The mark of a good soulslike is its combat system. Many of these games feature asubstantial library of weaponsfor players to try, offering many avenues for fans to find a playstyle that suits them best. In the inhospitable and dangerous worlds that these soulslikes present, it’s important to have faith in one’s weapon.
Sabresare a reliable weapon archetype that fans can find in numerous soulslike titles. These single-bladed, often curved weapons offer a bit more speed and mobility than one usually gets from a more traditional straight sword. These soulslikes have excellent curved blades for fans who are interested in wielding a sabre.
The katana is one of the most iconic forms of sabre out there, and there’s no better soulslike for katana gameplay thanSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This action-oriented titlediffers from the standard Soulsborne formulain a number of ways, but especially in its eschewing of the wide array of weapons offered in similar titles. While Sekiro’s prosthetic arm can be upgraded with a variety of tools, the katana is the only main weapon on offer.
The upside of this is that the gameplay has been designed fully with the protagonist’s katana in mind, making it a satisfying and fleshed-out weapon. The game’s complex parry system keeps duels with bosses fast, engaging, and brutal, and the high speed that makes sabres such an appealing choice to begin with is on full display.
2023’s surprise hitLies of Ptakes an unconventional approach to its weapon system. In keeping with the mechanical nature of the game’s world, this macabrePinocchioretelling lets players freely mix and match weapon blades and hilts, creating unique tools with properties that suit any occasion.
Using this broad system of customization,players can build some truly vicious sabres. Combat inLies of Ptakes heavy inspiration fromBloodborne, meaning it’s naturally quite fast-paced. This makes it an ideal environment for sabres, and the game has many to offer.
The unique gothic horror world ofBloodbornecomes with a wide array of strange new weapons to master. The hunters of Yharnam use distinct trick weapons to conquer the bloody beasts prowling the night. These strange weapons can transform at the push of a button into strange new forms, with new advantages and disadvantages to master.
Conventional weaponry is hard to come by inBloodborne, but there are still some good sabres for fans who want to carve up a beast or two. Eileen the Crow’s iconic Blades of Mercy are a particularly noteworthy example, letting players who complete her questline slash monsters with vicious dual-wielding techniques.
The originalDark Soulsset the standard for many of the things that would become tradition throughout the genre. Weapon variety is one of its most prominent contributions. The game has seven varieties of sword, and curved swords and katanas are both represented in the lineup. These lightweight, speedy sabres would set the standard for many weapons to come.
Only seven curved swords and four katanas are present in the originalDark Souls, but there are still some excellent options in this relatively small selection. One of the most prominent sabres in the game is the Gold Tracer,gifted to players in the DLC. When paired with the matching dagger, the Dark Silver Tracer, these weapons make a formidable and deadly duo.
Demon’s Soulsmay not have had quite as much cultural impact as its successor, but it stillpaved the way for a specialgame genre that persists to this day. Like theDark Soulstrilogy that would follow it,Demon’s Soulsalso has more than its fair share of deadly and powerful weapons for players to experiment with.
This game boasts six curved swords and three katanas for players who favor a quick, vicious, sabre-style approach to combat. While there are very few katanas in the game, each one inflicts the bleed status on enemies, making them particularly effective choices against foes who are weak to that ailment.
Dark Souls 2made some substantial changes to theDark Soulsformula, which have received mixed responses ever since. In a less controversial move, however, it also doubled down on weapon variety. The game introduced a much broader arsenal of tools to fight with, expanding options for dual-wielding playstyles, and making boss weapons more accessible.
Sabres were just a few of the beneficiaries of this updated system. With ten curved swords and eight katanas on offer, players who want to strike fast with their blades have numerous options to choose from. Katanas can even be used to parry attacks when placed in the offhand, opening up plenty of tactical decisions for builds.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastytakes place during the fall of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, andits weapon system reflects thishistorical period with remarkable dedication. The game lacks many of the traditional European weapons associated with games likeDark Souls, but in its place, it offers a wealth of sabre offerings.
For the swift-footed warrior,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyoffers curved sabres, dual sabres, and even straight sabres, which lets sabre fans simulate a more traditional approach to swordplay. There are, of course, more standard straight swords as well, but the straight sabres forgo those weapons' thrusting attacks in favor of wide, swift slashes.
As the culmination of the legendaryDark Soulstrilogy,Dark Souls 3builds on almost every element from the first two games. This is especially true for the game’s weapon catalog, which is truly immense.Dark Souls 3boasts 15 curved swords and 8 katanas, giving sabre fans plentiful options.
Even better, several of the curved sword options inDark Souls 3come as part of a paired set. These special paired weapons give fans access to a brutal and relentless new moveset.Dark Souls 3also added special abilities to many of its new weapons, adding even more tools to a sabre fan’s arsenal.
Nioh 2takes place in the Sengoku period of Ancient Japan, and as such, there are plenty of katanas to fight with. Fans of sabre-style weaponry will be especially pleased with this game, as the swift, curved blade common in weapons of this type is the norm inNioh 2. Straighter swords do show up in the game, but they’re much less common.
The game features a blistering 52 swords, most of which are curved, as well as 39 sets of paired blades to add further depth to a sabre fan’s loadout.Nioh 2does have a reputation for intense difficulty, but with this many swords to choose from, players will have plenty of options for taking on this unforgiving title.
The legendaryElden Ringis the largest soulslike From Software has yet produced, and with that scale comes a truly unprecedented variety of weapons. This game boasts a staggering forty weapon types, including the eight varieties added inShadow of the Erdtree. As in theDark Soulsgames, players can choose from a wide array of curved swords and katanas if they favor a sabre.Elden Ringfamously includesRivers of Blood, an infamously powerful katanathat can chop down enemies in a matter of seconds.
TheShadow of the ErdtreeDLC added some new weapon categories that should be of interest to sabre fans as well. The new backhand blades are a versatile and mobility-focused class of weapons that give players many new options for combat, and great katanas let fans enjoy some of the speed of a katana while adding a bit more punch to each swing.
