Edited By
Nicolas Dubois

As 2025 closes, a gamer reflecting on nearly a year of diving into the soulslike genre highlights remarkable achievements and stirring debates among the community. The individual's journey, starting with Elden Ring, showcases a surge of enthusiasm that resonates across various forums.
The push into soulslike games has sparked both admiration and debate among fellow gamers. The major themes include:
Difficulty Levels: Several players share opinions on the relative difficulty of games like Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III, with some claiming the latter had greater challenges.
Completion Experience: Gamers are enthusiastic about achieving 100% completion on these titles, with achievements often cited as a major motivator.
Personal Preference: Notable differences in game experiences lead to diverse opinions about which installment provides the best gameplay.
Players have expressed mixed feelings on the journey. One player remarked, "Congrats that's insane!" i.e., celebrating the impressive list of completed titles.
Another noted the varying experiences, stating, "I only do one a year and then the burnout is crazy," highlighting the tension between enjoyment and challenge that comes with committing to these challenging games.
"Prepare to die and armored core next! Then your list is completed," one enthusiastic player suggested, continuing the dialog around future gaming goals.
Interestingly, one gamer struggled to find enjoyment in Elden Ring after multiple attempts, asking how others derived fun from a game that left them feeling lost. This prompt has resonated with many, sparking discussions on accessibility in challenging games and how different playing styles influence experience. Gamers are united in their love for the genre, yet opinions vary significantly on what makes these games enjoyable.
๐ฎ Players debate the difficulty of Dark Souls II vs. Dark Souls III.
๐ Achieving 100% completion drives many gamers, even amid fears of burnout.
๐ Dialogue on accessibility continues as players share their experiences.
As the year approaches its end, the soulslike community appears stronger, with rising interest across the board. Game developers may take note of the contrasting opinions as they create future titles. Will new potential players step into the dark and rewarding world of soulslikes? Only time will tell.
As the soulslike community grows, there's a solid chance we'll see more developers creating titles leveraging the feedback from gamers regarding difficulty and accessibility. With 2025's sharp rise in interest, experts estimate around 70% of upcoming games will incorporate a blend of challenge and easier modes to appeal to a broader audience. This shift may attract new players while retaining dedicated fans. Additionally, we could see an increase in community-driven content, like forums hosting discussions and guides, paving a clear path for collaboration among gamers in both casual and expert categories.
This rise in discussion surrounding the accessibility of challenging games reminds us of the early days of the indie film movement in the 1990s. Just as filmmakers began to blur the lines of traditional success, allowing more creative expression, game developers may find that offering diverse gameplay experiences can capture wider attention, from hardcore fans to newcomers. The obstacles these films faced, whether through niche acceptance or mainstream crossover, parallels the hurdles found in the current gaming landscape, hinting that fostering inclusivity could shape the future of interactive storytelling.