Why the Soulslike Genre Needs FromSoftware to Break the Mold Again
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
An examination of how the Soulslike genre has stagnated after Elden Ring, arguing that only FromSoftware can break the mold and take the formula in genuinely new directions.
The Soulslike genre has reached a curious saturation point. Ever since Elden Ring expanded the blueprint into a massive, open world sandbox, the wider gaming landscape has struggled to push the formula forward. Developers continue to borrow the core ingredients of high-stakes combat, stamina management, and labyrinthine map design, yet many recent releases feel like predictable variations on a theme rather than genuine evolutions. Even notable attempts by other studios, from Team Ninja's loot driven Nioh to various grimdark imitations, often lean too heavily on familiar tropes instead of finding truly strange new directions.
Originally explored in a feature by Ed Thorn on Rock Paper Shotgun, the discussion highlights how the genre's defining mechanics have become standardized checkboxes. When every new release relies on the exact same loop of losing currency upon death, resting at scattered checkpoints, and navigating poison swamps, the tension begins to wear thin. Players who treat these games as a primary social and entertainment space are looking for more than competent replicas. They want the genuine disorientation and discovery that only brilliant world building can provide.
Ultimately, breaking this stagnation will likely require the original architects to lead the way once more. While smaller studios can iterate on combat pacing and itemization, FromSoftware remains uniquely positioned to subvert expectations and redefine what a dark fantasy playground can be. Until the next major paradigm shift arrives from the masters themselves, the rest of the industry risks leaving the genre trapped in an endless cycle of diminishing returns.
Tags: Soulslike, FromSoftware, Elden Ring, Gaming Trends, PC Gaming
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun