Best 12 Games Like Elden Ring (2026) — Open-World Soulslike Picks

**Quick Answer:** The best games like Elden Ring in 2026 are Lies of P, Black Myth: Wukong, Lords of the Fallen (2023), Dark Souls III, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Nioh 2, Demon's Souls (2020), Dragon's Dogma 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Mortal Shell, and Hollow Knight. They share Elden Ring's punishing combat, atmospheric world design, and rewarding exploration across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch.

If you've sunk 200 hours into the Lands Between, defeated Malenia, and finished the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC — you know the void Elden Ring leaves behind. Open-world freedom, brutal combat, cryptic lore, and that incomparable feeling of finally cracking a boss after 40 attempts. Nothing else feels quite like it.

But these 12 games come closest. We've ranked them by how well they capture Elden Ring's specific blend of open-world scale, soulslike combat, and atmospheric storytelling — not just "hard games" or "RPGs."

Quick Comparison Table

| Game | Platforms | Why it's like Elden Ring | Best for | |------|-----------|--------------------------|----------| | Lies of P | PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch | Tightest soulslike combat post-Sekiro | Combat purists | | Black Myth: Wukong | PS5, Xbox, PC | Cinematic boss spectacle | Boss-rush fans | | Lords of the Fallen | PS5, Xbox, PC | Dual-world open exploration | Exploration fans | | Dark Souls III | PS4, Xbox, PC | The closest "pre-Elden" Souls | Dark Souls veterans | | Bloodborne | PS4, PS5 | Aggressive Yharnam combat | Lovecraft horror fans | | Sekiro | PS4, Xbox, PC | Rhythmic parry-based duels | Skill-ceiling chasers | | Nioh 2 | PS5, PC | Loot + stance combat depth | Build crafters | | Demon's Souls | PS5 | Where it all started, remade | First-time soulslikers | | Dragon's Dogma 2 | PS5, Xbox, PC | Open-world + pawn combat | Open-world RPG fans | | The Witcher 3 | Everything | Massive open-world RPG | Story-first players | | Mortal Shell | Everything | Compact indie soulslike | Short attention spans | | Hollow Knight | Everything | 2D Metroidvania souls | Indie + Switch fans |

1. Lies of P (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch 2)

Lies of P took the soulslike formula and matched FromSoftware blow-for-blow. Belle Époque Krat is a gorgeous, oppressive city full of mechanical horrors, and the parry-heavy combat sits between Sekiro's rhythm and Dark Souls' weight. The 2024 Overture DLC pushed it firmly into "essential" territory. **Buy on Amazon, eBay, or Kinguin.**

2. Black Myth: Wukong (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

The 2024 breakout hit. Black Myth: Wukong is more linear than Elden Ring but its boss design is jaw-dropping — every encounter feels like a movie set-piece. The Journey to the West mythology gives it a flavor no other soulslike has. If you loved Elden Ring's bosses, this is a must-play.

3. Lords of the Fallen (2023) (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Often unfairly overlooked. Lords of the Fallen 2023 has a clever dual-world mechanic (Axiom + Umbral) that doubles its open-world map and adds genuine exploration depth. After multiple patches it's now one of the most polished Elden Ring alternatives.

4. Dark Souls III (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Before Elden Ring, this was FromSoftware's tightest game. Dark Souls III is more linear than Elden Ring but every level is a masterclass in design, the bosses are iconic (Slave Knight Gael, anyone?), and the combat has aged beautifully. Constantly under $20 on sale.

5. Bloodborne (PS4, PS5 via backwards compat)

Still PS-exclusive in 2026, still a masterpiece. Yharnam's gothic horror, the aggressive trick-weapon combat, and the cosmic-horror lore make Bloodborne the most atmospheric FromSoftware game ever made. If you have a PlayStation, this is unmissable.

6. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Not technically an RPG, but mechanically it's the most Elden-Ring-adjacent in feel. Sekiro's parry-based duels feel like the boss fights of Elden Ring distilled to their purest essence. Brutal at first, transcendent once it clicks.

7. Nioh 2 (PS5, PC)

Team Ninja's Nioh 2 trades open-world for mission-based structure but adds incredible weapon-stance variety, yokai-form transformations, and Diablo-tier loot. If you obsessed over Elden Ring builds, Nioh 2 will eat 200+ hours of your life.

8. Demon's Souls Remake (PS5 exclusive)

Bluepoint's PS5 remake of the 2009 original is the most beautiful soulslike ever made. It's shorter and more linear than Elden Ring, but the boss design and atmosphere are pure FromSoftware DNA. The PS5's DualSense haptics make every parry feel incredible.

9. Dragon's Dogma 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Capcom's 2024 sequel is the closest thing to "Elden Ring with a party system." The open world isn't as dense as the Lands Between, but the pawn AI companion mechanic and the climbing-monster combat feel uniquely satisfying. A genuine open-world RPG epic.

10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition (Everything)

The original open-world RPG benchmark. The Witcher 3 isn't a soulslike, but its scale, world density, and side-quest writing match what made Elden Ring's overworld special. The 2022 next-gen update made it look incredible on PS5/Xbox Series X. Always under $15 on sale.

11. Mortal Shell (PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch)

A compact indie soulslike that punches well above its budget. Mortal Shell can be finished in 15-20 hours, has unique "shell" character classes, and frequently appears in bundles for under $10. Perfect palate-cleanser between bigger games.

12. Hollow Knight (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch)

The best 2D soulslike ever made and Switch-friendly. Hollow Knight's Hallownest captures Elden Ring's sense of "you're going to die a lot, and that's the point." Silksong is finally out in 2026 — if you haven't played the original yet, now's the perfect time.

What about Elden Ring Nightreign?

FromSoftware's standalone co-op Nightreign spinoff (2025) is the most direct "more Elden Ring" you can get. It's a different format — short rogue-lite runs with a 3-player squad — but uses the same combat, animations, and bestiary. If you haven't tried it yet, it's the obvious next stop before exploring the alternatives above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What game feels most like Elden Ring? **Lies of P** for the moment-to-moment combat feel, **Lords of the Fallen (2023)** for open-world exploration, and **Dragon's Dogma 2** for the open-RPG scale. None match Elden Ring exactly — that's part of what makes it special.

Is Black Myth: Wukong harder than Elden Ring? Wukong's bosses are roughly as hard as Elden Ring's hardest fights, but the average difficulty is lower because it's more linear. Most Elden Ring veterans find Wukong's bosses a fair challenge with a few standout brutal ones.

Are there any games like Elden Ring on Switch? Yes — **Lies of P** runs on Switch 2, **Hollow Knight** is the best 2D soulslike on the original Switch, and **Mortal Shell** has a Switch port. The original Switch can't run modern soulslikes well, but Switch 2 has solved most of that.

Will there be an Elden Ring 2? FromSoftware has not announced Elden Ring 2 as of 2026. Nightreign (2025) is the official follow-up content. Most players assume a true sequel is years away — making this list essential reading for the wait.

What's the cheapest way to get Elden Ring alternatives? **Mortal Shell** and **Hollow Knight** are frequently under $10 on sale. **Dark Souls III** drops to $15. **The Witcher 3 Complete Edition** is regularly under $15. Use our buy links above to compare live prices on Amazon, eBay, and Kinguin.

Continue exploring

- [Games Like Dark Souls](/games-like/dark-souls/) - [Games Like Bloodborne](/games-like/bloodborne/) - [Best Soulslike Games of All Time](/blog/best-soulslike-games/) - [Games Like Sekiro](/games-like/sekiro-shadows-die-twice/)