Many people will take the term “Copycat” to mean something derogatory. But I believe that when it comes to games “copying” Dark Souls, it is a tribute to how special From Software’s 2011 masterpiece was and is. Since its release, there have been dozens of games that draw directly from the style of game that the Soulsborne series is. Some were truly great, and some failing miserably. Many of these games owe most of their success directly to From Software, because, if there was no Dark Souls, there wouldn’t be Nioh, or The Surge and various other titles. So what makes Dark Souls such an impressionable game? Well, that can’t be answered in one simple sentence.
Can’t have Dark Souls without Demon Souls
It is imperative to point out From Software’s game Demon Souls when giving credit to Dark Souls for starting this trend. Not a lot of people played Demon Souls, or even know about it for that matter. But Demon Souls is essentially the prequel to Dark Souls. There are direct elements from Demon Souls to its predecessor. Things like bonfires, losing your souls when you die and fog doors that lead to a boss fight with a giant red health bar. The biggest element to carry over between these games is the Souls series’ punishing difficulty. The Souls games have found an incredible ability to be extremely difficult, but never being unfair about it. The series is essentially difficult, but not just for the sake of being a difficult game. Games in the past were often times hard so that they could prolong the experience, making it feel like the game was meatier than it actually was. But Dark Souls’ difficulty is a staple of the franchise, it really has become what makes the games work, and while games of today have Dark Souls to thank for their inspiration, Dark Souls has Demon Souls to thank for that.
When did Dark Souls Start to Take Off?
Like I had mentioned before, Dark Souls was released in 2011, but we really didn’t see it take off until the lead up of Dark Souls 2’s launch. While the first entry had great reviews, it was overshadowed by games like Skyrim and Portal 2. In little over a year, Dark Souls sold over 1 million copies, no short feat for From Soft. The hype around Dark Souls was a slow burn that was mostly spread around through word of mouth. Players would tell their friends about this game that was crazy difficult, and of course, people would try it out, thinking “how hard could it be?” I was a part of the “how hard could it be?” crowd, and after buying the game I found the answer to that quickly. I quit after dying over and over again when I kept running through the cemetery, after leaving Firelink Shrine. I found out about a month later that there was an alternate route that was much easier. After that, I couldn’t put the game down.
In 2014 the long-awaited sequel, Dark Souls 2, was released. Now that the series had a much larger fan base, and the marketing was ramped up for the sequel, Dark Souls 2 caught fire in the hands of gamers. The game was met with exceptional reviews much like the first game, but a year after the release of Dark Souls 2 sold 2.5 million copies, doubling that of Dark Souls. Showing that the series was starting to catch on to more mainstream crowds, helping people become aware of Dark Souls 1 at the same time they were being introduced to the second game.
Bloodborne and Dark Souls 3 were the next two games released in the series. Collectively, they sold over 5 million copies in the first year of their releases. With both games having great review scores, it was more fuel to the fire for the Soulsborne series. Each entry dominated the news in video game journalism, and after Bloodborne especially, this was the period of time where the term “Dark Souls Like” was being applied to games left and right.
Notable Games that Took Influence from the Soulsborne Series
Salt and Sanctuary
Ska Studios released this game in 2016, and it received really positive reviews. Salt and Sanctuary takes the Dark Souls formula and applies it to a 2D platform. It really feels like an old Castlevania game mixed with Dark Souls that come together to create a dark and dismal 2D game, with twisting and turning paths that wind together as only a Dark Souls game can. Salt and Sanctuary uses a similar healing system as Dark Souls, as well as bonfires and XP that acts just like souls do. The combat also feels very similar to DS, you have to roll and counter in very similar fashion to take down extremely difficult enemies, and huge bosses.
Nioh
Ninja Theory took inspiration from Dark Souls in all the right ways when they were crafting Nioh. The game takes Dark Souls’ combat and adds more depth to it by giving you multiple fighting styles that cater to how you want to play. There is a balanced, bruiser and quick style (those aren’t the official name of course) that you can quickly swap between to add an in-game adjustment to how you fight certain enemies. It adds a little spice to a formula that has already proven to work well. The level design intertwines just Like DS, certain pathways link-up that will have you appreciating every shortcut a little bit more. Also similar is the XP and bonfire like statues that you use to progress throughout the game.
The Surge
This is the first title I have written about that takes a sci-fi approach to the Dark Souls formula. It’s perfect if you enjoy Soulsborne games and general sci-fi pop culture. The Surge takes place during a futuristic dystopia, the planet you are on was ruined by a huge soul-sucking corporation. You go there to find work, only to be immediately chased by workers that are basically zombies, and drones that have gone AWOL. This game is a bit on the easier side when compared to other Soulsborne games, but it tackles more of a story than those games normally show you. The combat is very similar to one big change, you can target certain limbs of an enemy if you want a piece of loot that they are currently using. If they have a weapon you like, you can target that arm and cut it off to take it for yourself. The bonfire feature is represented in little hubs that have a bay for you to enter and augment your character. Finally, the XP is again the same as DS, you gather it through fighting enemies, if you die, you have to go back to that spot and collect your XP without dying again or else it will be lost permanently.
Dark Souls has Become One of the Most Influential Games of its Time
There are few games that have spawned as many copycats as the Soulsborne series. When you think of the last decade of gaming, you think of battle royales, hero shooters and Souls-like games. Not all games work when they try to fit into the DS mold, but it’s the fact that so many try, that is what really shows the influence Dark Souls has had on so many games. If a game you really love has gained a lot of its inspiration from this series, then chances are there are half a dozen more games like it that you will enjoy. The Dark Souls formula is a simple one when you try and explain it to someone that doesn’t know. It’s a very difficult game with intertwined paths, and punishing bosses that you couldn’t even think of in your nightmares. But finishing Dark Souls, at least to me, has always been one of my greatest achievements in gaming. Its formula isn’t for everyone, but those who get it, are obsessed with the game and all its imitators. Thank you Dark Souls, and I apologize for breaking my disc in half when I was trying to beat Ornstein and Smough.
