When Lies of P launched, few expected it to rival the giants of the Soulslike genre. Yet it did-offering precise, weighty combat, a haunting world of puppets and plague, and a tragic story that lingered long after the credits. It took the familiar tension of Dark Souls and Bloodborne and gave it its own melancholic flavor.
If you loved exploring Krat’s desolate streets, mastering its parries, and unraveling its layers of mystery, there are other worlds that capture that same blend of beauty and brutality. Here are six games that channel the same dark magic through atmosphere, challenge, and storytelling.
1. Bloodborne (PS4)
No game influenced Lies of P more than Bloodborne. FromSoftware’s gothic masterpiece remains the gold standard for dark action RPGs, filled with diseased cities, eldritch horrors, and desperate survivors. Every clang of steel and shriek of beasts in Lies of P feels like a respectful echo of Bloodborne’s nightmarish Yharnam.
Why It Feels Like Lies of P
- Fast, aggressive combat that rewards perfect timing.
- Interconnected world full of clever shortcuts and secrets.
- Aesthetic and story themes steeped in madness, faith, and transformation.
- Weapons that evolve mid-battle, encouraging experimentation.
How It Differs
- Prioritizes offense-dodging and counter-attacks replace blocking.
- Tells its story through cryptic lore rather than cutscenes.
- PlayStation-exclusive, so PC and Xbox players miss out.
Why You’ll Love It
If you crave a darker, faster, and more horrifying version of Lies of P, Bloodborne is the purest expression of that mood. Every encounter is a test of nerve and precision.
2. Elden Ring (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
Elden Ring transformed the Soulslike formula into a true open world without sacrificing challenge or tension. It offers the same deliberate combat you loved in Lies of P but stretches it across a breathtaking, sorrow-soaked landscape.
Why It Feels Like Lies of P
- Demanding stamina-based combat and enemy design.
- Environments brimming with decay, history, and secrets.
- Narrative threads of ambition, loss, and transformation.
- Deep weapon and build systems that reward mastery.
How It Differs
- Vast open world instead of tight, looping cities.
- Greater player freedom in exploration and quest order.
- Magic and ranged builds create many playstyles.
Why You’ll Love It
If Lies of P made you fall in love with precision and atmosphere, Elden Ring lets you take those same instincts to a grander scale. Every ruin, fortress, and forest hides stories just as tragic as Krat’s-but told across a world that feels infinite.
3. Steelrising (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
From Spiders Studios, Steelrising places you in an alternate-history Paris during the French Revolution, where the city is overrun by clockwork automatons. You play as Aegis, a mechanical bodyguard fighting to free the people and uncover her own mysterious origin.
Why It Feels Like Lies of P
- Shares Lies of P’s fascination with mechanical life and identity.
- Stamina-based combat with tight windows and punishing bosses.
- Historical backdrops reimagined through dark fantasy.
- A tragic tone underscored by elegant visual design.
How It Differs
- Slightly slower and more forgiving combat.
- Traditional RPG systems with skill trees and stat builds.
- Optional difficulty tuning for accessibility.
Why You’ll Love It
Steelrising feels like Lies of P’s Parisian sister-beautiful, eerie, and deeply human despite its mechanical heart. It’s perfect if you want another atmospheric world that mixes art, history, and haunting machines.
4. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
From Team Ninja, the creators of Nioh, Wo Long reimagines the Soulslike through the lens of Chinese martial arts and mythology. It replaces the bleak European atmosphere with high-flying combat and ancient spirits.
Why It Feels Like Lies of P
- Parry-centric combat demanding rhythm and precision.
- Elaborate boss fights with fast, lethal attack chains.
- Themes of corruption, honor, and sacrifice.
- Deep weapon variety and upgrade systems.
How It Differs
- Mission-based instead of an interconnected map.
- Faster and more reactive gameplay.
- Dynamic “morale” system that changes enemy strength.
Why You’ll Love It
If Lies of P’s combat kept you on edge, Wo Long will push your reflexes even harder. Every parry feels like a triumph, and the martial-arts fluidity keeps each encounter exhilarating.
5. Thymesia (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Thymesia condenses the Soulslike experience into a lean, fast, and replayable format. You play as Corvus, a masked plague doctor unraveling a kingdom destroyed by its own experiments. It’s a small game with sharp edges-brutal and rewarding from start to finish.
Why It Feels Like Lies of P
- Precise parry system that punishes mistakes.
- Dark fairytale setting filled with corrupted alchemy.
- Fragmented storytelling told through notes and memories.
- Bosses that test focus and timing above all else.
How It Differs
- Roughly 10-12 hours long.
- Limited weapons and smaller maps.
- Simpler character progression.
Why You’ll Love It
Thymesia is like Lies of P distilled-a concentrated hit of parry-based combat and grim atmosphere. Perfect for players who want the same feel in a shorter package.
6. Remnant II (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
On the surface, Remnant II is a shooter. Beneath that, it’s a Soulslike through and through-filled with brutal bosses, resource management, and cryptic worldbuilding. Every bullet feels earned, and every victory feels hard-won.
Why It Feels Like Lies of P
- Dark, surreal worlds built on tension and discovery.
- Demanding, pattern-based boss encounters.
- Deep progression and build crafting.
- Constant sense of unease and mystery.
How It Differs
- Primarily gun-focused combat with optional melee builds.
- Procedural level design adds replay value.
- Supports full co-op for up to three players.
Why You’ll Love It
Remnant II takes the disciplined combat of Soulslikes and retools it for firearms, giving the same rush of tactical mastery. It’s different, but the sense of challenge and reward is identical.
Final Thoughts
Part of what made Lies of P resonate was its balance between punishment and purpose. Every death taught something; every success felt earned. These six games all carry that same spirit forward.
Whether it’s Bloodborne’s fever dream of a city, Elden Ring‘s vast open wilderness, or Steelrising’s revolution of machines, they each offer worlds that test your patience and curiosity in equal measure. The appeal isn’t just the difficulty-it’s the feeling of discovering beauty within decay and mastery within chaos.
Soulslike fans know that these experiences aren’t just about beating bosses. They’re about atmosphere, rhythm, and resilience. And in that sense, Lies of P belongs proudly alongside them as one of the genre’s modern greats.
About the Author
Robert Davis may be middle-aged now, but he has always enjoyed playing video games. Just like others may like to curl up with a good book, he just prefers a different medium for story-telling. Now that life is much busier, he has to be choosy about which games he spends time on. And that's why Delayed Respawnse exists, because he's not the only one.
View all posts
Quick Points
- Bloodborne: The definitive gothic Soulslike.
- Elden Ring: Sprawling open world full of secrets.
- Steelrising: Steampunk style and tragedy.
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Lightning-fast parry battles.
- Thymesia: Compact, plague-ridden adventure.
- Remnant II: Dark Souls with guns.