As someone who hates souls games, make sure there are undodgeable attacks by enemies. Example, you’re walking past a wall and something attacks and kills you from behind. Also, make sure there are huge bosses with ambiguous hit boxes and indeterminable strike locations so dodging is weird and dumb.

There's a skip button in every cinematic but it does nothing.

Have to make permanent choices early on. Get poor, half-assed introduction into lore that is way overcomplicated.

Just like real life.

progressing through dialogues is achieved with ever-changing buttons (and combos?) displayed on screen, but in an ever-changing location.

Main companion is "non-binary"

Choices once made (purchasing armor) cannot be undone later. Buy a half-assed weapon in round 1, fill that slot forever and never be able to throw it away later.

Requires internet connectivity even though single-player.