Key recommendations
-
Elden Ring
offers the largest variety of enemies in a soul-like open world, offering plenty of challenging enemies. -
Black Myth: Wukong
features a wide range of unique enemies, all deeply rooted in Chinese mythology. -
Nioh 2
excels in enemy diversity, featuring a mix of new monsters and many familiar enemies returning from the original.
Soul games have become some of the most popular action titles today, known for their intense combat, engaging exploration, diverse weapon choices, and challenging bosses. However, an often overlooked aspect is the variety of common enemies, which can greatly enhance the experience during extended playthroughs.
Introducing new enemy types throughout the game is crucial to keeping players interested, as it forces them to learn new attack patterns and adapt to new challenges. Conversely, reusing the same enemies in different locations can quickly dampen excitement and even make the game feel repetitive or mundane. Let's explore some of the best soul games that excel at enemy diversity, offering a wide range of enemies that require unique tactics to overcome.
1 Elden Ring
The largest and most diverse
Elden Ringalong with its massive expansion Erdtree Shadowis one of the best open soul games available today. The game impresses on countless levels, and its unparalleled variety of enemies is a key point. Over the course of hundreds of hours, players will continue to encounter new challenges and unique enemies scattered across the vast expanse of the Lands Between.
From dangerous wild animals to battle-hardened warriors who possess a wide range of moves and special attacks, Elden Ring offers relentless surprises. Rogue mages cast devastating spells from afar, while dark and menacing shadows lurk in the deepest corners of dungeons and catacombs, waiting to pounce with deadly attacks. With so many enemy types to discover, some players may not encounter every unique enemy on their first playthrough, showing the depth and variety the game offers.
2 Black Myth: Wukong
Surprisingly great enemies in each new chapter
Black Myth: Wukong can be difficult to strictly classify as a soul game, as it balances traditional action-RPG elements with some soul-like mechanics. However, the exact classification is not the most important thing here. What really stands out is that Game Science's debut title boasts an incredible array of unique and engaging enemies across its six chapters, keeping players constantly engrossed.
The game's responsive combat system allows for different approaches, making each new encounter a delight. Deeply rooted in Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Wukong offers a constant stream of new challenges with enemy designs that are not only unique but rarely seen in other games, further enhancing the experience and keeping it engaging for hours.
3 Dark Souls 3
Filled with lots of different creatures to fight
Dark Souls 3along with its expansions Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed Cityis often underappreciated for the variety of common enemies. Despite being a more compact and almost linear adventure compared to Elden Ringstill offers a comparable range of unique enemies to fight. True to FromSoftware's traditions, players are constantly faced with new and challenging enemies, each with their own dangerous habits and a wide range of combat skills.
Adapting to these threats and learning their tricks is a key part of the satisfaction in Dark Souls 3. Additionally, the campaign cleverly places tough late-game enemies early on, guarding secrets meant to be discovered later, which adds a rewarding backtracking component for players willing to take on the challenge.
4 Nioh 2
Almost all enemies from the first entrance return
Nioh 2 stands out for its impressive variety of enemies, especially for players who haven't experienced the original. Almost all of the enemies from the first game return in the sequel, along with a host of new demons, humans, and yokai. Even later Team Ninja titles such as Wo Long: Fallen Dynastystruggle to match the diverse range of creatures found in Nioh 2.
The design of these monsters is a highlight of the experience, with colorful, memorable and intricately detailed beasts and demons of all shapes and sizes, just waiting for players to escape. Along with those of the game Diablo-such as the loot system and enemy drops – a rare feature in the genre – the rich variety of enemies significantly increases the replay value of the game.
5 The lies of P
Many different enemies with minimal reuse
The lies of P it may not reach the level of enemy variety seen in FromSoftware's titles, but for its near-linear structure and unique robopocalypse setting, the game works admirably. Players mainly encounter three types of enemies – humans (alchemists), puppets, and carcasses (monsters) – but each category offers impressive variety. Combined with the game's detailing system, players are encouraged to change equipment frequently to maximize effectiveness against different enemies.
From a design perspective, The lies of P it's a visual treat. The intricate puppet designs are particularly striking, with detailed animations that allow Pinocchio to take them apart piece by piece during combat. Few non-FromSoftware games manage to feel as distinctive and rewarding as The lies of P when it comes to enemy design and progression.
6 Transmitted through blood
The unique setting and secret locations allow for a wide variety of enemies
Transmitted through blood rightfully earns its place among the top games for enemy variety, even a decade after its release. The game's unique, mysterious setting – with secret areas and vastly different locations such as catacombs, villages, city streets, castles and swamps – creates an immersive backdrop for an impressive array of monsters. Some of the creatures players encounter could easily be classified as nightmare fuel.
In FromSoftware tradition, each enemy has a distinct set of moves and battle patterns, making encounters feel fresh even when fighting variations of the same enemy later in the game. From aggressive villagers with packs of dogs and rock-throwing giants to strange cosmic beings and unexplained horrors, Transmitted through blood constantly offers new challenges and keeps the experience engaging until the end.
