Summary
Soulslikegames are known fortheir high difficulty level, dark fantasy settings, wide choice of weapon variety, and, of course, intimidating and challenging bosses. While the genre has been around for more than a decade at this point, not all games that fit in it follow the same principles or rules, with some developers taking their liberties.
Leveling up and using different classes while playing through a Soulsborne game is a key part of the experience, as different classes allow for various possibilities that give players much more freedom when it comes to their playstyle. Similar to many ofthe greatest Soulsborne games, Soulslikes take advantage of their most famous elements to deliver an outstanding experience to anyone interested in picking them up. Here are some of thebest Soulslikes with the best class systems.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future filled with undead humans with vampire-like powers,Code Veinoffers players an action-packed experience where the stakes are high, and they get even higher as the story progresses.
The Class system isn’t what players would traditionally expect to find in a Soulsborne, as they work by placing points into the different Blood Codes available. Some of these Blood Codes are: Ranger, Fighter, Caster, Berserker, Prometheus, and Hunter. Each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages and allows players to customize their playstyles andcreate overpowered builds.
While many people have criticizedLords of the Fallenfor having a design rather similar to that ofDark Souls, it has its unique take on a grim universe populated by formidable enemies that will put players to the test. Set in a cold, unforgiving world, players will take control of Harkyn, a convicted criminal who will have to take on an evil force threatening everything he’s ever known.
Lords of the Fallenhas a very complete Class system comprised of 13 different classes that can cover different playstyles. As it happens in many other Soulslikes, choosing the right class is key to defeatingthe challenging bossesthat players will encounter along the way.
Set in the medieval-styled, ever-decaying region of Fallgrim,Mortal Shellpresents players with a very interesting universe witha good deal of complex loreand exciting combat mechanics. When players first start out, they might feel a bit powerless and movement might be a bit clunky, but as they progress through their story, they’ll unlock many abilities that will change the game.
There’s no actual Class system inMortal Shell—at least not how players would expect to find it. Instead of picking a class from the beginning, players will have to collect Shells, which are the remains of defeated warriors that grant special abilities to whoever finds them. Shells can considerably change the game and make combat feel different every time one is unlocked. Players should note, though, that there are only four Shells in the game, so the experience might not be as varied as what they can find in other titles.
Lies of Phas a rather interesting concept, as it will have players control a puppet known as “P” as it explores the city of Krat. Throughout the story, players will encounter various hostile puppets, enemy factions, and various citizens afflicted by a dangerous disease. While this title does not feature as many possible classes as other Soulslikes, those available are almost always very complete and serve their purpose.
Depending on players' playstyle, they might prefer to choose one over the other to facethe many difficult bossesin the game and emerge victorious from the adrenaline-rushing encounters.
While many of the games on this list stick to the Soulslike genre and nothing else,Salt and Sanctuaryalso opts to delve into the world of Metroidvanias. Featuring 2D hand-drawn visuals and game mechanics similar to those inDark Souls, this title leaves almost nothing to be desired in terms of its design.
Unlike other titles on this list,Salt and Sanctuarydoes offer players a wide range of different classes for a total of eight. These are: Knight, Magic, Paladin, Thief, Chef, Cleric, Pauper, and Hunter. Each class has different advantages and disadvantages, adding a layer of complexity and variety to the mix.Salt and Sanctuaryalso featuresone of the biggest skill treesout there.
Cal Kestis' story has captivated players since the release ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,which not only introduced the character and many of his likable companions, but also presented players with some of the best lightsaber combat mechanics to date. The sequel,Star Wars Jedi: Survivorbuilds on what its predecessor did well and makes up for what it did wrong, delivering an amazing experience.
While this title does not feature a Class system per se, there are different stances that Cal can use to fight. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, and can change the combat mechanics significantly. This allows players to choose between less damaging, more agile combat styles, or slower, yet devastating approaches.
Few games have achieved whatElden Ringhas. Not only did the game deliver an outstanding experience to longtime fans of theDark Soulsuniverse, but it also managed to expand the fanbase by drawing in newcomers who are now hardcore Soulslike lovers. Everything inElden Ringfeels very complete, from the large variety of armor, weapons, spells and items, to the well-crafted Class system it presents.
This title features 10 different classes, each with their own weapons, attribute allocation specs, armor, andstarting items. What makes the Class system great is that it feels balanced and allows players to set out on a path to build their preferred playstyle from the moment they enter The Lands Between.
