I felt the same way when Dark Souls (and subsequent sequels) came out. Sekiro was the first game I had ever refunded on Steam when I rage quit it after couldn’t get through the tutorial level. I’ve since tried it again and made it to Genichiro but couldn’t beat him as it doesn’t let you grind to level up. It’s truly a game where you have to “git gud” and I’m simply not that good at parrying.
Honestly the only reason I gave Bloodborne a try was because I saw someone else play who was a much worse gamer than I was, it was included on PS+, and I thought the world seemed really interesting. I absolutely do not think this genre is for everyone but when you can beat a boss, the rush is intense and addictive.
It’s currently included with Game Pass plus there is a demo (I think it’s still available) so you can try it without having to buy it. Spending $60+ always gives me pause.
I was also hoping for better dodging as I am terrible at parrying. I struggled with Sekiro because it’s so reliant on parrying but I did enjoy it up until I got to Genichiro as I was never able to beat him.
I’ve only gotten past the first major boss but I never felt like it was too difficult or too easy. A lot of the souls like games seems to struggle with the right balance of difficulty and just don’t seem to “get it”. The combat feels good, hits feel solid and I don’t feel like I’m getting screwed over. I’m really liking the game so far, the enemies and environmental storytelling are definitely souls inspired. Also, screw the chimney sweeps.
I believe the only 4x games I have played have been the Sid Meier’s games. They weren’t really my usual type of game but I did appreciate the complexity they created with balancing tactics and diplomacy.