If you’ve conquered the Lands Between and crave more challenging action RPGs like Elden Ring, you’re in the right place. FromSoftware’s masterpiece has set a new standard for open world souls games, combining punishing combat with breathtaking exploration. This comprehensive guide reveals the 15 best games similar to Elden Ring available in 2026, featuring both classic Soulslikes and innovative alternatives that capture that same addictive difficulty and reward cycle.
What Makes a Great Game Like Elden Ring?
Understanding what makes Elden Ring unique helps identify the best alternatives. The game combines FromSoftware’s signature challenging combat mechanics with unprecedented freedom in a vast open world. Key elements include punishing but fair difficulty, strategic stamina management, pattern-based boss encounters, and meaningful character progression through stats and equipment.
The best games similar to Elden Ring share several core characteristics: deliberate combat that punishes button-mashing, environmental storytelling that rewards exploration, interconnected world design, and a strong sense of accomplishment after overcoming challenges. In 2026, developers have refined these elements, creating experiences that honor FromSoftware’s legacy while introducing fresh mechanics. Whether you’re seeking pure Soulslike experiences or games that blend these mechanics with different genres, the market offers exceptional options for every preference.
Top Pure Soulslike Games in 2026
For players seeking the most authentic Elden Ring experience, pure Soulslikes deliver that familiar formula. These games prioritize precise combat timing, stamina management, and methodical enemy engagement that defined the genre. The Soulslike category in 2026 has matured significantly, with developers understanding exactly what fans expect while adding their own creative twists.
Dark Souls III: The Closest Experience
Dark Souls III remains the most direct comparison to Elden Ring, sharing the same developer DNA and combat philosophy. Released by FromSoftware before their open-world experiment, this 2016 masterpiece offers tighter, more focused level design with interconnected areas that loop back on themselves. The combat system directly influenced Elden Ring’s mechanics, featuring identical stamina management, rolling invincibility frames, and weapon scaling systems. In 2026, the game maintains a thriving player base with over 15,000 concurrent players on Steam, and its complete edition includes all DLC content for around $29.99 in the United States.
What makes Dark Souls III exceptional for Elden Ring fans is its faster combat pace compared to earlier Souls games while maintaining tactical depth. Boss encounters like Sister Friede and Slave Knight Gael deliver multi-phase battles that rival Elden Ring’s most memorable fights. The game’s shorter overall length (40-60 hours versus Elden Ring’s 100+ hours) makes it perfect for players wanting a more focused experience. The PvP community remains active in 2026, with dedicated fight clubs at Pontiff Sulyvahn’s arena offering competitive multiplayer action.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Combat Mastery
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice represents FromSoftware’s boldest departure from Souls formula while maintaining the studio’s difficulty philosophy. Instead of stamina management and rolling, Sekiro introduces posture-based combat where deflecting enemy attacks at precise moments breaks their guard. This rhythm-action approach creates incredibly satisfying combat flow once mastered. Unlike Elden Ring’s build variety, Sekiro focuses on a single character progression path, forcing every player to master its demanding parry system.
The game’s feudal Japan setting offers stunning environments from Ashina Castle to the Sunken Valley, all interconnected through vertical traversal using the grappling hook. Boss battles like Genichiro Ashina and Isshin, the Sword Saint are considered among FromSoftware’s finest achievements, requiring perfect understanding of the posture system. In 2026, Sekiro remains priced at $59.99 for the Game of the Year Edition, and its single-player focus means the experience stays consistent regardless of when you play. Players who felt overwhelmed by Elden Ring’s build options often find Sekiro’s focused approach refreshing.
Lies of P: The Gothic Horror Alternative
Lies of P emerged in 2023 as one of the finest non-FromSoftware Soulslikes, and its 2024 DLC expansion cemented its status in 2026. This dark retelling of Pinocchio combines Victorian-era Belle Époque aesthetics with brutal Soulslike combat. The game’s weapon assembly system lets players mix blade and handle combinations, creating hundreds of unique movesets. Combat feels deliberately similar to Bloodborne with aggressive enemy AI and dodge-focused gameplay, making it perfect for players who loved Elden Ring’s faster boss fights.
What distinguishes Lies of P is its humanity system, where choosing between truth and lies affects story outcomes and character development. The game’s 30-40 hour campaign features meticulously crafted boss encounters, with the Parade Master and Laxasia the Complete particularly standing out. In 2026, the complete edition with all DLC costs approximately $49.99 in the United States. The game runs at native 4K 60fps on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with exceptionally smooth performance compared to Elden Ring’s launch issues. Its director has confirmed a sequel in development for 2027 release.
Best Open World Games Like Elden Ring
While many Soulslikes feature interconnected level design, few match Elden Ring’s true open world scope. These alternatives deliver vast explorable landscapes where player freedom and discovery drive the experience. The open world formula combined with challenging combat remains relatively rare in 2026, making these titles particularly valuable for fans seeking that specific combination.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Open World with Pawn System
Dragon’s Dogma 2 launched in March 2024 and has become one of the premier open world action RPGs available in 2026. Capcom’s sequel features a massive map spanning two distinct nations, Vermund and Battahl, each with unique cultures and monster ecosystems. Unlike Elden Ring’s solitary exploration, Dragon’s Dogma 2 introduces the revolutionary Pawn system, where AI companions (created by other players) accompany your journey, learning enemy tactics and sharing knowledge across the player base.
The game’s combat vocations offer incredible variety, from nimble Thieves to mystical Mystic Spearhand class, each with distinct playstyles rivaling Elden Ring’s build diversity. Dynamic world events like griffin attacks mid-journey and the transformative night cycle (where different, deadlier enemies emerge) create genuine tension during exploration. The physics-based combat system lets players climb monsters Shadow of the Colossus-style while companions execute coordinated attacks. In 2026, the game maintains 20,000+ concurrent players on Steam, with the deluxe edition priced at $69.99. Post-launch updates have addressed initial performance concerns, delivering stable 60fps on current-gen consoles.
Black Myth: Wukong and Chinese Mythology
Black Myth: Wukong took the gaming world by storm in August 2024 as China’s first AAA Soulslike, selling over 20 million copies globally by 2026. Based on the classic Journey to the West novel, the game follows Sun Wukong’s successor through stunningly realized Chinese landscapes. The combat system draws heavily from Sekiro’s design philosophy with focus stances that modify your staff’s behavior, from rapid strikes to powerful charged attacks, while incorporating transformation abilities that temporarily change your form.
What makes this game special for Elden Ring fans is its semi-open world structure featuring six massive chapters, each representing a different region of Chinese mythology. Boss encounters showcase incredible visual spectacle and mechanical depth, with multi-phase transformations and attack pattern evolution. The spell system integrates seamlessly with melee combat, allowing combos that mix staff strikes with elemental abilities. In 2026, the game costs $59.99 in the United States for the standard edition, with a deluxe edition at $79.99 including the recently released expansion. The game’s technical achievement on Unreal Engine 5 delivers photorealistic environments that rival Elden Ring’s artistic beauty with cutting-edge graphical fidelity.
Games Like Elden Ring But Not Traditional Soulslikes
Not every challenging action RPG needs to follow the Souls formula precisely. Several excellent games capture Elden Ring’s sense of accomplishment and exploration while implementing different combat systems and progression mechanics. These titles appeal to players who appreciate difficulty and discovery but want fresh gameplay approaches beyond stamina bars and dodge rolls.
Remnant II: Soulslike Meets Third-Person Shooter
Remnant II brilliantly merges Soulslike combat structure with third-person shooter mechanics, creating a unique hybrid that feels familiar yet fresh. Released in July 2023, the game features procedurally generated worlds that change with each playthrough, ensuring no two campaigns feel identical. The gunplay maintains Souls-style deliberate pacing where ammunition management and positioning matter more than twitch reflexes, while melee builds remain fully viable for players preferring close combat.
The game’s class system (called Archetypes) offers incredible depth, with each class featuring unique perks and abilities that synergize with weapon choices. Co-op for up to three players transforms the experience, with difficulty scaling that maintains challenge regardless of party size. Boss encounters require the same pattern recognition and tactical thinking as Elden Ring’s major fights, but environmental hazards and add management create different strategic considerations. In 2026, the ultimate edition costs $49.99 including all three DLC expansions, with an active player base of 8,000+ concurrent users on Steam. The game’s performance optimization delivers consistent 120fps on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Monster Hunter: World and Epic Boss Battles
Monster Hunter: World shares Elden Ring’s focus on epic, methodical boss encounters despite different combat mechanics. Each hunt against massive creatures requires learning attack patterns, exploiting weaknesses, and managing resources during extended battles lasting 15-50 minutes. The preparation phase before hunts mirrors Elden Ring’s strategic approach, where choosing appropriate equipment and consumables significantly impacts success chances. The game’s 14 weapon types offer extraordinary variety, from technical Charge Blade to straightforward Great Sword.
While Monster Hunter emphasizes crafting and material gathering more than Souls games, the satisfaction of mastering difficult monsters delivers similar dopamine rushes. Endgame challenges like Arch-Tempered Elder Dragons and Extreme Behemoth provide Souls-tier difficulty requiring perfect execution. In 2026, Monster Hunter: World remains incredibly active with over 25,000 concurrent players on Steam, supported by the Iceborne expansion which essentially doubles content. The complete edition costs $39.99 in the United States, representing exceptional value with 200+ hours of gameplay. Capcom continues supporting the game with seasonal events, and its successor Monster Hunter Wilds releases in late 2026.
Classic FromSoftware Titles Worth Playing in 2026
For the complete Soulsborne experience, FromSoftware’s earlier catalog remains essential. These games not only inspired Elden Ring but offer distinct experiences that showcase the evolution of the studio’s design philosophy. In 2026, these classics maintain active communities and hold up remarkably well, with technical improvements and stable server support making them more accessible than ever.
Bloodborne: Aggressive Combat Philosophy
Bloodborne remains a PlayStation exclusive masterpiece that influenced Elden Ring’s faster combat encounters. Set in the Gothic city of Yharnam, the game abandons shields entirely, forcing aggressive playstyles where attacking enemies immediately after taking damage recovers lost health through the Rally system. This risk-reward mechanic creates more dynamic combat flow than traditional Souls games. The Trick Weapon system transforms each armament between two forms mid-combo, effectively doubling your moveset options.
The game’s Lovecraftian horror atmosphere and interconnected world design through Yharnam’s winding streets showcase FromSoftware’s environmental storytelling at its finest. Chalice Dungeons provide procedurally generated endgame content with unique boss variants and rare blood gems for weapon optimization. In 2026, despite being a 2015 release, Bloodborne maintains an active community with over 5,000 daily players thanks to PlayStation Plus subscriptions including the complete edition. The game runs at stable 30fps on PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility, though fans continue requesting a 60fps patch or PC port. At $19.99, it’s essential for Elden Ring fans with PlayStation consoles.
Dark Souls Remastered: The Perfect Starting Point
Dark Souls Remastered introduced millions to FromSoftware’s philosophy and remains the best entry point for newcomers in 2026. The game’s deliberate pacing and methodical combat teach fundamental Souls mechanics without the overwhelming scope of Elden Ring. The masterful world design connects Lordran’s regions through shortcuts and elevators, creating an interconnected labyrinth that rewards exploration and spatial awareness. Iconic locations like Anor Londo and Blighttown have influenced countless games including Elden Ring’s legacy dungeons.
The remaster upgraded visuals to 4K resolution and improved framerate to 60fps across all platforms, while maintaining the original’s challenging gameplay. Boss encounters like Ornstein and Smough remain legendary for teaching cooperation and patience. The game’s online features stay active in 2026 with 3,000+ concurrent players on Steam, offering invasions and jolly cooperation. At $39.99 for the remaster, it provides 40-60 hours of gameplay with New Game Plus cycles that increase difficulty and enemy placement. Players who start with Elden Ring often find Dark Souls surprisingly accessible, as Elden Ring incorporated many of the sequel’s quality-of-life improvements.
Best Platform-Specific Games Like Elden Ring
Platform exclusives offer some of the finest Soulslike experiences tailored to specific hardware capabilities. While Elden Ring’s multiplatform release ensures accessibility, these exclusives showcase what developers can achieve when optimizing for single platforms. In 2026, each major platform features at least one exceptional Souls-inspired exclusive worth considering when choosing your gaming ecosystem.
PlayStation Exclusive Alternatives
Beyond Bloodborne, PlayStation 5 owners have access to Demon’s Souls Remake, Bluepoint Games’ stunning 2020 reimagining of FromSoftware’s 2009 original. The remake showcases the console’s power with photorealistic graphics running at 4K 60fps, while faithfully preserving the original’s precise combat and world tendency system. The five unique Archstones lead to distinct kingdoms, each with environmental themes and boss designs that directly influenced Elden Ring’s legacy dungeons. In 2026, the game costs $69.99 and maintains an active player base for multiplayer features.
The world tendency mechanic dynamically adjusts difficulty based on player deaths and boss victories, creating unique challenges not found in other Souls games. Pure White tendency unlocks special NPCs and easier enemy encounters, while Pure Black tendency spawns powerful enemies with rare loot. Character builds emphasize magic viability more than Dark Souls, with devastating spell combinations rivaling physical builds. The game’s photo mode has generated thousands of stunning community screenshots showcasing Boletaria’s haunting beauty. For PlayStation fans who loved Elden Ring, Demon’s Souls Remake offers essential historical context for the genre’s origins with modern technical excellence.
Xbox and PC Exclusive Options
Xbox Game Pass subscribers gain access to several Soulslike titles included with the service, making it an excellent value proposition in 2026. Mortal Shell, a compact Soulslike featuring the unique hardening mechanic (turning to stone to absorb damage), offers a 15-20 hour focused experience. The game’s shell system functions as classes, where discovering fallen warriors’ bodies grants their abilities and stats, creating interesting build diversity within the shorter runtime.
For PC players, the indie Soulslike scene thrives with titles unavailable on consoles. Salt and Sacrifice (the 2D Soulslike sequel) delivers challenging combat with Metroidvania exploration, while Thymesia offers fast-paced plague doctor combat emphasizing parries and plague weapon transformations. These games typically cost $19.99-$29.99 and provide 20-40 hours of gameplay with tight combat mechanics and creative boss designs. PC’s modding community also keeps older Souls games fresh with overhaul mods, difficulty adjustments, and visual enhancements. The flexibility of PC gaming allows players to experience the entire Soulslike catalog at variable framerates and resolutions, with ultrawide monitor support enhancing exploration immersion.
Mobile and Portable Games Like Elden Ring
While true Elden Ring-scale experiences remain challenging on mobile hardware, several games capture Soulslike combat on portable devices in 2026. The Nintendo Switch hosts multiple ports of console Soulslikes, while Android and iOS feature original titles designed for touchscreen controls. These portable options let players experience challenging combat during commutes or travel, though with necessary compromises compared to full console experiences.
Pascal’s Wager stands as the premier mobile Soulslike, offering controller support for precise combat on iOS and Android devices. The game features four playable characters with unique combat styles, gothic Victorian environments, and boss battles requiring pattern recognition. Its $6.99 price point with no microtransactions makes it exceptional value. The graphical quality rivals PlayStation 3-era games, impressive for mobile hardware. Dark Souls Remastered runs on Nintendo Switch with stable performance after patches, delivering the full Lordran experience portably for $39.99. The Switch version maintains active online communities for cooperative play and invasions, though PvP activity is lower than PC or PlayStation versions. For players prioritizing portability, these options provide legitimate Souls experiences on the go.
Upcoming Games Like Elden Ring in 2026-2027
The Soulslike genre continues expanding with several highly anticipated releases scheduled for late 2026 and 2027. These upcoming titles aim to refine the formula while introducing innovative mechanics that could influence the genre’s evolution. Confirmed releases and strong rumors suggest the next two years will deliver exceptional options for fans hungry for new challenges.
Lords of the Fallen 2024 received substantial post-launch support through 2025, with its 2026 definitive edition adding quality-of-life improvements and rebalanced combat based on community feedback. The game’s dual-realm mechanic (switching between living and dead worlds) creates unique puzzle-solving and exploration opportunities. Lies of P’s confirmed sequel aims for Q3 2027 release, promising expanded weapon customization and branching narrative paths based on the humanity system.
Most significantly, FromSoftware’s next project remains unannounced as of early 2026, with industry insiders suggesting either Elden Ring DLC continuation or an entirely new IP. Bloodborne 2 rumors persist despite lack of official confirmation, fueled by PlayStation’s recent investments in FromSoftware collaborations. Meanwhile, Chinese developer Game Science confirmed Black Myth: Wukong’s sequel entered pre-production, targeting 2028 release. For Elden Ring fans, the next two years promise a steady stream of high-quality alternatives while awaiting FromSoftware’s next masterpiece. Subscribing to gaming news outlets and following developers on social media ensures staying current with release date announcements and beta opportunities.
Reddit Community Recommendations for Elden Ring Alternatives
The Reddit communities dedicated to Soulslike games provide valuable peer recommendations based on actual player experiences. Subreddits like r/Eldenring, r/fromsoftware, and r/shouldibuythisgame feature daily discussions about the best alternatives, with community consensus emerging around several key titles. In 2026, these communities collectively represent over 5 million subscribers sharing detailed gameplay impressions and build guides.
Community favorites consistently include Nioh 2, which blends Souls combat with Diablo-style loot systems and Japanese yokai mythology. Reddit users praise its intricate stance system (high, mid, low stances changing attack patterns) and ki pulse mechanic requiring active stamina management. The game’s difficulty rivals Elden Ring’s toughest encounters, with endgame content providing hundreds of hours through New Game Plus cycles and randomized missions. At $49.99 for the complete edition with all DLC, Nioh 2 offers exceptional content density.
Another Reddit-recommended title is Hollow Knight, the 2D Metroidvania that captures Souls atmosphere and difficulty in a different perspective. Despite the genre shift, the game shares Elden Ring’s exploration philosophy, challenging boss patterns, and deliberate combat where positioning and timing trump button mashing. The community appreciates its $14.99 price point delivering 40-60 hours of content, with the long-awaited sequel Silksong expected in late 2026. Reddit discussions emphasize that while not 3D action RPGs, games like Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Salt and Sanctuary provide the same satisfaction loop of overcoming difficult challenges through skill mastery.
How to Choose the Right Elden Ring Alternative for You
Selecting your next game after Elden Ring depends on identifying which specific aspects you enjoyed most. Did you love the open world exploration, the challenging boss encounters, the build variety, or the multiplayer interactions? Different alternatives excel in different areas, making it important to match games to your preferences rather than simply chasing the closest clone.
If open world exploration was your priority, prioritize Dragon’s Dogma 2 or Black Myth: Wukong over linear Soulslikes like Nioh 2. For players who loved Elden Ring’s build variety and experimentation, Dark Souls III and Remnant II offer the most comparable customization depth. Those who found Elden Ring too overwhelming should consider more focused experiences like Sekiro or Lies of P with their 20-40 hour campaigns versus Elden Ring’s 100+ hour commitment.
Budget considerations matter in 2026, with excellent Soulslike experiences available across all price points. Premium new releases like Dragon’s Dogma 2 cost $69.99, mid-tier experiences like Lies of P run $49.99, and older classics like Dark Souls Remastered offer tremendous value at $39.99 or less during sales. PlayStation Plus Extra and Xbox Game Pass subscribers access multiple Soulslikes included with subscriptions, providing risk-free opportunities to sample different titles before purchasing.
Consider platform limitations when choosing alternatives. PlayStation 5 owners should prioritize Bloodborne and Demon’s Souls Remake as console exclusives, while PC players benefit from broader selection, mod support, and superior performance. Mobile gamers must accept compromises but can still enjoy Pascal’s Wager or Switch ports during travel. Researching community activity levels matters for multiplayer-focused players, as older titles may have diminished online populations despite quality single-player content. Reading recent 2026 reviews ensures games have received necessary patches addressing launch issues, providing the optimal experience rather than problematic initial versions.
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Key Questions and Answers
What game is Elden Ring most similar to?
Dark Souls III is the most similar game to Elden Ring, as both are developed by FromSoftware and share nearly identical combat mechanics, stamina systems, and design philosophy. The primary difference is that Dark Souls III features interconnected linear areas rather than a true open world. Players who enjoyed Elden Ring’s boss battles and combat will feel immediately comfortable with Dark Souls III’s faster-paced encounters and weapon variety. In 2026, the complete edition costs around $29.99 in the United States and includes all DLC content.
Is Dark Souls 4 coming out?
As of early 2026, FromSoftware has not announced Dark Souls 4, and series director Hidetaka Miyazaki has stated the Dark Souls trilogy is complete. The studio has moved toward new IPs like Elden Ring and previously Sekiro, suggesting Dark Souls 4 is unlikely. However, FromSoftware continues developing new projects, with their next title expected to be announced in 2026. Fans seeking more Souls content can explore Elden Ring’s continued DLC support, which delivers the same challenging gameplay in an expanded universe. The studio’s focus appears to be innovation rather than sequel iteration.
What is the number 1 best open world game?
While subjective, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Elden Ring consistently rank as the top open world games in 2026 based on critical and player reception. Elden Ring specifically dominates the open world action RPG category with its challenging combat and exploration freedom. For players specifically seeking games similar to Elden Ring, Dragon’s Dogma 2 represents the closest comparable open world experience with challenging combat, launched in 2024. These games prioritize player freedom and discovery over quest markers and hand-holding, creating genuine exploration satisfaction.
Is Elden Ring 2 confirmed?
As of early 2026, Elden Ring 2 has not been officially confirmed by FromSoftware or publisher Bandai Namco. However, given the original game’s massive commercial success (over 25 million copies sold), industry analysts consider a sequel highly probable. FromSoftware typically spaces major releases 2-3 years apart, suggesting any Elden Ring sequel would likely arrive in 2027 or later. The studio continues supporting the original game with DLC expansions, with the most recent Shadow of the Erdtree expansion released in 2024. Fans should follow official FromSoftware announcements rather than unverified rumors regarding sequel confirmation.
What are the best Soulslike games for beginners in 2026?
Dark Souls Remastered and Lies of P are the best Soulslike games for beginners in 2026. Dark Souls Remastered’s deliberate pacing teaches fundamental mechanics without overwhelming complexity, while its community has created extensive beginner guides after years of collective experience. Lies of P offers modern quality-of-life features and generous checkpoints while maintaining challenging combat, making it more forgiving than FromSoftware’s titles. Both games feature approximately 40-hour campaigns that thoroughly teach Soulslike fundamentals. Beginners should avoid Sekiro initially, as its unique parry-focused system differs significantly from standard Souls mechanics and can create bad habits when transitioning to other games.
Can I play games like Elden Ring on Nintendo Switch?
Yes, several excellent Soulslike games run on Nintendo Switch in 2026. Dark Souls Remastered received a quality Switch port that maintains stable performance with necessary graphical compromises. The Switch also features exclusive ports like Hollow Knight (2D Soulslike Metroidvania) and indie titles like Salt and Sanctuary. However, newer demanding titles like Elden Ring itself, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Black Myth: Wukong do not run on Switch due to hardware limitations. For portable Souls experiences, the Switch provides legitimate options, though serious Soulslike fans may prefer Steam Deck for playing full PC versions of recent releases at 800p resolution.
| Game Title | Best For | Platform | 2026 Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Souls III | Pure Souls experience closest to Elden Ring | PC, PS4, Xbox, PS5, Series X | $29.99 |
| Dragon’s Dogma 2 | Open world exploration with companion system | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | $69.99 |
| Sekiro | Mastering precise combat rhythm | PC, PS4, Xbox, PS5, Series X | $59.99 |
| Lies of P | Gothic horror atmosphere with modern QoL | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | $49.99 |
| Bloodborne | Aggressive playstyle emphasis | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 | $19.99 |
| Remnant II | Soulslike with third-person shooter combat | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | $49.99 |