This Western Soulslike Shooter is Being Called the Next Dark Souls

Media got hands-on with Eschatology Entertainment's slow, methodical western soulslike shooter at Gamescom 2026, and it's drawing comparisons to the original Dark Souls.

A new first-person soulslike shooter is turning heads at Gamescom 2026, and it's got a very specific vibe: slow, heavy, and completely unwilling to hold your hand.

Wccftech went hands-on with the game from developer Eschatology Entertainment, set in a weird, apocalyptic western world. Their verdict? Pretty glowing. The project carries the final vision of the late legendary art director Viktor Antonov, the man behind the visual identity of Half-Life 2 and Dishonored, and you can feel that influence in every frame.

Here's the twist: it's a first-person shooter, but the pacing is deliberately slow and restrained. Movement feels weighty. That puts it in sharp contrast to the fast, twitchy soulslikes flooding the market right now.

The combat is hardcore in a way that'll make you think before you shoot. Your revolver has to be manually cocked, and you need to pull the hammer back before every single shot. Spraying and praying basically doesn't work. Instead, you have to study enemy weak points and hit specific body parts in a particular order to deal serious damage.

The devs say you won't be left guessing, though. Info about enemy weaknesses is available the moment you first run into them, so it's about execution, not memorization. The demo threw a variety of enemies at players while constantly preaching patience. Snipers, for example, hide up on buildings, which the team framed as classic soulslike design.

The hands-on session wrapped with an intense boss fight against a flying eye monster, and it used the exact same shooting mechanics as regular enemies. That's a good sign if you like consistency in your combat.

The game has been announced for a 2026 release window, though whether it actually makes that date is still up in the air. Critics think this "no compromises" approach might not blow up overnight, but it'll absolutely find a dedicated audience that loves it.

Platforms are PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

So, are you into the idea of a soulslike where every bullet takes real commitment? Or does the slow pace sound more frustrating than fun? Let us know what you think.