Grime

An excellent and unusually accessible Souls-vania whose clever absorb/parry mechanic and forgiving death system (you keep all mass, items and progress) strip out much of the genre's frustration while keeping crushing boss fights and real challenge. The fantastic soundtrack and unsettling enemy designs are highlights. The Switch port is the weak point: muddy downscaled textures, long load times, and wonky frame pacing that affects gameplay, plus a slightly slow protagonist, though it still earns a recommendation for difficulty fans.

An easy recommendation for fans of 2D Metroidvania Soulslikes, with a uniquely beautiful and grotesque world, rich world-building, and tight, satisfying controls. Combat centers on a distinctive parry/absorb system that doubles as healing and character progression, backed by strong enemy variety, memorable bosses, and great music. The slow opening cave area is the main drawback, and the heavy parry focus won't suit everyone.