Souldiers

Souldiers PC is a side-scrolling action RPG that combines Metroidvania exploration, precision platforming, RPG progression, and soulslike combat. The current PC storefronts continue to use the original name, Souldiers, with no verified rebrand, replacement edition, or renamed definitive version. Retro Forge developed the game, while Dear Villagers handles publishing.

Set in Terragaya, a mysterious realm on the edge of the afterlife, Souldiers follows a warrior who must uncover why an entire group of soldiers has been drawn into this dangerous world. Its main appeal is the way exploration, class-based builds, environmental puzzles, and demanding real-time encounters are tied together.

Three Classes, Three Ways To Fight

Souldiers begins with a permanent choice between the Scout, Archer, and Caster. The Scout is built around close-range swordplay and direct defense. The Archer creates distance with ranged attacks. The Caster relies on elemental magic and a more ability-focused approach to combat.

These are not cosmetic loadouts. Each class has different attack options, attributes, and progression branches, so the same enemy encounter can demand a different rhythm depending on your selection. The choice also affects how comfortably you handle cramped arenas, flying enemies, armored targets, and hazards that punish close positioning.

Each class has its own skill tree, allowing players to invest in abilities that reinforce a preferred style. The system gives Souldiers more build identity than a straightforward platform fighter, but it also means that choosing a class is an important early decision rather than a temporary tutorial preference.

Players who want a comparable 2D challenge built around heavy combat, character growth, and dangerous exploration can look at soulslike side-scrollers such as Salt and Sanctuary, although Souldiers places more emphasis on class-specific abilities and precision platforming.

Combat Built Around Timing And Position

The combat loop centers on light attacks, stronger attacks, blocking, parrying, dodging, and learning enemy patterns. Button mashing is rarely the safest answer. Enemies can punish poor spacing, mistimed attacks, or an attempt to force damage into an unsafe opening.

Parrying is especially important for players who prefer an active defensive style. A successful block or parry can create an opportunity to retaliate, while dodging helps avoid attacks that cannot be safely challenged. The result is a combat system that rewards reading animations and controlling the pace of an encounter.

Elemental interactions add another layer. Fire, water, and electricity are used not only as offensive tools but also as part of the wider exploration design. Certain enemies and environmental obstacles encourage players to switch tactics instead of relying on one universally effective attack pattern.

Bosses are built around recognizable attack cycles, movement checks, and changing arena conditions. They can be demanding, particularly for players who have not yet adapted to the chosen class, but their encounters are intended to be solved through observation, positioning, and better use of the available toolkit.

Terragaya And The Metroidvania Loop

Terragaya is a handcrafted, interconnected world rather than a sequence of isolated stages. Exploration leads through forests, settlements, ruins, temples, caves, and other distinct regions connected by routes that gradually become more accessible as the player gains new abilities.

The central loop is familiar to Metroidvania players: explore an unfamiliar area, fight through enemies, solve an environmental puzzle, discover a new movement or combat option, then revisit earlier paths to uncover secrets. Secret passages, treasures, optional encounters, and blocked routes give backtracking a clear purpose.

Platforming is not secondary decoration. Souldiers uses traps, vertical routes, moving hazards, precision jumps, and environmental mechanisms to make navigation as demanding as combat. Players who enjoy movement-focused discovery and expressive traversal may also appreciate fluid Metroidvania platformers such as Ori and the Will of the Wisps, though Ori is generally more movement-led and less focused on defensive combat.

Checkpoints and healing locations create the usual risk-and-recovery rhythm of a difficult action RPG. Returning to a known area can be useful for leveling, gathering resources, testing abilities, or approaching a previously overwhelming encounter with a stronger build.

Progression, Equipment, And Exploration Rewards

Character growth combines experience, equipment upgrades, consumable resources, and class progression. The skill trees let players shape how their chosen class handles damage, defense, mobility, or special abilities, while equipment and items support more immediate improvements.

Progression is therefore not limited to finding a single key item that opens the next region. A stronger build can come from investing in the right skill branch, upgrading equipment, learning an enemy’s weakness, or finding a better route through a hazardous section.

The game also includes side paths, collectibles, optional objectives, and hidden areas for players who want more than a direct trip through the main storyline. Completion-minded players have reasons to revisit earlier zones, especially after unlocking abilities that change how the world can be navigated.

Content Model And PC Editions

The base game is sold as a complete single-player adventure. Current PC storefront listings do not identify a season pass or paid gameplay expansion that divides the main campaign into separate packages.

Steam lists two separate bonus products for Souldiers: the OST and Artbook. Steam also offers a Deluxe Edition bundle containing the game and those extras. GOG lists both a Standard Edition and a Digital Deluxe Edition with the same general distinction between the game and bonus material.

These extras do not represent additional playable classes, story chapters, or campaign areas. Players choosing the standard edition receive the core Souldiers experience, while the deluxe option is aimed at buyers who also want the soundtrack and artbook.

Who Souldiers Suits Best

Souldiers is aimed at players who want a challenging solo adventure with a strong 16-bit visual identity, interconnected exploration, class experimentation, and combat that asks for patience. It is a good fit for fans of action-platformers who enjoy learning enemy behavior rather than simply overpowering encounters.

The game may be a poor match for players who need a relaxed platforming experience, freely switchable character classes, or constant objective markers. The permanent class choice encourages replaying the adventure with another build, but it does not let one save file freely alternate between Scout, Archer, and Caster.

Its difficulty has also been a significant part of the player conversation. Some players value the strict timing and high-pressure encounters, while others may find the damage spikes, platforming hazards, or checkpoint rhythm frustrating. That makes Souldiers more suitable for players willing to adapt than for anyone seeking a consistently forgiving action RPG.

PC Features, Controls, And Availability

Souldiers is available on Windows through Steam and GOG. Steam identifies the game as single-player and lists Family Sharing, achievements, and partial controller support. The PC release also provides keyboard and controller control schemes, but controller behavior can vary by device and configuration.

GOG's edition is DRM-free and can be installed from an offline installer without requiring GOG Galaxy. Galaxy remains optional for platform features such as cloud saves and achievement synchronization. Steam players use the normal Steam client and its related account features.

The storefront language listings cover English, French, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese for interface and subtitles. No full voice-over localization is listed for those languages. Souldiers does not advertise online multiplayer, local co-op, split-screen, or competitive modes, and no separate anti-cheat system is identified in the PC storefront information.

For another dark 2D exploration game with combat, bosses, and ability-gated routes, gothic Metroidvania adventures like Blasphemous 2 offer a useful comparison, although Blasphemous 2 uses a different weapon structure and a more overtly gothic setting.

Souldiers FAQ

Is Souldiers still the current PC name?

Yes. Steam and GOG continue to list the game as Souldiers. No verified rebrand, replacement title, or definitive PC edition was found.

Is Souldiers single-player or multiplayer?

Souldiers is a single-player game. The PC storefront listings do not identify online multiplayer, local co-op, split-screen, or competitive modes.

Which classes can you choose in Souldiers?

You can choose the Scout, Archer, or Caster. Each class has different combat tools, attributes, and skill-tree progression, and the selection is intended to shape the full playthrough.

Does Souldiers have paid gameplay DLC?

The current PC listings identify the base game as the main playable package. The separately listed OST and Artbook are bonus products rather than gameplay expansions, while the Deluxe Edition bundles them with the game.

Does Souldiers support controllers on PC?

Yes, controller input is supported, although Steam metadata marks it as partial controller support. Keyboard controls are also available, and players should check their device mapping if a particular controller layout does not behave as expected.

What languages does the PC version support?

Steam and GOG list English, French, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese for interface and subtitles. Full audio localization is not listed for these languages.

How does progression work in Souldiers?

Progression combines leveling, equipment upgrades, consumable resources, class-specific skill trees, elemental tools, and movement abilities. Exploration and combat feed into one another as new abilities open routes and stronger builds help with later enemies and bosses.