THE 5 HARDEST SOULSLIKE VIDEO GAMES EVER: SEKIRO RULES UNCHALLENGED
After exploring the interactive universes of the top 5 easiest soulslike games for newbies , we look to the more experienced community to list the five hardest video games of the genre ever, each of which is capable of delivering an experience as challenging as it is addictive.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
The Shadowlands of the Elden Ring expansion show the most ruthless and ‘punitive’ side of the open-world action role-playing dimension outlined by FromSoftware. Without the appropriate precautions and adequate preparation, the Lightless who venture into the biomes veiled by opaque funereal gleams of Shadow of the Erdtree are destined to meet certain death.
The grim valleys and fortified settlements that dot the landscape of the Elden Ring DLC provide the backdrop for some of the most difficult battles the Lightless followers have ever faced, with bosses that adopt unpredictable attack patterns and ‘minor’ mobs capable of taking us down with a couple of well-placed blows.
Remnant 2
Gunfire Games’ post-apocalyptic shooter places an emphasis on gunplay and meticulous preparation for every single battle, severely punishing the unwary who venture into the biomes of its procedural multiverse without taking the necessary precautions.
The approach adopted by the authors of Remnant 2 relies on unpredictability , a concept that is reflected in every aspect of the gaming experience that awaits fans of the genre at every game and, consequently, on the level of difficulty. Not even the help offered by the use of cooperative mode makes the task entrusted to each hero easier, called to put an end to the chaos generated by the multidimensional invasion described in the first chapter of the series.
Nioh 2
The difficulty of Team Ninja’s action role-playing game is not expressed by the main campaign, but rather by the multitude of secondary activities offered by a title with a longevity of over 50 hours and by the extremely demanding challenges of the path traced by the endgame.
Fans of the genre can therefore experience the more ruthless side of Nioh 2 by trying their hand at the battles of the secondary quests and, above all, the activities linked to the Twilight missions , two challenges that help to make even more evident the quality of the work done by the Japanese developers in shaping the combat system.
Dark Souls
All soulslike fans will have well engraved in their memory the enormous frustration felt in overcoming the most difficult challenges of the first, unforgettable chapter of Dark Souls . Each scenario that contributes to form the dense network of biomes and interconnected dungeons of Lordran forces players to submit to an infinite cycle of anger, death and failure.
Only those who have managed to complete the journey undertaken by the hero of Dark Souls know how powerful the emotions felt while exploring this world can be, with some of the most beautiful and ruthless settings in the entire history of FromSoftware’s Souls games such as those offered by Anor Londo, with glimpses of rare beauty to alternate with the pure terror returned by the brutal creatures guarding the central castle.
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
You don’t need to have read our review of Sekiro to know that this is the most difficult FromSoftware game ever : the action adventure breaks away from the interactive language and typical progression of the Souls series to create an experience that makes self-denial and tenacity its sharpest weapons.
The exquisitely linear nature of the main campaign further raises the bar of difficulty, forcing players to call upon all their patience and acquire an iron muscle memory to get the better of Sekiro’s bosses . Even the challenges against the mobs give rise to battles to the death where every single mistake, even the most banal and seemingly harmless, leads to a catastrophic capitulation. Harsh and unrelenting, but at the same time monstrously attractive, Sekiro Shadows Die Twice dominates undisturbed in our ranking of the most difficult soulslikes of all time and promises (or threatens?) to remain firmly on the throne for many more years.
And you, what do you think about it? Feel free to use the whiteboard in the comments to share your experiences with soulslike games that have managed to put you on edge.