Finishing Elden Ring is likely to bring on a mixture of emotions. The sprawling RPG by FromSoftware has dominated the video game scene since its February release this year, and gamers have spent countless hours exploring the Lands Between. Finally seeing the credits roll is likely to trigger an overwhelming sense of relief, joy, and accomplishment. For many, it will also lead to the question…..what now?
It can leave quite a big hole to fill. Actually, more like a gaping void for some. Newcomers and fans of the genre may well be quickly looking for their next fix. Here at LOGNET, we’ve put together a list of similar games for you to try. A couple of things to note about this list before we get started though:
- We haven’t included Fromsoftware‘s back catalog, as these are all pretty self-explanatory. Demons Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, are absolutely the must-plays in this genre. If Elden Ring is your first FromSoftware game, you should definitely be hitting these games up before anything else.
- No 2D games have been included here. There are 2D Soulslikes out there, some good ones too, but you won’t find any on this list.
- Not every game on this list is universally liked. Just because they are Soulslikes, doesn’t automatically mean they are good.
- There are many more Soulslikes out there- the ones we have selected here are just a drop in the huge Soulslike ocean.
With that out of the way then, let’s take a look at five other Soulslikes to try out after you’re done with Elden Ring.
Dolmen
The newest entry on this list, Dolmen released on May 20th, 2022, to mixed reviews.
Many developers look at what Fromsoftware has achieved and mistakenly think that simply copying its mechanics will guarantee success.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Making a good Soulslike takes a lot more than taking a light/heavy attack button, a stamina bar, and throwing in some rock-solid boss encounters.
While Dolmen is by no means awful, especially for a maiden title from the developer, it is substantially hindered by bland level and enemy design. A sort of ‘Dark Souls in space’, Dolmen also suffers from a huge lack of atmosphere throughout its often barren alien world.
However, it’s not all bad. For those looking for raw, unforgiving difficulty, you may well find what you’re looking for in Dolmen.
Dolmen is available now for Playstation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X, and PC.
You can catch our full review here.
Nioh/ Nioh 2
Nioh was released back in 2017. its sequel Nioh 2 followed three years later. The two of them are widely regarded as the best Soulslike games that weren’t developed by FromSoftware.
Team Ninja’s hardcore action RPGs show absolutely no mercy to players who aren’t fully prepared.
Nioh’s combat is both stunningly complex and beautifully simple. The ability to choose from a small array of weapons and switch between 3 stances ensures there is plenty to chew over here. The stamina meter is replaced by a ‘Ki’ meter which works much the same way. The biggest difference is that you can win some of your Ki back immediately by hitting a button at the right time. This is a subtle but important change that further rewards accurate timing.
While the difficulty spikes are a little inconsistent, some of Nioh’s bosses are truly devastating and require a huge level of resilience, something Soulslike fans should have in abundance.
This is no clone though. Nioh creates an identity all of its own, and while it does build on the same core principles of the Souls series, it is easily the most innovative title on this list. If you haven’t played these games by now, what are you waiting for?
Both Nioh and Nioh 2 are available on Playstation 4 or 5 and can be purchased either separately or in a bundle.
Mortal Shell
This one appeared with very little warning in 2020. From little-known developer Cold Symmetry, Mortal Shell is probably closer to Dark Souls than any of the others on this list.
With a very similar aesthetic and cryptic lore, everything right down to the color of the life and stamina bars seems to be identical to Hidetaka Miyazaki’s sprawling RPG trilogy.
Where the game tries to carve its own identity is in its ‘Shells’, which are basically different skins the player can wear. There are four to be discovered, each of which offers the player a different set of stats. For example, one may have a very high stamina bar but low life, whereas conversely, another will have high life and low stamina. This allows the player the flexibility to decide what they want to focus on, and ultimately how they want to play the game.
While it’s much shorter than a traditional game in this genre, Mortal Shell‘s striking similarity to Dark Souls means that you should definitely check it out if you haven’t already.
Mortal Shell is available on Playstation 4 and 5, as well as Xbox One and Series X, and PC.
Check out the full review here.
Code Vein
Ever wondered what a Soulslike/ anime crossover would be like? Enter Code Vein, which was released in 2019.
Code Vein takes the Souls-style gameplay elements and combines them with a rich, layered story. It is probably a good entry point for newcomers to the genre.
Interestingly, the standard difficulty sees you fighting in a party of two characters rather than one. This obviously has a massive impact on the game’s level of challenge, with your AI companion making things significantly more straightforward. This feature can be switched off though, for those that wish to go it alone.
While it can be challenging, it is nowhere near as tough as the series it clearly models itself on. Code Vein is an anime game first and foremost, with the protagonist befriending a group of stereotypical characters, all of which bring something different to the party. Engaging in conversations with them, most of which are completely optional deepens your bonds of friendship and unlocks rewards.
This is much more story-driven than Souls fans are likely used to. The gameplay, however, is almost identical in many ways. The same stamina management and precision are very much present here. Not to mention the bosses and checkpoint respawning.
If you’re looking for a more story-focused, less challenging Soulslike game, this will definitely fit the bill.
Code Vein is available on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Lords of the Fallen
The oldest game on this list, Lords of the Fallen was one of the first games to try and replicate the Dark Souls formula when it was released way back in 2014.
With its huge, interconnecting environments, and battles against fearsome monsters, it’s easy to see the clear inspiration behind this title from developers Deck 13 Interactive.
With refillable health potions, checkpoints, and a good old-fashioned stamina bar, Lords of The Fallen attempted to make its mark on the genre with a much more narrative-driven experience.
Unfortunately, though, the story is a weak one, with forgettable characters and an almost throwaway plot. As for the combat, there’s a slow, almost clumsy feel to it. The protagonist, Harkyn, is not as responsive as he should be. Even in the lightest armor, he just doesn’t feel fast enough. This can be extremely infuriating, especially against some of the bosses who seem to move with lightning speed.
These issues cause the game to be more difficult than it probably is. It’s definitely not the toughest game on the list, but it’s no walk in the park either.
Due to the game’s age, you can find it for an extremely low price these days. This alone makes it worth a look, especially if you’ve missed it up to this point.
Lords of The Fallen is available for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
With so many Soulslikes on the market, and more on the horizon, it’s a great time to be a Dark Souls fan right now! Let us know what your favorite Soulslike is in the comments.
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