Elden Ring Opened the Floodgates (And My Patience)
Alright, I gotta come clean right out the gate: Elden Ring was my first Soulsborne game I actually liked. I know, I know. For the hardcore Dark Souls veterans reading this, that probably feels like someone admitting to me they never played Halo and somehow skipped Mario.
But I’m being real with you, I didn’t vibe with the earlier Soulsborne entries. It wasn’t until Elden Ring came along with its sweet, intoxicating nectar that I finally got sucked in. And when it grabbed me, it had me by the damn throat.
Something about the sheer freedom of The Lands Between just did it for me. You could roll up to the toughest bosses with nothing but a rusted sword and your wits, or you could wander off to some random ruin and farm mobs like a stoned raccoon scrounging through trash cans. No guides, no meta builds—just pure trial, error, and stubborn experimentation. That’s the sauce, man.
If you’ve never played a Soulsborne game before but love fishing, these are games to build your patience.
But where it really hooked me: That first unexpected boss encounter. I stumbled into a castle thinking it was just another mob farm run. Boom – Margit the Fell Omen wipes the floor with me in under a minute. Instead of frustration, something clicked. “Okay, you wanna play like that? Bet.” And I kept going back. Every failure felt like peeling back another layer of the onion.
The Beauty of the Struggle
Here’s what I think a lot of Soulsborne discourse misses: It’s not about being elite. It’s not about speedrunning or flexing god-tier builds (though respect to those who do). For most of us, the obsession boils down to something simpler:
It’s a battle against yourself.
- Every boss run teaches you a little more. Not just about their patterns, but about your own patience, persistence, and how you handle failure.
- It’s dopamine tied to discipline. You’re not here to win easy; you’re here to earn it.
- When you finally take that boss down? Feels better than any loot drop, period.
My proudest flex isn’t some YouTube-worthy takedown. It’s that I stuck to my guns. No guides, no Reddit deep-dives, no cookie-cutter stats. I learned. I failed. I learned again. And yeah, maybe a bit of luck sprinkled in, but that’s part of the dance.
One of the most important things I learned early was how Soulsborne games punish overconfidence. You think you’ve got a boss figured out, you get sloppy, and then – BAM – back to the checkpoint. It humbles you. And in a weird way, that humility feels good. It keeps you sharp.
Why I Don’t Break Controllers (And Why You Shouldn’t Either)
You know how many controllers I’ve broken over these games? Zero. You won’t catch me yeeting my controller across the room like it owes me money. That thing’s my baby. The real kicker is, why get mad at the puzzle you chose to play?
When frustration creeps in, it means you’re overdue to pause, light up, maybe even go fish, cast, sit under a tree. That’s part of the balance. These games are mental sparring, not punishment. The fun’s in the puzzle.
I think a lot of folks approach these games with the wrong mindset. They treat every death like an insult instead of an opportunity. But real gamers know – it’s not how many times you die, it’s how you adapt. That’s why I keep my controller safe. It’s part of the ritual.
Favorite Fight? Easy. Elden Beast, Baby.
In Soulsborne fights, The Elden Beast in a class of its own.
Visually, that fight is like stepping into a cosmic fever dream. The sheer scale, the movement, the mechanics, it keeps you on edge the entire time. It felt less like fighting a boss and more like trying to conquer a living, breathing piece of art.
I remember the first time I reached that fight, low on flasks, practically limping through the fog gate. But even in that desperate moment, I stopped to take in the visuals: the shimmering celestial landscape, the way the Elden Beast glides effortlessly through space. Every attempt felt like an opportunity, not a chore.
The Squad Makes Everything Better
I won’t lie, as much as I love soloing, there’s nothing better than running it with the squad.
Whether they’re carrying me, or I’m dragging their ass across the finish line, it always makes the challenge better. Trash talk flowing, strategies flying, maybe someone lights up mid-fight – it turns the whole experience from a grind into a straight-up legendary moment.
Some of my favorite memories aren’t even about the bosses themselves. It’s about that Leroy dude who aggroed the wrong enemy and got the team wiped in hysterics, or the moment we all screamed when someone landed the final hit with a sliver of health left. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and unforgettable.
Breaking Down the Soulsborne Formula
Let’s get tactical for a second:
- Patience Pays: You can’t rush. Every boss rewards observation over aggression.
- Resource Management: Knowing when to heal, when to conserve flasks, when to roll instead of block.
- Failure as Feedback: Each death is data. It’s telling you exactly what you need to fix.
And honestly, this loop applies outside of gaming too. Handling work stress, dealing with creative blocks; it’s all about learning from failure without spiraling. Soulsborne teaches you how to keep your cool in chaos and the patience to know when it’s you’re time to strike.
Other Soulslikes Worth Your Time
Quick shoutout: If you love Soulsborne games and haven’t checked these out yet, do yourself a favor.
Sleeper Hits and Worthy Spinoffs
- Maneater – Shark RPG meets Soulslike mechanics. Surprisingly brutal, with boss fights that demand timing, movement, and strategy. It’s goofy, but don’t sleep on it, this one bites.
- Lords of the Fallen – Visually stunning and unapologetically tough. Perfect if you want that traditional Soulslike feel with – I didn’t think I’d ever say this – a darker fantasy twist.
- Another Crab’s Treasure – A comedic, aquatic Soulslike that’s more than just a meme. Tight combat, clever world design, and that same satisfying difficulty curve, all wrapped in a crustacean shell. Vibes.
- Ashen – Criminally underrated. Its minimalist art style and passive co-op design create a lonely, connected world that captures the quiet grind and sudden intensity Souls fans crave. Give this one a go and you can usually pick it up for a fair price these days.
So Why Do We Keep Coming Back?
It’s simple: These games make you better.
Not just at the game itself, but at dealing with failure, thinking critically, and staying calm when things get chaotic.
Every run, every death, every respawn teaches you something. And that, my friends, is why we’re all gluttons for punishment.
Whether you’re soloing or squad running, there’s always another boss waiting to humble you. And you’re going to love every second of it.
Whats your favorite souls game? What sleepers should we try next?
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