23 Games That Are Like Elden Ring

Elden Ring. It’s the game that many, MANY gamers are talking about and playing. And we can say that because there are over 12 million players currently! The point here is that the game is popular, critically beloved, and giving players not just a vast world to explore, but also, a load of challenges. But eventually, your time in Elden Ring will end, and you might want to play something like it afterward. But what? Allow us to show you some Games Like Elden Ring.

#23 Shadow of the Erdtree

Platforms: PS5, PS4, XBO, X/S, PC

Okay starting off yes, we know we’re cheating here, as this is literally the expansion to the main game! But, hey, it does continue what the main campaign did, so why not talk about it? Shadow of the Erdtree was the long-awaited DLC that helped grow the game’s lore even more while giving players a new land to have fun in, new builds to make, and new bosses to die to repeatedly. Oh, and for those of you who have done “no die runs,” feel free to stop showing off.

Regardless, the game is all about taking on these new challenges and adapting to the many curve balls they throw at you. So “git gud,” or get dead!

#22 Black Myth: Wukong

Platforms: PS5, PC, X/S

It’s easy to compare Black Myth: Wukong to FromSoftware’s title for a basic reason: boss fights. Yeah, there are plenty of them in this game, and they’re based on the classic story that gave rise to Sun Wukong. As the “Destined One,” you’ll travel the land in search of both answers and your destiny. That means that there will be plenty of things standing in your way.

You’ll need to use both your staff and magic abilities to overcome these threats, and that means getting clever when things get bleak. While it’s not exactly a “git gud” kind of game, it’s one that will test you, and many will enjoy that.

#21 Hades II

Platforms: PS5, PS4, XBO, X/S, PC

Admittedly, Hades II isn’t a direct comparison to the FromSoftware line of titles, as they play in different ways and have different camera styles. However, you can draw certain comparisons to them because of the difficulty that is inherent within the games and the “trial and error” you often go through.

In this hit sequel, you’ll play the daughter of Hades, who is trying to save her father from Kronos, the Titan of Time. To do so, she’ll need to use both the boons of the Greek gods and the magic she learns from Hectate to defeat her grandfather.

Each run through this game will be a challenge, but you’re up for that, right?

#20 Demon Souls

Platforms: PS3, PS5

You know the phrase, “this thing walked so the other thing could run?” Well, Demon Souls was very much that. Because this was the first title that really put From Software on the map, even if it was more of a cult classic at the time. In fact, it was so negatively received in Japan for its difficulty (ironic, we know) that it was not brought to the West for a while.

In the game, you play as an adventurer that you can create from scratch, it’s your job to go and find (and kill) a fallen king and pacify a god in order to allow your kingdom to live in peace.

Just about everything you know from Dark Souls and all the ones that span off from that (including Elden Ring) started here in Demon Souls. It became such a cult classic that they remastered it for the PS5.

So if you want to start at the beginning of things? Here you go.

#19 Blasphemous

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS

The land of Cvstodia has fallen into darkness via something simply known as “The Miracle”. You are a sole survivor from a massacre and have been “blessed” with a cycle of life and death. It’s up to you to try and figure out what happened to both you and your lands, and whether it can be reversed.

Blasphemous puts you in a very dark world full of monsters and other creatures that will eviscerate you if you don’t do so yourself. The hack-and-slack gameplay of the title is very much customizable, and you’ll need to ensure you have the right “build” in order t survive. If you can survive at all that is…

#18 Remnant From The Ashes

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

In Remnant From The Ashes, the world that humanity claimed as its own is overrun by a terror from another dimension, wiping out much of the population. Now, you are one of the few survivors, and your only hope lies in weapons that can open portals to other dimensions. You must use this ability to go to other worlds, find resources, and see if you can learn more about where the monsters came from.

Then, as you, and up to two other players, fight back on your home world, try and carve out a place for humanity to rebuild once more.

You must be mindful, whether on your own world or ones you travel to, danger is everywhere, and the battles you have ahead of you are going to be very difficult. But if you’re smart and play it right, you’ll survive and give humanity a chance once again.

#17 Hellpoint

Platforms: Windows, Linux, MacOs, PS4, XBX, Switch

The Irid Novo colony is in a state of cataclysm. A mysterious black hole is opening up “events” by which many monsters have come through. You have arrived as a Spawn of Authority, whose task is to explore the colony and see exactly what has happened, and why everything is going on as it is.

You’ll not only battle the monsters that are now calling the colony home, you’ll explore the place as a whole to learn more about the goings on there. There are all sorts of places to go, and “secrets within secrets” to be found. And that says nothing of the brutal combat where you’ll need to build up your character in order to handle the threats that are within and without.

Can you solve what happened on the colony? Or die trying?

#16 Code Vein

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Code Vein was a title made to satisfy those who like a challenge, freedom, and also an anime-style aesthetic.

In the game, you’ll create your character to go and fight against The Risen. Your story will grow through the various dungeons that you and an NPC companion (or a co-op partner!) that you go to in order to fight tough monsters. All so you can unlock your past and save the future.

The challenge lies in the monsters, but the freedom comes in that you can change just about everything about your character at any time. Change your weapon, your abilities, and more, you have access to it all, and thus are able to ensure you have the loadout needed to fight the monsters of your world.

#15 Mortal Shell

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna

The world is falling, but hope is not all lost. Mainly because you exist, and you have a veritable army at your fingertips, it just so happens that they are all dead.

In Mortal Shell, you’ll be able to possess the bodies of fallen warriors, and use their literal shells to host you and allow you to fight all sorts of terrifying monsters. As you progress through the game you’ll fight monsters of various natures, as well as have access to even more “shells” for you to diversify your combat and ensure that the fight can go on.

But it won’t be easy, this combat system is about precise combat, and not doing that will leave you vulnerable, and shells open to damage. So be smart, learn from whom you embody, and strike down evil!

#14 Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen is set within a huge world where you are tasked with fighting monsters, all the while, controlling three “pawns” that you can grow into quite capable fighters themselves. Explore and find the monsters that roam the land, and then figure out their weaknesses so that you can slay them with ease.

Your character has a high level of customization you can bring to it, and as for your Pawns, after you build them up, you can share them online so that others can see what you have done.

There’s a lot of versatility here alongside the very brutal combat. So why not give Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen a chance to blow your mind?

#13 Lords of the Fallen

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, Xbox One, iOS, Microsoft Windows

Lords of the Fallen takes place in a realm that was once ruled by a dark god. But then, humanity rose up and was able to banish it to another realm. Yet now, it seeks freedom, and their only hope for survival is a man named Harkyn, who is “blessed” with immortality, yet was banished and branded as a “sinner”.

Even still, it’s up to you to go to the dark gods’ realm and fight his legion of monsters, and the dark god himself in order to save the world.

The Souls-like combat will be familiar to many, as the game forces you to think and not just button mash in order to get things done. Whether you survive the dark gods onslaught is very much…up to you.

#12 Salt and Sanctuary

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, macOS, PC

You are a sailor who has shipwrecked on an island of mysterious origin. One that is full of creatures that seem beyond this world, and the realm itself has long since been ravaged by evil.

Now, in order to survive, you must traverse this doomed land and use a variety of weapons and armors to kill all in your way. The game has over 600 weapons that you can craft and use, and with quick and brutal gameplay, you’ll have to figure out what works best for you, all the while uncovering what exactly happened on this island to make it the way that it is…if you even want to know…

#11 The Surge Series

Platforms: Console, PC

The Surge series puts you in control of someone strapped to an exosuit and trying to survive a circumstance that they have no idea how they got involved in.

The first game has you trying to fight through a wave of rogue robots, augmented humans and defiant AI, while the sequel, you crash land in the city of Jericho and are forced to try and survive all that is coming for you.

The Surge games pride themselves on their limb/loot system where you can cut off limbs of your foes and then add them to your arsenal in order to get stronger and ensure you survive that little bit longer.

The main games alone are worth your time, but some special DLC will give you extra content to enjoy in this brutal set of settings.

#10 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Some games are a challenge solely for their combat, but with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, it’s a challenge because it’s a very different kind of story mixed in with challenging combat.

Senua is a Viking warrior who has lost her lover. Now, driven by grief, her mind broken, but her desire very clear, she must descend into the depths of madness and folklore in order to get her lover’s soul back.

This game was made in line with actual neuroscientists so that they could try and accurately “depict” what a vision quest such as Senua’s would be like. The game will be a test on your mind and body as you go through it, so be warned…this won’t be easy by any metric.

#9 Nioh Series

Platforms: Console, PC

Made by Team Ninja, the Nioh games (literally titles Nioh and Nioh 2) are very much in line with the brutal action games that they are known for.

The first one takes place in Feudal Japan just before the unification effort, and you play as a fictional version of a famous Western samurai is tracking down a wizard and must fight all sorts of monsters, including the Japanese Yokai. In the second game, you actually become a Yokai and do battles both before and after the events of the first title.

The game may sound hokey, but it plays great and got a lot of praise from people. So don’t knock it until you try it.

#8 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows

There have been a lot of Star Wars games that haven’t done their job in terms of making you FEEL like you’re really a Jedi, but Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is not one of them.

You play as Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis, years after Order 66 has occurred. After staying in hiding for so long, you’re forced (no pun intended) back into the light. Then, after finding another Jedi, you go on a quest to potentially save everyone, all the while upping your Jedi abilities, fighting the Inquisitors and Darth Vader, and more.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order brings a very visceral and technical side to battles with a lightsaber and other weapons, and button mashing will NOT do you any favors here. You’ll need to have balance and skill to make it through the game. Add that to a compelling narrative? And you got something special, and something that is getting a sequel soon enough.

#7 Hollow Knight

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Many of you are no doubt jumping for joy because of Hollow Knight being mentioned. This is an indie darling that is set in the Metroidvania style and wowed many with its gameplay and presentation.

You’ll dive into a ruined kingdom that hides more than just treasure. As the knight of your story you’ll wander through every part of it and come across over 130 enemies including 30 mighty bosses that will test you to your limit, and beyond.

You’ll need to use a variety of abilities and skills to get through, and all the while exploring, charting, and figuring out the truth of what this kingdom really is.

Add to that, a LOT of DLC (including Silksong) and you’ll be enjoying this game for a while.

#6 Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

Platforms: Console, PC

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War was the sequel to the hit LOTR title Shadow of Mordor, and it had the challenge of besting what the original did. And guess what? It succeeded.

You once again play as the warrior/possessed man Tallion, who must try to bring down the vile land of Mordor from within. To do that, you will go behind enemy lines and conquer fortresses and slowly build up your own army of Orcs, goblins and other creatures from Middle-Earth.

The combat and Nemesis system is the thing that drives both the difficulty and the fun. Each playthrough you do can be different due to this, and delivers a deep narrative experience as a result.

#5 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U

You might be surprised that we’re talking about this game, but there’s a reason. Elden Ring took the Dark Souls series but then added a very open world for players to explore. That gave many the impression that it was piggybacking off of what Breath of the Wild did for the Legend of Zelda series, and it is indeed an apt comparison.

Breath of the Wild takes place in a Hyrule that has been taken over by a “Calamity”, and after failing to kill it 100 years prior, a freshly healed Link must travel the land, free the Divine Beasts from the Calamity’s influence, and ensure that he can save Princess Zelda.

This title wasn’t just Game of the Year when it came out in 2017, it was a title that made just about everyone go into shock and awe when it arrived. So much so that its sequel is the most-anticipated game by many metrics.

Oh, and the game can be hard too, so there’s that.

#4 Shadow of the Colossus

Platforms: PS2, PS3, PS4

Oh yeah, we’re talking about this one.

Shadow of the Colossus is hailed as one of the greatest games ever made, and Team Ico very much set a tone for certain games to come, including Dark Souls. Because in this game, you play as Wander, a young man who is trying to bring his love back to life.

But to do so, he must travel a forbidden land in search of the Colossi, and kill them. Each one is unique, each one is a challenge, and each one will test your ability to not just climb up them, but be mindful of how you get to their weak points.

The game was so beloved that they made a remaster for it on the PS4, and so if you haven’t been able to play it before, you can very much do so now.

#3 Bloodborne

Platform: PS4

One Dark Souls became…well…everything, it was only a matter of time before From Software decided to take the concept and move it into a new direction. Their first (of many) attempts at this was that of Bloodborne on the PS4.

This time around, you play as a Hunter, who comes upon a city that is being plagued by a disease that is rooted in their blood. You must untangle what is going on in this Gothic City, and in the process, fight all sorts of monsters and cosmic entities that have sprouted up due to all that’s going on.

Exploration and very brutal combat are the name of the game here. And while it is slightly different in terms of what you do in Dark Souls and other From Software titles, this game was a major hit.

#2 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows

This was the most recent From Software title to come out before Elden, and absolutely influenced it in many ways. But unlike in other titles, this one takes a slightly more realistic approach to things. Including the combat.

Because in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you play as a Shinobi who must strike out at those that tried to kill him and kidnapped his lord. Now, even though you’re disfigured, you must go on a quest to reclaim your honor and kill all those that would stand in your way.

The swordplay is easily the best, and most brutal, part of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but, there are also stealth elements here that add new levels to the game.

This title is absolutely worth your time, so if you get done with Elden Ring, you should try this out, if you haven’t gotten something else first…

#1 The Dark Souls Series

Platforms: Console, PC

Are you really surprised that this series is on the top of the list? Yes, Demon Souls may have started the long trend of “brutally difficult games” that would come via From Software and beyond, but it was Dark Souls that helped bring it to the quality, and the masses, that we know the genre as now.

In the games you’ll play as an immortal, and go on the incredibly BRUTAL journey of taking down monsters, beasts, gods and so on.

Each fight will test you to your limit, and that’s part of the fun. Learning your enemies movements and trying to figure out how to beat them.

So if you haven’t played Dark Souls yet (and that would be odd if you play Elden Ring), grab this trilogy and PRAISE THE SUN!!!!