Top Soulslike Video Games Similar to Elden Ring

Elden Ring is the latest addition into the Souls-like genre.

There is an intense satisfaction when you’re able to hit a goal in video games. It could be reaching the money goal for your city. Winning a race against other AI opponents. But nothing comes close to winning a bloody battle with a game boss that is out to hurt you and make it personal. Video games are available in various genres. Today, video games cater to a wider audience around the world. And ever since we had the pandemic, everyone has been on board the gaming train. However, this means that, by being accessible to a bigger audience, games are less punishing in some sense.

This trend has given the rise to games that are absolutely punishing. You will be punished for each mistake severely.

Roll to dodge too close to the edge? You fall and die.

Dodge and roll towards the boss that’s in the middle of its skill? Lose a chunk of your HP.

This particular genre is commonly known as Souls-like, a tribute to Dark Souls, the game that popularized the whole genre that relies on players to execute moves in the game perfectly and evade any skills or one hit-KOs by the AI characters. If you enjoy games from this genre or if you plan to take a short break from your Elden Ring play through, then let us help with these suggestions. These games also feature gameplay similar to Elden Ring with its own unique twist. Let’s go!

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

What do you get when you blend in the elements of the Elden Ring and Japanese folklore and culture? Well, you get a ton of anguish and disappointment in the form of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro comes from the same developers that made the Souls games, but focuses more on the combat aspect. The game rewards an aggressive game style that lets players unleash their inner demons to whatever living thing that dares to cross their path. Although, the enemies you face are not as easy as you think. Even giant chickens have it out for you.

Sekiro also features some RPG gameplay in the game, but the combat is definitely the highlight. Mow down rows of enemies, time your parries perfectly and unlock awesome powers revolving around your sword and other Japanese elements. Please note that this game does not come with a difficulty option. There is only one option. And it’s either you git gud or get rekt. Watch out for those giant roosters!

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

Middle-earth: Shadow of War 

Nobody can say no to a game that mixes some Lord of the Rings lore with unique gameplay. Shadow of War is a great game that expands the detailed and intricate world of Middle Earth. Built by J.R.R Tolkien decades ago, it’s a no-brainer to bring out interesting lore from the source material. And that translates it into a fun gaming experience. Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the continuation of Shadow of Mordor, which follows Talion, who in his death in the first game joined forces with the spirit of Celebrimbor, an ancient elf lord. Simply put, he is the elf that crafted the Ring of Powers for Sauron, who then betrays him by fashioning the One Ring to control the rest of the ring bearers. So you bet he is in the mood for a bit of revenge.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War brings the elements that made the first installment successful and ramps it up, adding new game elements to keep the game fresh. It also added a beefy 60 hours of gameplay as compared to the first one, which many thought to be rather short. The game added new characters, storylines and expands the true scale of the land of Mordor. The game also refined the Nemesis System further, which also has an influence on the storyline. Which path you’ll follow is entirely up to you.

(Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, iOS)

Dark Souls

Hardcore dark-fantasy RPG. The game that opened the door to many games and gives an actual challenge to a lot of RPG enthusiasts out there. Through deep and immersive gameplay, Dark Souls did not skimp out on any elements which have propelled the game into one of the great game titles out there. A cultural significance in the gaming sphere.

This game is the crown jewel to those who thrive in the challenge in RPG games, but it’s not beginner-friendly. A couple of unlucky strikes by a low-level enemy and it’s game over. Although this game is not for everyone, it’s safe to say that many are satisfied with the gameplay brought by Dark Souls. The immense satisfaction of beating a boss’s character after hours of trial and error is incomparable. Unlike the newer titles in this genre that focus more on aggressive and fast-paced action, Dark Souls focuses on calculated attacks and defensive stances using shields.

(Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5)

Star Wars: Fallen Order

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but a Star Wars game published by EA that doesn’t suck? Well, there we go. Even though the review about “The Other” Star Wars game wasn’t too good. Star Wars: Fallen Order combines the two things that we love: RPGs and Star Wars. There were some concerns after the first trailer came out. And the general distrust the gaming community has towards everything that EA touches. The game turned out to be a great experience for everyone.

The game combines the cinematic gaming experience of Uncharted with the punishing combat of Elden Ring. Slide down a decommissioned Star Destroyer while you time your parries perfectly to deflect blaster shots from Stormtroopers. If you’re a fan of the expanded Star Wars universe, then this is a game that you should definitely try out. The game takes place 5 years after The Great Jedi Purge, and we follow the adventure of a young Padawan who’s in hiding from the Empire’s grasp. Join in the journey to fight the Empire and bring balance to the Force.

(Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows)

Nioh 

Japan has so much source material stemming from its unique culture that spans a millenia. Combining historic eras of ancient Japan and folklore, Nioh follows the journey of William Adams, an Irishman turned samurai who joined forces with the shogun to vanquish the demons (yokai) that had emerged in the midst of the civil war between clans. Think The Last Samurai, but instead of Tom Cruise fighting regular humans, you get a demon slaying badass.

The main difference that sets Nioh from Elden Ring or even Dark Souls is the pace of the game. Everything in this game is at lightning speed. Combos can be unleashed within a second, dealing large damage to enemy AIs. This speedy pace allows quicker gameplay as well as fluidity in terms of combat and executing combo after combo. The only real downside of Nioh is probably the overwhelming task of managing the inventory. Which is a nightmare when you have gear that has very minute differences between them. And let’s not forget the availability of different items to micromanage along the way. Particularly the different resources, armors, buffs, consumables, items, stances, weapon combos and so on.

(Platform: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5)

Bloodborne

The defining theme of these games comes in the theme used to convey the dark world where the majority of the game takes place. And with this particular title, we’re treated to a Gothic themed game that has heavy influence of Lovecraft horror. Expect a medieval era aesthetics where plagues and creatures of the night have taken over the streets.

The main difference that separates Bloodborne and Elden Ring is that Bloodborne is not an open-world game. Bloodborne is basically levels connected by corridors. While Elden Ring is a full-blown open-world game that allows you to travel the terrain and encounter different kinds of enemies. And to go even further, Bloodborne has no shield mechanics nor items in its gameplay. Instead, it doubled down on the parry mechanics to further press on, rewarding aggression as the best way to move forward when facing enemies. Play it at a pace you’re used to in a Souls game, and you’ll pay the price of getting your ass whooped a bunch of times. In a way, Bloodborne is the unofficial successor of the Souls franchise that has modernized the gameplay and makes it more engaging, giving new and experienced players a totally new experience.

(Platform: PlayStation 4)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

We’ve talked about games such as Elden Ring that are set in pretty much a very dark world that seemed to be infiltrated by dark entities looking to corrupt the world of the living. So there’s no way we’re not including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Perhaps one of the best game franchises that has come into existence, The Witcher 3 is the culmination of great and improved RPG elements carried over from the first 2 games. The Witcher 3 follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, who’s on a journey to find his adopted daughter and apprentice, Ciri who’s been missing for a while now.

What’s great about The Witcher 3 is the giant library of source material available from the books that’s been used either directly or loosely as side quests in the game. And the number of side quests available in this game is around 16 hours, excluding side quests that you can find from the 2 DLC games for Witcher 3. Although the Witcher game series is a bit of a far cry as to compared to Elden Ring, it’s here on the list since it shares some similarities in terms of the world it’s set in. As for combat, Elden Ring performs way better. However, when it comes to the story and gorgeously rendered environment, Witcher 3 wins hands down. Most gamers disliked the combat, which can sometimes be quite clunky, but they stayed for the story and immersive environment.

(Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows)

And there you have it folks, similar games to Elden Ring that you could check out while you’re recuperating your soul after getting owned by one of the many bosses that make the great plains their domain.