New Unreal Engine 4/5 Soulslike games coming in 2023 and beyond

With its challenging gameplay and deep lore, FromSoftware's Dark Souls series has since grown to become one of the most influential franchises in gaming history. We've compiled a list of upcoming games that are directly inspired by the series and are built using Epic's Unreal Engine 4 and 5.

Lords of the Fallen (2023)

Following the mixed reception of the original 2014 title, Lords of the Fallen is a complete reboot of the action RPG series.

With a slightly faster gameplay style, the game is directly inspired by the Souls series and Elden Ring. It casts the player as one of nine playable classes in the living world of Axiom, with the ability to travel to the undead realm of Umbral and defeat various enemies in both physical and magical combat. Another feature reminiscent of the Souls series is the inclusion of PvE and PvP multiplayer modes, which allow for exploration as well as head-to-head battles with other players.

The game was announced in May to be released on October 13, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S by publisher CI Games.

Project: The Perceiver

Project: The Perceiver, or simply The Perceiver, is the first title from PaperGames' 17ZHE Studio and has been dubbed the "Chinese Sekiro" following its reveal due to gameplay and overall design similarities.

Based on the trailer, its combat is similar to Sekiro's fast-paced katana-wielding action, with a focus on timing to overpower your opponent; however, its open-world design appears to be more in line with Ghosts of Tsushima, and its fantasy elements are similar to Nioh. It also appears to have an intriguing story attached, with the player assuming the role of an artist looking to finish their play while attempting to defeat invaders from his homeland.

The game will be released on PlayStation 4 and 5, with a PC release possible later on, though no official release date has been announced.

Lies of P

Lies of P is Neowiz's upcoming Soulslike take on the traditional children's story Pinocchio, following the puppet as he tries to find his creator Geppetto and become a real man in Krat after a puppet invasion.

Unsurprisingly, combat takes center stage, with P having to time dodges and attacks, upgrade skills, and modify and create various types of weapons to defeat his robotic opponents. One of the game's distinguishing features is its dialogue system, which allows players to tell the truth or lie throughout the story, altering the outcome of the world and plot as you progress deeper into Krat.

A demo of the game is currently available, with the full release scheduled for September 19 across Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. At launch, it will also be added to the Game Pass for all subscribers.

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong, the upcoming release from Chinese studio Game Science, is a loose adaptation of the 16th-century novel Journey To The West and follows the adventures of the Monkey King, Wukong, as he seeks ancient Taoist knowledge.

While little is known about the plot, we do know that the gameplay is heavily influenced by the Souls series, with tight, fast-paced combat and a heavy emphasis on player skill as Wukong battles a variety of Chinese mythical creatures. Its stunning visuals have also gotten some attention, with realistic snow and impressive wind physics making the game look like a playable cutscene.

Originally announced in 2020, it has now been given a release window of 2024 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.

Phantom Blade Zero

S-Game's Phantom Blade Zero, which was announced during PlayStation Showcase, caught the attention of many with its Souls-like gameplay and stunning visuals.

Its creator claims that it incorporates many of the elements that have made the Souls formula so successful but without the notorious difficulty associated with it, making it more accessible than the other games on this list. The story is set in a handcrafted "semi-open world," and it follows Soul, an assassin who has been framed as the murderer of the leader of "The Order," an organization he was serving. Soul will have to fight enemies in intense cinematic battles as he tries to find the person responsible with only 66 days to live.

Although no release date has been set, its director has stated that it will receive a 30-minute long demo in 2024, with the full PlayStation 5 and PC release expected in late 2024 or 2025.

Enotria: The Last Song

Enotria: The Last Song is set in a fantasy version of 16th-century Italy inspired by legends and folklore, with the player trapped in the world of Canovaccio, a play-like realm that allows certain individuals to "warp its reality" to breathe life back into it.

Its trailer doesn't reveal much, but short snippets of alpha gameplay have appeared online, and it shares many similarities with the Souls games, including combat systems, animations, and even UI. With a similar currency-based leveling system, players will also be able to upgrade and discover new abilities throughout the game.

Jyamma Games has set an estimated release window of 2024 for the game, which will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.