Ah, the sweet, masochistic joy of the Soulslike genre. Ever since FromSoftware dropped Demon's Souls and changed my life (and my controller's durability), I've been hooked on that perfect blend of despair and triumph. We all know the drill: brutal bosses, intricate worlds, and the constant, nagging feeling that you're one mistimed dodge away from a loading screen. But let's talk about the real MVP of the experience—grinding. It's not just mindless repetition; it's therapy. It's that zen state where you master parry timings, farm for that crucial upgrade material, and finally feel powerful enough to tell that tree sentinel what you really think of him. In 2026, the classics still hold up, and the grind remains a sacred ritual. Here are my personal favorites for when you just need to turn your brain off and farm until you're overpowered.

Nioh 2: The Loot Pinata Extravaganza

Set in a fantastical, demon-infused 1500s Japan, Nioh 2 is the grind-lover's paradise. This game is a prequel and sequel rolled into one, but honestly, the timeline is secondary to the loot. The core loop here is addictive: defeat enemies, collect their Soul Cores, and use them to empower your custom-created Yokai-slaying badass. The combat is fast, fluid, and demands precision, making every encounter a chance to hone your skills. Grinding here isn't optional; it's the entire point. You'll find yourself running the same missions repeatedly, not out of frustration, but for the sheer joy of optimizing your build and trying out new, devastating combinations of skills and Yokai abilities. The loot system is so deep you could drown in it—and you'll love every second.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - The Rhythm Game in Disguise

Grinding in Sekiro is a different beast. You can't overlevel to brute-force your way through; instead, you grind for mastery. The primary resources are Sen (money) and Spirit Emblems (used for your nifty Shinobi Prosthetic Tools). Farming these allows you to purchase vital upgrades, like the Loaded Umbrella or more Healing Gourds. But the real grind is internal. This game, with its breathtaking Japanese architecture and folklore-inspired horrors, forces you to learn its dance of parries and posture breaks. I spent hours at the Ashina Outskirts just practicing deflection timings on basic soldiers. It's a grind that rewards precision over power, making victory over a boss like Genichiro or the Guardian Ape feel like a genuine personal achievement, not just a stat check.

Hollow Knight: A Bug's Life (of Farming Geo)

Don't let the charming, hand-drawn 2D art style fool you—Hollow Knight is as punishing and profound as any 3D Soulslike. The lost kingdom of Hallownest is vast, interconnected, and full of deadly cute bugs. The grind here is for Geo, the game's currency, and it's essential. You'll need heaps of it to:

• Upgrade your Nail (your primary weapon).

• Purchase Charms that radically alter your playstyle.

• Buy maps so you don't get hopelessly lost in the fungal wastes or the terrifying depths of Deepnest.

Areas like the City of Tears or the Forgotten Crossroads become familiar farming routes. The combat is tight, the bosses are fantastic puzzles to solve, and the satisfaction of finally affording that Pure Nail upgrade after a solid grinding session is unmatched.

Mortal Shell: A Different Kind of Progression

Mortal Shell takes a unique approach. You don't level up a character; you level up your Shells (armored vessels) and your weapons. The resources are Tar and Glimpses, and they are scarce. This scarcity makes grinding not just beneficial, but often necessary. The world is bleak and heavy with atmosphere, perfectly complementing the deliberate, weighty combat. Farming Tar to upgrade your Hallowed Sword or to unlock a new skill for the Eredrim shell feels incredibly meaningful. While the boss movesets might not reach the heights of FromSoftware's best, the core loop of mastering a Shell's abilities through grinding is deeply satisfying.

Blasphemous: Penance Through Repetition

For a uniquely grim and religiously twisted experience, Blasphemous is a masterpiece. Its art style, inspired by Spanish Inquisition iconography, is grotesquely beautiful. As the Penitent One, your journey through Cvstodia is fraught with peril. Grinding is crucial for collecting Tears of Atonement to upgrade your prayers (spells) and fervour (mana) capacity. You also hunt for Rosary Beads to customize your resistances and abilities. The first game is notably tougher than its sequel, meaning you'll need to farm to stand a chance against its brutal, screen-filling bosses. There's a pious, meditative quality to learning enemy patterns in its gothic platforming corridors.

Elden Ring: The Open-World Grinding Champion

Ah, Elden Ring. The game that consumed a year of my life. FromSoftware's 2022 masterpiece took the formula and blew it up to a scale we'd never seen. The open world of the Lands Between isn't just big; it's a playground for grinders. Need Runes? You have options:

Farming Spot	Method	Approximate Runes/Minute (2026 meta)
Palace Approach Ledge-Road	Wave of Gold on the Albinaurics	40k-50k
Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum	Bird sniping with a bow	30k-40k
Caelid	Early-game dragon or vulgar militia farming	5k-10k

Grinding here is blissful. You can overlevel to make the punishing legacy dungeons more manageable, experiment with countless weapons and sorceries, or just ride around on Torrent discovering new caves and catacombs to plunder. The boss designs—from Malenia to Radagon—are worth grinding to experience. Leveling up your vigor so you don't get one-shot by a boss's sneeze is not cowardice; it's smart strategy!

So, there you have it. Whether you're collecting Soul Cores in Japan, mastering the parry in a feudal land, farming Geo in a bug kingdom, or rune-hunting in a sprawling open world, the grind in these Soulslikes is a core part of their charm. It's the quiet space between the epic battles where you become the hero the game needs you to be. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some Albinaurics to... politely persuade. 😈