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These are the games like Elden Ring we recommend:
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Nioh 2
- Demon’s Souls
- Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
- Skyrim
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Bloodborne
- Dark Souls Remastered
If you want something that does a little of what Elden Ring does but not all, you might want some games like Elden Ring that make for a nice alternative. While Elden Ring has a ton of issues – pacing being chief among all of them – it is still a decent open-world game, full of customisation options for your play style. It is hard for a game to be like Elden Ring without being another Souls game, so keep in mind that these similar games aren’t supposed to be equivalent.
Dragons Dogma as a series has something of a love-it-or-hate-it effect on people. The combat in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is fantastically fun and the medieval setting is absolutely gorgeous. Comparing it to the exploration in Elden Ring, we think Dragon’s Dogma 2 nails it so well, especially when you happen upon a stray cave you feel compelled to explore. All in all, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a fantasy epic in a lot of ways; sadly, the story is rubbish and the game can be unforgiving or just completely janky. This is, however, part of its charm, as it was with the original Dragon’s Dogma game from 2013. In fact, play the first Dragon’s Dogma, which arguably did several things better compared to the sequel.
Where Souls games have become stagnant in using the same combat mechanics and encounters for most of those games, Nioh 2 is a breath of fresh air. Yes, there is still a stamina system and no it is not an open world, however, it is one of the best third-person action games out there, with endless options for build customisation. Team Ninja struck gold with Nioh 2, offering a fantastically enjoyable and fresh take on the ‘Souls’ formula, improving it and surpassing it in every way. If you want similarly tough gameplay and ways to flesh out builds, this is the next game for you. Nioh 2 also has a fairly detailed character creator, blowing the one in Elden Ring out of the water.
Demon’s Souls
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Release Date:
February 5, 2009
- – 24 June 2010 (PlayStation 3)
- Platform(s): PlayStation 3
- Genre(s): Action, RPG
Would you recommend this game?
If you want a Souls game by FromSoftware, you should start at the beginning of it all. Demon’s Souls is the first real Souls game, being the game FromSoft released before Dark Souls. This game formed the basis of everything Souls games would be for the next 10 years and the formula hasn’t changed much since this iteration, for better or worse. Create your character, level up your stats to perfect your build, find new equipment, and enjoy the best version of all Souls games. Better yet, if you have access to the PS5 remake, this version is much more accessible to play than firing up your PS3, and the visuals are breathtaking.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
- Release Date:
- Platform(s): Unknown
- Genre(s): Unknown
Would you recommend this game?
We want to caveat this entry by saying that Monster Hunter World is actually nothing like Elden Ring and we think World surpasses Elden Ring in every single aspect. However, some people play Elden Ring for the sheer level of build customisation and the combat, which is why we think Monster Hunter would be a fantastic alternative to play. You create a character, hunt giant monsters, get materials, and make better gear and weapons, all the while exploring amazing and large locales. There are so many monsters and gear combos that your builds are nearly endless, and it helps the gameplay is absurdly fun, surpassing many third-person action games that have combat designed around stamina and increasingly difficult fights. World is phenomenal and there is a reason it is Capcom’s best-selling game of all time.
It’s hard to deny that Skyrim is one of the best open-world games out there, even if that is just by sheer reputation – or rather, memes – alone. Elder Scrolls games understand that you want a journey to be epic and filled with fantastical moments, and you will find all of that and more in Skyrim. Skyrim offers a fabulous experience as you create your custom character and take up the mantle of Dragon Born. What you do with that power, is up to you and you can meme your way through the world as you please. As you adventure, you become embroiled in politics, wars, and guilds as you pick up quests and explore the vast world and all of its treacherous dungeons. There are a lot of copy-pasted moments in Skyrim, so you should feel right at home if you want a similar experience to Elden Ring.
FromSoftware finally did something different when it released Sekiro. There are a lot of re-used ideas and systems in this game you will recognise from other Souls titles, but it provides arguably the best first-time playthrough out of all the other Souls games. There isn’t build variety, so it’s different to Elden Ring in that respect, but it does have a ton of meaningful exploration, and the combat is extremely fun if you like precise timing-based gameplay. The characters are excellent and the writing is some of the strongest by FromSoft, going far beyond ridiculous NPC monologues and maniacal laughter we all know and tolerate.
Bloodborne
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Release Date:
March 24, 2015
- – 28 March 2015 (PlayStation 4)
- Platform(s): PlayStation 4
- Genre(s): Action, RPG
Would you recommend this game?
While it’s something of a cop-out to keep naming other FromSoft games, there aren’t many games that are truly like Elden Ring. Bloodborne is similar enough because FromSoft doesn’t change much between each game it releases, making it a great alternative. Bloodborne has more of an interconnected world than it does an open one, with large regions that flow into the other. As you might expect, you can customise your character and your preferred build to your heart’s content, and tackle the challenging enemies and bosses Souls games are notorious for. Some praise the story of Bloodborne as being the best of the best, but that will depend on your taste. It spins a particularly depressing tale from start to finish, so it can be a drag to get through.
If Elden Ring was your first ever Souls game experience, then it is entirely worth your while to play through the first Dark Souls game. It has been given a remaster on PC and consoles, making it readily available and playable at a nice quality. Dark Souls is often lauded as From’s best game, and while there is plenty of room for debate – we say Demon’s Souls is – you can’t deny that Dark Souls is uniquely brilliant in almost every single way. Where Elden Ring has more to do, Dark Souls is more focused and holistic in its design, giving an incredibly compelling narrative and setting you won’t find anywhere in Elden Ring or elsewhere.
