Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an upcoming action RPG with challenging combat and unique abilities, set in an open world. Another Crab's Treasure is a strange soulslike game featuring the adventures of a hermit crab named Kril. Enotria: The Last Song is an upcoming soulslike game inspired by Italian folklore, with stunning visuals and a unique mask system for gameplay customization.
Those seeking more challenging soulslike combat and gameplay will find themselves thoroughly satisfied by these highly anticipated titles releasing soon.
Though the genre of Soulslike games is often debated, soulslike games are a subgenre of third-person action RPGs that typically feature difficult combat that relies on specific timing, with most possessing non-linear progression. Many of these games have a "souls" system used to enhance character abilities and stats, though there are a few action games that teeter on the edge. While a few amazing-looking titles are being developed overseas, like Daba: Land Of Water Scar and Project V, outside of announcement trailers, not much is known about the release window for those titles.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an upcoming action RPG that features thrilling encounters with ravenous beasts, vengeful gods, and monstrous bosses. Players can traverse the vast open world with agile mobility options, showcasing snappy combat and unique abilities outside of traditional melee weaponry.Perhaps the strangest soulslike game to release soon, Aggro Crab: The Shellslike Saga, takes tried and true soulslike gameplay mechanics but sets them in an unlikely location — deep under the sea. As the name would imply, the game features the protagonist, a hermit crab named Kril, as they navigate the deep, polluted oceans while overcoming rabid sea creatures. Cheekily referred to as a "shellslike" game by the indie developers — the aptly named Aggro Crab, the game has all the makings of what should be a fun soulslike suitable for all ages.Though it remains unclear whether Phantom Blade Zero, developed by S-Game, will be more of a hack-and-slash title or a true soulslike game is still shrouded in mystery, as there has been minimal gameplay footage released so far for the title. As such, discerning whether Phantom Blade Zero is destined to be a true soulslike remains a mystery, as the game's aesthetic blends seamlessly with otherworldly steampunk elements.
Enotria: The Last Song is an upcoming soulslike game that draws inspiration from Italian folklore. With breathtaking visuals and unique character designs, the game offers a visual spectacle that goes beyond gameplay. The mask system allows players to quickly switch between loadouts to adjust their playstyle throughout the game without having to respec. Developed by Jyamma Games, a renowned indie studio based in Milan, Italy, Enotria is poised to become a standout title in the soulslike genre.
A PlayStation exclusive, Stellar Blade was initially scheduled for a 2023 release date, but has been postponed to sometime in 2024 with a new title. While the exact nature of Stellar Blade remains unclear, it appears to have shifted towards a more linear, mission-based focus with similar action-oriented combat and monstrous boss fights to other games in the genre. Additionally, the stunning visuals from the South Korean developers Shift Up hint at a unique and intriguing world to explore, even if it doesn't perfectly fit the criteria for a true soulslike.
Developed by Digital Extremes, Soulframe is the developer's new IP set in a dark fantasy setting. A 30-minute gameplay video was released showcasing some of the combat mechanics and NPCs players will meet along the way. Similar to other games of its ilk, Soulframe will feature precise combat with parries, blocks, and dodges, set in the realm of Midrath.
Although Soulframe was originally announced at Tennocon 2022, no official release window has been officially set, though estimates online pin the release date for Soulframe somewhere around the end of 2024. From the looks of the gameplay video, the game looks pretty far along, hinting that there might be some level of accuracy to online rumors.
Top 10 Most Immersive Action Video Games, Ranked
Immersion in action video games often goes unappreciated, when in actuality it is what makes a game memorable and worth sinking time into. Here are 10 of the most immersive games, ranked in order of their level of immersion:
- First Berserker: Khazan
- Rise Of The Ronin (PS5)
- God of War
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Halo Infinite
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare
- Destiny 2
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Grand Theft Auto V
Rise of the Ronin is a new title by Team Ninja, the creators of the iconic Nioh series of games. Set during the Edo period of 1862 Japan, players will embark on a journey as a Ronin, navigating a rapidly evolving landscape. Unlike other soullike games with more open-world elements, Rise of the Ronin features dynamic decision-making that shapes the narrative, with players able to influence the course of the campaign through their choices. The game also incorporates unique combat elements and the ability to ride various mounts, enhancing the gameplay experience.Black Myth Wukong is an upcoming soulslike game where players assume the roles of the ancient monkey king, Sun Wukong or the "Destined One," in a meticulously crafted world steeped in Chinese mythology. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game boasts stunning visuals that have been meticulously crafted to resemble the aesthetics of the 16th-century novel Journey to the West. The game combines soulslike combat mechanics with spells, transformations, and other techniques, setting itself apart from other games in the genre.
Platform(s) PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Developer(s) FromSoftware, Genre(s) Action, RPG, Released February 25, 2022, Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment