From Software's games have had an outsized effect on the gaming landscape since the release of Dark Souls, but none have had as big an impact as Elden Ring. The impact is so big, in fact, that for many, finishing Elden Ring means it's time to look for more games like Elden Ring. It combines the essential elements of a Souls game--most notably a combat system with tough enemies and massive bosses that often require careful study and patient play to defeat--with a phenomenally dense, imaginative open world.It's that open world that really sets Elden Ring apart from both From Software's other titles, and most games in general; it's full of fascinating things to discover, encouraging players to set out on their own path of exploration and constantly rewarding them for their efforts.Though it often feels like a singular experience, there are a lot of games like Elden Ring--those that conjure a similar feeling of setting out into a dark and hostile world, whether through their combat systems, dark and intriguing storytelling, or world design. Below, you'll find 20 RPGs, Soulslike games, and open-world games that each capture elements of Elden Ring's gameplay, providing you with more tough battles to fight and incredible worlds to chart. These aren't necessarily meant to be duplicates of what Elden Ring is going for, but games that might appeal to those who like certain elements of it.Alternatively, we've got suggestions for the
best RPGs and the
best Elden Ring mods, the latter of which can expand and refresh your experience if you just want more Elden Ring.
Dark Souls / 2 / 3
- Developer: From Software
- Release Date: September 11, 2011 / March 11, 2014 / March 24, 2016
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action-RPG
Though not the first of From Software's games to use the formula, the Dark Souls trilogy crystalized the essential elements that make up Elden Ring, and went on to define an entire subgenre. It's the feel of Dark Souls that informs Elden Ring, as well as so many other games that have come after it. Combat is slow and methodical, requiring you to pick your moments to attack as you learn how to deal with powerful opponents that can easily destroy you if you're not smart and careful. The combination of melee mechanics with a stamina gauge, a health system that gives you a limited quantity of healing items you can continually refill, and a checkpoint system that forces you to choose between replenishing yourself and reviving all the creatures you just defeated, have led to so many games borrowing its ideas that it has given rise to its own genre: the Soulslike.The original Dark Souls is really the quintessential game, taking players through tough battles against a variety of fantastical bosses, and features an incredibly interesting and interconnected world. It's not exactly an open-world game--it hides a pretty linear experience--but it feels huge, open, and strange, and the sense of exploring that world is part of what has made Dark Souls so powerfully influential for more than a decade. Dark Souls 2 and 3 expand on and refine the experience in different ways to offer iterations on the theme that are both worth exploring, especially to see how they would eventually give rise to Elden Ring.Fanatical is owned by GameSpot parent company Fandom.
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom
- Developer: Nintendo
- Release Date: March 3, 2017 / May 12, 2023
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action Adventure
The Dark Souls games (and Demon's Souls) hew closest to Elden Ring's approach to things like combat and healing. In terms of a vast open world where exploration is just as big a part of the experience as following the prescribed path, however, it's hard to find a better example than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Both games reimagine the classic Zelda framework of melee combat, dungeon-crawling, and amassing a huge inventory of weapons and tools to make your way in the world, with an expansive open world that gives way to a much more free-form experience. Just as you can set out in any direction in Elden Ring and find a viable path through the game, you can wander both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom and chart your own way through Hyrule. You'll be hard-pressed to find any other games that capture Elden Ring's sense of open possibility the way these do.
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Remnant II
- Developer: Gunfire Games
- Release Date: July 25, 2023
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action-RPG
The quickest way to understand Remnant 2 would be "Dark Souls with guns," although especially with Remnant 2, that description is a big disservice. Remnant 2 uses key elements of the souls-like formula, like finite healing items that can be replenished, a stamina gauge for dodging away from enemy attacks, and checkpoints that revive enemies in the area around you, but it expands on it in a ton of meaningful ways. Most notably, Remnant 2 makes use of an impressive procedural generation system that mixes in bespoke elements, making unpredictable maps that are filled with intricate, well-designed dungeons. It also has a series of phenomenal, often-massive boss fights, each different from the last and interesting in its own unique way. However, it's in its secrets that Remnant 2 really excels--the procedural generation elements mean you can play the same dungeon over and over and discover new elements each time, like hidden rooms, additional battles, and alternate ways to defeat bosses. The best way to experience Remnant 2 is in co-op, thanks to a system that rewards you for mixing and matching different classes and working together to explore its constantly changing world.
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Bloodborne
- Developer: From Software
- Release Date: March 25, 2014
- Platforms: PlayStation 4
- Genre: Action Adventure
Bloodborne takes the more linear approach generally inherent to the Dark Souls games and gives it a faster pace, while setting it in a bloody Lovecraftian horror tale. There's a reason Bloodborne is the favorite of From Software's oeuvre among many fans--it's an often-brilliant iteration on the core ideas. Bloodborne does away with the slower elements of the Souls games, like blocking with a shield, in favor of dodging, parrying, and a health-rally system that rewards you for being aggressive by letting you gain back health lost to enemies by pressing the attack. Even better than that, though, is a dark and twisting story about a plague that turns people into horrific beasts, which you're tasked with stopping as you take part in the blood-drenched Hunt, only to discover that there are forces beyond your comprehension at work in the cursed land of Yharnam.
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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Developer: From Software
- Release Date: March 22, 2019
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: Action-Adventure
Where Bloodborne iterated on From's approach with faster and more aggressive gameplay, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice brought that line of thinking to its ultimate conclusion with a game that demands you never back down from a fight. In Sekiro, every battle is a duel, whether you're fighting a samurai general or a towering ape. It introduces a "posture" system, which rewards you for pressing the attack and perfectly parrying your opponent's strikes by staggering them and opening them up for a massive, deadly blow. Sekiro is also From's most narrative-driven game, taking you through a tragic story set during Japan's Sengoku period, and adds stealth mechanics and platforming to the formula to create something unique among From's catalog.
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Rise of the Ronin
- Developer: Team Ninja
- Release Date: March 22, 2024
- Platforms: PlayStation 5
- Genre: Action Adventure
Rise of the Ronin takes a stab at combat similar to Elden Ring--it's maybe more in line with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice--but with the speed and agility that developer Team Ninja is known for. The emphasis is on samurai-style duels and you'll find no shortage of intense battles to fight throughout the game, administered within a huge open world that's perhaps a bit more traditional than Elden Ring's. If you like your open-world games driven by a clear narrative, with lots of stories to find and work your way through, and tons of elements like collectibles, side quests, minigames, and the like, Rise of the Ronin is for you. It's also a highly cooperative game, with the opportunity to fight alongside both AI-controlled and player-controlled companions through its many, many missions.
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
- Release Date: November 11, 2011
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action-RPG
It's tough to think of an open-world RPG without thinking immediately of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Bethesda's incredibly popular game has been ported basically everywhere, and endures more than 10 years later because it puts players in a vast world with a huge number of things to find and do. Defined by first-person combat that includes dual-wielding weapons and magic spells, Skyrim has an absolutely enormous number of things to do and find, and stories to uncover and take part in. It stands as the gold standard of Bethesda's approach to games and has been hugely influential on open-world titles and RPGs ever since. Plus, it has an expansive, robust modding scene on PC that adds to and remakes the game in a phenomenal number of ways, just in case getting lost in the northern reaches of Tamriel for hundreds of hours wasn't enough for you.
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Lies Of P
- Developer: Neowiz Games
- Release Date: September 18, 2023
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PS5, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
A lot of developers have tried to replicate the feel of a From Software Souls game, but none have ever quite managed it. Few have gotten as close as Neowiz Games with Lies of P, though. A riff on the story of Pinnochio, Lies of P is a little bit like if Bloodborne was set a little further in the future and focused on killer clockwork automata instead of werewolf-like monsters, but with a hearty helping of Sekiro's parry-focused approach to combat and weaponry. The game excels in fast-paced dueling combat, especially in its many killer boss fights. It's also set in a dark, fantastical world and explores some fascinating ideas of personhood in between all the beat-downs you give both robots and other "humans."
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God of War / God of War: Ragnarok
- Developer: Neowiz Games
- Release Date: April 20, 2018 / November 9, 2022
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, PC
- Genre: Action-Adventure
The 2018 reboot of God of War reworked its gameplay in some significant ways, not the least of which is a "wide linear" focus on exploration that puts you not quite in an open world, but not quite in a fully linear experience, either. That approach provides a lot of Norse mythology-inspired places to explore, where you'll uncover fascinating stories and quite a few tough mythological creatures that need walloping. Reworked combat tightens the series' combo-centric battles against lots of enemies to make for some tougher duels, and God of War and its sequel, Ragnarok, have evolved to be more in line with souls-likes. A deep narrative and a fascinating world will keep you pressing forward on your journey.
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Mortal Shell
- Developer: Cold Symmetry
- Release Date: August 18, 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Genre: Action-RPG
Mortal Shell is an indie souls-like game very obviously inspired by the Dark Souls approach, with a haltingly told story and a dark and shadowy fantasy world. Its tough combat is very similar to what the Souls games turn out, but with a few tweaks that might make it a good introduction to the genre. Two elements define Mortal Shell: the ability to inhabit the bodies of fallen soldiers to take on their different capabilities, kind of like choosing a class, and the ability to "harden" your body and tank a hit from an enemy. The harden ability is the key to Mortal Shell's combat, as it allows you to bait your opponent into attacking and then capitalize on the opening their blow bouncing off you creates. Mortal Shell is a smaller-scale souls-like than most, but it does a great job of dialing in on a few key elements that make these games so engaging while fleshing them out very well.
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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order / Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
- Release Date: November 15, 2019 / April 28, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Genre: Action-RPG
Titanfall and Apex Legends' developer Respawn Entertainment's take on Star Wars is more than a little Souls-y. The series, now two games deep, tells the story of a Jedi hiding out in the aftermath of the Jedi Purge from Revenge of the Sith, before he sets out with a band of misfits to take on the Galactic Empire. Lots of games put you in the role of a Jedi, but Respawn's mixture of souls-like influence does a better job of making that compelling than most--instead of just slicing through everything with your laser sword, you're forced to use skills and reflexes, as well as the Force, as you fight tough duels against opponents ranging from Purge Troopers to Rancors to Sith Inquisitors. The Jedi games also add metroidvania elements and large areas to explore on various planets, scratching your exploration and puzzle-solving itch as well.
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Ghost of Tsushima
- Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
- Release Date: July 17, 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
In some ways, Ghost of Tsushima is to Sekiro what Elden Ring is to Dark Souls: It plays in similar ways, but brings elements of Sekiro to an open-world format. Those elements are mainly a big focus on stealth assassinations and intense dueling gameplay. Ghost of Tsushima strikes out in its own direction with an emphasis on fighting stances--using the right stance against the enemy you face is essential to success--but a big focus is on parrying blows and knocking enemies off-guard so you can land your strikes. While its open world is more traditional than Elden Ring's, with lots of characters to talk to and side quests to complete, its minimalist presentation helps it capture that sense of wide-reaching exploration that makes From Software's game so engaging.
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Shadow of the Colossus
- Developer: Team Ico / Blue Point Games
- Release Date: October 18, 2005 / February 6, 2018 (remake)
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4
- Genre: Action Adventure
Though souls-like games are often defined by their combat, the more effervescent element of the Elden Ring experience is the sense of scale and discovery it can often portray, as you ride over a hill and discover something incredible--often towering in the distance and waiting to kill you. That's the experience of Shadow of the Colossus to a T. You venture into a beautifully realized but ultimately lonely world filled with staggering, enormous monsters--only to destroy them. Shadow of the Colossus nails a sense of vastness that is empty and ponderous, something that also marks the best moments of Elden Ring, and excels at making you feel like you've just stumbled on something ancient and inscrutable. Its minimalist narrative makes the most of that world, as well as its awe-inspiring creatures, to capture a feeling few other games ever manage.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Developer: CD Projekt RED
- Release Date: May 19, 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action-RPG
The Witcher 3 is revered as one of the best open-world RPGs made in the last decade, if not longer. It expands on CD Projekt's Witcher series in just about every way, from placing you in a truly huge game world full of well-told stories and side quests, to deepening combat and exploration. The gist is still the same--you're monster-hunter Geralt, a strong fighter with a handful of impressive special abilities and access to magic powers. And it's in fighting its various monsters that The Witcher 3 really hits a stride, pitting you against fantastical beasts that are all weird, deadly, and challenging in their own ways. Beyond that, though, its world is filled with quests that are worth taking and tales that are worth unfolding. The way The Witcher 3 lets you get to know the world and take part in it, and shows you the beauty and tragedy found within, elevates it beyond most RPGs.
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Hollow Knight
- Developer: Team Cherry
- Release Date: February 24, 2017
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Metroidvania
Hollow Knight is a pretty big departure from Elden Ring, as games on this list go. It's not a 3D open-world game or an RPG--it's a side-scrolling metroidvania. But like a lot of other games on this list, it nails the sense of exploration through a strange world full of long and sometimes tragic history. It also draws from the souls-like formula for its combat, distilling some of those elements into 2D battles against a huge host of bosses. The combination of tough battles, a dark and expansive world through which you chart your own path, and an incredible amount of atmosphere and intriguing world-building give Hollow Knight a similar feel to what makes Elden Ring so enticing.
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Horizon: Zero Dawn / Horizon: Forbidden West
- Developer: Guerrilla Games
- Release Date: February 28, 2017 / February 18, 2022
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
The Horizon games are more in the vein of traditional open-world titles than Elden Ring in a lot of respects--generally, it's a little less free-form, with more clear objectives like side quests and collectibles to hunt down throughout. Still, both games present vast and inventive open worlds to explore, filled with some extremely cool enemies to fight. The world of Horizon is populated with giant robot wildlife, including some full-scale dinosaurs, and they present some serious challenges in taking them down. The combat is fun enough to make hunting robots an endeavor until itself, and there's also a lot of deep and engaging story on offer in Horizon that'll keep compelling you to explore its wilds.
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Dragon's Dogma 2
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: March 22, 2024
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Genre: Action-RPG
One of the joys of Elden Ring is just setting out in a direction and seeing what's out there. In Dragon's Dogma 2, just about any venture away from the safety of a settlement is met less with fascinating things to discover like hidden caves or underground cities, and more with unpredictable chaos in the form of the various vicious and magical creatures that want to make a meal out of you. The unpredictable ways these systems can interact with each other is the joy of Dragon's Dogma 2--as is hanging out with the miscreant "pawns," companion characters you and other players create. Sharing them with pals you can't join in-game gives Dragon's Dogma a multiplayer feel similar to Elden Ring that goes perfectly with a fun open world where the journey is always as important as the destination.
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Nioh / Nioh 2
- Developer: Team Ninja
- Release Date: February 7, 2017 / March 13, 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, PC
- Genre: Action-RPG
The Nioh games were the result of developer Team Ninja combining its pedigree for fast, intense combat with souls-like mechanics. A lot of the familiar elements are present, like your offensive and defensive moves being governed by a stamina system. Team Ninja riffed on that underlying idea, creating an approach to stamina that also works in strategic planning in the midst of combat, along with precise timing, to make sure you can keep your stamina up and survive the onslaught of your foes. With clever bosses and winding level design, the Nioh games take souls-like ideas off in new directions to create some fresh but familiar experiences.
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No Rest For The Wicked
- Developer: Moon Studios
- Release Date: March 22, 2024
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Genre: Action-RPG
You'll immediately recognize the souls-like elements in combat in No Rest For The Wicked, with the usual stamina system, dodge-rolls, and parries. The differences are in its presentation: No Rest For The Wicked is an isometric dungeon-crawler, making it feel something like Dark Souls via Diablo. Each new weapon you find offers different move sets that will drastically change your approaches to combat, which offers a lot of variety in battles and gameplay as you take on some tough and often huge bosses. No Rest For The Wicked is set in its own dark fantasy world that's equal parts strange, fascinating, and horrifying, making it very interesting to venture through and fight to survive within.
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Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Developer: Team Ninja
- Release Date: March 3, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Genre: Action-RPG
Team Ninja riffs on the souls-like formula again in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, but goes in a different direction. It experiments with different ideas, allowing you more opportunities to customize a character and to build into different stats and gameplay approaches as you level up. Choosing different weapons and sets of armor, and hot-swapping between weapons on the fly, lets you change your fighting style whenever you want, offering a lot of versatility for Sekiro-style, parry-heavy battles. Wo Long also makes some interesting tweaks to the souls-like formula--instead of having to run back to where you died in order to reclaim what you lost there, for instance, you now have to face down whatever killed you. The result is a feeling of fighting out a series of battles and duels that have an element of rivalry baked in. Making your way through Wo Long's world isn't just about leveling up, but about staking a claim on each new piece of the map, turning exploration into a system that makes you stronger.
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Source:
https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/games- ... 2900-5768/
