Best Games Like Code Vein: 6 Soulslike Alternatives

Nioh 2 is the best game to try after Code Vein if you want demanding action combat, flexible character building, and a deep progression system. It is faster and more complex, though; for Code Vein’s anime style and approachable co-op, Scarlet Nexus or another Code Vein run may suit you better.

What to Look For

“Like Code Vein” can mean several things. Decide which parts you want to keep: challenging stamina-based fights, interconnected levels and checkpoints, elaborate character builds, anime-inspired storytelling, or the option to summon help. No single alternative matches all of them.

• Combat and difficulty: Soulslikes reward careful timing, but their pace varies. Some emphasize heavy, deliberate attacks; others favor quick combos or precise parries.
• Build flexibility: Code Vein lets you switch Blood Codes and skills. Look for games with several viable weapons, stats, or abilities if experimenting matters to you.
• Co-op: Check whether multiplayer is built into the campaign, limited to specific encounters, or absent. A game with online features may also require platform-specific subscriptions.
• Presentation and story: Anime visuals and character-focused storytelling are not standard in the genre. Dark fantasy games may match the combat but feel very different in tone.
• Commitment and platform: Confirm the game is available on your system and check its edition before buying. Expansions, online access, and difficulty options vary by title.

Nioh 2

Strengths: Nioh 2 offers fast, technical combat with multiple weapon types, stances, yokai abilities, and extensive equipment customization. Its mission-based structure makes it easy to focus on individual areas, and co-op options let players team up for much of the game. The character creator also gives you more control over your protagonist’s appearance than many action RPGs.

Trade-offs: It is a loot-heavy game, and managing equipment can become a regular chore. Combat layers in stance changes, ki management, and enemy-specific counters, so it asks more of you than Code Vein’s comparatively straightforward rhythm. Its Japanese historical fantasy setting is not an anime vampire story.

Best for: Players who want the strongest overall action-RPG alternative and enjoy learning a demanding combat system. Choose it over Code Vein if combat depth matters more than a single continuous world or a companion-led story.

The Surge 2

Strengths: This science-fiction Soulslike makes targeted attacks a central part of progression: focus on an enemy’s body part to pursue particular equipment and crafting materials. Its interconnected city levels, shortcuts, and checkpoints will feel familiar to players who enjoy exploring Code Vein’s maps. Combat has a satisfying focus on positioning and timing.

Trade-offs: The industrial setting and grim tone are a sharp change from Code Vein’s colorful character designs. It does not offer the same companion system or campaign co-op. The body-part targeting mechanic can also feel fussy if you prefer to attack without managing a specific loot objective.

Best for: Players looking for a sci-fi setting, rewarding exploration, and a distinctive equipment system—not a close match for Code Vein’s anime presentation.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Strengths: Wo Long is a brisk action RPG built around deflecting attacks, managing Spirit, and responding to enemy patterns. Its Three Kingdoms-inspired fantasy setting and supernatural abilities offer a different flavor from Code Vein, while its character creation and online co-op support make it an accessible pick for players who want to bring a friend.

Trade-offs: Deflection is central to combat, so players who prefer dodging, blocking, and slower stamina management may need time to adjust. The mission-based structure does not provide the same sense of exploring one large, connected world. Its challenge can depend heavily on how comfortable you become with the timing system.

Best for: Players who like fast fights and are willing to practice deflections. It is a strong co-op option, but not the best pick if Code Vein’s companion characters are the main draw.

Dark Souls III

Strengths: Dark Souls III is a polished, influential choice for deliberate melee combat, memorable boss encounters, and exploration linked by shortcuts and bonfires. It offers a broad selection of weapons, armor, and magic, giving you room to shape a build around your preferred style.

Trade-offs: Its world is bleak medieval fantasy, not anime science fiction, and character interactions are more cryptic and understated. Multiplayer summons are not the same as having a companion travel with you through the story. Check platform availability and online support for the edition you are considering.

Best for: Players who want a classic FromSoftware-style challenge and are happy to trade Code Vein’s direct storytelling and companion system for atmospheric exploration.

Scarlet Nexus

Strengths: Scarlet Nexus is the closest fit here for anime visuals, a character-focused story, and a futuristic setting. Its action combat combines weapons with psychic powers, and its two playable characters have separate story campaigns that offer different perspectives.

Trade-offs: It is an action RPG, not a Soulslike. Expect faster combo-driven fights and story progression rather than the same stamina-based combat, checkpoint tension, and punishing boss design. It does not reproduce Code Vein’s co-op approach.

Best for: Players whose favorite part of Code Vein is its anime cast and sci-fi narrative, rather than its difficulty or Soulslike structure.

Lies of P

Strengths: Lies of P delivers precise, demanding combat, a dark fairy-tale setting, and carefully designed levels with shortcuts. Its weapon assembly system lets you combine weapon parts to change attack characteristics, giving build experimentation a distinctive twist.

Trade-offs: The mood is grim and its combat expects deliberate timing, particularly when guarding and responding to enemy attacks. It is a single-player experience, so it lacks Code Vein’s campaign co-op and companion support. Its linear progression also feels different from exploring Code Vein’s more sprawling environments.

Best for: Players who want a focused, single-player challenge with strong level design and do not need multiplayer or an anime aesthetic.

How to Choose

Start with your main reason for looking. For the closest match to Code Vein’s anime look and character-led storytelling, choose Scarlet Nexus, but expect a different combat style. For a tougher action RPG with build variety and co-op, consider Nioh 2 or Wo Long. If exploration and boss fights matter more than tone, Dark Souls III or Lies of P is a better fit. The Surge 2 is the pick for science-fiction atmosphere and equipment hunting.

Budget depends on your platform, edition, and current sale, so compare the store listings rather than assuming one game is always cheaper. Check whether an edition includes expansions, and confirm that the game runs on your console or PC before purchasing. If playing with a friend, verify co-op support on your platform and whether both players need the same edition or online subscription.

Think about difficulty in practical terms. Nioh 2 and Wo Long reward repeated practice, but they provide different combat tools; Lies of P and Dark Souls III emphasize careful encounters and exploration. If you want a companion beside you, check that specific feature rather than relying on the word “multiplayer.” Online co-op and an NPC companion are not interchangeable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest game to Code Vein?
Nioh 2 is the strongest overall alternative for action combat and build customization. Scarlet Nexus is closer in anime presentation, but it is not a Soulslike.

Which game has the best co-op?
Nioh 2 and Wo Long both support online co-op. Check current platform requirements and how multiplayer works before buying; neither reproduces every detail of Code Vein’s companion system.

Is Scarlet Nexus a Soulslike?
No. It is an anime-styled action RPG with fast combos and psychic abilities, not a game built around Code Vein’s Soulslike structure.

Which one is best for beginners?
There is no universally easiest option. Scarlet Nexus avoids the same Soulslike difficulty, while Nioh 2 and Wo Long provide deeper systems that may take time to learn.

Can I play these on my platform?
Availability differs by game, console generation, and PC storefront. Check the current store listing for your exact platform, edition, and online requirements.

Bottom Line

Pick Nioh 2 for the best all-around Code Vein follow-up: it pairs demanding action with substantial build choices and co-op. Choose Scarlet Nexus if anime storytelling is the priority, or Wo Long if you want fast combat and online teamwork. Match the game to the feature you value most, because none is a one-to-one replacement for Code Vein.

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