Looking for games with a Souls-esque feeling of being on a lonely journey through a ruined world

[ninja666]

Apart from its gameplay and its brooding darkness, I've always loved the Souls games for their aspect of partaking in a lonely journey through a decrepit, mostly destroyed world, whose glory is long past, challenging its dangers, surviving on whatever you find laying around, and finding comfort in the light of a bonfire and in meeting lost souls, who are on a journey of their own, in search of their own goals. Dark Souls 2 especially manages to pinpoint this feeling for me because of going for a calmer, more melancholic atmosphere, rather than something oppressively grim, like the rest of the series does.

I'm looking for other games that evoke a similar feeling. Can you think of any? It can be any genre, although more action-y titles are definitely preferred. Fantasy aesthetics appreciated, albeit not necessary.

Platform-wise, I have a crappy, low-end PC, which should be capable of running games up to 2014, but nothing newer than that (I'm talking about 3D games here, of course; 2D indies run fine), and a bunch of older/retro consoles (up to PS3 generation). However, PC games are definitely more appreciated.

Thank you in advance for any and all help.

EDIT: Here are my PC's specs:

- AMD Athlon II X4 @2.8GHz
- 4GB RAM
- AMD Radeon HD7770 1GB
- Win7 x64

EDIT 2: Maybe my wording was a little confusing in that regard, but I don't have a PS3. I only have a bunch of consoles that came before it.

 

[DarthCoercis]

Uhm.. The Surge is a sci-fi souls-like that may fit the bill. The same devs also made Lord of the Fallen, which is another souls-like with lots of warhammer-esque giant shoulderpads.

 

[ninja666]

Uhm.. The Surge is a sci-fi souls-like that may fit the bill. The same devs also made Lord of the Fallen, which is another souls-like with lots of warhammer-esque giant shoulderpads.

Thanks, but unfortunately, I can run neither of those games. I guess I'll just post the specs in the OP to avoid getting recommendations my PC can't run.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Well, once again I have to recommend Darksiders 2. The feeling of being all alone is the dominant feeling throughout the entire game. That feeling is evoked at the very beginning IMO, and it never goes away.


But once you reach The Kingdom of the Dead, that feeling intensifies and it becomes more Souls-esque. I think the music plays a big part in that. Jesper Kyd's score really sets the atmosphere of being all alone in a far away land.

 

[ninja666]

Well, once again I have to recommend Darksiders 2. The feeling of being all alone is the dominant feeling throughout the entire game. That feeling is evoked at the very beginning IMO, and it never goes away.

I might give it another shot, then. Maybe this time it's gonna stick. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Maybe give Shadow of the Colossus a shot? Its a bosh rush game and you journey through epic landscapes and a old giant's realm.

 

[ninja666]

Maybe give Shadow of the Colossus a shot? Its a bosh rush game and you journey through epic landscapes and a old giant's realm.

I've already played it. Pretty good suggestion, though.

 

[RaikuFA]

Hollow Knight might be what you're looking for.

 

[ninja666]

Hollow Knight might be what you're looking for.

It fits what I'm looking for to a tee. However, this game is also one I've already played. I'd definitely love to see another one like it.

 

[Mikejames]

I'd recommend checking out the Nier series if weird action JRPGs and the premise of decaying post apocalyptic fantasy worlds interest you. The gameplay's not perfect, but there's a lot of passion behind the setting and story ideas which may or may not carry it through some of the flaws. Nier Automata might be hard to run on an older computer, but the first game's available on PS3.

The three Supergiant games have some interesting takes on wanderers in post-apocalyptic scenarios as well, though they're pretty different from Dark Souls in terms of style and gameplay.

Bastion and Transistor both have you exploring the remnants of a fantasy and sci-fi civilization respectively, picking up new info about the setting through narration and cursory character interactions.

Pyre is more about a group of travelers exploring a place of ruin and exile rather than actual decaying civilization, but there's plenty of lore and melancholy camaraderie to the setting and plot. Though the fact that the actual gameplay is basically a fantasy sports tournament/visual novel, does turn some people off.

 

[Yoshi178]

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion.

 

[ninja666]

I'd recommend checking out the Nier series if weird action JRPGs and the premise of decaying post apocalyptic fantasy worlds interest you. The gameplay's not perfect, but there's a lot of passion behind the setting and story ideas which may or may not carry it through some of the flaws. Nier Automata might be hard to run on an older computer, but the first game's available on PS3.

Maybe my wording was a little confusing in that regard, but I don't have a PS3. I only have a bunch of consoles that came before it. Nier Automata is on my list of games I'm gonna get once I have a better PC, though (I've already seen a complete Let's Play of Gestalt, so I'm up-to-date with the story and lore).

The three Supergiant games have some interesting takes on wanderers in post-apocalyptic scenarios as well, though they're pretty different from Dark Souls in terms of style and gameplay.

Bastion and Transistor both have you exploring the remnants of a fantasy and sci-fi civilization respectively, picking up new info about the setting through narration and cursory character interactions.

Pyre is more about a group of travelers exploring a place of ruin and exile rather than actual decaying civilization, but there's plenty of lore and melancholy camaraderie to the setting and plot. Though the fact that the actual gameplay is basically a fantasy sports tournament/visual novel, does turn some people off.

I've already played Bastion, but have never touched Transistor, so now might be a good time. Pyre, however, isn't really my cup of tea - I don't really like sports games, no matter how outlandish the sport itself is.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion.

I don't own a Switch. I also don't quite see how Splatoon 2 even fits into my request at all.

 

[Palindromemordnilap_v1legacy]

How about Journey? Ruined world, story told via imagery, last act really tries making you feel helpless, though maybe not as actiony as you wanted

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

This is coming out soon, so maybe put it on your wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/356650/Deaths_Gambit/

 

[Yoshi178]

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion.

I don't own a Switch. I also don't quite see how Splatoon 2 even fits into my request at all.

Let's see now

lonely journey

Check.

surviving on whatever you find laying around.

check. some levels don't even give you a weapon.

through a decrepit, mostly destroyed world, whose glory is long past

sort of. Inkopolis underground subway isn't destroyed. but it is a forgotten place that's glory is long past.

challenging its dangers,

Check.

and finding comfort in the light of a bonfire

no bonfire but you do find comfort in the light of an old Squid who will will give you a loan if you ever run out of Money.

and in meeting lost souls,

check. there are a bunch of lost souls on the train.

who are on a journey of their own, in search of their own goals.

unfortunately nah. Agent 8 is the only one on a Journey in this DLC.

I'm looking for other games that evoke a similar feeling.

Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion definitely fits the majority of the criteria you just laid out.

if you want more context then how bout actually watching Chiguy's video i just posted?

 

[ninja666]

How about Journey? Ruined world, story told via imagery, last act really tries making you feel helpless, though maybe not as actiony as you wanted

This definitely is something I could enjoy, but I don't have a PS3, unfortunately (I've already added an EDIT to the OP to clear out the confusion I might've caused with wrong wording). Thanks anyway.

This is coming out soon, so maybe put it on your wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/356650/Deaths_Gambit/

Looks like something right up my alley. I've added it to my wishlist.

Snip.

Ok, I get the gist. Still, while technically correct, it doesn't really fit the mood I'm searching for.

 

[Palindromemordnilap_v1legacy]

How about Journey? Ruined world, story told via imagery, last act really tries making you feel helpless, though maybe not as actiony as you wanted

This definitely is something I could enjoy, but I don't have a PS3, unfortunately (I've already added an EDIT to the OP to clear out the confusion I might've caused with wrong wording). Thanks anyway.

Huh, really thought that would have worked its way onto other platforms by now

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Salt and Sanctuary? It's basically a 2D souls game. I don't think it's as god as Hollow Knight but it's still good and it'll probably scratch your itch.

Eitr is supposed to come out at some point this year as well, and seems pretty cool and also exactly like what you're looking for.

 

[meiam]

Hyper light drifter might work for you, although there's not much story.

 

[ninja666]

Salt and Sanctuary? It's basically a 2D souls game. I don't think it's as god as Hollow Knight but it's still good and it'll probably scratch your itch.

Hyper light drifter might work for you, although there's not much story.

Already played both of them. Good games, these two.

Eitr is supposed to come out at some point this year as well, and seems pretty cool and also exactly like what you're looking for.

I'll keep an eye out for it.