TheSoulslikegenre has taken us on many adventures sinceDemon’s Soulswas first unleashed on the industry, and we’ve seen countless games wow us time and time again. However, as the genre continues to pump out more Soulslikes, many studios are forgetting what made them so unique and exciting in the first place.
While numerous publishers are trying tochase the thrill of being the next smash hit, it would benefit everyoneif they occasionally slimmed down their scope. Go back to basics and make people remember why they loved the genre in the first place, and even outdo From Software itself on occasion.
The Scale Of Soulslikes Doesn’t Need To Be Massive
Nightreign Keeps It Simple
Although there’s a lot to like when it comes toWuchang: Fallen Feathers, many games like it suffer from trying to be the next big thing. Similar to how some tentpole action films try to jam ingalaxy-ending stakes,studios suffer from trying to make their games so epic in scopeto attempt to outdo From Software. Not every gamer needs to have a massive narrative.
TakeNightreign, which is a $40 experience that predicates itself on a roguelike, short-form Soulslike format.Millions of players have flocked to the idea of having a “cozySoulslike"that they can pop in for short bursts, without having to be beholden to an overarching story. The budget appropriately matched the project, and From Software didn’t need to bank its entire future onNightreignif it didn’t work out.
It would be great to see more innovation in this space, and it’s interesting that From Software itself is changing up itsSoulsformula like this itself. Sometimes, it’s nice to have a distillation of the formula, rather than a laborious game that takes a while to start up. A smaller scale can help keepbugs and performance issuesmore in check, too.
A Focus On Easy Access Co-Op Is Key
There’s A Reason Nightreign Has Been Successful
Elden Ring Nightreignmanaged to achieve something many Souls games do not have the capacity for:easy access co-op. InNightreign, if you want to play with someone (albeit on the same platform, something I hope From addresses one day), you invite them directly on the platform of your choice, create a lobby, or embark on an expedition with matchmaking. That’s it.
You don’t need to utilize esoteric systems typically found in properSoulstitles, or fiddle around with progression-based gating. You just…play with friends. It’s a nice concession, and it helps add to the allure of any given game if you may easily play it via co-op. WhileSoulslikegames outside the From Software machine often sell themselves as being “difficult,“they don’t need to follow the same exact formulato catch on with the public.
Elden Ring Nightreignhas managed to captivate me more than any other game this year. Although it still has plenty to address, it’s a shining beacon for the genre and a path forward for many smaller developers who are too preoccupied with creating the next “epic.”
