FromSoftware took a bit of a gamble withElden Ring. Although theDark Soulsseries had developed quite a cult following, some people were skeptical that the creators could replicate the franchise’s success in an open-world setting. Thankfully, all that skepticism and doubt subsided once the anticipated release hit store shelves.Elden Ringmanaged to surpass expectations for many, developing a massive following and standing firm as one of the best titles that FromSoftware has ever created.
It’s a lengthy adventure, and players can spend countless hours exploringthe vast reaches of The Lands Between. However, once they have finished the release and played through the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, the Tarnished might find themselves craving something similar that they can sink their teeth into. Here’s a look at some of thebest games withElden Ringvibes, whether they be open-world style releases, or simply titles that offer players immense challenge and entertainment value.
Updated June 21, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Elden Ring Nightreign is confirmed for June 08, 2025, marking a new chapter in FromSoftware’s project. Unlike Shadow of the Erdtree, which is an expansion that requires the base game, Nightreign is designed to be a standalone adventure. That said, the playerbase will likely consist mainly of die-hard Elden Ring fans.
As exciting (and bizarre) as this release is, Nightreign is still a few months away from its debut. Consequently, thesegames like Elden Ringshould be able to help fans pass the time.
Those who have playedElden Ringbut haven’t yet been through theDark Soulsseries need to put it at the top of their list. This is perhaps the closest experience toElden Ringin terms of gameplay and combat, though it’s not nearly as open-world as FromSoftware’s latest offering. That said, the worlds offered in theDark Soulssaga are just as dark, foreboding, and vastly imaginative as some of The Lands Between. Players that enjoy the gritty aesthetic ofElden Ring’s dungeons, castles, and catacombs, will find themselves right at home.
TheDark Soulsseries pioneered the formula found inElden Ring, meaning players will already be familiar with the idea of resting at particular areas to level their character up, as well as the weapons and armor systems found throughout each game. While exploration plays a part,Dark Soulsdoes generally guide players in one direction, especially during their first playthroughs. In terms of boss fights, each game knocks its roster out of the park, delivering fights that are memorable, challenging, and unique. EvenDark Souls 2, the black sheep of the franchise, is worth a playthrough.
Elden Ringis the culmination of more than a decade of trials, tribulations, evolution, and sweat. While perhaps FromSoftware’s most popular game,Elden Ringis far from the be-all and end-all, and players who got introduced to the developer’s work through the 2022 release owe it to themselves to not ignore the past.Dark Soulswill likely call out to most people and is the best second step afterElden Ring; however,Demon’s Soulsis just as special and should be considered a must-play.
Released in 2009,Demon’s Soulswas a breath of fresh air and garnered acclaim for its Metroidvania-esque level design, cinematic boss fights, build variety, and just sheer ambition. WhileElden Ringrepresents the (current) final form of Soulslikes,Demon’s Soulslaid the foundation which The Lands Between was built upon. The original version has aged well enough to still warrant a mention in this day and age, but the 2020 remake is a respectful and fateful adaptation that looks and plays brilliantly.
Despite having plenty of similarities with its successors,Demon’s Soulsis quite a different experience. For one, themain challenge comes from the areas rather than the bosses, the latter of which are fun but rarely very challenging. Slow and steady is generally the best approach to most situations, with the game not encouraging or rewarding aggressive play (particularly during the first playthrough). Rather than one continuous realm,Demon’s Soulsutilizes a hub system that links to five worlds that each have unique bonfires/levels. The player’s actions and performance influence the World Tendency, which has a pretty big impact on stages.
Some of the enemies and NPCs found inElden Ringare a bit grotesque in their appearance. There are some aspects of The Lands Between that are teeming with otherworldly horrors or afflicted with a sickness of sorts. Although it’s unique in its own right, it’s not the first time that FromSoftware has explored visually unsavory things. The horror-infused aspects ofElden Ringare reminiscent ofBloodborne’s Gothic imagery, another Soulslike release from the developer.
Bloodborneis a much darker release thanElden Ring, more akin toDark Soulsin its punishing world design. Players will tangle with a wide array of powerful and horrific bosses as they make their way through corrupted areas filled with gorgeous architecture. As great as most of FromSoftware’s non-open-world Soulslike projects are,Bloodbornearguably presents the strongest case for being the developer’s masterpiece. Prioritizing fast-paced and aggressive combat, the game starts strong and never lets up, including a fantastic expansion that is just as much of a must-play as the base content.
Team Ninja has spent the last decade carving out its own identity in the Soulslike subgenre. Similar to FromSoftware, the developer eventually decided to try to implement its rock-solid combat into an open-world, resulting in 2024’sRise of the Ronin. Launching on the same day asDragon’s Dogma 2, Team Ninja’s release was overshadowed by Capcom’s game; however, out of the two releases,Rise of the Roninis arguably a stronger pick forElden Ringfans.
Now, it should be said that the game’s open-world design has more in common with projects likeAssassin’s CreedorHorizon Zero Dawnthan FromSoftware’s release, so players will largely spend their time clearing markers from the map. Looking beyond that,Rise of the Roninoffers an accessible Soulslike gameplay loop that is deep and satisfying. The combat focuses heavily on parrying and traversal, making for a fast-paced system that does not lack variety due to a respectable range of weapon types. Customization is a big part ofRise of the Ronin’s identity, granting players the freedom to morph equipment to suit their fancy.
5The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild & Tears Of The Kingdom
Expansive Open-World That Emphasizes Player Freedom
Similar to howElden Ringarguably rejuvenated the open-world format,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wilddid the same thing in 2017. Despite being on the relatively weak Switch console, the game is massive, unleashing players on the most expansive version of Hyrule (at the time) and then telling them to just have fun.
Now, it needs to be said thatBOTWandElden Ringare very different in key ways. Their combat systems are not only nothing alike, but it is not even the main focus ofBOTW. Although not completely devoid of customization options, theZeldagame is not designed around crafting unique characters or exploring different classes; after all, players are role-playing as Link. While technically containing loot,BOTWexpects players to treat weapons as disposable. Boss encounters are rare and mostly pretty easy (except for some world bosses).
Still, for all their differences,BOTWandElden Ring’s explorationand world layout are cut from the same cloth. Both games embrace full sandboxes, encouraging players to venture forth with very little direction. Plot beats are mostly limited to side quests, lore drops, and environmental storytelling, all of which can be ignored if that is somebody’s preference.BOTWfocuses a lot more on puzzles thanElden Ring, but they both excel in their exploration.
Tears of the Kingdommostly builds onBOTW’s foundations, delivering a proper sequel that mostly retains the same core map but adds mechanics and new areas. While not having the same desolate atmosphere as its predecessor,TOTKis a great follow-up.
Many of the bosses found inElden Ringare imposing and a handful stand as towering giants. Those who love the aesthetic and challenge of fighting these super-sized creatures can turn toShadow of the Colossusafter theirElden Ringadventure. It’s pretty linear, with players taking down colossal creatures in a specific order, but the areas and creatures are gritty, much like the foes found in The Lands Between.
Shadow of the Colossusis much more of a boss gauntletthan an explorative adventure, but players who enjoy learning the ins and outs of combat and striking down towering enemies should enjoy this gem. While Team Ico’s 2005 original is a classic, the 2018 remake is the best entry point for new players as it comes with a notable performance boost, something that is an issue with its PS2-bound predecessor (although the remaster is fine too).
7Nioh Series
Intense Combat That Is (Generally) More Fast-Paced Than Elden Ring
Team Ninja has been enamored with Soulslikes for the last half a decade, and the developer has produced some of the subgenre’s most memorable and hardest games. WhileWo Long: Fallen Dynastyis an easy recommendationfor fans ofSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the company’s strongest Soulslikes projects are theNiohgames. Both titles are incredible in their own right, and although they are definitely cut from the same cloth, they do have enough differences for them to stand out on their own.
The originalNiohfollows William Adams as he goes on a supernatural-laced adventure through the final few years of Feudal Japan. Despite role-playing as a specific samurai,Niohprovides players with a fair amount of customization options when it comes to weapons and Guardian Spirits. Team Ninja’sNinja Gaidenbackground shines throughNioh’s combat, which is considerably more fast-paced than FromSoftware’s typical outings. The sequel builds on many of its predecessor’s strongest features, while also introducing a player-created character.
Niohdoes not offerElden Ring’s open-world exploration, but they do deliver fantastic action, deep mechanics that have a steep learning curve, and thrilling boss fights that rank among the best in the Soulslike sphere.
8Star Wars Jedi Games
A Galaxy Far, Far Away Goes Through Its Soulslike Phase
EA and Respawn took a jab at the Soulslike genre through theStar Wars Jediseries, which consists of two games that rank among thesci-fi franchise’s best efforts. As Cal Kestis, players travel to different planets in the cosmos, all the while trying to stay ahead of the Galactic Empire. The games blend exploration, platforming, and action quite well, which makes sense as the individual planets are framed after classic Metroidvania projects. Consequently, Cal gradually expands his moveset, granting him access to new areas along the way.
There is a lot to love about bothFallen OrderandSurvivor. They tell pretty good stories that build on each other well, and they do admirable jobs of bringing to life one of the most beloved universes in fiction. While not full-blown open-worlds, the individual planets are quite large, particularly inSurvivor. The combat is, arguably, the weakest element of these games as it can lack precision at times; however, Respawn still created some of the best lightsaber action in gaming.
Hollow Knightis solid proof that Indie games can be just as engrossing, challenging, and entertaining as AAA releases. Those looking for a fantastic (and sometimes frustrating) 2D adventure through a dark enemy-filled world should check out this epic from Team Cherry. A sidescrolling release,Hollow Knightmakes great use of smooth platforming mechanics and upgrades in aMetroidvania styling, forcing players to explore their surroundings to find new skills and items to progress further into the Hallownest.
There’s a beautiful, haunting, and strife-filled world to be found inHollow Knight, similar to what players will experience inElden Ring. Although the combat isn’t as over-the-top thanks to the 2D styling, it’s still incredibly satisfying and quite challenging as players progress.
Soulslikes are associated with full 3D games or, to a lesser extent, 2D side-scrollers. Isometric action RPGs are generally regarded as their own thing, with maybeNo Rest for the Wickedbeing something of an exception. That game is definitely worth a try by anyone craving a dark fantasy with challenging gameplay and reactive real-time combat, but it is still a work in progress. The same can be said forPath of Exile 2, which has a ways to go before the full version debuts.Diablo 4is also an option, but that game is so far removed fromElden Ringthat it is fairly difficult to recommend (and that has nothing to do with the project’s quality, which has improved since its launch).
While not really that similar in terms of gameplay,Grim Dawnis nevertheless a valid option for players looking for a fairly difficult action RPG set within a dark fantasy world. Similar toElden Ring,Grim Dawnprioritizes customizable builds, encouraging players to jump into a campaign blind so they can create and explore as they see fit. Although a bit more direct and involved than most Soulslikes,Grim Dawn’s story is not particularly intrusive and mostly complements the lore and world-building. The combat is also pretty great and satisfying.
