When Elden Ring launched on February 25, 2022, it did something rare: it took a punishing formula and made it welcoming enough to sell tens of millions of copies. According to Wikipedia’s overview of the game, FromSoftware’s open-world epic went on to win Game of the Year honors and pull in players who had never touched a Souls game before. The 2024 expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, only deepened the obsession.
So what happens when you finish the game, beat the DLC, and still want that specific feeling — the tension of a fog gate, the slow mastery of a boss pattern, the thrill of a build finally clicking? That’s where this list comes in. Below are the best games like Elden Ring, sorted by what they actually offer: the combat, the world design, or the sheer difficulty. No filler, no padding.
What Actually Makes a Game “Like Elden Ring”
Before listing titles, it helps to be honest about the term. “Soulslike” is a fan-made category with no official definition, so it gets stretched to cover everything from 2D platformers to first-person shooters. In practice, most Elden Ring fans are chasing three things:
- Stamina-based, deliberate combat where every swing has weight and greed gets punished
- Interconnected world design that rewards curiosity and hides secrets in plain sight
- Risk and reward systems where dying costs you something and learning is the only way forward
A game can nail one of these and still scratch the itch. A game that nails all three is rare. The picks below range from near-perfect matches to looser interpretations, and each entry explains exactly which boxes it ticks.
The Closest Matches: FromSoftware’s Own Catalogue
Dark Souls III (2016)
If Elden Ring was your entry point, Dark Souls III is the natural next step. It runs on similar combat DNA — stamina management, roll timing, punishing enemy placement — but trades the open world for a tighter, more linear structure. Some players find that more intimidating, because there’s nowhere to run when a boss walls you off. The Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City DLCs add some of the hardest fights in the studio’s history.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
Sekiro throws out build variety entirely. There’s one weapon, one character, one path — and a posture-based parry system that demands near-perfect timing. It’s arguably the hardest FromSoftware game for newcomers, but also the most satisfying once the rhythm clicks. Players who loved Elden Ring‘s guard counter mechanic will recognize the DNA here. Just go in knowing you can’t overlevel your way past a wall.
Bloodborne (2015, PS4)
Still locked to PlayStation 4, Bloodborne swaps shields for aggression. The combat rewards forward pressure and quick dodges, and the gothic Victorian setting is a striking departure from high fantasy. It’s regularly cited as the studio’s most atmospheric work. If you have access to a PS4, it’s essential — and if you’re weighing other classics, the best N64 games ranked show how far FromSoftware’s design lineage stretches back.
Demon’s Souls (2009 / 2020 Remake)
The one that started it all. The 2020 PS5 remake by Bluepoint Games modernized the visuals while keeping the original’s punishing design intact. It’s more rigid than Elden Ring — fewer checkpoints, harsher penalties — but it’s a history lesson in how the genre formed.
Open-World Alternatives With Real Exploration
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
Not a Soulslike, but the closest thing to Elden Ring‘s sense of scale and discovery. The Blood and Wine expansion alone offers a map worth exploring for dozens of hours. Combat is looser and more forgiving, but the world-building and side-quest quality remain a benchmark. Think of it as Elden Ring with a friendlier learning curve and far more dialogue.
Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West
These share the “vast world, dangerous machines, satisfying ranged combat” formula. The difficulty on higher settings delivers genuine tension, and the enemy design — particularly the larger machines — echoes the boss-fight thrill of a FromSoftware title. Not punishing in the same way, but excellent for players who loved the exploration loop.
Genshin Impact
An unusual pick, but worth mentioning for one reason: it borrows heavily from Elden Ring‘s stamina and climbing systems while offering a free-to-play open world. It’s far more forgiving, and the gacha monetization isn’t for everyone, but the exploration rhythm is genuinely similar. If you want more puzzle-driven variety in the same spirit, the games like Wordle collection shows how far “one more try” design has spread across genres.
Soulslikes From Other Studios Worth Your Time
Nioh 2 (2020)
Team Ninja’s samurai epic is the most mechanically dense game on this list. It layers stances, yokai abilities, and a loot system on top of Souls-style combat. The result is overwhelming at first — most players bounce off the first boss — but it rewards mastery more than almost anything else here. The original Nioh (2017) is also worth a look if you want the full story.
Lies of P (2023)
A Pinocchio-themed Soulslike from Neowiz that surprised everyone by being genuinely excellent. The combat emphasizes perfect guards and weapon assembly, and the Belle Époque setting is a refreshing break from dark fantasy. It’s shorter than Elden Ring but tightly designed, with a sequel reportedly in development.
Black Myth: Wukong (2024)
Game Science’s action RPG, released August 20, 2024, draws on Journey to the West and delivers fast, staff-based combat against elaborate boss encounters. It’s more linear and less punishing than Elden Ring, but the boss design and visual spectacle are top-tier. A strong pick if you want the feeling of a Souls boss fight without the open-world sprawl.
Mortal Shell (2020)
A shorter, tighter Soulslike with a clever twist: you “harden” your body mid-combat to absorb a hit, which changes how you approach every exchange. It’s rough around the edges, but fans of Elden Ring‘s combat pacing will find a lot to like. It’s frequently on sale, making it a low-risk entry point.
If You Want the Roguelike Version of the Formula
Elden Ring‘s structure — die, learn, retry, improve — is essentially roguelike logic applied to an open world. Players who enjoy that loop should absolutely explore the genre. The best roguelike games picks include several titles with Souls-adjacent combat, and the expanded 50-game roguelike list covers everything from turn-based tactics to real-time action.
Standouts include Hades, which pairs tight combat with a narrative that advances every run, and Dead Cells, a 2D action game with brutal difficulty and build variety. Neither looks like Elden Ring, but both deliver the same “one more attempt” compulsion.
Comparison Table: Which Game Fits You?
| Game | Combat Style | Open World | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Souls III | Stamina-based, deliberate | No | High | Purists who want the classic formula |
| Sekiro | Parry-focused, fast | Semi-open | Very high | Players who love precision timing |
| Bloodborne | Aggressive, dodge-heavy | No | High | Gothic horror fans (PS4 only) |
| The Witcher 3 | Action RPG, forgiving | Yes | Medium | Story and exploration lovers |
| Nioh 2 | Complex, stance-based | No | Very high | Build-crafting obsessives |
| Lies of P | Guard-based, tight | No | High | Players wanting a modern Soulslike |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Fast, staff combat | Semi-linear | Medium-high | Boss-rush fans |
| Hades | Real-time action | No | Medium-high | Roguelike newcomers |
Practical Tips for Switching Between These Games
Here’s what actually trips people up when they move from Elden Ring to another Soulslike — and how to avoid the common mistakes.
Stop relying on jump attacks. Elden Ring‘s jump attack is unusually powerful compared to most of its peers. In Dark Souls III and Lies of P, jumping into an enemy is a fast way to eat a counter. Relearn spacing from the ground up.
Don’t hoard upgrade materials. New players often save consumables “for later” and finish the game with a full inventory. In most Soulslikes, the correct move is to spend aggressively on your main weapon early.
Expect different checkpoint logic. Elden Ring‘s Sites of Grace are generous by genre standards. Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne are not. Plan longer sessions around boss attempts rather than assuming you can quit anytime.
Watch a boss guide only after three honest attempts. There’s a real skill-building benefit to struggling first. Guides are most useful for pattern recognition, not for skipping the learning process entirely.
Give each game at least five hours. Soulslikes feel wrong until the combat rhythm clicks, and that click rarely happens in the first hour. Players who quit early often return later and wonder why they ever bounced off.
If you’re looking for a break between punishing titles, lighter fare helps reset your reflexes. The games like Stardew Valley list offers low-stakes alternatives, and the games like Skyrim picks cover open-world RPGs with more forgiving combat — a good palate cleanser before diving back into a boss rush. Puzzle fans hunting for daily brain-teasers can also try games like Wordle for a completely different kind of “one more try” loop.
What’s Coming Next
The genre keeps expanding. Upcoming releases continue to borrow Soulslike mechanics, and platform shifts mean more players than ever have access to these games. Keeping an eye on upcoming Switch 2 games is worthwhile if you prefer handheld play, since several Soulslikes have found new audiences on portable hardware. The genre’s future looks healthy — and crowded.
Conclusion
There’s no single game that replaces Elden Ring. What makes it special is the combination of open-world freedom and FromSoftware’s uncompromising combat, and most alternatives deliver one without the other. The good news is that the genre has never been richer. Start with Dark Souls III if you want the purest match, The Witcher 3 if you want the world, and Nioh 2 or Lies of P if you want a fresh mechanical challenge. Try one, give it five hours, and let the rhythm click. That’s how Elden Ring got you in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest game to Elden Ring?
Dark Souls III is the closest mechanical match, since it comes from the same studio and shares the stamina-based combat and interconnected level design. Sekiro and Bloodborne are equally FromSoftware but diverge more sharply in combat style.
Is Elden Ring harder than Dark Souls?
Most players find Elden Ring more accessible overall because the open world lets you leave a tough boss, level up elsewhere, and return stronger. Dark Souls III offers fewer escape routes, so individual walls can feel harder even though the combat systems are similar.
Do I need to play Dark Souls in order?
No. The three Dark Souls games share lore themes but tell separate stories with different protagonists. Starting with Dark Souls III is completely fine, and many players do exactly that after finishing Elden Ring.
Which Soulslike is best for beginners?
Lies of P and Mortal Shell are both shorter and more forgiving than the FromSoftware catalogue, making them good entry points. The Witcher 3 is the gentlest option if you mainly want the open-world exploration without the punishment.
Is Bloodborne available on PC or Xbox?
As of the most recent information available, Bloodborne remains a PlayStation 4 exclusive and has not received an official PC or Xbox release. Players on other platforms should look to Lies of P or Nioh 2 for a similar aggressive, dodge-focused combat feel.
Are there any free games like Elden Ring?
Genshin Impact is free-to-play and borrows heavily from open-world exploration and stamina systems, though its combat is far more forgiving. Several indie Soulslikes also offer demos or free prologues, which is a low-risk way to test whether the genre suits you before buying.
