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Those who have already played Soul Hackers 2 will know that the game is a stylish, dark, cyberpunk JRPG with themes that deal with the occult, existentialism, and more. Of course, other entries in the SMT series are an easy recommendation. However, the series is vast with a lot of titles available. Furthermore, there are games outside SMTthat fans should play too. Here is a list of recommendations that Soul Hackers fans should play next.
7 Shin Megami Tensei 5
Released: 2021 Developer: Atlus Platform: Switch
If one enjoyed Soul Hackers 2, playing an entry from its parent series, Shin Megami Tensei makes sense. Arguably, the most accessible (but still very hard) of the SMT series is Shin Megami Tensei 5 on the Nintendo Switch.
The visuals are more stylish than ever, but the gameplay retains its turn-based roots. Moreover, the nihilistic and dark themes that the series has become famous for are present and accounted for in SMT 5.
6 The Persona Series
Released: 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2008, and 2016 Developer: Atlus Platform: PC, PSP, PS Vita, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Similar to the Soul Hackers series, Persona is a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei. This series emphasizes forming bonds with the other characters using Social Links, a mechanic more in-depth than the Soul Matrix.
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The most stylish and visually appealing entry in the series is Persona 5. However, all the games in the franchise have a sense of style. More importantly, Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 are considered some of the greatest JRPGs of all time.
5 AI: The Somnium Files
Released: 2019 Developer: Spike Chunsoft Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
Soul Hackers 2 and A.I: The Somnium Files are games that belong to different genres. The latter is an adventure game and a visual novel, but the Japanese flavor, cyberpunk style, and setting will appeal to fans of Soul Hackers.
The thought-provoking story and dark imagery will also resonate with fans of the SMT series overall. It’s one of the best titles on Xbox Game Pass. The voice acting is superb and helps bring the neo-noir detective story to life. A.I: The Somnium Files is thematically dark and disturbing at times, making it a perfect match for fans of the series. The equally good A.I: Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative is also available.
4 Shadow Hearts Series
Released: 1999, 2001, 2004, and 2005 Developer: Sacnoth Platform: PS1 and PS2
Shadow Hearts begins with the PS1 title Koudelka. Like the Shin Megami Tensei series, it’s a uniquely dark JRPG with a story that centers on the occult. Succeeding Koudelka is the trilogy of Shadow Hearts titles on the PS2.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant holds up as one of the best RPGs on the PlayStation 2, and considering that Sony’s console has one of the best catalogs of RPGs of any system, that’s no small feat. Unfortunately, the Shadow Hearts series is no more, and finding hard copies of these games can be expensive. However, Matsuzo Machida, who served as the director, and writer of the first two Shadow Hearts, is working on a spiritual successor named Pennyblood.
3 Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
Released: 2005 Developer: Atlus Platform: PS2
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga is a two-part story hailed as one of the best scripts in the SMT franchise. Even though Soul Hackers 2 has modern visuals, it has an old-school feel to its gameplay and design reminiscent of Digital Devil Saga.
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As the title suggests, there are themes that DDS shares with Soul Hackers 2, and that’s a digital world beyond the real one. The characters embark on a mysterious journey and discover their humanity along the way (similar to Ringo and Figue’s journey in Soul Hackers 2). Digital Devil Saga’s tone and violence are more intense than Soul Hackers, and it earns its M for Mature rating.
2 Valkyrie Profile/Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Released: 1999 Developer: Enix Platform: Android, iOS, PS1, and PSP. The PS4 and PS5 versions releasing in September 2022.
Released in 1999 for the PS1, Valkyrie Profile is a critically acclaimed JRPG. It has a story inspired by Norse mythology, and players take on the role of a Valkyrie named Lenneth. Her mission is to travel Midgard and resurrect fallen heroes to serve as her einherjar and fight alongside Lenneth as comrades in arms.
A Norse mythology setting may seem worlds apart from Ringo’s cyberpunk-set mission in Souls Hackers 2. However, Ringo, like Lenneth, is tasked with preventing an apocalyptic event, not unlike Ragnarok. Moreover, she has to resurrect fighters to help her stop the end of the world. Valkyrie Elysium,the newest entry in the series, is due to come out in September 2022. Additionally, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, the enhanced PSP port, will be released on the same day as Elysium on September 28th, 2022.
1 Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs. the Soulless Army
Released: 2006 Developer: Atlus Platform: PS2
Released in 2006, Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army is a must-play for fans of Souls Hackers 2 as they are both set in the Devil Summoner series. Instead of a cyberpunk-style future, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army is set in an alternate 1931.
Unlike most of the Shin Megami Tensei, the combat is real-time, but the fusion of demons is similar to Soul Hackers 2. Moreover, the lead character Raidou is a Devil Summoner from an earlier iteration of the Yatagarsu organization, the same group that Arrow is a member of in Soul Hackers 2.
Soul Hackers 2 is available now for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
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