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Dark Souls is a fantasy RPG from Japanese game studio From Software that introduced the world to a whole new subgenre of games. Though it was not the first game to utilize this format, it was by far the most popular, spawning a franchise and coining the term “Soulslike,” referring to any video game that utilized similar mechanics. The hallmarks of a Soulslike game are generally a sense of profound isolation and loneliness, several large, boss-type enemies to encounter, a dark fantasy theme, and an emphasis on environmental storytelling rather than spoken dialogue, though spoken dialogue is rarely omitted entirely.
In Dark Souls, players take on the role of the Chosen Undead, one who must fight his way through waves of demons and various other undead to reach the fabled Kiln of the First Flame, where the player can then choose to extend the Age of Fire, or bring about the Age of Darkness. With the player being undead, death is included as a seamless part of the gameplay–rather than having you restart from the last checkpoint as if nothing happened, each death is treated as an in-universe event. And make no mistake, with how hard the game is, there’s going to be a lot of death. If you’re a fan of the Soulsborne series of games and are looking for movies that give off similar vibes, say no more, because these movies should be right up your ally.
10
‘Damsel’ (2024)
Damsel is a Netflix original movie starring Millie Bobby Brown that was met with mixed reviews. Some like it, some hate it, some don’t feel one particular way or another. However, if you’re a fan of Dark Souls, you may wish to give it a try. In this film, Brown plays a princess who is betrothed to marry a prince, but is actually used as a sacrifice to a dangerous dragon, so that it will stop attacking the innocents of the kingdom. Now, she is left in the dragon’s lair, with nothing but her own intuition as a tool.
Like Dark Souls, this movie features the main character in a situation where they are completely and utterly alone, unable to rely upon anyone for help, and rarely getting the chance to interact with other people. Moreover, dragons play a very large part in the lore of Dark Souls, with several of them appearing as bosses throughout the series, so the dragon being the antagonist definitely serves the movie well for fans. While it’s not a movie for everyone, it isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be, and has some moments of enjoyment, albeit with some glaring flaws.
9
‘The Head Hunter’ (2018)
The Head Hunter may have received excellent critical scores, but audiences weren’t too pleased with it, because many felt it should have actually shown the action in the film rather than cutting away from it. The truth is, though, the action was never the point of the plot. The story of The Head Hunter follows a nameless protagonist with too much anger and a chip on his shoulder, who spends his time accepting local bounties to hunt down monsters, all while developing an elixir of life to bring his dead daughter back. Things change when he receives a bounty to kill the very same creature that killed his daughter.
Just look at any screenshot from the film, and it’s almost uncanny how much the aesthetic matches that of many Soulsborne games. On top of that, the protagonist is mostly silent and is completely and utterly alone, and fights (albeit off camera) numerous enemies that may as well be video game bosses. This unashamedly dark fantasy film isn’t really for everyone, but for those who can appreciate a good revenge tale and a story that is told environmentally rather than through dialogue, this is a fantastic choice.
8
‘Valhalla Rising’ (2009)
Valhalla Rising is a Danish film that actually isn’t fantastical at all. The film is categorized as a period adventure movie, meaning it is grounded in reality, and set in a notable historical time period. The time period in question is the 11th Century, when Vikings prowled the seas of Scandinavia. The story follows an enslaved man who leads a violent uprising against those who made his life miserable, becoming a feared Viking and warrior.
The movie received mixed reviews from audiences, but good reviews from critics, and does have a cult following. So why exactly is it a good pick for Dark Souls fans? Well, for one, the visuals are very reminiscent of the game’s world, in spite of being based on real life. Moreover, the cast is small and the protagonist, played by Mads Mikkelsen is alone for much of his journey. Lastly, nearly all of the characters are entirely nameless, mirroring the nameless protagonists of the games. Whilst not a direct match, Valhalla Rising is a good choice to watch if you’re a fan of the Dark Souls universe.
7
‘Mad God’ (2021)
Mad God is an adult stop-motion animation movie that is very different from Dark Souls aesthetically. However, many of the techniques used in the film are textbook examples of the Soulsborne formula. For one, the nameless protagonist is just one of many others like him, who have all died, placing an emphasis on the cyclical nature of life and death, just like the games do. Secondly, the protagonist is completely and utterly alone, and the movie has no spoken dialogue, meaning the story is told environmentally and visually, just like Soulsborne games.
The story itself relies heavily on demons and the undead, as the protagonist descends into the Underworld on a quest from the surface. Along the way, he encounters numerous enemies that could easily pass for video game bosses. Though the dystopian aesthetics, involving guns and sci-fi aspects are definitely not Soulslike, the dark fantasy setting combined with the storytelling techniques used in this fantasy/horror flick, along with the gruesome violence and gore, are sure to draw the attention of any Dark Souls fan.
6
‘Excalibur’ (1981)
Excalibur, as the name implies, is based in Arthurian legend. It’s mostly an adaptation of the most popular parts of the myth, involving the Lady of the Lake (Hilary Joyalle), the sword in the stone, and the friendship between King Arthur (Nigel Terry) himself and his trusty court wizard Merlin (Nicol Williamson). The story also shows the formation of the Round Table, and Arthur’s divine quest to seek the Holy Grail. Pretty much every prominent figure from Arthurian mythos can be seen in this movie.
One of the main reasons this is a great pick for Dark Souls fans is due to its iconic visuals, along with the fact that some aspects of Dark Souls are actually based on Medieval Europe and Arthurian legend, as well. Some character names are clear inspirations from the myth, such as the princess Gwynevere in the games, and Guinevere (Cherie Lunghi) in the myth and film. On top of that, this movie is much more mature than typical King Arthur movies, and has been a huge hit with fans of the Soulsborne games.
5
‘The Northman’ (2022)
The Northman is set in the Viking Age, where a wayward Viking has been deposed of his place as the rightful heir to the throne by his traitorous uncle. Having grown older and more angry, he begins his quest to avenge the deaths of his family and retake the throne he was promised at birth. Though it is set in the real world, there are various aspects of Norse mythology included, typically in the form of sorcerers and the undead.
The Northman is a great movie for Soulsborne fans due to its dark and gritty aesthetics, as well as death being a key part of the narrative. The aesthetics are also remarkably similar to the world of Dark Souls, and the movie has a pretty small cast, emphasizing the isolation of the main character. On top of that, the undead are present in the film, something else that serves as a key aspect of the Dark Souls trilogy.
4
‘Solomon Kane’ (2009)
Solomon Kane is admittedly more visually and thematically similar to Bloodborne, a spin-off of the Dark Souls trilogy, but the core tenets of the subgenre are still the same. It is set in the year 1600, in North Africa, where an English privateer named Solomon Kane (James Purefoy) is leading his forces against the spreading Ottoman Empire. But he soon discovers that he isn’t only fighting the Ottomans, but also demons, who inform him that due to his life of sin, Solomon’s soul is forfeit and bound for Hell.
The similarities to Soulsborne games are numerous, mainly in the concept of battling demons and the sense of isolation that Solomon feels on his quest. Magic is also present in the series, just like in the game, and the concept of souls are also a crucial factor in the narrative, which is also something shared by Dark Souls, hence the title. Solomon Kane has become a huge cult film in recent years, as it never really got the appreciation it deserved for its brutal violence and compelling visuals.
3
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
The Green Knight is a modern, much darker take on Arthurian myth, centring on the Knight of the Round Table, Sir Gawain (Dev Patel). Challenging a mythical Green Knight, Gawain makes a wager, with the price being death if he loses. Shockingly, he does lose, meaning he will have to return to the Green Knight in a year’s time to report for his execution. In the meantime, he seeks for ways to weasel out of his contract.
For much of the film, Gawain is completely alone, and overcomes a variety of challenges as he seeks to avoid his death. Death being such a crucial part of the narrative is obviously Soulslike, as are the visuals and various monsters encountered. This movie also has a super bleak ending, another aspect of it that should feel all too familiar for Soulsborne fans. Its small cast only emphasizes Gawain’s loneliness, and how he must overcome this journey alone.
2
‘Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic’ (2010)
Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic is based off of the criminally underrated hack and slash video game Dante’s Inferno, which came out in the same year. Whereas most video game adaptations are awful, this one is actually kickass. The game and the movie are both based off of Dante Alighieri‘s epic poem Inferno, which is about a Crusader, also named Dante (Graham McTavish), who travels through the Nine Circles of Hell to rescue his lover, Beatrice (Vanessa Branch), from the clutches of Satan (Steve Blum) himself.
Each of the Nine Circles of Hell in the film is handled by a different animation studio, meaning each circle is visually distinct and has its own ambiance that isn’t match by the rest of the film. It’s a really cool experience. The reason this is perfect for Dark Souls fans is due to the demons and monsters that Dante encounters, which, in the game, serve as bosses. These numerous boss-type enemies, combined with the theme of fighting demons and the undead and the sense of isolation as Dante is almost entirely alone is what makes it an ideal choice for fans of Soulsborne games.
1
‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
The Seventh Seal is widely regarded as a masterpiece, and one of the finest arthouse films of all time. The story is set in Sweden following the end of the Crusades, when a knight returns home only to be met with bad news: it is time to go. The personification of Death arrives, played by Bengt Ekerot, informing the knight that his time on Earth is over, and that he must depart for the beyond. However, the knight devises a plan to prolong his life, by challenging Death to a game of chess, with the promise that as long as the game continues, so can the knight’s life.
Death is such a huge part of the narrative, as is the idea of the undead and pestilence. The world reeks of a once mighty kingdom that has fallen, with the sombre environment telling an expansive and tragic story. These core themes perfectly mirror the world of Dark Souls, which is set in a fallen kingdom rife with the undead. On top of that, the game even features a boss, called Gravelord Nito, who basically serves as the personification of death, whose purpose is to be the final judge of the dead, which perfectly mirrors the less imposing figure of Death in the film.
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