The influence that FromSoftware’sDark Soulshas had on the industry is such that the subgenre it helped create, the “Soulslike”, has now spread into myriad other subgenres. One of the more prominent types of game to begin adapting and adopting many of the elements of Soulslikes is the Metroidvania, which has seen a surprising influx of aptly nicknamed “Soulsvanias” in the wake of games likeHollow Knightand the many titles it inspired. ButFountains, a new indie title from solo developer John Pywell, is so faithful to itsDark Soulsinfluence as to come full circle and deliver what might be the most authentic approximation of a 2D game in FromSoftware’s legendary series.
Pywell launched the crowdfunding campaign forFountainsin 2022 alongside a demo of the title on itch.io and Steam, and it quickly sailed past its meager funding goal just 2 weeks after the launch of its Kickstarter. The title was officially released on Jul 11, 2025, and already sits at a strong 92% “Very Positive” on Steam. What helps setFountainsapart from otherMetroidvaniatitles that take inspiration fromDark Soulsis its emphasis on making its world feel interconnected, replicating the surprising ways that the world of Lordran connects and feels like a singular, dense space.
Fountains' Perspective and World Inject it With Plenty of Scale and Mystery
Much like Lordran in the originalDark Souls,Fountains' world is arguably the star of the show. The game’s zoomed-out, top-down perspective helps to instill a sense of scale that often eludes other games taking inspiration from theoriginalDark Souls, making the vast map feel like a real, lived-in place with history and mystery beyond what the game presents to the player. Further, the world ofFountainsis intricately interconnected like Lordran, with regular journeys both above and below ground opening up surprising shortcuts that showcase how the game is essentially one giant dungeon.
WhileFountainsis technically a Metroidvania, it is only as much asDark Soulsis, with a more accurate descriptor being that the game is an intricately designed action RPG with a massive, interconnected world.Fountainsalso borrows more fromDark Soulsthan its approach to world design, incorporating similar environmental storytelling and obtuse lore that have been trademarks ofFromSoftware gamesfor decades. That it is able to do all this using evocative 2D-pixel art makesFountainsa unique experience among the small crop of 2D Soulslikes.
Combat and Character Progression in Fountains Call to Mind One of Dark Souls' Primary Influences
One area whereFountainsdiverges from its obviousDark Soulsinspirations is with its approaches to character progression and combat. Interestingly, though, these elements ofFountainscall to mind a game that is one ofDark Souls' (and countless other action RPGs') primary inspirations:The Legend of Zelda. Like in thefirstLegend of Zelda, players inFountainshave a limited pool of gear and equipment to use, requiring them to master the tools at their disposal before they can venture forth and acquire new implements for their arsenal. There’s no parrying and no blocking, with players needing to focus on a singular evasive maneuver as their only hope of defense.
The limited move set and equipment pool, combined with a more streamlined approach to character progression and a lack of builds, make combat inFountainsan exercise in understanding the system’s fundamentals. Instead of feeling limited, it feels like a system meant to trim the fat from other, more complex games in the genre, and it delivers a similar sense of purity to each encounter that’s reminiscent of bothThe Legend of Zeldaand the early hours ofthe originalDark Souls. Though the closest analogs toFountainsmight be games likeHyper Light DrifterorDeath’s Door, the game takes a concerted “back to basics” approach to all of its systems and comes off feeling like a hidden gem from gaming’s past as a result.
Dark Souls
WHERE TO PLAY
Re-experience the critically acclaimed, genre-defining game that started it all. Beautifully remastered, return to Lordran in stunning detail. DARK SOULS: REMASTERED includes the main game plus the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. This marks the franchise’s debut on a Nintendo platform, and for the first time ever can be played on-the-go with Nintendo Switch™.Deep and Dark Universe— Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by the Curse. Explore its intricate world design, full of hidden passages, dungeons and secrets.Each End is a New Beginning— Each playthrough surprises you with new challenges and discoveries.Gameplay Richness and Possibilities— Use hundreds of unique weapon, armor, magic, and crafting combinations to create your own playstyle and gaming experience.The Way of the Multiplayer (up to 6 players)— Whatever your motivations are to play online – collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal – you’ll find your true home among the nine covenants.
