of whom are unique entities. The PS5’s

Intergrade

also has Yuffie’s DLC chapter, adding another fighter into the mix.

Although faster than most Souls-likes,

FF7R

‘s combat should strike a chord with fans of those games. Narratively, the JRPG does a great job of establishing its universe and characters, setting things up for the upcoming sequel.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma

In terms of level design, gameplay, or story presentation,

Ninja Gaiden Sigma



and

Dark Souls

have practically nothing in common.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma

‘s combat is fast, explosive, and predominantly melee-based. Ryu has access to an array of weapons, including some ranged options, but character customization doesn’t play much of a role. The shinobi also has a few magic abilities.

Despite these differences,

Souls

fans are likely to love

Ninja Gaiden Sigma

due to its punishing but fair difficulty and epic boss fights. No enemy in the game is a pushover, and Ryu has to carefully

monitor

and react to his opponent’s movements to avoid a quick end.

Ninja Gaiden

is all about efficiently and swiftly eradicating enemies.

Soulstice

Do not be fooled by its name,

Soulstice

is inspired by hack and slash games like

Devil May Cry

rather than Soulslikes. In fact, it has very little in common with the latter, outside of basic stylistic choices like Lovecraftian-style monsters and a reluctance to handhold players. Consequently, someone’s mileage with the AA game will depend on their appreciation for the so-called “character action” subgenre. Even if it is not cut from the same cloth as

Dark Souls

,

Soulstice

deserves to be highlighted since it did not receive all that much attention when it launched in 2022. Reply Game has done a great job of updating the project by listening to player feedback, and the version currently available is superior to the one that launched.

Set in a city that has fallen into chaos,

Soulstice

weaves a dark narrative that takes itself very seriously, which sets it apart from other games of this ilk. The story and characters are not all that memorable, but the setting itself has potential. Ultimately, the lengthy campaign is all about combat, with most stages consisting of linear corridors linking battle arenas. While repetitive,

Soulstice

‘s gameplay is generally intense, fast-paced, and challenging. The combat encourages players to constantly switch weapons to perform combos, and some enemies are even color-coded to amplify this need.

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

PS Plus Extra subscribers can experience

Kingdom Hearts

in almost its entirety, an endeavor that could keep them busy for a few months. All the games have something to offer, but the sequels largely have nothing in common with Souls-likes. That’s not to say they are not worth playing, and an argument could be made that

Kingdom Hearts 2

and

Birth by Sleep

have the best combat in the franchise, but they are their own beasts that cannot be compared to any other license.

While not exactly an exception, the original

Kingdom Hearts

makes more sense as a direct recommendation. The game’s combat is considerably more straightforward than its sequels, and that’s by no means a criticism. The campaign also packs quite a punch even on standard difficulty, something that really cannot be said about the numbered sequels.

Ghost Of Tsushima

Sucker Punch’s

Ghost of Tsushima

acted as something of a swan song for the PS4 era, and it allowed Sony’s last-gen console to conclude its main run on a high. Set during the Mongol raid on Japan, the story follows a samurai who goes on a quest to protect Tsushima Island after it has been overrun by the invading force. Boasting a large and visually stunning world,

Ghost of Tsushima

immerses players in a bygone era that has rarely been adopted as a setting by games.

While not quite as difficult as the standard Souls-like,

Ghost of Tsushima

‘s combat is still fantastic and addictive. The game presents players with quite a few options on how they would like to approach scenarios, and they can even decide to challenge enemies to duels. Along with the PS4 version, PS Plus Extra also has

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

, which incorporates the Iki Island expansion. This section adds roughly 5–10 hours of content.

Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5

is stylish, over-the-top, deep, difficult, and the definition of fun. After barely touching the franchise for roughly a decade, Capcom finally revived the mainline

DMC

series, and the fifth entry was a massive return to form that also took plenty of risks in its gameplay and presentation. Over the course of 10+ hours, the campaign introduces three playable characters, all of whom use completely different combat systems.

While Dante’s sections are not far removed from the character’s previous incarnations, Nero’s mechanics have been overhauled, and the changes are for the better. V is more of a polarizing figure, but his gameplay offers a nice change of pace. Compared to Souls-likes,

DMC5

is generally more fast-paced and combo-driven. While presented as a continuous adventure, the campaign is split into linear stages that provide very little room for exploration. This game is 100% about combat, with everything else taking a backseat. Thankfully,

DMC5

nails its gameplay.

Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana

Even if it lacks the name recognition of

Dragon Quest

or

Final Fantasy

, Nihon Falcom’s

Ys

is arguably almost as important to action JRPGs as those projects are to turn-based titles. At least, in terms of consistency,

Ys

has been delivering the goods for decades; during the PS3 and PS4 eras, the franchise finally started to gain more recognition on consoles and in Western nations.

PS Plus Extra has

Ys 8

and

Ys 9

, and while they follow the same protagonist, they can be treated as standalone stories. Although the sequel is worth playing, its predecessor serves as a superior entry point since its campaign is better-paced. Set on a mysterious island that gradually opens up as the characters explore more and more of it,

Ys 8

features addictive hack and slash combat that is satisfying and accessible. Although by no means shallow on a fundamental level, the JRPG also has multiple playable characters that can be swapped on the fly, ensuring battles do not get old quickly.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Star Wars

has produced its share of great games, and the

Jedi: Fallen Order

subseries is a must-play for Souls-like fans. Except for

Knights of the Old Republic

and the old

Battlefront

entries, Respawn’s 2019 release is arguably the best

Star Wars

game on the market, especially if someone is specifically searching for action above everything else. However, once upon a time,

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

seemed set to take that crown, only for a rushed sequel to derail the series’ momentum.

Flawed as both of these games are,

The Force Unleashed

and its sequel are still decent recommendations for anyone searching for some lightsaber-driven hack-and-slash action. Gameplay-wise, they are closer to the classic

God of War

games than

Dark Souls

, but the games do have fun and empowering combat systems. The first entry also tells an engaging story revolving around Starkiller, a Sith who trained directly under Darth Vader.

PS Plus Premium has both

The Force Unleashed

games, and while the second one gets a lot of deserved criticism for its muddled story and short length, it does improve its predecessor’s gameplay.

The

Elder Scrolls

5: Skyrim – Special Edition

Released in the same year as

Dark Souls

,

Skyrim

‘s longevity even manages to eclipse FromSoftware’s title. Available on three console generations, the Western RPG was a massive critical and commercial success right out of the gate. Bethesda’s game went on to produce three expansions, which are included in the

Special Edition

available on PS Plus Extra. Offering detailed customization options and plenty of loot to discover,

Skyrim

gives players freedom in how they want to interact with its world.

Like

Dark Souls

,

Skyrim

takes place in a dark fantasy universe, albeit one that is not quite as apocalyptic as FromSoftware’s projects. Although Bethesda’s masterpiece is far more story-driven than a traditional Souls-like, the RPG arguably shines the brightest when exploration is pushed to the forefront. Simply existing within

Skyrim

can be more exciting than fulfilling the role of the Dragonborn; that said, the latter produces some excellent moments as well.

Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition & Horizon Forbidden West

In February 2023, Sony added

Horizon Forbidden West

to PS Plus Extra, permitting subscribers to experience (most) of Aloy’s story so far. Combined, these two open-world games can readily keep someone engaged for close to a hundred hours if they take their time with side quests and exploration. Although

Horizon

‘s gameplay is relatively different from Souls-likes since there is a heavier focus on ranged attacks, Guerrilla’s games can match many titles in terms of spectacle and scale.

As Aloy, players explore a post-apocalyptic version of Earth that has reverted to a tribal structure while also allowing for the existence of mechanical monstrosities in the form of machine dinosaurs. Like

Dark Souls

,

Horizon

has extensive lore reinforced through environmental storytelling; that said, the franchise is quite plot-driven.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force

PS Plus has quite a few

Star Ocean

games, and they are all over the place when it comes to quality.

Till the End of Time

is probably the pick of the bunch, but the JRPG shows its age since it originally launched in 2003. Still, the PS4 iteration is a fun time.

First Departure R

is also a solid entry, and

The Last Hope

matches great combat with a polarizing narrative.

Integrity and Faithlessness

is also an option, in case someone feels like playing a bad

Star Ocean

game. Last but not least (or arguably most), there is

The Divine Force

, the most recent new entry in the franchise. In many ways, this release was an attempt to steady the ship following a few underwhelming efforts, resulting in a polished but somewhat forgettable overall experience. That said, it is one of the better entry points into the franchise for newcomers.

The Divine Force

‘s selling point is its real-time combat, which has always been

Star Ocean

‘s crowning achievement. The 2022 project fine-tunes its predecessors’ efforts to create a satisfying and addictive system that allows players to craft their own combo strings. With multiple playable characters and boss encounters that provide a genuine challenge,

The Divine Force

is a lot of fun to simply play. Narratively, the game has a slow start as it does not open up until a few hours in. However, the actual characters are likable, which is not something that can be said for every

Star Ocean

title.

Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)

Bluepoint should just handle all the remakes. 2018’s

Shadow of the Colossus

wisely changes very little about Team Ico’s 2005 masterpiece since it is a tall order to improve upon near perfection. While preserving the original’s story, characters, tone, and structure, the remake provides a graphical upgrade along with improved controls.

Shadow of the Colossus

‘ greatest flaw was that the PS2 struggled to run it properly, a criticism that cannot be made of the remake. That said, for those who prefer to stick to the original version, the PS3’s

Ico Collection

is part of PS Plus Premium’s Classic library.

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