FromSoftware is one of the most beloved developers in the industry, and their upcoming open-world fantasy RPG is one of this year’s highly anticipated titles at the moment.
Unfortunately, there is no current release date for the game yet, and FromSoftware has been pretty tight-lipped on the project ever since they debuted the trailer back in 2019 at Microsoft’s E3 Briefing. Since then, the only kind of information came in the way of supposed leaks and rumors from seemingly reliable sources. With all that said, there is still speculation that Elden Ring will see a late 2021 release, and fans are anxiously waiting for FromSoftware to start showing the game off. In the meantime, many exceptional titles are currently out there that can stop you from going hollow and help tide you over until the game’s release!
10 Nioh 2
Nioh 2 is one of those games that slipped under many people’s radar last year. Releasing in early March, the game got buried by other titles that came after it and sort of fell out of the spotlight. Although, Team Ninja is looking to give the game a second wind this February with an enhanced PlayStation 5/PC release.
On its own, Nioh 2 is a vast improvement over its predecessor in pretty much every way and a competent Soulslike, which can be hard to come by. Team Ninja, the developers, really took feedback from their first game to heart and delivered an enjoyable challenge and engaging experience. With a great combat system, vital areas to explore, and white-knuckle inducing boss fights, you cannot go wrong with Nioh 2!
9 Hades
Last year, Hades saw its official release after being in early access for nearly two years and got showered with an incredible amount of praise from pretty much everywhere. It was even Steam’s highest-rated game of 2020.
That praise is not unwarranted, however. What Super Giant Games created here is an unforgettable experience that pushed boundaries for the industry at large. Hades is a Roguelike/Action-RPG that handles every aspect of the game with care and respect. It offers a gripping story, stellar combat, and a phenomenal cast of characters that make every attempt feel worthwhile. You never feel like you aren’t making progress, and with each effort, you feel stronger, wiser, and like you can accomplish the once thought impossible.
8 Monster Hunter: World
There are very few games out there that execute everything it sets out to do, and Monster Hunter: World is one of those games. It is no surprise that it is the best-selling game in Capcom’s catalog of other great titles and continues to get support well after its initial launch.
Being the fifth installment in the series, World does an incredible job at ushering in new people into its quirky world and allows players to learn the basics of what it takes to hunt the incredibly fascinating monsters that inhabit each location. There is almost a guarantee that you will find a weapon that suits you and your playstyle with fourteen different classes to try out. The game also offers an engaging loop, where you are continually hunting monsters to get better armor and weapon upgrades that feel both substantial and sustainable throughout your journey. Monster Hunter: World continues to be supported heavily by Capcom and is an outstanding experience heightened with jolly cooperation!
7 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
When Respawn Entertainment (Creators of the Titanfall franchise and Apex Legends) announced they were working on a Star Wars game, many people were immediately on board because of their past work. When they later revealed Fallen Order was a Soulslike, fans were left cautiously optimistic due to how hard it is to make an excellent Soulslike game and how challenging those games tend to be overall.
However, whenever Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order saw its release in 2019, it seemed a very competent game. With only unfortunate technical issues at launch (that seem to be smoothed out on next-gen consoles), Fallen Order is an excellent Soulslike game that is far less punishing. It is a great jumping-on point for those curious about the genre but doesn’t want the pressure or mysterious nature that comes with it. Plus, this is a game with heart and an incredible world, a fantastic cast of characters, an engaging combat system, and a world worth exploring.
6 Blasphemous
Metroidvanias are starting to oversaturate the market, so it isn’t easy to find one worth checking out nowadays. However, The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous is an exception to that rule.
Blasphemous grabs hold from you almost instantaneously and never loosens its grip until you see it through. This brutally unforgiving world is worth experiencing from start to finish. Just the art direction alone is enough to rope many people in, and that’s just scratching the surface. Add on top of that a tight, rewarding combat system, unforgettable boss encounters, a meticulously crafted world filled with meaningful secrets, and a killer soundtrack, you get Blasphemous. It is a hidden gem that should be checked out by fans of Metroidvania and Souls fans.
5 Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
In 2005, when Shadow of the Colossus was initially released, it gained a very dedicated and vocal following. There was nothing quite like it at the time, and it would plant its seeds in the industry for years to come.
When Bluepoint remade the game in 2018, it allowed many people to experience the game for the first time and allowed Bluepoint to showcase their talents. Shadow of the Colossus was a crucial title for the industry that still holds up thanks to the work Bluepoint put into their remake. The story beats hit like a train, and the combat is terrifying, unique, and unmatched to this day, thanks to the wonderfully realized world and exceptional boss design. It is still crazy that Team Ico (original developers) made something this ambitious in 2005, and to have it fully realized is an absolute treat and a must-play.
4 NieR: Automata
“Special” doesn’t even begin to describe what NieR: Automata is, and there may not be a real way to explain it without giving too much of what makes it special away. In 2017, when PlatinumGames and Square Enix released NieR: Automata, many people had no clue what awaited them. With over 5 million copies sold, it still feels like not enough people played NieR: Automata.
On the surface, many people would dismiss NieR: Automata as an anime hack-and-slash game with an oversexualized theme. To their credit, that is what it looks like from afar. But it isn’t until you play it when everything starts clicking into place. NieR: Automata goes above and beyond when it comes to, well, pretty much everything. Even the combat, which can be a bit button-mashy, can be incredibly tense and more nuanced if you like experimenting with different upgrades and weapons. However, what makes NieR: Automata special lies in the story, music, characters, bosses, and world. All of which Platinum Games, and Square Enix, handled expertly and interwoven seamlessly to create something you should not pass on!
3 Bloodborne
It seems like cheating that Bloodborne is on here, but with it being among the best FromSoftware games to be released, we had to include it.
Chances are, many of the people who are anxiously waiting for Elden Ring have already played Bloodborne and just scoffed at this mention of it. However, many people still have yet to experience the pinnacle of what Soulsborne games can offer. The world of Yharnam is an expertly crafted dark, mysterious, and brutal place that sucks you in as soon as you step foot into it. Some claim this to be From’s magnum opus, and it deserves every bit of praise it got. It encapsulates everything the company stands for and why their fans adore them. Bloodborne offers engaging, fast-paced combat, some of the best boss fights in gaming, and a world that should be combed over with a fine brush.
2 God Of War (2018)
God of War has been a beloved series since its initial outing on the PlayStation 2 in 2005, so it turned many heads when the game’s director Cory Barlog revealed the 2018 installment to be a reimagining of the franchise. Little did we know, this is what the franchise needed, as God of War sold over 10 million copies in its first year.
Although it got pitched as a reimagining, God of War is still a direct sequel to God of War 3 and even takes into account everything in the previous installments. With a much more grounded combat and story, 2018’s God of War shot to the top of many lists and reshaped their thoughts on the franchise forever. What the game offers is an insanely fun combat system with a fantastic story and characters. The world is chock-full of many things to find and do and awards you for checking every corner of it. There also many heart-melting moments that need should be experienced.
1 Hollow Knight
Team Cherry released Hollow Knight in 2017 to universal acclaim, and it is to no one’s surprise why.
Hollow Knight is easily one of the best Metroidvania out there. How it handles exploration, combat, and level design are all masterful. Pair that with equally excellent art design and score, and you can start to see why everyone who has played Hollow Knight sang its praises. The game is challenging and unforgiving but fair and rewarding. It takes the core of what makes Souls games tremendous and puts it into a Metroidvania format. And it just works. Hollow Knight deserves your time and chance, especially if you are a Souls/Metroidvania fan.
NEXT: 5 Reasons Why We’re Excited For Elden Ring (& 5 Reasons Why We’re Nervous)
