Souls games tend to be rather predictable in terms of their format these days, mainly due to the fact that no one wants to differ too much from theconsistently successful FromSoftware blueprintthe industry Goliath has established.
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However, there are some games that attempt to switch things up by changing the player’s perspective a little, primarily by putting their eyes in the sky and having them fight their foes from a top-down perspective.
It’s a very niche sub-genre of a sub-genre, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a fruitful one that is becoming more and more popular.
So, to showcase to you all these unique souls-likes you’ve been sleeping on, here is a batch of awesome top-down souls-likes that deserve your attention.
8Chrono Sword
It’s Slashing Time
Not to be confused with JRPG hits Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross, we have a gritty top-down Souls-like which, surprise, surprise, has a narrativeconcerned with the concept of time.
This game may only be in Early Access at the time of writing, but there is a lot to excite potential fans already, with an expansive world that can be altered through time travel and a wealth of tough bosses that call this doomed city home.
This pixel passion project shows a lot of promise and already boasts varied playstyles, a litany of distinct haunts, and much more. It’s not the finished product, but if you like what you see, support the developers and check this one out.
7Lucah: Born of A Dream
Fight Your Nightmares
If you’re looking for a souls-like with a distinct art style that stands out from the crowd, you have found it in the form of Lucah: Born of a Dream.
This game, in a nutshell, is chaotic violence with a tactical edge, as the flurry of slashes and combos don’t stop, and if they do, chances are that you’re dead.
So, you’ll need to use a variety of attack mantras, melee and ranged approaches, and well-timed parries to stand a chance of fighting your inner demons brought to life.
This chalkboard-esque hack-and-slash epic is a very satisfying and action-heavy souls-like worth its weight in gold, and it’s one that simply doesn’t get the props it deserves.
6Immortal Planet
Break The Cycle
Boasting visuals that look akin to an Adult Swim cartoon from the 2000s, a world stuck in an endless cycle, and combat that is satisfying as all hell, but all too willing to punish you in an instant, we have Immortal Planet.
Thanks to your character being in a deep cryo slumber, you aren’t afflicted by this perpetual loop of immortal rebirth, and naturally, the fate and future of this world are thrust into your hands. But the good news is, you’re more than capable of grasping it tight.
With a trove of enemies to take on, a smooth moveset at your disposal, and an atmospheric world to map out, Immortal Planet has a lot to offer Souls fans.
Caution is key, mastering boss battle choreography is essential, and even if you give it your all, death is inevitable. But, if you’re honest with yourself, you wouldn’t have it any other way.
5Dark Maus
A Game Of Cat And Maus
Souls games often pride themselves on the depth of their systems, the number of items you can equip for bespoke builds, and their ability to provide a lot of eye candy as you go.
In contrast, Dark Maus doesn’t concern itself too much with all of that. Instead, offering a visually simplistic title made up of vignettes and shadows and a combat system that is a boiled-down melee-fest that demands caution and precision.
That said, this game isn’t without unique features, as the game offers a ghost echo, which is a ghost of your past self that will fight alongside you, making you more formidable should you fall.
It’s a little one-note and ganky at times, but for the low price tag it asks for, it’s definitely worth checking out.
4Titan Souls
Make Your Shot Count
Titan Souls
As someone who loves a game that boldly decides to cut the fluff and producesa streamlined boss-rush experience, it should be no surprise that I adore Titan Souls as a concept.
The gimmick of this game is simple. In this game, you fight bosses back to back, and you, being a flimsy little dude, can be easily killed in one hit. However, technically speaking, you also have the power to kill bosses in one hit courtesy of your magic arrow.
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That said, you need to fight, outmaneuver your foe, and pick your moment to shoot your shot, or you’ll be a sitting duck.
It’s as much a puzzle as it is a precise combat experience, effectively serving as a Dark Souls meets Shadow of the Colossus combo, and if that doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will.
3No Rest For The Wicked
A Promising Early-Access Gem
No Rest for the Wicked
We head once again to the world of early access for another top-down Souls-like from an unlikely source. None other than the developers behind the Ori series.
While this one is definitely one thatleans more toward the realm of ARPGs like Diablo and Path of Exile, we’re making an allowance purely because Steam labels this one a Souls-Like, and to be fair, we get it.
This game presents a gritty, medieval fantasy world that is steeped in lore and intrigue, and you, a member of the Celim, are the world’s only hope. And, as such, you’ll need to act as a one-man-army, laying waste to all manner of gargantuan bosses.
But if that’s not Souls adjacent enough for you, you have gorgeous world design, varied classes and playstyles, mindful and tactical combat, and untold secrets to uncover in each area of this bleak world.
And if that’s all too much for you, there’s fishing, home decor, and cooking mechanics because even warriors need some downtime. It’s a work in progress, but one that looks super promising.
2Loot River
Block-Based Brilliance
Loot River
In most Souls games, the world seems like it wants to do anything to strike you down where you stand. However, in the sublime top-down souls-like Loot River, the world is all to happy to bend to your will. The enemies, however, not so much.
This game still features all the staples of a souls game, such as varied weapons and gear, charms and runes, and deep, strategic combat that can see you killed in an instant if you falter.
However, this game doubles this up with sliding block puzzles as you need to use the environment around you, not too unlike Tetriminoes, to slot into place and kill enemies where they stand upon impact.
It’s far removed from the usual Souls formula, but in the best way possible. It’s a real breath of fresh air within the genre, and one that weathered traditional souls players should check out.
1Void Sols
Stripped Back Souls
Asteroids was the first game to excite gamers with minimalistic geometry mixed with addictive action, and all these years later, it’s clear that the combo still works, as Void Sols so aptly proves.
This game may look nothing like a souls-like at a glance, but you have all the trappings there. Combat with blocks and parries, melee and ranged attacks, and timely dodges. Bonfires to rest your weary angular soul after a brutal death, and a steady stream of bosses all too happy to make that a common occurrence.
But, this one stands out because it feels like a top-down shooter laser light show with a penchant for flair and the extraordinary.
It’s a game that is unapologetically different and dares to tear up the souls script and write its own. It’s quite literally the brightest light in the top-down souls sub-genre, and our pick of the bunch by some distance.
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