Is Stellar Blade a souls-like?

Many players might wonder whether Stellar Blade is a souls-like, especially given the comparisons made to titles like Sekiro and Lies of P. The game's developer is Shift Up, previously known for Goddess of Victory: Nikke, which is an action mobile title with mild role-playing mechanics.

This game is quite similar in both gameplay and its many themes to titles like Nier: Automata, which isn't surprising considering Stellar Blade's creative director Kim Hyung-tae is a massive fan of Yoko Taro's work. However, the latest PS5 exclusive features plenty of key mechanics that separate it from the Nier series, as well as souls-like games.

While some elements feel like they've been lifted right out of FromSoftware's book, Stellar Blade isn't a souls-like; it's an action-adventure game through and through.

Note: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the author's opinions.

Stellar Blade features a mash-up of ideas from various games, including those from FromSoftware's iconic Dark Souls Trilogy. While the game feels like a current-generation version of Nier, elements like the parry-focused combat and the "bonfire-esque" checkpoint system are quite reminiscent of souls-likes.

However, that doesn't mean Stellar Blade is a souls-like. Shift Up's action title features multiple difficulty presets and a rather linear character progression, devoid of the challenge and traditional RPG leveling system we see in souls-likes. That's not to say the game is easy; it can be quite challenging at times.

But for the most part, it isn't anywhere near as challenging as Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or Sekiro. Additionally, the checkpoints in this PS5 exclusive aren't nearly as unforgiving as games like Demon's Souls or Dark Souls 2. Instead, they