Top 20 Souls Games Ranked by Difficulty: Game Development Insights

In 2024, the Soulslike Game Market Size was worth 787.2 USD million. From 901.3 USD million in 2025, the Soulslike Game Market is predicted to reach 3,500 USD million by the year 2035. The Soulslike Game Market CAGR (growth rate) is anticipated to be about 14.5% throughout the forecast period (2025 – 2035).

Feel that you are good enough to conquer the most difficult Souls games in history? Over ten years, FromSoftware continues to test gamers with punishing fights, unforgiving bosses, and immersive world-building. A single step, a single swing, and a single slip may spell death, and it is the lessons that one learns at death that make such games legendary.

Here is our ultimate guide to the 20 Souls games ranked by difficulty. With the hardest ones being the challenging and tight precision of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the expansive nightmare of Elden Ring. You want to brag, or you just want to get the toughest game in the Souls series that is ranked highest here; this list will bring you right to the limit of what you can do with your gaming abilities. Whether you’re designing 2D game development projects or tackling full 3D worlds, mastering these challenges can inspire your next creation.

You think you are prepared. You’d better think. Here is the soul’s gauntlet of all.

Why Souls Games Are So Challenging

Hardest Souls games: Achieving the top rankings on the difficulty list is challenging due to several reasons. FromSoftware has mastered the process of difficult gameplay and combined a few essential ingredients:

• Precision Combat: All the attacks, dodges, and parries should be executed at the right moments. Mistakes often lead to death.
• Strategic Resource Management: Positioning, healing items, and stamina are of great importance. Even small enemies can be lethal because of mismanagement.
• Punishing Bosses: The battles with the bosses in the most difficult Souls games involve the mastery of mechanics, the ability to identify patterns, and patience.
• Few Checkpoints: Few checkpoints imply that each meeting is significant, putting more pressure and challenge.
• Possible Dangers: Even the non-boss areas are difficult due to some hidden traps, ambushes, and other environmental dangers.

Due to these reasons, the souls games ranked by difficulty cannot be considered a simple test of reflexes only; they are a test of strategy, flexibility, and endurance.

Here is our full 2026 list of the hardest Souls games ranked, including base games, remasters, and DLC expansions to reach 20 entries. Each game includes an analysis of its difficulty, notable bosses, and the reasons it earned its ranking.

1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a harsh trial of reaction and accuracy, which presents one of the most tense combat systems in the history of FromSoftware games. Players must master parrying, deflecting, and precise timing to survive the old tactics of combat. The game replaces stamina as the primary factor with posture and counter strategies. Exploration is a harsh practice, full of deadly foes and concealed pitfalls everywhere. Every territory offers both a combination of environmental threats and the most powerful elite enemies, who require tact and adjustment. Multi-phase bosses must be performed perfectly, and the errors are most of the time terminal. It is this deadly difficulty and nearly extensive combat that elevates it to the top of the list of the most difficult Souls games.

• What makes it difficult: Each time is legendary, and an error ends in immediate death. Aggressive enemies do not give allowance.
• Boss challenge: The Sword Saint, Demon of Hatred, and Isshin are difficult multi-stage combats that are harsh to the slightest error.
• Challenge: Sekiro teaches players the hardest lesson of all: its precision-based combat places it at the top of the list of the hardest Souls games to rank, and even those who have played for a long time suffer losses.

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2. Demon’s Souls (2009 / 2020 Remake)

With the world being introduced to the peculiarities of the approach to the challenging gameplay. Demon’s Souls became the first release in the series of subsequent Souls titles. Players move across the intertwined worlds of traps, ambushes, and enemies with serious damage. The system of world tendency provided in the game complicates it further, changing the strength of enemies and bosses depending on the actions of a player. Surviving requires strategic thinking and waiting. It is easy when that involves overpowering an enemy who can defeat a player without adequate preparation. The remake (2020) has updated graphics and sound effects, but retained all the punishing elements of the original. Demon Souls is a continuation needed by those who want a definite experience in the Souls games based on their difficulty levels.

• What makes it difficult: It is always a challenge due to environmental dangers, tactical fighting, and enemy firepower.
• Boss challenge: Legendary battles with Flamelurker and Old King Allant require the skill of movement, attack patterns, and time management.
• Challenging element: Demon’s Souls has proved to be one of the hardest Souls games and strikes a balance between difficulty and strategy.

3. Dark Souls (2011 / 2018 Remaster)

Dark Souls broke the ground in the gaming world with its interconnected world, combat based on stamina, and rich lore. Gamers have to cleverly steer through the hazardous world environments, learn how to act around the enemy, and sustain their strength to survive. All corners may be ambushed, a trap laid, or the enemy, and produce tension as well as reward to the wary player. The areas of DLC are more difficult and have more difficult bosses and secrets. Dark Souls is a landmark of Souls games, renowned for by difficulty with exploration, stamina management, and combat mechanics mastery. Its combination of ease and vicious fighting also makes it both friendly and lethal.

• The reason it is challenging: Strategic fighting, environmental hazards, and offensive foes demand capability, tact, and a tactical approach.
• Boss challenge: The ability to fight and win iconic battles with Ornstein and Smough, Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, and DLC bosses requires strategy, timing, and flexibility.
• Reasoned takeaway: Dark Souls may still be considered a fundamental entry into the hardest Souls games list, but it does not give in to players.

4. Bloodborne (2015)

Bloodborne challenges the players to a fast-paced, aggressive fight, whereby defense cannot be played extensively. Medical supplies are low, and the foes strike with such ferocity. The gothic horror aesthetic increases the tension, and exploration is exciting and scary. Aggression is encouraged in strategy, and all the fights improve player reflexes and eyesight. Hidden bosses and optional areas add further levels of challenge, and it is now a sure presence in Souls games, ranked by difficulty. The action specific to Bloodborne and its unremitting difficulty make it a game that people must play to feel the most difficult Souls game ever.

• The reason it is difficult: The inability to heal and the need to move and act at certain moments, and act aggressively due to the enemy are designed.
• Boss challenge: Ludwig, the Accursed, and Orphan of Kos require learning how to dodge, how to attack, and how to position.
• Challenge: Bloodborne is a very fast-paced game, which is why it ranks among the high-ranking Souls games in terms of hardness in both reflexes and tactics.

5. Dark Souls III (2016)

Dark Souls III is a combination of the previous ones with the quicker pace of the action and the more aggressive monsters. Its stages are highly fancied, and correct decision-making and strategy are a requirement in the boss arenas. DLCs also make matters more difficult in cases of multi-phase battles and powerful enemies. Players should be able to manage stamina, placement, and timing to survive vicious foes and brutal bosses. Its difficulty and variety of combat place it on the list of challenging Souls games. Dark Souls III is a continuation of FromSoftware titles, which require patience, ability, and flexibility.

• Why it is challenging: Bosses that attack aggressively, multi-staged, and narrow battlefields demand accuracy in the playing.
• Boss crisis: Nameless King and DLC bosses such as Champion Gundyr are a test of stamina, planning, and fighting skill.
• Challenge solution: The intensity of Dark Souls III is in the list of the hardest Souls games, and the challenge can be offered even to those who have already played a lot of these games.

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6. Dark Souls II: The Burd of the First Sin (2015)

Scholar of the First Sin improves Dark Souls II with better AI, repositioned enemies, and new bosses. Players face dangerous opponents that deal massive damage, and the game challenges their patience, timing, and stamina. The level design also complicates gameplay with environmental hazards, increasing the overall difficulty. Making it a critical entry on the list of Souls games ranked by difficulty. DLC bosses are another challenge, which strengthens Dark Souls II as one of the major titles of the series.

• Why it is difficult: Enhanced AI and more and tougher enemies make stamina and resource management critical and important.
• Boss challenge: Fume Knight, Sir Alonne, and Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon, demand accuracy, patience, and expertise.
• Hardship tip: One of the most challenging souls games is regarded as the Scholar of the First Sin, which is quite hard, although not unfair.

7. Elden Ring (2022)

Elden Ring builds the Souls formula into a giant open world of unpredictable enemies and bosses that are difficult to defeat. The game world is dangerous, as it has optional areas and powerful enemies that offer challenging experiences. Endurance and battle tactics, as well as flexibility, are important. Its expansive globe and lack of diversity make it prominent in lists of Souls games ranked by difficulty. Elden Ring is an excellent example of a modern standard of the hardest Souls game to rank highly on because of the careful planning, experimentation, and skillful execution.

• Why it is challenging: Open world design presents unexpected danger and enemies who can ravage the players at any time.
• Boss challenge: Some of the hardest fights in the recent history of Souls are Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and Radahn.
• Challenging aspect: Its size and randomness cause Elden Ring to be one of the greatest games in the Souls genre in terms of difficulty.

8. Demon Souls: Tower of Latria DLC

The Tower of Latria DLC brings more difficulty and more challenging enemies, environmental challenges, and traps. The levels are maze-like and require careful navigation, tactical battle, and time management. The DLC re-envisions boss difficulty, making it a must-play for players who want to experience the Souls games ranked by challenge.

• Why Is It Difficult: The enemy density, traps, and new mechanics add to the challenge in comparison with the base game.
• Boss challenge: Old Monk needs a plan, patience, and understanding of how to play the combat.
• Challenge win: This growth makes Demon Souls one of the most challenging Souls games in the rankings.

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9. Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss DLC

Artorias of the Abyss presents problematic conditions and mighty bosses. Players will have to learn new adversary behavior and take care of their stamina. It consists of a strategic battle and environmental risks that are the main attributes making it a major title in the Souls games, considered the most difficult.

• The difficulty of it: Cluttered fields and powerful adversaries require accuracy and resourcefulness.
• Boss trick: Artorias and Manus are a challenge that needs tact and time management.
• Challenge: A required expansion for anyone looking at the highest-ranked Souls games.

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10. Dark Souls: III DLC The Ringed City

The Ringed City DLC has endgame challenges that challenge every skill of the players. Multi-stage bosses, bosses of the elite, and large-damage attacks push the mastery of combat to the maximum. Its structure increases the popularity of Dark Souls III as one of the most difficult Souls games.

• The reason it is challenging: Dense arenas, extremely competitive enemies, and complicated bosses require stamina and strategy.
• Boss challenge: Slave Knight Gael is a challenging multi-phase boss that requires all the combat skills.
• Challenges takeaway: This DLC then makes Dark Souls III one of the most challenging Souls games on the list that will be remembered.

As per a report

The worldwide video game industry is expected to expand from USD 282.0 billion in 2025 to around USD 420.0 billion by 2035, thus witnessing a total increase of USD 138.0 billion during the period in question. This means that the market is going to grow by 48.9% in total and it will be expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% between 2025-2035.

11. The Old Hunters DLC Bloodborne

Old Hunters expansion intensifies the mindless combat of Bloodborne and adds new enemies, bosses, and exploration puzzles. Players have more aggressive and quicker enemies, and they have to learn to attack and avoid fatal attacks. Every encounter needs to survive through strategic aggression, timing, and observation. Environmental risks and concealed locations raise the stakes even more, making this DLC one of the hardest Souls games. The game rewards a player’s skill and punishes mistakes, reinforcing Bloodborne’s reputation as one of the most challenging Souls games.

• Difficulty: Difficulty comes in the form of the enemy density, and it takes split-second decisions, leaving no margin of error.
• Boss challenge: Ludwig and Lady Maria are vicious multi-stage challenges that require skill, timing, and patience.
• Challenge: The Old Hunters DLC is one of the hardest Souls games ranked that providing some of the most challenging challenges in the series.

12. DLC of Dark Souls II: Crown of the Old Iron King

Crown of the Old Iron King opens the game with a fiery area filled with environmental dangers and formidable enemies. Players must scout carefully and master combat through precise timing, controlled strength, and strategic positioning. The reason why bosses exist is to penalize errors and reward cautiousness and prudence. The difficulty of the levels and high-damage enemies is what makes this DLC a necessity for players who want the Souls games according to their hierarchy. The deadly competition makes Dark Souls II a regular in the hardest Souls game series.

• Why it makes sense: Precision and reflexes are challenged by platforming risks, difficult adversaries, and safe areas.
• Boss challenge: Sir Alonne is a challenging battle where one has to be at the right place at the right time; it involves tactical thinking.
• Challenge: This DLC further increases the difficulty of Dark Souls II and establishes it as one of the most challenging Souls games on the list.

13. Dark Souls II DLC: Crown of the Sunken King

Sunken King DLC offers twists and turns, secret chambers, and tough monsters, and makes Dark Souls II more difficult. It’s dangerous environments demand a lot of tactical movement of players, stamina, and health management. The DLC adds optional bosses and hidden locations that can destroy unsuspecting adventurers, making it a strong contender in the Souls games’ hierarchy of difficulty. Discovery and fighting need strategy, patience, and flexibility. All these obstacles make the DLC an essential part for a person who wants to play the hardest Souls games.

• Reasons why it is challenging: Placing traps, high density of enemies, and high-damage enemies require a lot of planning and execution.
• Boss challenge: Non-obligatory battles like The Rotten are based on strategy, skills, and stamina.
• Key challenge: The Sunken King reinforces the position of Dark Souls II as one of the hardest-ranked Souls games.

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14. Crown of the Ivory King DLC Resources, Dark Souls II

Crown of the Ivory King builds on the frozen, dangerous world of Dark Souls II, with high-level enemies, detailed level design, and punitive bosses. Navigating is dangerous, and the environment will set traps and elite enemies on the path of the players. Fighting must have a high level of caution and management of resources, and any errors are severely reprimanded. The DLC presents novelties to veterans who want the Souls game ranked by difficulty, which further consolidates Dark Souls II as one of the hardest of the Souls games.

• Why it is difficult: The difficult areas, being an elite opponent and close combat time pressure, challenge skill and patience.
• Boss challenge: The Ivory King is a tough challenge that involves a mix of tactical approach and combat tactics.
• Challenge: This increase keeps Dark Souls II in the leaderboard of the hardest Souls games.

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15. Demon Souls: Valley of Defilement

Moreover, the Valley of Defilement is also a well-known place with its bad smoggy swamps, ambushes, and inexorable opponents. Which makes it one of the hardest regions in Demon’s Souls. Players have to walk through poison-infested areas when using scarce resources and having to deal with highly destructive foes. Bosses and environmental hazards work together to punish errors and require a keen strategy. It is a formidable opponent that guarantees the region a spot at the top of the list of challenging souls games. The art in this field is a privilege that is enjoyed by people who are trying their best at the soul games.

• Why it is difficult: The players are under pressure all the time because of poison, ambushes, and high-damage enemies.
• Boss challenge: Bosses are unique and secretive challenges that challenge stamina, timing, and strategy.
• Challenge: The Valley of Defilement is why Demon’s Souls is evolving into one of the most difficult entries in the hardest Souls games ever.

16. Dark Souls: Painted World of Ariamis DLC

The Painted World of Ariamis is a frozen secret area with ambushes and elite enemies, as well as serious damage. Discovering is risky and needs to be carefully maneuvered and fought. The fact that the environment consists of traps and narrow ways increases the difficulty of the game, making each meeting a tense moment. Elective locations and the bosses demand learning to fight and not to run out of energy. It is a mandatory component of the Souls games ranked by difficulty and an exclusive and tougher experience. It supports the Dark Souls image as one of the most challenging Souls games.

• Why it is challenging: Pop-up attacks, enemy attacks with much damage, and environmental elements challenge the player’s reflexes and tactics.
• Boss war: Crossbreed Priscilla requires time, patience, and strategy.
• Challenge: Painted World of Ariamis is one of the most challenging Souls games in the ranking, and both beginners and experienced players are going to have challenges.

17. Bloodborne: Dungeons of Chalice

Chalice Dungeons in Bloodborne present procedurally generated challenges that significantly increase the game’s difficulty. Players deal with unstoppable enemies, traps, and optional bosses that have random mechanics. Players must control their endurance and fight with even greater precision to pass through each stage. Traveling remains dangerous, and scarce resources force players to rely on skill and patience. This material boosts the popularity of Bloodborne in the lists of the most difficult Souls games among players who enjoy the most challenging of the Souls games.

• Why it is difficult: There is always unpredictability with randomized enemy positioning, bosses of a higher level, and traps.
• Boss challenge: Dungeon bosses can be more challenging than main game bosses, with all the combat abilities being put to the test.
• Challenge takeaway: Test your skills in the Chalice Dungeons, a full-length challenge in the hardest Souls games on the list that reward players for their perseverance.

18. Sekiro: Shinobi Hunter Mode DLC

Sekiro has Shinobi Hunter Mode, which introduces new difficulty modifiers, increased density of enemies, and rebalanced bosses. Players have more punishing and speedy enemies and multi-phase battles requiring near-perfect timing. Discovery is more dangerous and errors during combat are severely reprimanded. The expansion establishes Sekiro as a difficult souls game in the list, which is even more challenging to play on a higher level. Accuracy in battle, enemy aggression and tactical intricacy make it one of the most difficult soul games.

• Why it is difficult: Faster enemies, increased density, rebalanced bosses make it more difficult.
• Boss challenge: Any boss needs to learn parries, counters and timing to survive.
• Hard-earned lesson: Shinobi Hunter Mode makes Sekiro stay at the top of hardest souls games ranked.

19. Elden Ring: DLC Shadow of the Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree adds to the world of Elden Ring with new areas, elite creatures, and bosses with high difficulties. Players must navigate hazardous areas while balancing stamina, health, and combat resources. Optional bosses deliver extremely hard challenges, placing the game among the most difficult Souls titles. Travelling and fighting also demand flexibility and planning and each battle is a test of ability. This growth solidifies Elden Ring as one of the most difficult souls games to place.

• Why it is challenging: The new regions and powerful bosses challenge the ability of the player and his stamina control.
• Boss challenge: Optional bosses Malenia and Radahn are equally difficult as in terms of patience and execution precision.
• Challenge Proxy: Shadow of the Erdtree elevates Elden Ring to be among the most challenging titles in souls games ranked by difficulty.

20. Ashes of Ariandel DLC of Dark Souls III

Ashes of Ariandel presents small arenas, high-end enemies, and multi-phase boss fights that make Dark Souls III more challenging. Traveling and fighting must be right on time, stamina, and strategy. There are environmental dangers and traps, and optional bosses challenge the mastery of the player to the maximum. This DLC stands as an essential part of the most difficult Souls games, offering some of the harshest experiences in the series. Its design pushes Dark Souls III to rank among the most challenging Souls games ever made.

• Why it is challenging: Formula One rivals, narrow tracks, and weather-related conditions allow no mistakes.
• Boss battle: Friede, Sister of Ariandel, is a very violent multi-stage battle that requires learning of all fighting mechanics.
• Challenge takeaway: Ashes of Ariandel is one of the hardest Souls games to rank among, which demonstrates that FromSoftware is highly skilled in problematic design.

“The hardest Souls games aren’t about luck; they’re about learning, adapting, and mastering every move until perfection becomes second nature.”

— Muzamil Liaqat Rao, CEO of 8ration

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