Why Soulslike Games Are So Addictive (Even When You Suck at Them)

We die. We rage. We uninstall. Then we reinstall. Soulslike games, from Dark Souls to Lies of P, have a hold on gamers like few others. But why?

The dopamine loop – You fight, you lose, you learn, you conquer. Every victory feels earned.

World design – Levels are often interconnected, rewarding exploration.

Mystery – Lore isn’t handed to you. You piece it together yourself.

Community – The struggle creates strong online communities that share secrets and support.

Pure skill curve – When you win, it’s because you got better.

Soulslikes aren’t for everyone, but if you’ve been bitten by the bug, you get it. Which one broke you—or changed you?

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Toby White

By day, Toby is a mild-mannered writer. By night, a caffeine-fueled gaming gremlin who’s probably arguing with strangers online about why Skyrim’s NPCs have better AI than Warzone or Pineapple does not belong on pizza, just like microtransactions belong in single-player games (wait, no—). With a resume that includes "Professional Button Basher" and "Unlicensed Lore Historian," Toby has spent 20 years failing stealth missions, rage-quitting fighting games, and somehow still calling it "research" for this blog. When not writing, you can find him yelling at speedrunners ("HOW?!"), hoarding healing items "just in case," or trying to pet in-game dogs despite imminent danger. Current Obsession: Losing at Helldivers 2. Gaming Spirit Animal: A loot goblin with Wi-Fi Notable Achievements: Survived a Dark Souls boss fight (once), blocked by a dev on Twitter (twice) Follow for hot takes, questionable strategies, and the occasional useful tip (no refunds).