Rise of Rebellion Goes To Failure — Even a Dark Souls Veteran Couldn't Save It

Another Soulslike hits the dirt. This time it’s Rise of Rebellion, an indie action RPG that was supposed to ride the Dark Souls wave but crashed and burned instead. Developer Hytacka — who reportedly worked on Dark Souls 3 — was brutally honest about the game's failure, both commercially and critically.

And honestly? It’s a case study in why “making a Soulslike” isn’t a guaranteed ticket to success anymore.

"The results are not good. In terms of what my goal was, I would say it bombed completely." – Hytacka, via his YouTube channel

Steam Reviews Tell the Whole Story

When Rise of Rebellion dropped on April 21, early players knew something was off. The game currently sits at a Steam mixed reviews rating after 127 reviews, and that number of reviews is way lower than what you'd expect from a “successful” indie Soulslike.

In the indie scene, there's a rough estimate to guess sales: take the number of reviews and multiply it by about 30. By that math, Rise of Rebellion sold maybe around 4000 copies. Hytacka had been aiming for 100,000.

Yeah, that's brutal.

And it’s not just the numbers. Players had specific complaints:

• Combat looked slick but felt weightless — characters almost skated around.
• Environments and enemy designs felt cookie-cutter and generic.
• No real "hook" to pull players in beyond it being “another Soulslike.”

Add all that up, and you get a game that just couldn’t stick the landing.

"Honestly, it'll probably be a while before I get to a point where I have something to show." – Hytacka on the future after Rise of Rebellion's flop

The Dark Souls Legacy Is a Double-Edged Sword

When you slap “Soulslike” on your marketing, you instantly get a certain crowd’s attention — but you also raise expectations to insane heights.

Dark Souls didn’t just create a genre. It created a culture:

• Punishing but fair combat
• Deep, cryptic world-building
• Unique creature and boss designs
• A strong, heavy vibe that was unforgettable

Games like Sekiro, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring didn’t just copy Dark Souls — they expanded on it in ways that felt fresh. Rise of Rebellion tried to echo the basics — dodge-rolling, stamina bars, big swords — but didn’t offer anything new or memorable. And in a post-Elden Ring world? That’s just not good enough.

Best Soulslike Games So Far

Here’s a quick look at some Soulslike titles that actually managed to live up to (or at least honor) the Dark Souls spirit:

If you’re making a Soulslike in 2025, you’re not just competing with memories of Dark Souls — you’re competing with Elden Ring, Sekiro, Lies of P, and even Mortal Shell. The bar is sky-high.

The Publisher Problem

Another issue for Rise of Rebellion? Publisher expectations. Kodansha — the publisher backing the project — is mainly known for books and manga, not games.

Hytacka expressed real concern that the game's failure would sour his relationship with Kodansha. Losing publisher support makes future projects even harder to get off the ground, especially if your last game “bombed completely.”

In his words, it might be a while before he has anything new to show — but he’s determined not to give up.

"I haven’t lost my ambition." – Hytacka, remaining optimistic about his future in game development

Dark Times, Strong People

Rise of Rebellion is a painful reminder that good intentions and cool ideas aren't enough in the Soulslike genre anymore. You need standout mechanics. You need original vibes. You need to carve your own identity, not just repackage Dark Souls in a slightly different skin.

It sucks to see a solo dev (especially someone who contributed to a legendary game like Dark Souls 3) stumble like this. But maybe this will be a wake-up call, too, for players and developers alike.

Not every tough game with swords is a Soulslike. And not every Soulslike is destined for glory.