The Gaming World’s Soulslike Problem Isn’t What You Think
In the gaming world, some terms become so ingrained that they begin to lose their meaning over time. The term “Soulslike” is one such term. Introduced to us by FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series, this label has now become used for nearly every challenging action role-playing game. However, this has increasingly sparked debate among both developers and players.
The Soulslike Label Has Lost Its Meaning
Following the success of Dark Souls, the term “Soulslike” became popular to describe games with similar mechanics. Elements such as a stamina bar, the ability to recover lost resources, intertwined level designs, and high difficulty were seen as key components of this term. However, over time, even games that possess only one of these characteristics began to be called Soulslike, leading to a gradual dilution of the term.
Recent releases at events like Gamescom, in particular, demonstrate how easily the Soulslike label is used. While titles like Lords of the Fallen 2 truly fit the genre, games like Valor Mortis or Phantom Blade Zero simply share similar mechanics. However, developers argue that this label both limits their work and leads to the disregard of distinct aspects of the games.
The example of Silent Hill f illustrates this debate. Its focus solely on melee combat and its stamina bar led to claims that the game was a Soulslike. However, producer Motoi Okamoto rejected this criticism, stating that this was misleading. He argued that these mechanics were already present in previous Silent Hill games and were not unique to Dark Souls. This outburst once again demonstrates how easily the term is misused.
This broadening of the concept also creates fatigue among gamers. Because every game is labeled a Soulslike, it overshadows truly innovative examples of the genre. Games like Lies of P or Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, even when distinguished by their unique visual worlds and innovative mechanics, are still labeled “Soulslike.”
However, the developers, echoing the words of Satoru Iwata, emphasize the importance of trying new things rather than simply expanding upon existing ones. This could pave the way for more original and independent genre definitions in the future.
Read More: Last Samurai Standing Trailer Released
