With its sporadic checkpoints, brutally punishing bosses, and emphasis on parrying, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a Soulslike through and through - but in of relative difficulty, it varies. Wo Long is the fourth Soulslike game from Koei Tecmo's Team Ninja, coming on the heels of Nioh and its sequel, as well as the Square Enix-published Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Nioh offers an intense challenge, but Nioh 2 reined in the difficulty. Wo Long has a simpler combat system and certainly takes notes from Nioh 2, but that doesn't necessarily mean it continues the downward trend of difficulty.
Nioh isn’t the only Soulslike Wo Long compares to, however. FromSoftware's Elden Ring, which released in early 2022 to universal acclaim, has also become a point of contrast. Another FromSoftware game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is also part of the conversation, since both it and Wo Long are works of historical fiction - albeit set in different regions and time periods. The following are some of the most well-loved Soulslike games, and how they compare to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty in of difficulty.
Wo Long Is Much Easier Than Nioh
Released in 2017, Nioh's gameplay was directly inspired by Dark Souls, and as a result, it's every bit as difficult - perhaps even more so. Like all Soulslikes, Nioh requires players to observe enemy movements, seize brief opportunities, and mind their positioning. It puts a unique twist on the formula with the addition of Stances, each of which comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Switching between Stances takes some getting used to, and makes for a combat system that's more complicated than Wo Long’s weapons, easily mastered early on. Enemies in Nioh move quickly, and don't always telegraph their attacks. Its bosses have massive HP pools that take time to whittle down, and an arsenal of devastating attacks.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is far easier than Nioh. While it still requires players to watch bosses carefully and consider their positioning, there are no stances to switch between - just light attack combos, with a selection of special moves. While spamming powerful specials isn't an effective strategy (it'll quickly deplete the player's energy, leaving them open to counters), these specials can easily give players the upper hand when unleashed at the right time. Wo Long enemies are on the slower side, and their most vicious attacks are always telegraphed with a red flash that guides players' parry timing. Most Wo Long bosses don't have nearly as much HP as those in Nioh, making them easier overall.
Wo Long Is Similarly Difficult To Nioh 2
Where the original Nioh was difficult to play, Nioh 2 set out to simplify the experience. It still requires players to switch between Stances, but adds new special abilities to its combat mechanics. It's also possible to call on invincible AI allies in Nioh 2, who can be a massive help in drawing a boss' fire while the player deals damage. Nioh 2's bosses still have more HP than Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty's, but they're slightly slower and their attacks don't hit as hard as they did in the first Nioh. It's also easier to drain enemies' Ki in Nioh 2, leaving them open to attacks.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is similar in difficulty to Nioh 2; in some respects it's harder, but in others easier. In addition to its easier combat system, Wo Long pits the player against bosses with smaller HP bars, so chipping away at them takes less time. Enemy attack patterns are easier to read with Wo Long's clear telegraphing. Wo Long also allows players to summon multiplayer or AI allies, although they can be eliminated. The one mechanic that makes Wo Long significantly easier than Nioh 2 is Morale, which raises all damage dealt and reduces damage taken as players take out enemies. In Wo Long, it's possible to quickly (if temporarily) buff a character by grinding Morale.
Wo Long Is Somewhat Easier Than Elden Ring
Elden Ring is notorious for its sprawling open world, gorgeously rendered graphics, and utterly brutal difficulty. Elden Ring pulls no punches when it comes to lightning fast, hard-hitting bosses, but it's still likely the most approachable game in the FromSoftware Soulsborne catalog. This is because there are a variety of options for beating Elden Ring’s hardest boss battles, including special moves, a robust co-op system, and a respec option - all mechanics that are present in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Elden Ring's open world format also means that if players run up against a tough boss, it's entirely possible for them to fast travel away, explore another corner of the world until they feel sufficiently powerful, then return for an easy smack down.
Even though they share some mechanics, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is still noticeably easier than Elden Ring. For one, Wo Long's bosses aren't nearly as damaging or as tanky. Its enemies telegraph attacks more obviously, and its special moves are more powerful. In both games, it's possible to grind in order to make a difficult fight easier. However, while grinding in Elden Ring requires more time, patience, and travel, players can easily and significantly increase their damage output just outside Wo Long's boss arenas with the Morale system.
Wo Long Is Far Easier Than Sekiro
Like Wo Long, which draws on the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is set in a fantasy version of a real, historic time period: the end of the Sengoku period in Japan. Both games require mastery of a parry mechanic, and it's possible to play either with a stealth focus, although stealth is a more central part of Sekiro. That's because there's really only one character build to be had in Sekiro, although there's some customization in of prosthetic tools, items, and skills. Like the other FromSoftware games, Sekiro is frustratingly difficult. Its bosses are quick and hit hard, and oftentimes have allies of their own.
Similar though they may be, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is much easier than Sekiro on just about every front. Its character customization system allows for creative combinations, including some of Wo Long's best spells, and, consequently, more ways to achieve incredible levels of damage. Its parry timing is far more forgiving, so mastery comes more quickly. Its bosses aren't as fast or as powerful as Sekiro's. Wo Long's stealth system is easier: enemies are less aware of the player character, and it doesn't even require players to press a button to assume a separate stance.
Wo Long is certainly more difficult than a run-of-the-mill action RPG, but it's one of the easiest Soulslike games out there. It requires players to pay careful attention and choose their next moves carefully, but its enemies are more readily defeated and don't pose as much of an insurmountable barrier to progress. For players new to the Soulslike sub-genre, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a great starting point, teaching the basics alongside an entertaining, if not frustrating, challenge.
