Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition (Switch eShop)

Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition is probably the least Soulslike entry on this list, but its similarity to FromSoftware’s series comes not just from its similar approach to combat — it extends to the non-linear nature of its game world, full of obscurely hidden paths, shortcuts and hidden areas. It’s a world full of danger, make no mistake, but you can tackle these challenges as you see fit thanks to the open nature of its map — which gives it a very Soulslike feel.

Filled with tough bosses, secrets and upgrades, this indie gem a brilliantly merciless adventure to enjoy if it has somehow passed you by over the years.

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Hyper Light Drifter Special Edition
Hyper Light Drifter Special Edition

Hollow Knight (Switch eShop)

Another indie darling, Hollow Knight presents a beautiful 2D world, tactile combat and impressive bevy of secrets constantly drag you in for more. It's one of the best games on Switch eShop; a big, beautiful, foreboding Metroidvania that's absolutely thick with detail and elements that will strike a chord with any Dark Souls fan.

From its punchy combat system to its charming art and sound design, this is one of the finest games ever made, let alone 2D Soulslikes.

Dead Cells (Switch)

A run-based roguelite, Dead Cells is a masterclass in design, mixing together nonstop intense action sequences, gorgeous vistas, and an addictive loop of unlocks and rewards into a beautiful experience. While the world is procedurally generated every run, the exacting skill-based combat and bosses here are sure to appeal to any Souls fan willing to play in 2D.

There’s dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of content available here, and it’s remarkable how fresh Dead Cells can stay through all those hours — it’s a must-buy.

Dead Cells
Dead Cells

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)

Available on Switch as part of the Nintendo Switch Online NES library, the original NES sequel to The Legend of Zelda is a tough, unforgiving game and one which you can easily argue influenced FromSoftware's approach to Demon's Souls and the series it spawned.

This game felt so different to the first that many people bounced off it back in the day. It's only in recent years — thanks largely to the Souls-led renaissance of games that present a stiff challenge and refuse to massage players' egos by letting unforced errors go unpunished — that Zelda II: The Adventure of Link has gotten something of a critical reappraisal. These days anyone can finish the game thanks to save states and rewinds, and if that's what it takes to be able to spend enough time with Zelda II to let it get under your skin, we're all for it. In many ways, Dark Souls feels like what Zelda might have become had Nintendo taken a different path, rather than returning to the original game's top-down overworld style with A Link to the Past.

If Dark Souls and some of the other games above have tempered you enough to withstand harsh challenges, it might well be the perfect time to revisit and finally conquer Zelda II.

Moonscars (Switch eShop)

Moonscars is a dark and punchy 2D action adventure that tweaks the Soulslike formula just enough to make it worth jumping into yet another entry in this most overstuffed of genres. The combat here is super slick stuff that's meticulously animated through the game's exquisite pixel art style, there are a ton of cool skills and weapons to get your hands on, and the world and its enemies are thoroughly well-designed. It's a shame, then, that this Switch port currently suffers from fairly consistent frame rate issues, because beyond a few difficulty issues here and there, it's pretty hard to find fault with what Black Mermaid has served up. A couple of patches would make this one an easy recommendation for fans of Soulslike games.

Moonscars
Moonscars

Tunic (Switch eShop)

Don't be fooled by the cute little fox, the colour of the isometric world, and the Zelda comparisons. Tunic will hand you your rear end over and over if you don't learn from your mistakes. Not only does it carry most of the Souls hallmarks — 'bonfire' save point equivalents, unforgiving bosses, collectible currency on death, upgradable stats, and more — but perhaps its most Soulsian equality is its refusal to spell things out for you. Discovering game manual pages and piecing together morsels of information via hints very carefully obscured by the bespoke in-game language/text is an integral part of the experience — one which recreates brilliantly the joys of poring through instruction manuals as a child.

This is a game where you learn from experimentation, even to do things as simple and integral as levelling up your skills. As much as the Zelda comparison is apt and accurate, Tunic's soul is a dark one.

Tunic
Tunic

Bleak Sword DX (Switch eShop)

A surprisingly solid Soulslike, Bleak Sword DX does exactly what it sets out to do and nothing else, which makes it hard to fault. Once you get the timing down on the limited actions at your disposal, you’ll find the monsters full of character even as they try to beat you to death. You’ll die often but the game does a great job of making each death feel like a learning experience rather than a punishment. Short and sweet.

Blasphemous 2 (Switch eShop)

Blasphemous 2 sticks with the exquisitely dark and gory style of its predecessor whilst building on the core combat and improving upon the platforming we saw the first time around. The Game Kitchen could have served us up more of the same and we'd have been perfectly happy. However, they've made meaningful upgrades here, with deeper and more satisfying combat and three upgradable weapon sets that combine perfectly with environmental puzzling that feels more cohesive and fluid overall. The Penitent One's return to Cvstodia is an absolute banger.

Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous II Collector's Edition
Blasphemous II Collector's Edition

There are plenty of games which fit the category but simply aren't good enough to recommend on Switch — games like Animus: Harbinger, Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption, Fall of Light, or Hellpoint, for instance.

And then there are games that we simply haven't sampled ourselves — things like Eldest Souls. Let us know below if you think we've missed out a worthy Soulslike game on Switch, or if you're horrified and disgusted we've written for Soulslike rather than Souls-like a whole bunch of times.

This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.

Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!

If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.