15 Games Like Elden Ring To Try Out After Conquered The Lands Between

1. The Dark Souls Series

For those who have played Elden Ring but have not yet tried the Dark Souls series, it is highly recommended to add it to their gaming list. While not as open-world as Elden Ring, Dark Souls offers a similar gameplay and combat experience. The worlds presented in Dark Souls are also dark, ominous, and incredibly imaginative, much like The Lands Between. Players who appreciate the gritty atmosphere of Elden Ring's dungeons, castles, and catacombs will feel right at home in the Dark Souls universe.

The Dark Souls series is the originator of the gameplay mechanics found in Elden Ring, such as leveling up the character by resting at specific areas and utilizing the weapons and armor systems found throughout each game. Therefore, players who have already experienced Elden Ring will find themselves familiar with these features in Dark Souls.

2. Bloodborne

Some of the enemies and NPCs in Elden Ring have a grotesque appearance, and certain areas of The Lands Between are filled with disturbing otherworldly creatures or plagued with disease. Although Elden Ring is unique, FromSoftware has previously explored similar unsettling themes. Players who appreciate the horror elements of Elden Ring may want to try Bloodborne, another game developed by FromSoftware that is similar to the Souls series.

Bloodborne is even darker than Elden Ring, and its world design is punishing, similar to Dark Souls. Players will encounter a variety of terrifying bosses and navigate through corrupted areas filled with gothic architecture.

3. Shadow of the Colossus

Elden Ring features many imposing bosses, some of which are towering giants. For those who enjoy the challenge and aesthetic of fighting these oversized creatures, Shadow of the Colossus is a great game to play after Elden Ring. While the game is more linear, with players taking down colossal creatures in a specific order, the areas and creatures are gritty and reminiscent of the foes found in The Lands Between.

Shadow of the Colossus is more of a boss gauntlet than an explorative adventure. However, players who enjoy mastering combat techniques and defeating towering enemies should find this game to be a gem.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild didn't initiate the open-world genre, it played a significant role in defining it. The game's vast open world allowed players to experience Hyrule and its inhabitants in a new way, giving them the freedom to explore and complete Link's journey as they see fit. Fans of the open-world style of Elden Ring will appreciate the opportunity to explore the expansive world of Hyrule and its surroundings.

Despite not being as challenging as Elden Ring, the combat in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild still offers a decent level of difficulty.

5. The Middle-earth Series

For those in search of another vast adventure filled with peril, the Middle-earth series is worth exploring. In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War, players assume the role of Talion, a Ranger of Gondor, as he seeks revenge. While the initial game lays the groundwork for Talion's journey, Shadow of War offers various open-world features, such as the Nemesis System, where players can develop rivalries with enemies.

The Middle-earth games possess a somber atmosphere, with a gritty and challenging environment that varies depending on the player's chosen path.

6. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is evidence that indie games can be equally immersive, demanding, and amusing as big-budget titles. Team Cherry's masterpiece is ideal for gamers seeking a fantastic 2D journey through a shadowy world full of adversaries. As a side-scrolling game, Hollow Knight employs seamless platforming mechanics and a Metroidvania-like upgrade system, necessitating players to explore their surroundings in search of new abilities and items to proceed further into the Hallownest.

Like Elden Ring, Hollow Knight's world is captivating, eerie, and turbulent. While the 2D format prevents the combat from being as flashy as in Elden Ring, it is still incredibly gratifying and quite challenging as gamers progress.

7. Dragon's Dogma

Dragon's Dogma was released around the same time as the original Dark Souls and received mostly positive feedback. A year later, the game was re-released as Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, which added a new endgame area and significantly increased the difficulty. The vanilla campaign is not very challenging after the first few hours, so the addition of the new area increased the game's hardcore appeal. Dragon's Dogma, like Elden Ring, features an open-world that encourages exploration to some extent. However, the game's map is relatively small, although the limited fast-travel options make it seem larger.

The game's class system is fantastic, allowing players to follow various builds, and the gameplay varies depending on the player's chosen path. Magic is particularly well-done in Dragon's Dogma and mastering it is very satisfying. The game's pawn system, which features user-created AI fighters that act as party members, is also a unique and enjoyable feature.

8. Code Vein

Code Vein, developed by Bandai Namco Studios, is an excellent example of a game that has drawn inspiration from the Dark Souls series, but is often overlooked. The game features a unique anime-like art style and takes place in a world that is similar to Elden Ring's setting. Despite having a more "cyberpunk" presentation, it still offers the challenging gameplay that fans of Elden Ring are accustomed to.

Code Vein offers a wide range of weapons, bosses, and abilities for players to master. Additionally, the game places more emphasis on the multiplayer component by allowing players to bring AI-controlled companions or actual co-op partners along for the journey.

9. Nier: Automata

Many players may have overlooked the original Nier when it was released in 2010 as it received average reviews, but it did develop a loyal following due to its gameplay, story, and character design. In 2017, a new entry in the Nier series, Nier: Automata, was released and it helped elevate the franchise's popularity to new heights.

Nier: Automata introduced players to new and mysterious characters and presented them with a bleak world to explore. The game's fast-paced hack-and-slash combat is engaging and enjoyable for those who like this genre, while the game's intricate lore offers a lot of replay value as players try to unlock all possible endings.

10. Ashen

Ashen, the debut project from A44, is an indie game that emulates the Souls-like genre. While the combat system is very similar to Dark Souls, and thus Elden Ring, the game is still enjoyable. The cel-shaded graphics are the game's most striking feature and perfectly suited for the genre.

Although not as expansive as Elden Ring, Ashen is set in an open-world that provides players with a decent amount of freedom when it comes to exploration. Among the easier games in the Souls-like category, Ashen's world is more open than most.

11. Ghost of Tsushima

Elden Ring successfully immerses players in a world where they must overcome challenging enemies and bosses in order to influence the world around them. Similarly, Ghost of Tsushima places players in the shoes of Jin Sakai, who strives to eliminate a threat and restore peace to his homeland.

Players can shape Jin's character as he grapples with his morals in his quest to protect his people. The combat, story, and world-building in Ghost of Tsushima are of exceptional quality.

12. Monster Hunter: World

Elden Ring is popular among some players due to its challenging boss fights, requiring players to overcome tough enemies and learn their attack patterns in order to progress. For those who are mainly interested in boss battles, Monster Hunter: World is a good alternative to check out. This game offers a vast selection of formidable monsters to fight against, and players can use a range of weapons and armor to take them down.

However, players will need to invest time in learning the intricacies of the game, as some weapons have a high skill requirement, and battles can take a while to complete. Monster Hunter: World is also constantly expanding through DLC content, offering even more challenges for players to overcome.

>>> Read more: 10 Best Standalone JRPGs Which Are Not Part Of Any Series