this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2025
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Soulslike - Discussion, News, Memes
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This is a community for discussion, news, and memes pertaining to the video game sub-genre "soulslike".
Given Lemmy's size, the definition of soulslike may be treated relatively loosely. While games like the numerous FromSoft titles, the recent Star Wars Jedi games, Lies of P, Nioh and similar games should be the focus, games that incorporate soulslike elements - like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous, for example - may also be discussed here.
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[BB] This enemy is so difficult!
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[DS1] Anyone struggling with the gargoyles?
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Disclaimer: I love Dark Souls 2, and that's actually why I'm using it for this example. I think this applies to most of the Souls games though.
I play through DS2 a lot. Probably once a year these days, I've done over a dozen full runs of the game.
Almost no matter what build I'm building, I'm 2/3 of the way through the game (or farther, sometimes, depending on if I want DLC items) before my build is "built". Part of the fun of the game to me is building up that build piece by piece, but the fact remains, if I'm building a hexer (for instance), I'm going to be running it as a sorceror with a bad stat spread for 10 hours before it fleshes out. You'll need to go into NG+ in order to properly run a certain build through the whole game.
Elden Ring neatly sidesteps this issue, at the cost of making 2/3 of the game world useless to you on repeat playthroughs. You can just go pick up everything on your shopping list in 2-3 hours and then your path forward from there is clear.
I'm honestly not sure which of these is the better option, and I both like and dislike both options for different reasons.
imo the best way to replay elden ring is with the randomizer (for items and bosses)
you can have a general idea of what you want to build but the details are going to depend on what you find, a lot like the first blind playthrough.
the main problem this introduces is that (depending on the randomizer settings) there becomes basically no incentive to explore any side areas, just hit up the most drop-dense spots to cobble a playable build together before swooping in on the major bosses. and something like an arc/faith build just isn't feasible unless you roll a dragon communion seal on your starter build. but then, flexibility should be rewarded.
Since I've never tried out randomisers or Nightreign, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on Nightreign now, because that sounds like you are basically describing the NR experience
i was a big fan of it around the first batch of everdarks, have since fallen off and intend to come back when it's content complete (and i can pick up a couple copies on sale for friends)
it's a vastly different solo experience but scratches a similar itch. the main difference is playing to a time limit vs just competing against your own performances. obviously can't really compare the team play.
I get what you mean, but I personally really love that feeling of growth. I would say it's one of the primary markers of whether or not I'll enjoy a game. It's a big reason I play lots of MMOs and ARPGs, because I really enjoy character progression. I'd rather suffer as a bad wizard nerd for the first 20 hours for the payoff of being a badass grand magus for like the last third of the game, than start as a very powerful wizard who gets maybe one or two more spells throughout the game.