Head-to-Head Game Comparisons
51 written comparisons, each leading with the verdict — because someone searching "X vs Y" wants exactly one thing.
None of these carry a score. A comparison does not need one: what decides it is what you want from the next twenty hours, so each page says who each game is actually for and what the two have in common.
All Comparisons
Elden Ring vs Dark Souls III — Play Dark Souls III first if you have played neither.Dark Souls vs Demon's Souls — Dark Souls is the better game and the better starting point.Bloodborne vs Dark Souls III — Bloodborne if you want to be fast, Dark Souls III if you want options.Sekiro Shadows Die Twice vs Elden Ring — Elden Ring if you want to build a character, Sekiro if you want to master one.Nioh 2 vs Elden Ring — Elden Ring for exploration, Nioh 2 for combat depth.Lies of P vs Elden Ring — Elden Ring is the bigger game; Lies of P is the tighter one.The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt vs Elden Ring — The Witcher 3 for stories, Elden Ring for exploration.Red Dead Redemption 2 vs Grand Theft Auto V — Red Dead Redemption 2 is the better single-player game by some distance; GTA V is the better game to play with friends.The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild vs Elden Ring — Breath of the Wild is about climbing anything; Elden Ring is about fighting anything.The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom vs The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild — Play Breath of the Wild first.Horizon Zero Dawn vs Horizon Forbidden West — Start with Horizon Zero Dawn — the story is the reason the series works, and Forbidden West assumes you know it.Cyberpunk 2077 vs The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — The Witcher 3 is the more complete game; Cyberpunk 2077 is the better one to be inside.Assassin's Creed Valhalla vs Assassin's Creed Odyssey — Odyssey if you want the better world, Valhalla if you want the better structure.Ghost of Tsushima vs Sekiro Shadows Die Twice — Ghost of Tsushima if you want to feel like a samurai, Sekiro if you want to earn it.Baldur's Gate 3 vs Divinity: Original Sin 2 — Baldur's Gate 3 is the more polished and more accessible game; Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the more chaotic sandbox.Final Fantasy VII vs Final Fantasy VI — Final Fantasy VI is the better-written game; Final Fantasy VII is the more influential one.Chrono Trigger vs Chrono Cross — Chrono Trigger, without hesitation, if you are choosing one.Persona 5 vs Persona 4 Golden — Persona 5 Royal is the better game to start with — it is the most polished, best-looking entry and its combat and calendar systems are the series at full strength.Mass Effect 2 vs Mass Effect 3 — Mass Effect 2 is the better game; Mass Effect 3 is the better shooter.God of War vs God of War Ragnarok — Play God of War (2018) first — Ragnarok is a direct continuation and assumes every beat of it.The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time vs The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past — A Link to the Past has aged better; Ocarina of Time was the bigger leap.Uncharted 4: A Thief's End vs The Last of Us — The Last of Us if you want to be moved, Uncharted 4 if you want to have fun.The Last of Us vs The Last of Us Part II — Play the first one first — Part II is a direct response to it and does not work standalone.Hollow Knight vs Ori and the Blind Forest — Hollow Knight is the bigger, harder game; Ori is the more beautiful, more guided one.Celeste vs Hollow Knight — Celeste is a precision platformer; Hollow Knight is a metroidvania.Hades vs Dead Cells — Hades if you want a story and characters, Dead Cells if you want the combat.Stardew Valley vs Animal Crossing New Horizons — Stardew Valley if you want systems, Animal Crossing if you want a routine.Stardew Valley vs Coral Island — Stardew Valley is the safer recommendation; Coral Island is the more modern one.Disney Dreamlight Valley vs Animal Crossing New Horizons — Animal Crossing for design freedom, Dreamlight Valley for things to do.Helldivers 2 vs Deep Rock Galactic — Helldivers 2 for spectacle, Deep Rock Galactic for cooperation.Destiny 2 vs Warframe — Destiny 2 for gunplay, Warframe for movement and depth.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III vs Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II — Modern Warfare III has the better multiplayer; Modern Warfare II has the better campaign.Doom Eternal vs Doom (2016) — Doom (2016) if you want a shooter, Doom Eternal if you want a puzzle at 200mph.Halo Infinite vs Halo 5 Guardians — Halo Infinite, clearly.Street Fighter 6 vs Tekken 8 — Street Fighter 6 if you are new, Tekken 8 if you want depth of movement.Mortal Kombat 1 vs Mortal Kombat 11 — Mortal Kombat 1 for the fighting, Mortal Kombat 11 for the content.Super Smash Bros Ultimate vs Super Smash Bros Melee — Ultimate for almost everyone; Melee if you want the competitive one.FIFA 23 vs eFootball 2024 — FIFA 23 is the more complete package; eFootball 2024 is free and plays a slower, more deliberate game of football.Forza Horizon 5 vs Forza Horizon 4 — Horizon 5 is the better game to start now — bigger car list, better handling model and it is still supported.Gran Turismo 7 vs Forza Motorsport — Gran Turismo 7 if you want a career and a collection, Forza Motorsport if you want to race.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe vs Mario Kart 64 — Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, easily, unless you specifically want nostalgia.Resident Evil 4 vs Resident Evil 2 — Resident Evil 4 Remake is the better action game; Resident Evil 2 Remake is the better horror game.Silent Hill 2 vs Resident Evil 4 — They are barely the same genre.Dead Space vs Resident Evil 4 — Dead Space is the scarier game; Resident Evil 4 is the more fun one.Minecraft vs Terraria — Minecraft for building, Terraria for progression.Valheim vs Minecraft — Valheim if you want survival with real combat and a boss progression; Minecraft if you want unlimited creative freedom.Super Mario Odyssey vs Super Mario 64 — Super Mario Odyssey is the better game to play now, and Super Mario 64 is the one that mattered.Super Mario Bros Wonder vs Super Mario Odyssey — Odyssey if you want depth, Wonder if you want delight.Sonic the Hedgehog vs Super Mario Bros — Super Mario Bros is the better-designed game; Sonic the Hedgehog is the better-looking and better-sounding one.Civilization VI vs Civilization V — Civilization VI is the more mechanically interesting game; Civilization V is the calmer one.Age of Empires IV vs Age of Empires II Definitive Edition — Age of Empires II is still the better competitive game and has by far the larger player base.