8 Best Games like Elden Ring You Must Try

While the gaming landscape offers numerous soulslike experiences, few capture Elden Ring’s perfect blend of challenging combat and boundless exploration. As you await the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, these five masterpieces provide the perfect training ground to hone your skills. Each title shares core DNA with FromSoftware’s magnum opus while offering unique twists on the formula.

Platform Coverage: Multiple console ecosystems and PC gaming platforms

These selections aren’t mere clones but complementary experiences that expand upon different aspects of what makes Elden Ring exceptional. From interconnected world design to combat depth and exploration freedom, each game brings something valuable to the table for action RPG enthusiasts.

For veterans familiar with Elden Ring’s mechanics, the Dark Souls trilogy represents the foundational blueprint that established the genre’s core principles. This legendary series introduced the punishing combat rhythm that demands precise dodging, strategic blocking, and well-timed attacks that Elden Ring players will immediately recognize.

Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

The progression system revolves around collecting Souls from defeated enemies, which function identically to Elden Ring’s Runes for character leveling and equipment enhancement. Mastery involves learning enemy attack patterns and environmental hazards rather than relying on brute force.

World navigation presents interconnected level design where shortcuts and hidden paths reward thorough exploration. The checkpoint system using Bonfires (equivalent to Sites of Grace) provides strategic respawn points that reset enemies while offering safe zones for character management.

Thematic elements consistently feature decaying worlds with rich, environmental storytelling and melancholic beauty. As the series that defined the genre, Dark Souls established the core mechanics that Elden Ring would later expand into an open-world format.

Pro Tip: Start with Dark Souls 3 for the most refined combat experience, then work backward to appreciate the series’ evolution. This approach minimizes frustration with older mechanics while building foundational skills.

Tears of the Kingdom captures Elden Ring’s spirit of discovery through its revolutionary vertical world design. While exclusive to Nintendo Switch, this title offers unparalleled freedom in navigating both sky islands and underground depths, creating a truly three-dimensional exploration experience.

Platform Availability: Nintendo Switch exclusively

The combat system emphasizes timing-based mechanics with dodging and parrying that will feel familiar to Elden Ring veterans. However, Tears of the Kingdom distinguishes itself through Link’s Ultrahand and Fuse abilities, enabling creative problem-solving that goes beyond traditional combat approaches.

Where this title truly shines is its sandbox-style approach to traversal and combat. Players can construct vehicles, weapons, and tools on-the-fly, offering solutions to challenges that Elden Ring’s more structured approach doesn’t permit. The emphasis on player creativity makes each playthrough uniquely personal.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t overlook the construction mechanics as gimmicks—mastering these systems dramatically reduces combat difficulty and opens new strategic possibilities.

Bloodborne represents the perfect alternative for players who enjoy Elden Ring’s challenging combat but prefer faster-paced, aggressive gameplay. The combat philosophy shifts from cautious defense to relentless offense, rewarding players who master the art of counter-attacking.

Platform Support: PlayStation 4 exclusively

The signature Trick Weapon system allows each weapon to transform between two distinct forms mid-combat, effectively doubling your moveset options. This mechanic encourages constant adaptation to different enemy types and situations, much like Elden Ring’s weapon arts but integrated directly into core weapon functionality.

Health regeneration through offensive actions (the Rally system) fundamentally changes combat dynamics, making aggression a viable defensive strategy. Combined with firearm parrying instead of shield blocking, Bloodborne creates a distinctly different combat rhythm that still feels familiar to seasoned Souls players.

The gothic horror atmosphere and cryptic storytelling create a dense, immersive world that reveals its secrets gradually. Unlike Elden Ring’s more open structure, Bloodborne’s tighter level design creates more focused, intense encounters.

Advanced Technique: Master the quickstep dodge instead of rolling—it provides faster recovery and better positioning for counter-attacks.

Shadow of the Colossus distills the boss encounter experience to its purest form, focusing entirely on monumental battles against sixteen unique colossi. The minimalist approach creates an experience where every encounter feels significant and memorable.

Platform History: Originally PS2, remastered for PS3, remade for PS4

Each colossus functions as both enemy and environment, requiring players to climb their massive forms while identifying weak points. This vertical combat approach shares DNA with Elden Ring’s larger field bosses but with more intimate physical interaction.

The world design stands in stark contrast to Elden Ring’s dense content—here, vast empty landscapes separate each encounter, creating contemplative travel sequences that build anticipation.

The emotional narrative unfolds through environmental cues and gameplay rather than explicit storytelling, creating a similarly mysterious atmosphere that Elden Ring fans will appreciate. The emotional weight of each victory creates a powerful connection to the journey.

Strategy Insight: Observe each colossus carefully before engaging—their movement patterns often reveal the solution to defeating them.

The Nioh series combines FromSoftware’s combat philosophy with Team Ninja’s signature technical depth, creating some of the most mechanically complex action RPG combat available. The stance system allows for three different fighting styles that can be switched fluidly during combat.

Platform Accessibility: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows

Combat revolves around managing Ki (stamina) through well-timed Ki Pulses, adding a resource management layer beyond Elden Ring’s systems. This mechanic rewards technical precision while allowing aggressive playstyles.

The loot system incorporates Diablo-style randomization with extensive gear sets and special effects, providing nearly endless build customization options. This depth appeals to players who enjoy theorycrafting and optimization beyond Elden Ring’s more straightforward equipment system.

Mission-based structure replaces the interconnected world, offering focused combat scenarios that prioritize encounter design over exploration. The historical Japanese setting with supernatural elements provides a fresh aesthetic while maintaining the dark fantasy tone.

Build Optimization Tip: Focus on building around specific armor set bonuses rather than individual pieces—this approach maximizes combat effectiveness and specialization.

For players looking to expand their tactical options beyond Elden Ring’s systems, our Weapons Unlock guide provides additional insights into weapon mastery systems.

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