CultureJuly 5, 2026
soulslike
/ˈsoʊlzˌlaɪk/
Definition
A video game genre characterized by high difficulty, challenging boss encounters, and specific mechanics pioneered by the 'Dark Souls' series.
Etymology
The word is a portmanteau of 'Souls' (from the title 'Dark Souls', the influential game series developed by FromSoftware) and the suffix '-like,' which denotes a resemblance to the core characteristics of that specific source material.
In the news
In the article, the term describes games that intimidate players with their reputation for being punishingly difficult, leading to a unique subculture and community humor focused on overcoming these challenges.
How Modern Gaming Changed Culture and Memes
Read the full article ↗GameGrin