Soulslike games have dominated gaming discussions for years, but a recent industry controversy is shaking up everything we thought we knew about this popular genre. A game producer recently sparked heated debate by claiming that the mechanics we associate with soulslike games existed long before Dark Souls ever hit the scene.
The Controversial Statement That Started Everything
The gaming community erupted when a producer boldly declared, “These things aren’t new and exclusive to soulslike games. They’ve been a part of action horror games for a very, very long time.” This statement has ignited passionate discussions across Reddit and gaming forums about what truly defines soulslike games and whether we’ve been mislabeling titles for years.
The controversy highlights a growing frustration among developers and players alike. Many feel that the gaming industry has become too quick to slap the “soulslike” label on any action RPG with challenging combat, diluting the meaning of the genre entirely.
What Actually Makes Soulslike Games Special
To understand the controversy, we need to examine what genuinely defines soulslike games. True soulslike titles share specific core mechanics that go beyond just being difficult:
- Stamina-based combat system where every action depletes your energy
- Bonfire or checkpoint mechanics that serve as save points and respawn locations
- Soul or experience currency that you lose upon death but can retrieve
- Flask or healing system with limited uses that refill at checkpoints
- Interconnected world design with shortcuts and hidden areas
- Environmental storytelling rather than traditional narrative exposition
Games that truly embody these mechanics include titles like The Surge, Lies of P, and Lords of the Fallen. These games deliberately adopt FromSoftware’s design philosophy and implement it thoughtfully.
The Mislabeling Problem Plaguing Modern Gaming
The gaming industry has developed a habit of incorrectly categorizing games as soulslike games simply because they’re challenging or feature real-time combat. This has led to widespread confusion and what many call “soulslike fatigue.”
Consider these commonly mislabeled titles:
| Game Title | Actual Genre | Why It’s Not Soulslike |
|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight | Metroidvania | Platform-based exploration, no stamina system |
| Cuphead | Run-and-gun shooter | Lives-based system, cartoon aesthetic |
| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | Action-adventure | Metroidvania progression, linear story |
| Blasphemous | Metroidvania | Platform-focused gameplay, different death mechanics |
This mislabeling has created unrealistic expectations for players and unfair comparisons for developers. When every challenging game gets called a soulslike, it diminishes the unique contributions that FromSoftware made to gaming.
The Historical Context Behind Soulslike Games
The producer’s statement about action horror games having these mechanics first isn’t entirely wrong. Many elements we associate with soulslike games did exist in earlier titles:
Challenging combat was a staple of classic action games like Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry. Resource management appeared in survival horror titles like Resident Evil. Interconnected world design was pioneered by Metroid and Castlevania decades before Dark Souls.
However, FromSoftware’s genius lay in combining these elements into a cohesive design philosophy that emphasized player learning, environmental storytelling, and meaningful consequences for failure. They didn’t invent individual mechanics – they perfected the formula.
The Rise of Soulslike Games Fatigue
As the soulslike label has been applied more broadly, many players report experiencing genre fatigue. This exhaustion stems from several factors:
- Over-saturation of titles claiming to be soulslike
- Developers copying surface-level mechanics without understanding the deeper design philosophy
- Marketing teams using “soulslike” as a lazy descriptor for any challenging game
- Players expecting every action RPG to follow the same formula
This fatigue has led to a backlash where players actively avoid games labeled as soulslike, even when they might genuinely enjoy them. The controversy highlights how important accurate genre classification is for both developers and consumers.
Moving Forward: A More Nuanced Approach
The solution isn’t to abandon the soulslike category entirely, but to use it more thoughtfully. Games should earn the soulslike designation by genuinely embracing FromSoftware’s design philosophy, not just borrowing a few surface-level mechanics.
Developers are beginning to recognize this distinction. Some are deliberately moving away from soulslike mechanics to create fresh experiences, while others are diving deeper into what makes the genre special.
For players, this means being more discerning about genre labels and giving games a chance based on their individual merits rather than broad categorizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly defines a soulslike game?
A true soulslike game features stamina-based combat, checkpoint systems that respawn enemies, retrievable experience currency upon death, limited healing resources, interconnected world design, and environmental storytelling. Simply being difficult doesn’t make a game soulslike.
Why are so many games incorrectly labeled as soulslike?
Marketing teams and reviewers often use “soulslike” as shorthand for “challenging action game” because the term has become popular and recognizable. This has led to widespread mislabeling of games that don’t actually follow the soulslike formula.
What’s causing soulslike fatigue among gamers?
Soulslike fatigue results from over-saturation of titles claiming to be soulslike, shallow copying of mechanics without understanding the deeper design philosophy, and unrealistic player expectations created by broad genre labeling.
Are there good non-FromSoftware soulslike games worth playing?
Yes, games like The Surge series, Lies of P, Lords of the Fallen, and Code Vein genuinely embrace soulslike design philosophy while adding their own unique elements. These titles understand what makes the genre special.
How can I tell if a game is truly soulslike or just difficult?
Look for the core mechanics: does it have stamina-based combat, bonfire-style checkpoints, retrievable currency upon death, and interconnected world design? If it’s missing multiple core elements, it’s probably just a challenging action game.
Will the soulslike genre survive this controversy?
The genre will likely evolve and become more refined. As the controversy highlights the importance of accurate classification, we’ll probably see better distinction between true soulslike games and other challenging action titles.
What should developers do if they don’t want their game called soulslike?
Developers should clearly communicate their game’s actual genre and unique mechanics in marketing materials. They can also design systems that deliberately differ from soulslike conventions to establish their own identity.
The Future of Gaming Beyond Labels
This controversy serves as a reminder that gaming is evolving rapidly, and our classification systems need to evolve too. Rather than forcing every new game into existing categories, we should appreciate the unique contributions each title makes to the medium.
The soulslike debate ultimately isn’t just about one genre – it’s about how we discuss, categorize, and market games in an increasingly diverse industry. By being more thoughtful about these labels, we can better appreciate both the innovations that made soulslike games special and the creativity of developers working in other genres.
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, perhaps it’s time to move beyond simple labels and embrace the rich variety of experiences that modern games offer. After all, the best games have always been the ones that defy easy categorization.