The soul of Soulslikes

Soulslikes are a strange game genre. They usually have really cool worldbuilding, but rarely give it to you for free. You often have to work for it, and even when you finally get bits and pieces of the story, you end up with what is often just kinda weird. And if it isn't weird, then the world surrounding it is. Take Dark Souls 1. It has an enemy type that is just a skeleton in a wheel that rolls into you. It is weird. Why are they in a wheel? And it is not just Dark Souls either. Why in Memoirium are there giant statues that make weird noises, and why is the world as scattered as it is? Well, I believe those questions are exactly what makes Soulslikes great.