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Best Soulslike Games On Game Pass
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Non-Soulslike Games On Game Pass Dark Souls Fans Might Love
Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls ushered in a new subgenre of RPG/action-adventure gaming in the form of Soulslikes. While still in its infancy, the concept has produced quite a few projects over the last decade, and many tend to be ambitious projects. 2023 alone produced Lords of the Fallen, Lies of P, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, all of which were massive releases in their own right.
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Best Games On Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass is unquestionably worth the subscription fee, but which of the available games are the best use of your hard drive space?
Xbox Game Pass‘ value comes from its variety. The subscription service tries to cover as wide of a spectrum as possible, offering something to interest most tastes. Soulslikes are no exception, even if none of FromSoftware’s genre-creating releases are part of the service. Still, some of the best Soulslike games on Xbox Game Pass serve as great alternatives to Dark Souls and Bloodborne.
Updated February 2, 2025 by Mark Sammut: While the last few weeks did not produce any Soulslikes for Game Pass owners, two games arrived on the subscription service that fans might wish to check out anyway. Eternal Strands and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black have been added.
Nine Sols
A 2D Metroidvania That Takes Inspiration From Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

- Released
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May 29, 2024
- Developer(s)
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RedCandleGames
- How Long To Beat
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22 Hours
After spending a few months as a PC exclusive, Nine Sols finally debuted on consoles in November 2024, garnering widespread acclaim in the process. Nowadays, 2D Metroidvanias with Soulslike combat are so common that the concept has begun to tire; however, individually, most of these releases are fantastic.
Nine Sols compares favorably to nearly any of its contemporaries, and Red Candle’s game stands out from the crowd by emphasizing fast-paced parries akin to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Honestly, out of all of FromSoftware’s masterpieces, Sekiro should be used as a learning tool a lot more, especially since it arguably has the developer’s best combat.
A sci-fi epic drenched in Asian mythology, Nine Sols is a feast for the eyes that tells a respectable story set in the fascinating New Kunlun. As Yi, players go on a quest to eradicate the nine Sols, all of which not only pack a punch but are also unique. Opting to fine-tune a handful of mechanics, the intense combat is straightforward but demanding, requiring mastery as the campaign’s difficulty spikes during its second half. While not as challenging as Sekiro or something like Hollow Knight, Nine Sols should still test most genre veterans.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
A Sci-Fi Soulslike With Fun Exploration & A Decent Story



- Released
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April 28, 2023
- How Long To Beat
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20 Hours
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Jedi: Survivor. Developed by Respawn, the games tell an original story in the Star Wars universe, with an in-hiding Jedi Knight named Cal Kestis taking center stage. Regardless of quality, newcomers should try to start with Fallen Order as its story leads directly into Survivor. More importantly, the 2019 release is not only great but also one of the best Soulslike games on Game Pass in its own right.

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Best Boss Fights
These bosses offer the best fights in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Still, Jedi: Survivor is (generally) bigger and better in most areas. Cal Kestis’ character is more fleshed out, the featured planets are more visually striking and fun to explore, and the battle system has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Just to be clear, the sequel mostly sticks to the same blueprint as Fallen Order, particularly the enjoyable but floaty combat. Still, Jedi: Survivor added depth via a stance system, which is like a mix of Nioh‘s mechanic and Devil May Cry 5‘s Dante moveset. Essentially, players can decide Cal’s preferred fighting style by equipping two stances simultaneously.
Lies Of P
A Victorian Gothic Epic Reminiscent Of Bloodborne



- Released
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September 19, 2023
- Developer(s)
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Round8 Studio, Neowiz
- How Long To Beat
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20 Hours
Lies of P is a fantastic action RPG that takes obvious inspiration from arguably FromSoftware’s best game: Bloodborne. Creatively inspired by Pinocchio, the game follows the iconic puppet as he makes his way through Krat, a city overrun with horrendous monstrosities that range from humanoid guards to massive entities. Offering more fast-paced action than the traditional Soulslike, Lies of P incorporates most of the genre’s basic ingredients, but they are combined in a way that allows the game to stand out positively.
While dodging is an option, the combat prioritizes guarding and deflections, the latter of which must be mastered to make the many challenging bosses more manageable. Even though it was not created by a well-known developer, Lies of P is polished, ambitious, and impressive, and it will likely go down as one of the best Soulslike games of all time.
Another Crab’s Treasure
Lighthearted Underwater Soulslike With An Inspired Armor System

- Released
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April 25, 2024
- Developer(s)
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Aggro Crab
- How Long To Beat
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14 Hours
Can there be too much of a good thing? With every month seemingly producing a project that somewhat fits the descriptor, Soulslike games have become ordinary. Be it 3D or 2D variants, there are just so many options out there that new releases rarely feel that special anymore, at least if they are not handled by FromSoftware. Soulslike combat is starting to seem like the default mode for action RPGs, which is both a blessing and a curse. Consequently, a new game has to try extra hard to stand out from the crowd.

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Another Crab’s Treasure: Best Shells For Defending
In Another Crab’s Treasure, some shells are offer better defensive abilities than others – or are just more durable in a fight.
Well, regardless of quality, Another Crab’s Treasure certainly stands out. Despite plenty of familiar pieces, Aggro Crab combines everything to create an experience that has no real parallels in the Soulslike genre. An underwater adventure, the game brings to life a visually vibrant and colorful world filled with cute architecture stemming from natural phenomena and literal trash. The story follows a naive crab, Kril, who is fleeced of their shell, forcing them to go on a dangerous journey to reclaim what is theirs. Rather than a blank slate, Kril overflows with personality and changes quite a bit throughout the story.
Another Crab’s Treasure is a platformer and a pretty good one at that. When players are not fighting off all sorts of crustaceans, they will be pulling off impressive jumps, most of which are tight but not extremely challenging. The core combat is pretty simple, with Kril having a main weapon, a dodge, a block, and an unlockable parry. Players also unlock different skills depending on the shell they wear, which makes trying new ones worthwhile (and they break pretty quickly).
Remnant 2
An All-Around Great Shooter Soulslike That Is Particularly Awesome In Co-OP



- Released
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July 25, 2023
- How Long To Beat
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20 Hours
Both Remnant games are on Xbox Game Pass, and they scratch a unique itch within the Soulslike sphere. The vast majority of the genre’s entries focus on melee combat, with only a few leaning into ranged action. Gunfire Games’ IP is by far the best example of the latter, and these two releases are the definitive third-person Soulslike shooters since they push this type of action to the forefront rather than having it as a complementary piece to close-quarters combat. While it might be a few years old by this point, Remnant: From the Ashes is still great and should not be skipped over just because its sequel is available; in fact, an argument could be made that the first title is the better of the two packages. Still, Remnant 2 expands on most of its predecessor’s ideas, all the while providing more varied worlds to explore and better-defined classes.

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Remnant 2 uses procedural generation technology to expand its replayability while still allowing room for tailor-made levels. This feature is limited to dungeons within worlds, meaning that each run should be a bit different. Consequently, players will need to play through the game multiple times to experience everything it has to offer, which is a positive creative decision considering New Game+ is a very common feature of Soulslikes. The gameplay is fantastic and intense, provided someone is a general fan of third-person shooters. Crowd control is a big part of the challenge, especially since Remnant 2 is designed with co-op in mind. While not quite as exciting as in some other Soulslikes, loot is also central to a playthrough, although players will mostly be picking up rings, amulets, and relics rather than weapons.
Lords Of The Fallen
Ambitious & Gorgeous Soulslike



- Released
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October 13, 2023
- Developer(s)
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HEXWORKS
- How Long To Beat
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30 Hours
Similar to its 2014 spiritual predecessor, Lords of the Fallen is arguably among the most polarizing Soulslike games, even though it has more than a few positives. By using Unreal Engine 5, Hexworks created one of the genre’s most visually striking projects that 100% looks like an AAA release, even if it was not published by a particularly major company. If nothing else, the game’s production value is impressive.
The core combat is fairly typical for a Soulslike, but Lords of the Fallen has a couple of fresh ideas, including the existence of two realms that players are encouraged to swap between frequently. This concept also plays into the game’s take on death, offering a bit of a twist on the standard formula. For the most part, the level design is quite good and ambitious, and it is designed in a way that belies a sense of scale while sticking to a fairly linear structure. LOTF‘s boss fights are epic in scale but somewhat of a mixed bag in practice, with most being relatively simplistic.
Lords of the Fallen is one of those games that seems to have no middle ground; players either love or hate it. Thanks to its Game Pass arrival, people on the fence can try it without any risk.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Team Ninja’s Fast-Paced Action RPG



- Released
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March 3, 2023
- How Long To Beat
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27 Hours
Team Ninja has spent the last half a decade cementing its place in the Soulslike world through the Nioh games. While those releases are not on Xbox Game Pass, the developer’s most recent project debuted directly on Microsoft’s subscription service. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty utilizes many of the same ideas introduced in Team Ninja’s previous outings, including a loot system that drowns players in weapons and armor. Similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Wo Long prioritizes deflecting attacks over guarding or dodging; just to be clear, the latter two are still important tools in the player’s arsenal, but everyone will need to somewhat master parrying if they want to last long in the campaign.
Set during China’s Three Kingdoms era, Wo Long blends reality with fiction by incorporating historical figures alongside supernatural monsters. Like any good Soulslike, Team Ninja’s game is absolutely stuffed with challenging boss fights, and players can expect to face usually a few of these sorts of enemies in most stages. Rather than a continuous world, Wo Long is divided into parts, with each one dropping players in a new Metroidvania-style area. Besides the main missions, there are side missions that can have unique bosses and drops.
Dead Cells
A Masterfully Done Roguelike Soulslike

- Released
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August 7, 2018
- Developer(s)
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Motion Twin
- How Long To Beat
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15 Hours
Dead Cells is Roguevania in design but its steep difficulty at times and its punishing bosses are enough to have Souls fans coming back for more. Players will take control of a mysterious being that’s seemingly immortal, reappearing from a slush of who-knows-what each time it’s slain in battle.
The 2D sidescrolling adventure features beautiful visuals, visceral yet challenging combat, and a massive “blueprint system” in which players can unlock weapons, outfits, and accessories to infuse into future runs. With multiple branching paths and a deep playstyle customization system, Dead Cells is a must-play Indie hit.
Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition
A Brilliant Metroidvania With Brilliant Soulslike Combat

- Released
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February 24, 2017
- Developer(s)
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Team Cherry
- How Long To Beat
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27 Hours
Though appearances may not indicate it at first blush, Hollow Knight features a whole host of Soulslike elements that are sure to please fans of the niche. This 2D Metroidvania romp ticks most of the essential boxes — punishing death mechanics that put progression at risk, the signature checkpoint system, and exhilarating challenging boss encounters are all sure to delight.

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One boss can be tough, but two can prove to be even more difficult!
That said, Hollow Knight certainly carved out its own identity. The insectoid character designs and the setting are as compelling as they are charming, and it’s difficult not to fall in love with the surprising depth of the lore as players guide the Knight through the ruins of Hallownest.
Tunic
Zelda & Dark Souls All Rolled Into One

- Released
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March 16, 2022
- Developer(s)
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Andrew Shouldice
- How Long To Beat
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12 Hours
Tunic is a lot of things, and describing it solely as Soulslike would be a disservice to the game’s creativity and ambition. Along with taking obvious inspiration from Zelda, particularly with its puzzles, this indie darling’s combat system undeniably favors games like Dark Souls. The game contains most of the core fundamentals that are synonymous with these types of releases: dodge roll, shield guarding, and telegraphed enemy moves. There are even items that work to replenish health similar to Estus Flasks.
However, Tunic is more than just a top-down take on the Souls formula. It is a charming puzzle-platformer that would have not looked out of place on Nintendo’s resume. It offers a challenging adventure with complex bosses that often require more than just quick reflexes. It manages to be accessible and mainstream while hiding depth that will surprise even the most veteran of players. Tunic is not just one of the best Soulslike on Xbox Game Pass, but it is simply one of the best games on the subscription service.
Ashen
An Ambitious Indie Soulslike That Went Open-World

- Released
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December 7, 2018
- Developer(s)
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A44 Games
- How Long To Beat
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16 Hours
Ashen was very impressive in 2018. While it holds up relatively well, Soulslikes have become so common that a smaller-scale attempt to replicate FromSoftware’s formula is no longer that incredible in isolation.
A44’s project has a few things that set it apart from the crowd, even after all these years. As previously mentioned, Ashen is set in an open-world, granting players relative freedom to go where they want almost immediately. There are skill walls and areas that cannot be immediately explored, but the map is quite accessible. That might not sound that exciting in a post-Elden Ring world, but Ashen was among the first Soulslikes to go down this route and, more importantly, do it well.
The novel ideas do not end there either. Ashen moves away from traditional leveling, instead tying things like HP and Stamina to quests and collectibles. This means that players will grow stronger consistently and in a way that ensures they are powerful enough to take on the late-game content. Beyond that, AI companions are a big part of Ashen, making it one of the easier Soulslikes. Weapons are also tied to progression, and they can also be upgraded. The game even has players building a hub area as they attract new NPCs.
Non-Soulslike Games On Game Pass Dark Souls Fans Might Love
Soulslikes are not a dime a dozen, and only a few games share significant similarities with FromSoftware’s franchise. That said, fans of these types of projects should not limit themselves to just games that ape Dark Souls‘ combat or level design as they would miss out on some enjoyable titles that they are likely to enjoy. The upcoming games are worth consideration:
Eternal Strands
Take Down Towering Monsters



- Released
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January 28, 2025
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence, Sexual Themes, Drug Reference
- Developer(s)
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Yellow Brick Games
- How Long To Beat
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15 Hours
Eternal Strands is an ambitious action-adventure game that utilizes ideas explored in projects like Dragon’s Dogma and Shadow of the Colossus, specifically huge boss encounters that play out more like puzzles (that can be scaled). Set in a gorgeous and vibrant fantasy world, the campaign tells a familiar but satisfying story led by mostly likable characters. Meanwhile, players explore diverse regions, deal with the weather, collect materials required for crafting, upgrade the playable character, and engage in simple but fun real-time combat.

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Eternal Strands is a new off-beat action RPG that can be tricky to get a handle on. Thankfully, these beginner tips are here to help.
While the gameplay and world design are not particularly comparable to Soulslikes, Eternal Strands can scratch a similar itch due to its main boss encounters, which pit players against roaming behemoths that take time and effort to topple. Furthermore, the game uses a weather system that presents environmental hazards, forcing players to plan properly before heading to an area.
Sifu
Martial Arts Goodness

- Released
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February 8, 2022
- Developer(s)
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Sloclap
- How Long To Beat
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9 Hours
A tenet of Soulslikes is combat with a steep learning curve. There is a reason that most of the genre’s games seem to get easier as they progress: mastering the core mechanics is most of the battle. Despite having more in common with 3D beat ’em ups than Dark Souls, Sifu‘s gameplay similarly tests the player’s willingness to put in the time and effort to properly come to grips with its surprising complexity. Sloclap’s combat focuses primarily on melee action, with players gradually gaining access to more than 100 moves that they can chain together. That said, weapons are important too, and Sifu heavily revolves around parries and dodging (like Soulslikes).

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5 Ways To Combat Master Difficulty In Sifu
Sifu has left many fans impressed with Sloclap’s efforts as their recent update for the title added another challenge for players to overcome.
Also, similar to Soulslikes, Sifu is built on repetition. In a clever twist on the roguelike formula, death causes the protagonist to age a few years, a development that comes with both positives and negatives. Therefore, while players will revive on the spot an array of times, they will eventually die of old age and have to start from the beginning (although, Sifu has some permanent upgrades). Each stage is littered with aggressive enemies and culminates in a boss fight, all of which are hard-as-nails. Eventually, players will need to complete all the stages in one go, which is extremely difficult.
Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand
A Soulslike Developer Tries Their Hand At A Different Type Of Action RPG



- Released
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August 10, 2023
- How Long To Beat
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11 Hours
While not as synonymous with the genre as Team Ninja or, obviously, FromSoftware, Deck13 is no stranger to Soulslikes. Lords of the Fallen was arguably the first “big” attempt to replicate Dark Souls‘ formula. That attempt failed to hit the mark, but Deck13 followed that fantasy epic with two great sci-fi attempts: The Surge and its sequel. Although far from perfect, both games are worthwhile members of the Soulslike genre that deliver challenging combat, novel mechanics (dismemberment is so satisfying), and a unique setting that still feels fresh. Honestly, anyone craving a Soulslike should check these projects out, particularly The Surge 2.
Unfortunately, none of those games are currently on Game Pass; fortunately, Deck13’s most recent outing, Atlas Fallen, is part of the subscription service. Despite the developer’s resume and a few similar UI elements, the 2023 release is not a Soulslike; at best, it might qualify as a Soulslite, but even that would be pushing the definition. No, Atlas Fallen is an action RPG with fairly fast-paced hack-and-slash combat that can be quite punishing if played mindlessly. The story is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done; more importantly, the gameplay is quite fun, particularly once players unlock different abilities and start to get a grasp on some of the more unique concepts. The Essence Stones mechanic is especially interesting, presenting players with quite a lot of choices in how they build their character.
While not a misunderstood masterpiece, Atlas Fallen is a fun open-world romp that gets quite a few things right, particularly movement and combat. As far as modern AA-style games are concerned, this release is among the better recent examples. It is also perfect for Game Pass.
Reign of Sand refers to a substantial free update that gave the vanilla version quite an extensive overhaul, including incorporating new enemies and tweaking the progression. The changes might not be enough to warrant a second playthrough, but they ensure new players are getting the best version of Atlas Fallen.
Monster Hunter Rise
Slay Massive Enemies & Heavy Focus On Builds

- Released
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March 26, 2021
- How Long To Beat
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22 Hours
Similar to Demon’s Souls, Capcom’s Monster Hunter essentially started its own subgenre, one that has produced games like Dauntless and God Eater. Also, like FromSoftware’s releases, Capcom’s series is still the standard-bearer for these types of projects, and there are really no close competitors. Debuting on the Nintendo Switch before making its way to PC and ultimately other consoles, Monster Hunter Rise is the most accessible entry in the franchise, making it the perfect entry point for anyone who might have found previous entries like Monster Hunter Generations too intimidating.
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Unlike its immediate predecessor, Monster Hunter World, Rise features smaller-scale maps, albeit ones that still provide room for a degree of exploration. For the uninitiated, Monster Hunter‘s gameplay loop involves defeating creatures to use their parts to create better armor and weapons needed to survive against deadlier threats. Rise‘s story campaign is just a glorified tutorial that can be completed within a few hours, and the real game begins once the credits roll. Players are free to pick from 14 weapon classes, all of which control and feel wildly different.
Alice: Madness Returns
A Haunting Trip Through A Twisted Wonderland



- Released
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June 14, 2011
- Developer(s)
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Spicy Horse
- How Long To Beat
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15 Hours
Spicy Horse’s Alice: Madness Returns follows a much older Alice as she returns to Wonderland, a fantasy realm that blends absurdity with nightmare fuel. Featuring a hack and slash combat system, Madness Returns‘ combat is simple but enjoyable, delivering fast-paced action that makes good use of Alice’s unique weapons and skills.
While fights are commonplace, the 2011 game is primarily a platformer, which puts it in stark contrast with most Soulslikes. However, Alice: Madness Returns‘ world might hit a chord with fans of FromSoftware’s universes, most of which consist of formerly great kingdoms that have been morphed by human greed and rampant ambition. Wonderland has suffered a similar fate, morphing from a place defined by whimsy to a horrorscape filled with terrifying versions of classic characters.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
Hack And Slash Masterclass



- Released
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January 23, 2025
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
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Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
- How Long To Beat
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10 Hours
Coming completely out of nowhere, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was announced and launched on the same day, debuting directly on Xbox Game Pass. This Unreal Engine 5 remaster/remake of the Xbox 360/PS3 classic offers exactly the type of experience it should, presenting the original’s tight and fantastic gameplay with a more modern and impressive visual style. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black runs pretty well too, which is not a guarantee with UE5 games.
Despite the arrival of this title, Xbox Game Pass has retained Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection. Consequently, players can still play through a version of Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma, if they happen to prefer the old style over the new one. That collection also contains Ninja Gaiden Sigma and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge.
Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
Great Spiritual Successor To Castlevania

Action RPG
Metroidvania
Side-scroller
- Released
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June 18, 2019
- Developer(s)
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ArtPlay
- How Long To Beat
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15 Hours
The Soulslike genre has roots in Metroidvanias, and that extends to the 3D outings that tend to hog the limelight. While Castlevania has been sadly relegated to a thing of the past, the franchise’s influence can be felt in modern releases, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night serves as the perfect spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the indie game launched to a largely positive reception, and it serves not only as a great throwback to a ’90s classic but also as an accessible entry point into Metroidvanias in general.

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As Miriam, players get to explore an impressive and expansive castle filled to the brim with delightful (and difficult) monsters, many of which drop powers that can be wielded by the protagonist. Bloodstained features a robust loot system that will likely hit home with Soulslike fans who love to play around with different abilities and weapons. More importantly, the game’s combat is also on-point, delivering fast-paced action that is constantly satisfying and challenging. The boss fights are also generally enjoyable, and ArtPlay put together some immaculate designs for these creatures. Even the castle’s environments are detailed and gorgeous.
Wild Hearts
Great Enemy Designs & Deep But Rough Combat



- Released
-
February 16, 2023
- How Long To Beat
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46 Hours
At a glance, Wild Hearts‘ main influence should be painfully obvious since EA and Omega Force’s game screams “Monster Hunter.” Although Capcom’s franchise is arguably more popular than ever, the world could always use a few more projects that follow in its footsteps, especially ones that bring a few unique ingredients with them. Despite having a mixed launch, particularly on PC, Wild Hearts is an impressive first effort, one that has a lot of potential for expansion (that might never be tapped into). As a hunter, players track down Kemono, creatures that are always beautiful, frequently massive, and typically deadly.
Wild Hearts emphasizes exploration a bit more than Monster Hunter, especially since its four maps are fairly big for this type of game. However, the focus is nevertheless on the hunt, leading to grueling battles that still have fairly fast-paced minute-to-minute action. The game’s standout mechanic is Karakuri, which allows players to build structures that provide benefits both in and out of battle. This system rewards creativity and adds a fresh dynamic to combat scenarios, especially since players will eventually find themselves taking on enemies they have already defeated.
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Best RPGs On Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass has many fantastic titles from varying genres, and here is a look at the best RPGs the service has to offer.