Asia-Pacific Region Fuels Growth in Souls-like Games

The Asia-Pacific region, driven by countries such as Japan, China, and Korea, has become the driving force behind the development, publication, and consumption of Souls-like games. According to a report by Video Game Insights, which explores the growth of the Souls-like subgenre since 2015, the region has seen a substantial increase in popularity. The report analyzed the subgenre's tag on Steam and found that while Souls-like games are popular globally, the development of these games has shifted significantly towards the Asia-Pacific region between 2020 and 2025, particularly in terms of units sold. The majority of growth in the region is attributed to AA and AAA titles, with Black Myth: Wukong leading the chart at 20.3 million units, followed by Elden Ring at 15.6 million units, and Monster Hunter: World at 13 million units. The report also notes that since 2015, unit sales of Souls-like games on Steam were initially dominated by AAA studios but lost ground to AA developers in 2017 before regaining dominance. AAA titles accounted for nearly three-quarters of sales in 2024 and grew to 70% in 2025. The subgenre experienced a peak in 2019 with games like Hades, Code Vein, and Blasphemous, alongside AAA titles such as Sekiro, but slowed down between 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, from 2022 onwards, Souls-like games have become mainstream, driven by Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong, as well as the growing influence of Chinese developers, publishers, and players. The report also found a 41% increase in titles released since 2015 tagged as Souls-like between 2023 and 2024. According to Video Game Insights, the data highlights a clear transition of Souls-like games from an AA-led innovation phase to widespread adoption and investment by AAA publishers. In terms of player distribution, Chinese gamers account for nearly half of all players, followed by the United States and Germany. The report concludes that the genre has evolved into a global pillar of game design, with the APAC region playing a crucial role in its growth and the continued appetite for challenging gameplay suggesting that Souls-likes will persist as a creative proving ground.