If you asked someone to define the standout features of a game within the Souls genre, chances are there would be a lot of similar responses.
You could expect to hear many people mention the intense difficulty these games share. You might hear fans talk about thetight, punishing combat.Or, you might have the occasional design-focused individual wax lyrical about the intricate map designs.
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However, very few people talk about the platforming within these titles. While these games aren’tnecessarily known for their parkour,a few games within the genre allow you to get around in style.
So, whether you’re looking for some satisfying traversal in your next Souls outing or you want a game that offers just as much sadistic difficulty through its platforming challenges, we have you covered.
We will be offering a healthy blend of 2D and 3D Souls titles, so there’s something for everyone here.
10The Last Faith
Pixel Perfect Bloodborne
The Last Faith
We kick things off with a game that feels about as close to a 2D version of Bloodborne as you could ever imagine, which is just as big of a compliment as it sounds.
The Last Faith offers a huge map to explore, tough bosses to take on, and gives you many tools to take down said enemies, such as guns, spells, and good ol' hacking and slashing.
However, the game really comes into its own as youget your hands on a few powersand gain the ability to get around with style by dashing, grappling, and hopping around the place.
It’s a slow burn as the best platforming definitely comes later in this game. But, due to the refined combat and great bosses, you’ll be thoroughly entertained until then, regardless.
9Elden Ring
Satisfyingly Rigid
Elden Ring
Fextralife
It might not be the first thing you associate with theoutlandish open-world title, as it has so much going for it. But alongside some of the best world design ever, and the most memorable Souls bosses on record, the game actually boasts some rather solid platforming.
Granted, it is still a little stiff and clunky, but this is intentional to ensure it still feels like a traditional Souls title. Plus, in truth, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
The addition of Torrent adds a new dimension to the platforming on offer. Not to mention that the game offers a wealth of tightly designed areas with verticality, urging players to traverse narrow beams and small ledges with caution.
You won’t get pixel-perfect platforming here, but what you get is a joy to work with. Unless a player’s help message tells you to ‘jump here’ and you plummet to your death.
8Another Crab’s Treasure
Better Down Where It’s Wetter
Another Crab’s Treasure
Ever since this Shoals-like arrived on the scene, I have been a champion of this underwater adventure, often referring to Another Crab’s Treasure as the ideal way for newbies to dive into the punishing world of Soulslikes.
That’s partlydue to the kid-friendly tone,and also partly down to the boiled-down and accessible Souls mechanics. But, above all, it’s because this game feels like a perfect middle ground between a traditional Soulslike and a traditional mascot platformer.
Playing as Kril, you’ll spend as much time hacking and slashing as you will tightly platforming around each new area, and it’s a great way to break up the difficult segments and give novice Souls players a breather.
It’s still a game that will test your resolve, as it’s deceptively difficult in places, but, at least when you’re platforming, it’s a pretty chill and satisfying endeavor.
7Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
Deceptively Deadly
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Speaking of deceptively difficult games, you would think for all the world thatthis Pixar-style adventuregame wouldn’t be out to make you sweat. But, you’d be surprised, as this game is a Soulslike masquerading as a cute platformer.
There are plenty of reasons why this game could naturally slip into the cozy category, such as the gorgeous forest setting, the mascot platformer adjacent mechanics, and, of course, The Rot.
However, combat is pretty frequent in this game, and every encounter will force you to engage with pretty tight combat mechanics, and failing to master them will usually lead to a quick death, especially on higher difficulties.
So, what I would say to those who were lured to this one thanks to The Rot’s big bulging eyes is to enjoy those quiet moments platforming and exploring. The boss battles and waves of enemies will make this chill adventure much more intense than you might have bargained for.
6Steelrising
Robot Revolution
Steelrising
As developers, spiders have always been known as those who take big swings. While sometimes they miss the metaphorical ball entirely, they hit as many home runs as they do foul balls.
Steelrising is a fine example of this, as this flawed gem offers an experience that feels like an earnest attempt to stand out from the ground, offering just enough FromSoft staples to feel familiar, but also offering a wealth of new ideas.
The game is a little lacking in the combat and boss battle department, but it makes up for that with other aspects, like the traversal, for example.
You’ll have grappling hooks and dash abilities to get around, and there are dedicated platforming sections where you will need to showcase your mastery.
It’s not re-inventing the wheel, don’t get me wrong. But, in a Souls game, this is more adventurous than most and makes this one worth checking out for platforming fans.
5Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Not everyone immediately associates the Star Wars Jedi series with the Soulslike genre. But, in fact, these two games haveboth Souls and Metroidvania DNA, making it a series that will suit many.
Fallen Order’s platforming was decent for the most part, but due to this game being a little more rough around the edges, there were a lot of cheap and frustrating deaths that would prevent fans from calling it ‘good’.
However, Survivor fixes almost every complaint fans had about the original in the series, offering tighter traversal, more varied combat, bigger, more open spaces to explore, and so much more.
It’s the finest Star Wars game besides KOTOR, and while that is a bold claim, I wholeheartedly stand by it. It’ll feel a little easy for veteran Souls players, but if you can get past that, you’ll be in for a treat.
4Blasphemous
Newsflash: Spikes Are Sharp
Blasphemous
Fextralife Wiki
Speaking of blends between Souls and Metroidvania, these tend to be the pinnacle of platforming meets Souls combat design. Which the original Blasphemous showcases better than most.
While the sequel would lean much more into the Metroidvania side of the coin, the original is a significantly more punishing, intentionally obtuse and more inherently punishing affair.
This translates to the platforming too, as players will enjoy tight 2D platforming with Metroidvania-style power-ups that can be gathered along the way. Albeit with much more definite outcomes if you don’t get a platforming sequence right.
For example, the sequel will respawn the Pentient One if you fall into spikes with a small health penalty. Whereas in the original, it’s an instant death, meaning there is less room for error.
In short, this game offers punishing Souls design, which extends to the platforming, making this a must-play for sadistic platforming fans with a penchant for Souls combat.
3Hollow Knight
Platforming Is The True Boss Fight
Hollow Knight
The rich vein of Metroidvania-Souls is being tapped into yet again, this time bringing Hollow Knight to the fore. The game many tout as the ultimate Metroidvania experience.
However, despite that being the case, this game is a difficult Soulslike, too. Offering a wealth of tough bosses, punishing mechanics that demand mastery, and most importantly, very demanding platforming sections.
Just getting around Hallownest by the end demands some platforming chops, but you’ll also have quite a few platforming sections that will act as a genuine test of your skill.
Areas like the White Palace and the Path of Pain spring to mind, providing some of the most grueling and difficult platforming obstacles you can imagine.
In short, despite the cute hand-drawn visuals and soothing score, this game pulls no punches, and that goes double for the dedicated platforming sections.
2Nine Sols
Tao & Proud
If there was ever a game that deserved its flowers and never quite got the acclaim it deserved, it was the incredible parry-focused 2D Soulslike, Nine Sols.
This Tao-inspired Metroidvania leans less into the cautious ‘hide behind your shield’ mechanics of Dark Souls, and instead leans into the parry and counter mechanics of Sekiro.
The combat is incredibly demanding, often demanding near-perfection to progress, and only those with flawless timing and execution will prevail. Something that could also be said of the game’s platforming.
Granted, it’s nowhere near as demanding, but getting around this world is no picnic either. You’ll need to use all the tools at your disposal to evade projectiles, get into a position to parry, and deal with the deadly enemies dotted around the map.
That said, the platforming is slick, satisfying, and will feel like a holiday compared to the boss battles awaiting you, so enjoy jumping around the place while it lasts.
1Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
You’ll Die More Than Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
We just mentioned it, so we might as well cap things off with the FromSoft title that offers the best platforming by a country mile.
Sekiro isn’t about hiding behind shields or devising an OP build to overwhelm your foes. It’s about honing your craft, becoming a parrying savant, and using your ninja-like dexterity to avoid direct combat where possible.
The latter is made possible by the slick and dynamic traversal that the game offers, allowing you to grapple upward and scale rooftops, drop from high beams to execute enemies, and that only really scratches the surface.
Platforming and positioning are essential if you want to get the drop on enemies, and never has a game made me feel more like a badass through traversal than Sekiro.
That prosthetic arm allows you to literally hide a lot of tricks up your sleeve, and while it is easily the hardest Souls game on the market, I would urge you all to at least give it a go.
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