Alright, let's talk about the elephant in the room... or should I say, the giant boss that's about to one-shot us in 2026.
We're living in the golden age of soulslikes. Elden Ring proved these games can go mainstream. Lies of P showed us that indie studios can nail the formula. And now? Everyone and their grandma is making a soulslike. Some will be peak fiction. Others will be... well, let's just say "inspired by Dark Souls" doesn't automatically mean good.
So which games should you actually be hyped for this year? Which ones are gonna make you rage-quit and come crawling back for more? Let's break it down.
The Big Ones (AAA Territory)
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Expansions
Yeah, I know Shadow of the Erdtree dropped in 2024, but FromSoftware's been teasing more content and the community is STARVING. If they announce anything new in 2026? The internet will explode.
We're talking potential new areas, bosses that make Malenia look like a tutorial enemy (god help us), and lore that'll have VaatiVidya making 3-hour videos. The Lands Between aren't done with us yet.
My prediction? They'll drop something unexpected. Maybe a whole new questline. Maybe a boss rush mode. Maybe just more suffering. Either way, I'm here for it.
Phantom Blade Zero
This Chinese action RPG has been on my radar since the gameplay reveal and holy SHIT it looks good. It's got that Devil May Cry meets Sekiro vibe – fast, brutal, stylish as fuck. The combat looks insane. The boss designs? Chef's kiss.
S-Game is putting in WORK. If they nail the difficulty balance and don't make it too punishing (or too easy), this could be a sleeper hit. Plus the aesthetic is dark fantasy meets cyberpunk which... yeah, I'm into that.
Black Myth: Wukong DLC/Updates
Black Myth Wukong came out swinging in 2024 and it was GORGEOUS. Chinese mythology meets soulslike mechanics? Sign me the fuck up. The boss fights were incredible, the visuals were next-level, and the story actually made sense (looking at you, FromSoft).
If they drop DLC or major updates in 2026, I'm ready to get my ass kicked by more mythological creatures. That monkey king energy hits different.
The Indie Darlings (Where the Real Innovation Happens)
Enotria: The Last Song
Italian folklore meets soulslike? Hell yes. This game's been in development for a while and it's giving me major Lies of P vibes – smaller studio, unique setting, passionate devs who actually GET what makes these games work.
The mask system looks interesting (swap masks mid-combat for different abilities), and the Mediterranean aesthetic is a nice change from the usual gothic/medieval stuff. If they stick the landing, this could be special.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Okay, this one's more action-RPG than pure soulslike, but it's got that vibe. Gods, magic, gunpowder weapons, and a companion system that doesn't suck? I'm cautiously optimistic.
A44 Games (the studio behind Ashen) knows how to make atmospheric worlds. If they can nail the combat and make the difficulty curve feel fair, this could be a dark horse contender.
No Rest for the Wicked
Moon Studios (Ori devs) making a soulslike? That's like finding out your favorite indie band is dropping a metal album. It's unexpected but I'm SO curious.
The art style is stunning (obviously, it's Moon Studios), and early gameplay looks promising. The question is: can they translate their Metroidvania expertise into the soulslike formula without losing what makes their games special?
We'll find out in 2026.
The Long Shots (Probably Not Happening But We Can Dream)
Bloodborne Remaster/PC Port
I know. I KNOW. We've been begging Sony for years. Every gaming event, every State of Play, we hope... and we get disappointed.
But what if 2026 is THE year? What if Sony finally realizes they're sitting on a goldmine? 60fps Bloodborne on PS5 and PC would print money. The modding community alone would go INSANE.
Am I delusional? Probably. Will I keep hoping? Absolutely.
Sekiro 2 or Spiritual Successor
FromSoftware said they're working on multiple projects. Elden Ring DLC is one. Armored Core got its sequel. So what's next?
A Sekiro follow-up would be incredible. That combat system was PERFECT. The posture/deflection mechanics, the mobility, the boss design... it was peak FromSoft. Give us more of that, please.
Or hell, give us a new IP with similar mechanics. I just want to deflect attacks and feel like a badass samurai again.
What Makes a Good Soulslike in 2026?
Here's the thing... we've played a LOT of soulslikes at this point. The bar is HIGH. You can't just copy Dark Souls and call it a day. You need:
1. Unique Identity – What makes YOUR game different? Lies of P had the Pinocchio twist and weapon customization. Bloodborne had cosmic horror and rally mechanics. Find your thing.
2. Tight Combat – If the dodge roll feels off, if the hitboxes are janky, if the camera is fighting me... I'm out. Combat has to feel GOOD.
3. Fair Difficulty – Hard is fine. Bullshit is not. There's a difference between "I died because I fucked up" and "I died because the game cheated."
4. Atmosphere – These games live and die by their vibe. The world has to feel oppressive, mysterious, worth exploring. Music, level design, enemy placement... it all matters.
5. Respect for the Player's Time – Long runbacks to bosses? Nah. Unclear progression? Pass. We're not in 2011 anymore. Quality of life matters.
My Personal Hype Ranking
If I had to rank what I'm most excited for:
1. Phantom Blade Zero – That combat looks TOO good
2. Elden Ring anything – I'm a FromSoft simp, sue me
3. Enotria – Indie passion projects hit different
4. No Rest for the Wicked – Wildcard pick
5. Bloodborne port – Copium levels: maximum
What About You?
Which soulslikes are you hyped for in 2026? What games did I miss? Are you team "FromSoft only" or do you give indie soulslikes a chance?
Head over to trentcave.com and drop a comment. Let's talk about which games are gonna destroy our controllers this year. And if you're into dark fantasy art inspired by these games, I've got some hand-drawn pieces that capture that soulslike aesthetic – check out the shop while you're there.
Also, if you want more gaming hot takes, boss fight breakdowns, and me ranting about why [insert boss name] is bullshit, follow the Trent Cave blog. I post regularly about soulslikes, horror games, and the dark art scene.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go replay Sekiro and pretend I'm still good at parrying.
Spoiler: I'm not.
— Trent
Still waiting for Bloodborne 2. Still getting destroyed by indie soulslikes. Still loving every second of it.
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