Games like Elden Ring are honestly so rare. It’s such a unique game, you won’t find anything like it. Which is good in a sense, because we have a ton of variety, but bad if you’re craving more of the same.
Either way, the games on this list are not quite the same, but each one has an aspect (or several) that reminds me of Elden Ring or scratches a particular itch. Give them a try, and see if any of these work for you!
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
When in doubt, you can always rely on The Witcher to have fun. I played it on numerous occasions and still had tons of fun. Definitely not as hard as some of the games on the list which is a perfect intro for the rest or just for having fun relaxing times. And the replayability of The Wild Hunt is endless so good luck with it.
Looking forward to Witcher 4? Here’s all you need to know about it.
2. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
You can’t go wrong with the Sekiro — it might get more challenging in the first couple of hours of playthrough but as long as you get your basics right, you shouldn’t struggle as much.
I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy because it won’t but you’ll have an easier time dealing with some of the bosses and other obstacles that come your way. Take your time with the game and try not to take it too personally.
I even lost count of how many times I was doing something perfectly and then panic-pressed a button and ruined all of the progress or simply miscalculated the situation. Just take a breather and do it again or take a break and come back to it when you feel ready for it. As long as you don’t give up, eventually you’ll succeed.
3. Dark Souls 3
Dark Soul 3 is a perfect game to play before getting into the Elden Ring or if you already did and still have that itch that needs to be scratched. Some claim it’s easier and some say it’s more difficult than Elden Ring but you can judge that for yourself. Nonetheless, the game offers a ton of interesting and hard boss fights, and if you take your sweet time with the game you’ll be playing it way more than 30 hours.
4. Lies of P
In Lies of P, you get to play as puppet Pinocchio, who explores the fictional city of Krat and battles various enemies with some of them being puppets, factions, and citizens disfigured by the strange disease.
Lies of P has great visuals and sound design, the performance of the game is top-notch, and the implementation of soul-like elements is spot-on. You’ll definitely have a great time playing this one and probably it’s going to take more time than average to beat the game, especially if you play it for the first time.
5. Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen is one of the games that was released last year and had kind of mixed reviews but I still strongly believe that game is worth trying out. Lords of The Fallen’s campaign can be completed in a co-op mode, so that might be a huge bonus for some people. The game also features a PVP (player-versus-player) multiplayer mode.
6. Thymesia
Thymesia is also a great choice if you want to dip your toes into soul-like games. It’s not too difficult or too easy nor does it take too long to finish. Don’t expect too much of the story, it’s mostly a combat-focused game. This is the reason why it could be a fine candidate to get you into this world.
7. Demon’s Souls (Remake)
You’re probably thinking “Oh it’s just a remake of an old game, it definitely can’t be good” and automatically you would be wrong. They did an absolute banger job with this remake. Not only did they add a lot of smart quality-of-life changes but they’ve also added new weapons, armor, rings, and a couple more items. This would be one of the prime examples of how remakes should be done. And again depending on your experience with these types of games, you might find it extremely easy or you end up spending over 100+ hours on it.
8. Kingdcom Come: Deliverance II
This beautifully brutal sequel plunges you deeper into a historically grounded, medieval Bohemia, doubling the size and scale of the original. You can enjoy trotting across sprawling villages, besieged cities, and dense woodlands, all underpinned by moral choices that ripple through the world.
Sure, no magical spells here, but modded realism is its own beast: hunting, fort sieges, and survival challenges hit as hard as any boss. If you loved the grit, weight, and world‑building in Elden Ring, KCD II isn’t a quite a replacement but it has that same thrill of carving your own path in an unforgiving realm.
Want more open world games? Try one of these.
9. Bloodborne
This one’s practically Elden Ring’s gothic cousin: nightmarish, fast‑paced, and dripping in cosmic dread. Bloodborne’s intricate interconnected world evokes the same reward‑through‑risk philosophy that makes Elden Ring so addictively brutal. If you loved Tarnished exploration, you’ll adore roaming Yharnam’s twisted streets and subterranean horrors.
Instead of massive caelid swamps, it’s oppressive alleyways, eldritch churches, and city-scale labyrinths, but the sense of discovery and mounting dread is identical. If you flagged Elden’s atmosphere, challenge, and lore‑driven mystery, Bloodborne is pure adrenaline‑fueled horror‑porn.
10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This is a newer game and it’s not exactly the same, but it hits the same emotional resonance. Set in a Belle‑Époque fantasy world where each year you age closer to erasure, Expedition 33 combines turn‑based strategy with tight real‑time dodges and parries. The devs even cite Souls influences, weaving cinematic combat into stylish, timed attacks.
Story and theme (you’re racing time itself) plug into that existential weight Elden fans crave. And it’s gorgeous — moody chiaroscuro visuals and haunting orchestral score give it an artistic edge. Plus, post‑game content legit extends well past the main quest, letting you chase narrative threads and ruthless bosses. If you’re after challenge and story that hits existentially hard, this is your dark‑fantasy fix.
11. Returnal
Sylens wakes you in a hellish cycle, armed with guns and grit rather than swords — but the loop, alien horror, and escalation mirror Elden Ring’s layered world design. Every death resets the clock, but you carry upgrades, knowledge, and that sense of looming dread. Its dense, procedural world teems with cryptic messages, powerful artifacts, and freakish bosses, every run feels fresh and dangerous.
If you thrived on Elden’s “learn‑by‑dying” mantra, Returnal’s roguelite twist will scratch the same itch, but at a frantic bullet‑hell pace. And its haunting, atmospheric world design hits emotional beats through visuals and audio — all while demanding split‑second reactions and adaptive tactics.
12. Nioh 2
This samurai‑souls born from Shinobi heritage delivers ferocious, frame‑perfect combat in the same vein as Elden Ring. Precise dodges, stance‑shifting, and brutal yokai bosses mean every encounter is a dance with death.
Nioh 2 adds loot‑driven builds, skill trees, and yokai abilities, giving you deep customization layered atop punishing tension. Fans of Elden’s layered boss design and stealth‑attack timing will feel right at home carving through Sengoku War era Japan. Its pace is quicker, action more aggressive but it’s perfect for players wanting heavy Souls‑style combat but with samurai style, weapon diversity, and loot‑obsession.
13. Dragon’s Dogma
This cult classic dishes up open‑world fantasy with a twist: you don’t roll with NPCs — you recruit custom AI “pawns” whose knowledge and gear persist across players. Its combat is actiony and vertical: climb griffins, block dragon breaths, scale giant cyclops — very Elden vibes.
Character builds are flexible: hybrid magic/weapon combos, sing memory, archery spells, pick your battler’s role. And the world is wide‑open, mysterious, and filled with unpredictable fights and quests. While lacking deep Souls‑style difficulty, it shares Elden’s spirit: mayhem, exploration rewards, and that thrill of tackling giants with your own warband.
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