SOAlike

SOAlike is a term used in video game communities to describe games that share significant design and gameplay elements with the Souls series developed by FromSoftware. These games are typically characterized by challenging combat, intricate level design with interconnected pathways, environmental storytelling, and a focus on player perseverance. The "Souls-like" genre emerged from the popularity and distinctiveness of Demon's Souls and the subsequent Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Key features often found in SOAlike games include demanding combat that requires careful timing of attacks, dodges, and parries. Enemies are generally powerful and can easily defeat the player, necessitating learning their patterns and weaknesses. Death usually results in losing accumulated experience or currency, which must be retrieved from the point of death, adding a risk-reward mechanic. Exploration is another hallmark, with environments often filled with secrets, shortcuts, and hidden lore that players piece together through item descriptions and subtle environmental cues rather than explicit narrative exposition. The difficulty is a defining aspect, with the satisfaction of overcoming challenges being a primary draw for players. While many SOAlike games emulate these core mechanics, they also introduce their own unique twists on combat, progression, and world-building, leading to a diverse range of experiences within the subgenre.