A good first Soulslike is not simply the game with the lowest enemy damage. The best beginner entry teaches you why an attempt failed, gives you more than one way to respond, and reduces the amount of unproductive repetition between meaningful decisions. Difficulty can remain important while the learning process becomes clearer.
For most new players, Elden Ring is the broadest recommendation because its open world gives you alternatives when one boss or area becomes a wall. Another Crab's Treasure is an excellent choice if accessibility, humor, and clear communication matter. Dark Souls Remastered is the most direct way to understand the classic structure that inspired the genre, while Lies of P can work well for players who already enjoy precise defensive timing.
What makes a Soulslike beginner-friendly?
We compare beginner options using five practical factors rather than an abstract difficulty score. Flexibility asks whether you can change your plan when stuck. An open world, multiple weapon types, magic, summons, optional areas, or respec systems can all create alternative routes to progress. Checkpoint friction measures how much time separates useful attempts. Clarity matters because players need to understand stamina, invulnerability, blocking, parries, upgrades, and character stats. Accessibility can reduce barriers without removing the core learning loop. Build freedom gives you alternative ways to solve the same problem.
Elden Ring: the safest broad recommendation
Elden Ring is still the easiest general recommendation for a first large Soulslike because the world lets you change the question. If an encounter feels impossible, you can explore another region, improve your weapon, find new spells, level up, use Spirit Ashes, summon another player, or simply return after learning somewhere else.
That freedom matters more than whether an individual boss is difficult. A linear game can turn one encounter into a mandatory roadblock. Elden Ring often lets a beginner build confidence elsewhere first. Bandai Namco continues to support the game across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, so it is also one of the easiest major Soulslikes to access on current hardware. Read our Elden Ring profile for the full database entry.
Another Crab's Treasure: approachable without abandoning the genre
Aggro Crab explicitly describes Another Crab's Treasure as a Soulslike adventure. Its underwater setting, humor, and shell mechanic make it visually different from the oppressive dark-fantasy style that many people associate with the genre. The presentation encourages experimentation rather than making every mistake feel like a test of endurance.
Kril uses discarded objects as shells, turning defense into a readable, physical system. The game also includes accessibility-minded options that can reduce friction for players who want exploration and boss learning without committing to the harshest version of the formula. It remains a real Soulslike: you still need to observe enemies, manage positioning, learn bosses, and improve your execution.
Dark Souls Remastered: best for learning the roots
If your reason for trying the genre is historical, Dark Souls Remastered remains the most direct starting point. Its strengths are foundational: bonfire checkpoints, corpse recovery, stamina, deliberate melee combat, shortcuts, hidden routes, opaque NPC stories, weapon upgrades, and an interconnected world that becomes easier to navigate as your own spatial knowledge improves.
Its weakness for beginners is friction. It explains less than many modern games, some runs back to bosses are longer, and several systems assume you are willing to experiment without much instruction. Choose it first if learning the roots matters more than convenience. Our what is a Soulslike page explains why these ideas became genre signals.
Lies of P: good for players who already like timing
Lies of P is a better first choice for players who enjoy timing-based action games. Its combat emphasizes guarding, perfect defensive timing, dodging, weapon combinations, and learning enemy rhythm. The route through Krat is more authored than Elden Ring, so exploration does not provide the same escape valve when you are stuck.
That can actually make the game clearer. If you dislike wondering whether you are under-leveled or exploring in the wrong direction, a more focused progression structure may be easier to understand. The official support page lists the game across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, Mac, Steam, and Epic Games Store. Read our Lies of P profile if precise defense is the feature that interests you.
Should a beginner start with Sekiro?
Only if Sekiro's combat is specifically why you want to play. Sekiro reduces much of the build variety that lets a beginner solve problems in different ways. When a boss asks for better deflection timing, the cleanest solution is often to become better at deflection timing.
Some players love that direct relationship between practice and success. Others prefer an RPG where changing weapons, armor, magic, summons, or route can change the difficulty of the problem. Our games like Sekiro guide is the better next step if parry-focused combat is your priority.
What if you want to play with a friend?
Co-op can reduce frustration, but Soulslike multiplayer systems vary. Some games use temporary summons around bosses; others support more persistent shared progression. If playing together is your main requirement, do not pick a game from a generic beginner list and assume the co-op works like a conventional campaign. Start instead with co-op Soulslike games.
A simple first-game decision
Choose Elden Ring if you want exploration, build freedom, and the ability to walk away from a wall. Choose Another Crab's Treasure if accessibility and a lighter tone matter. Choose Dark Souls Remastered if you want the foundational experience. Choose Lies of P if precise guarding and a focused route sound more appealing than a huge world.
The goal of your first Soulslike is not to prove that you can tolerate the most punishment. The rewarding part of the genre is the moment when information becomes mastery and an encounter that once looked impossible becomes understandable. Pick the game that gives you the clearest path to that experience.
