The Duskbloods network test is off to a rough start, with closed-server issues locking out players who cleared the queue and PvP matchmaking dropping mid-fight. FromSoftware will patch it. Meanwhile, the itch for a gothic action RPG that punishes your button mashing is real. These seven desktop games are the closest existing scratch, ranked from the obvious “just play Elden Ring” to the surprising pick that everyone forgets.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Free trial | Starting price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Open-world FromSoft scale | No | $60 | Shadow of the Erdtree keeps it huge |
| Sekiro Shadows Die Twice | Duel-focused parry combat | No | $60 | Every fight is a rhythm minigame |
| Dark Souls III | Purest classic Souls loop | Frequent sales | $60 | Fast, tight, still the reference |
| Lies of P | Bloodborne fans in exile | Demo | $60 | Weapon crafting adds real build depth |
| Nioh 2 | Loot-based action RPG depth | No | $50 | Yokai transformations, stance dance |
| Blasphemous 2 | 2D metroidvania soulslike | No | $30 | Painting-quality pixel art |
| Code Vein | Anime take on Souls with co-op | Frequent sales | $50 | Buddy AI carries newcomers |
Why people are looking for Duskbloods alternatives
Three specific pain points come up in the network test threads:
- Servers drop mid-match, and the disconnect penalty still applies.
- PvP invasions match wildly uneven levels.
- Everyone wants to play right now, and the test is capped and closed.
The games below solve at least two of those on day one, on PC, without waiting for a patch. Full releases with mature netcode, tuned matchmaking, or single-player-first campaigns that never disconnect at all.
1. Elden Ring — best overall FromSoft experience today
Elden Ring is the obvious first stop. Open-world FromSoftware with Shadow of the Erdtree adding another dozens-of-hours zone, meaningful co-op and PvP, and stable Steam matchmaking that has been battle-tested since 2022.
Where it falls short: Late-game bosses assume you have farmed. New players sometimes get lost early because the map is genuinely huge.
Pricing:
- Base: $60
- With Shadow of the Erdtree: $100
- vs Duskbloods: same tier, but shipping.
Migrating from Duskbloods: No import needed. Elden Ring is the game most Duskbloods-curious players have already touched, so save data usually already exists.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The default answer while Duskbloods stabilizes.
2. Sekiro Shadows Die Twice — best for duel-focused combat
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice is the FromSoftware game that most rewards mechanical precision. Deflect timing, posture management, and prosthetic tools replace the RPG scaling of the Souls games, and every boss is a rhythm test against a superior swordsman.
Where it falls short: No co-op, no build variety. Any player who loves theorycrafting will feel constrained.
Pricing:
- Base: $60
- vs Duskbloods: single-player focused, so it dodges the network problems entirely.
Migrating from Duskbloods: Not a save-transfer situation. Learn to deflect, that is the migration.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The best pick for anyone who wanted Duskbloods for the duels and the rhythm.
3. Dark Souls III — best classic Souls loop
Dark Souls III is still the tightest classic-formula Souls game. Fast rolls, poise, stamina management, and a level design that doubles back on itself in ways every fan can draw from memory. Servers are stable in 2026 after the 2022 security fixes.
Where it falls short: Older engine shows its age at high refresh rates without community patches. DLC bosses assume experienced players.
Pricing:
- Base: $60
- Deluxe (with both DLCs): $85
- Frequently on sale for half of that
- vs Duskbloods: cheaper, older, still peaks at the same combat highs.
Migrating from Duskbloods: Any FromSoftware player will feel at home. Muscle memory carries over.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The reference implementation. Every modern soulslike is a fork of this.
4. Lies of P — best for Bloodborne fans on PC
Lies of P is the game Bloodborne fans on PC actually got. Gothic city, weapon assembly system with hilt-and-blade combinations, and a story that leans hard into Pinocchio horror. The 2024 DLC expanded the moveset further.
Where it falls short: Combat is stiffer than Bloodborne itself. Parry timing is unforgiving.
Pricing:
- Base: $60
- With DLC: $85
- vs Duskbloods: cheaper, on PC, no network cap.
Migrating from Duskbloods: No sync. Bring your parry reflexes.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The closest thing to Bloodborne PC will ever get.
5. Nioh 2 — best for loot-focused action RPGs
Nioh 2 goes the opposite direction from Sekiro. Loot rains, stance systems reward experimentation, and yokai transformations give bosses genuine gimmicks. Endgame missions run for hundreds of hours with real build variety.
Where it falls short: UI is dense. The tutorial does not really explain the deepest systems. Not for anyone who bounces off number-heavy loot games.
Pricing:
- Complete Edition: $50
- vs Duskbloods: cheaper, deeper, longer.
Migrating from Duskbloods: No overlap on saves. Prepare to relearn stance swapping.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The best pick for anyone who cares about loot and long-term builds.
6. Blasphemous 2 — best 2D soulslike
Blasphemous 2 takes the gothic penance of the first game and layers a full metroidvania on top. Three weapon classes swap freely, pixel art holds up to 4K, and the roguelite DLC extends replay by dozens of hours.
Where it falls short: 2D means no rolling in three dimensions. Some FromSoft fans hate the platforming sections.
Pricing:
- Base: $30
- Deluxe: $40
- vs Duskbloods: half the price, single-player, no server dependency.
Migrating from Duskbloods: Different genre, similar sensibility. Bring your patience.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The pick when you want soulslike difficulty without the third dimension.
7. Code Vein — best co-op-first soulslike
Code Vein is the anime-styled soulslike with a full AI companion system. Play alone with a buddy AI, matchmake with one player, or roll through the whole game with a friend. Blood veils and gifts replace the classic weight and stat systems.
Where it falls short: Visuals lean hard into anime, which is a barrier for some. Boss variety is thin in the middle third.
Pricing:
- Base: $50
- With DLCs: $65
- Frequently on 60% sale
- vs Duskbloods: cheaper, co-op-first, no network cap.
Migrating from Duskbloods: No save transfer. Bring a friend.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The pick for a couch or Discord co-op run while the network test wraps up.
How to choose
- If you want the closest to Duskbloods’ scale: Elden Ring.
- If you loved the duel-first pitch: Sekiro Shadows Die Twice.
- If you want the classic Souls loop: Dark Souls III.
- If you were in it for Bloodborne vibes on PC: Lies of P.
- If loot is the point: Nioh 2.
- If you want the same feel in 2D: Blasphemous 2.
- If you want to play with a friend: Code Vein.
FAQ
Is Duskbloods coming to PC? Nintendo published the network test, and current announcements point to Switch 2 exclusivity. FromSoftware has not confirmed a PC release window.
Which of these has the closest combat feel to what Duskbloods showed? Lies of P and Sekiro Shadows Die Twice both prioritize the same parry-and-punish loop. Lies of P is closer visually.
Can I import my Duskbloods character? No. Duskbloods is a separate game running on Nintendo’s servers. Nothing about it transfers to a PC title.
Which is cheapest to try right now? Blasphemous 2 at $30 is the cheapest new release. Dark Souls III drops to about that on sale several times a year.
Do any of these have PvP invasions like Duskbloods? Elden Ring, Dark Souls III, and to a lesser extent Nioh 2 have real invasion mechanics. Sekiro, Lies of P, Blasphemous 2, and Code Vein are single-player-first.
Which is easiest for a new soulslike player? Code Vein with an AI buddy is the most forgiving entry point. Elden Ring rewards exploration, so it can also feel gentler than the linear Souls games.
