The “You earn every defeat” concept of Soulslikes is part of their appeal. I haven’t beaten many (Hollow Knight, Tunic, and if you care to count it Metroid Dread) but the feeling after fighting a boss, walking away, wondering if I should just quit altogether, then coming back a few days later to beat it is amazing.

The genre could absolutely use a shot in the arm regarding setting and tone. You’re always always wandering around the bleak ruins of a fallen civilization on a possibly hopeless quest. Tunic adds some interesting stuff with its use of knowledge-based progression (I both love and hate that writing system).