2025's best soulslike wasn't Nightreign, it was a DLC for a game we all dismissed as a Bloodborne clone back in 2022

Look, I like Elden Ring: Nightreign—I actually like it quite a bit—but it wouldn't be accurate to call it a soulslike, now would it? Nightreign uses the Dark Souls formula for its combat, but might I call the jury to examine the thing: It's a multiplayer co-op action game based on short, semi-permadeath runs with limited outside progression. That's a roguelike, baby, no matter how many old habits FromSoftware plugged into it.

To me, a soulslike isn't about how chunky the dodge roll is or...