Have you ever played a game that slowly becomes exhausting to play? I know that I have and there is one clear reason as to why this happens. The game either has pointless side content, boring main stories that drag on, mechanics that are underutilized and don’t really help with character progression, etc.
All of those issues are what we like to call “filler content,” content that is just added to the game purely to increase the overall length. It’s a detrimental aspect of many games this generation that can turn an amazing game into just an okay one.
In this list, we are looking at Souls games that don’t have this issue and instead are really focused and packed with content that is worth your time. Here are the best all-killer, no filler Souls games you need to play as soon as possible.
6
Lies of P
Lie or Truth?
Lies of P is known by many to be the best Soulslike game of all time, and there is good reason for that. Lies of P does everything right for a Soulslike such as having Dark Souls level design, build customization, interesting lore and story, and memorable boss fights. Who knew that a game based on Pinocchio could have so many great aspects to it?
All the content in Lies of P feels like it deserves to be there and is worth your time, constantly rewarding you with unique items and weapons, upgrades for the P-Organ skill tree, and even engaging side stories that expands the lore of the game world. There’s no filler in Lies of P, something that is very rare in video games these days.
5
Hollow Knight: Silksong
A Superb Sequel
Hollow Knight took the indie world by storm when it released in 2017, being deemed as one of the best 2D Metroidvania Soulslike of all time. Due to its massive popularity, the anticipation for its sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, was through the roof. After a long wait, Silksong released and it did not disappoint whatsoever.
Hollow Knight: Silksong took everything that made the original so beloved and improved upon it. It refined combat, made platforming sequences more satisfying, and even had better bosses that offered bigger challenges. The map of the game is massive, with secrets around every corner, making exploration an exciting journey that always feels worth it.
4
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Dark Souls Vibes
The best way to describe Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is “a misunderstood masterpiece.” Those who played it in its entirety will agree that it’s one of the best non-FromSoftware Souls games on the market due to its incredible boss design, deep build customization, and beautiful world that is incredibly addicting to explore. The game’s level design is the closest to Dark Souls compared to other titles on this list.
If you are a lore enthusiast and enjoy searching every nook and cranny to piece a story together, this game is right up your alley. It took me 80 hours to beat Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, which included many of the optional content, and there wasn’t anything I encountered that made me question whether it was worth it or not. Everything is curated with care, making it all killer, no filler.
3
Elden Ring Nightreign
An Addicting Roguelike
The last thing anybody ever expected was an Elden Ring multiplayer game that draws inspiration from Fortnite and other online titles. However, that is exactly what we got with Elden Ring Nightreign and it actually turned out to be great. If you aren’t familiar with how this game plays, it essentially is a match-based roguelike with boss rush and quick build crafting mechanics.
I have never had as much fun with an online multiplayer game as much as I have with Elden Ring Nightreign. The reason for this is because its fast-paced, everything within a match serves a purpose, and you always have one end goal in mind – kill the Nightlord on day 3. Its roguelike mechanics keep each match feeling fresh, such as randomized weapons and bosses, preventing the game from going stale. Just writing about this game makes me want to boot it up and play.
2
Nioh 3
The Best Nioh Yet
The Nioh series is known for its brutal boss fights and challenging combat to master. The first two Nioh games were fairly linear, but Nioh 3 took an open world approach and made it bigger and better. The greatest part of the latest Nioh is that it has so much high-quality content, taking completionists over 100 hours to do everything, but all of that is very rewarding and goes toward character progression.
There are plenty of Souls games that have side content like Nioh, but a lot of the times the optional stuff is just time killers. Nioh 3 makes sure this isn’t the case by rewarding players with powerful weapons, useful materials for build crafting, currency to purchase important items, and exciting boss fights that are simply fun to complete. There wasn’t one side quest or main mission in Nioh 3 that felt pointless to me, and that’s why it’s one of the best games of 2026 so far.
1
Demon’s Souls
A Killer Remake
There would be no Souls genre if it wasn’t for Demon’s Souls, the first game to create the formula fans have come to know and love. However, many players never played the original and only experienced this masterpiece through the Demon’s Souls remake by Bluepoint Games. With updated graphics, modernized controls and mechanics, the remake showcased why this game is so special.
Demon’s Souls is more linear compared to FromSoftware’s other titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, since that linear aspect makes it feel more focused overall, having almost zero filler content throughout. You know exactly what you’re getting every time you load into this game – solid boss fights, deep build customization, and beautiful landscapes to soak in.
