Ever wonder souls-like means? We have the answer.

A souls-like game is a subgenre of action RPGs inspired by the gameplay and design philosophy of the Dark Souls series developed by FromSoftware. These games are known for their challenging combat, intricate level design, and deep lore. Here are the defining characteristics of souls-like games:

1. Challenging Combat:

• Tactical and Precise: Combat is often slow and deliberate, requiring players to time their attacks, dodges, and blocks carefully. Mistakes can be punishing, making precision essential.
• Stamina Management: Actions like attacking, blocking, and dodging consume stamina, necessitating careful management to avoid leaving yourself vulnerable.

2. Difficulty and Consequences:

• High Difficulty: Souls-like games are known for their steep difficulty curve. Enemies are often formidable, and bosses can be especially challenging.
• Permadeath with a Twist: When players die, they typically lose any collected experience points or currency, which can be recovered if they reach the location of their death without dying again.

3. Exploration and Level Design:

• Interconnected Worlds: The game world is usually designed as a complex, interconnected space with shortcuts, hidden paths, and multiple routes.
• Environmental Storytelling: Much of the lore and narrative is conveyed through the environment, item descriptions, and subtle clues rather than direct exposition.

4. Minimal Hand-Holding:

• Sparse Guidance: Souls-like games often provide limited direct guidance or tutorials. Players must figure out mechanics, strategies, and story details largely through experimentation and exploration.

5. Deep Customization and Progression:

• Character Customization: Players can typically choose from various classes and build their characters with different attributes, weapons, and abilities.
• Progression Systems: Experience points or currency earned from defeating enemies can be used to upgrade character stats or acquire new skills and equipment.

6. Risk and Reward:

• Risky Advancement: Progression often involves taking significant risks, as players need to venture into dangerous areas to gain rewards and experience.
• Checkpoint System: The game usually features checkpoints or save points where progress is saved, but reaching these checkpoints may involve a challenging journey.

7. Atmospheric and Immersive World-Building:

• Dark and Brooding Atmosphere: Many souls-like games have a dark, often gothic aesthetic with a focus on mood and atmosphere.
• Rich Lore: The story and world are often deeply layered, with lore that players uncover gradually through exploration and interaction with the environment.

8. High Stakes:

• Loss and Recovery: Death in a souls-like game is a significant event. Players often lose resources or progress, creating a high-stakes environment that adds to the tension and satisfaction of overcoming challenges.

Overall, souls-like games are designed to offer a demanding yet rewarding experience, emphasizing skill, perseverance, and a deep sense of immersion.