When one utters the sacred incantation "Soulslike," minds invariably conjure visions of masochistic difficulty, brutal boss encounters, and labyrinthine maps. Yet amidst this pantheon of pain, a clandestine virtuoso dances in the shadows—platforming! That gravity-defying, ledge-hopping, spike-dodging artistry transforms mere traversal into a ballet of peril. Prepare for a journey where every jump could be your last, and every grapple hook is a lifeline dangling over oblivion. 😱

10. The Last Faith: Gothic Gravity Gambit

Oh, the sheer ecstasy of dashing through gothic spires! This pixel-perfect homage to Bloodborne doesn't just borrow aesthetics—it steals your sanity with late-game traversal powers. Grappling across chasms feels like swinging on chandeliers in a haunted cathedral while demons applaud your audacity. One can't help but shiver when recalling those mid-air dashes that turn abysses into mere inconveniences. Combat? A delightful appetizer. But platforming here? A main course served with vertigo.

9. Elden Ring: Torrent’s Treacherous Tango

Who knew a spectral steed could make narrow mountain paths feel like a tightrope act over molten lava? Torrent isn’t just transportation—it’s a four-legged death wish. The Lands Between demand pixel-perfect leaps onto crumbling ruins, where one misstep sends you tumbling past "try jumping" messages into eternal ridicule. That deliberate clunkiness? Pure genius! It transforms simple jumps into heart-pounding gambles. You’ll weep tears of joy when landing a jump, only to sob when the next ledge crumbles.

8. Another Crab’s Treasure: Shell-Shocked Shenanigans

Behold Kril, the crustacean crusader who makes Soulslikes adorable! Don’t be fooled by the whimsical seashell armor—this game blends punishing combat with platforming so breezy, you’ll forget you’re dodging insta-death currents. Gliding through kelp forests feels like a vacation until razor coral reminds you this ocean bites back. The sheer delight of hopping between anemones offers respite from boss battles, proving even crabs need catharsis. It’s a masterclass in making peril feel like play.

7. Kena: Bridge of Spirits: Pixar’s Perilous Playground

Those doe-eyed Rot companions? Liars! Beneath this candy-coated world lurks platforming that’ll shred your nerves like a cheese grater. Scaling ancient trees becomes a life-or-death waltz where misjudged jumps plummet you into bottomless mossy voids. The tranquility of forest exploration evaporates when timed leaps demand surgeon-like precision. One moment you’re cooing at fuzzy critters; the next, you’re screaming as a mistimed dash gifts you a panoramic view of your own demise. Deceptively cruel brilliance!

6. Steelrising: Robotic Reverie

Spiders Studio’s mechanical marvel turns Paris into a clockwork jungle gym! Forget clunky combat—this game’s soul lies in grappling-hook theatrics that launch you across revolutionary rooftops. Those dedicated platforming sequences? Pure adrenaline injections! Swinging between guillotines feels less like traversal and more like auditioning for a steampunk circus. The rush when landing a perfect chain of dashes is unmatched, even if the bosses feel like afterthoughts. Vive la platforming révolution!

5. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: Force-Fueled Flight

Cal Kestis doesn’t just wield a lightsaber—he dances with gravity! Survivor’s traversal transforms Jedi into intergalactic parkour poets. Where Fallen Order stumbled, this sequel soars with silky-smooth wall runs and leaps across asteroid fields so vast, they’d give Newton nightmares. The sheer euphoria of chaining force dashes across crumbling starships rivals defeating Sith lords! It’s a galactic playground where every jump feels like defying orbital physics. May the platforming be with you!

4. Blasphemous: Penitent’s Plunge

Abandon hope, all ye who platform here! This gore-drenched masterpiece treats spikes like welcome mats. While the sequel softened the blow, the original demands pixel-perfect jumps with zero forgiveness—land a millimeter short? Enjoy your impalement! The agony of navigating sawblade labyrinths is exquisite torture, where every successful leap feels like divine intervention. That Metroidvania power-up teasing you across a spike pit? A test of faith. One wrong move, and you’re back to praying at checkpoints. Deliciously diabolical!

3. Hollow Knight: Bug-Bound Agony

Beneath those charming hand-drawn vistas lies platforming so savage, it’d make a mantis weep! Hallownest isn’t just a kingdom—it’s an obstacle course designed by a sadistic architect. The White Palace? A shimmering hellscape of buzzsaws and pogo jumps demanding robotic precision. That soothing score? A siren song luring you into false security before the Path of Pain snaps your nerves like twigs. Bosses? Mere distractions. The true nightmare is landing five consecutive downward slashes on moving platforms. Utterly sublime suffering!

2. Nine Sols: Parry-Powered Ascent

Behold the criminally overlooked gem where parrying meets parkour! This Sekiro-inspired odyssey demands godlike timing not just in combat but in every leap. Dodging energy beams while wall-jumping feels less like gaming and more like performing heart surgery during an earthquake. The sheer satisfaction of chaining aerial parries across floating platforms is a spiritual awakening—until a misplaced jump sends you spiraling into oblivion. A holiday? Only if your vacation involves constant existential dread.

1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: Grappling-God Grandeur

Bow down to the undisputed king! Sekiro transforms platforming into high art—every grapple hook launch is a sonnet, every rooftop sprint a symphony. Scaling Ashina Castle feels like becoming a feather-light deity, dropping death from above with balletic grace. That prosthetic arm? A Swiss Army knife of aerial devastation. The exhilaration of evading spears by millimeters while perched on a pagoda edge is pure dopamine. Is it brutally difficult? Absolutely. But conquering its traversal makes you feel less like a gamer and more like a ninja demigod.

🔮 As these games prove, platforming isn’t just an afterthought—it’s a dance with death that redefines the Soulslike experience. But one must ponder: in an era where difficulty is worshipped like a dark deity, will future titles elevate platforming to even more dizzying heights? Or will we forever cling to the sweet agony of narrowly escaping spike pits and bottomless chasms? The abyss gazes back, and it’s wearing jumping boots.