Ever since the soulslike genre exploded in popularity, very few games have dared to challenge its established traits. The familiar checkpoint and enemy respawn system, dropping souls on death, stamina management, menacing bosses, exploration shortcuts, and fixed difficulty you have to endure — most of the time, you know exactly what to expect. Sure, some soulslike games change small elements here and there to be more forgiving or spice things up, but rarely does a game manage to go against the tide and make a splash.

The soulslikes below are exactly this type, or at least they try to be. While ticking most of the familiar boxes, each is still bold enough to change the core formula in one major way. From new camera perspectives and a focus on ranged weapons to even more experimental takes on FromSoftware’s established recipe, here are standout soulslikes that brought something fresh to the genre.

The newest addition to the soulslike family, Valor Mortis offers familiar parry-focused combat built on stamina management, but instantly stands out with its first-person perspective. Add firearms and elemental abilities to the mix, and the game almost starts feeling like BioShock’s little brother. Charging into a horde of enemies from your character’s POV, swinging your saber, blasting flames directly from your hand, or shooting enemies in the head isn’t something you experience in the soulslike genre too often.

Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as possible.

Even aside from a first-person camera that works very well for its combat flow, Valor Mortis keeps surprising you with its fresh alternate-history Napoleonic setting, unusual progression, and unexpected parkour sections.

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