Elden Ring is turning out to be a behemoth in terms of popularity. Its justified hype and acclaim have shined a light on the action RPG genre as a whole, including older FromSoftware titles.
If you love Elden Ring, but you find yourself running out of things to do on it, each of the games on this list could be your next venture.
1. Dark Souls Trilogy
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch (DS1)
The Dark Souls trilogy refers to Dark Souls (2011), Dark Souls II (2014), and Dark Souls III (2016). The series that put FromSoftware on the map, the original Dark Souls is considered one of the best single-player RPGs of all time.
If you love Elden Ring then you will undoubtedly feel right at home with the Souls series, which has nearly identical combat with the same backstabbing, dodge-rolling, and leaping-attack mechanics. While at times the combat may feel a little clunkier than Elden Ring, it's still streamlined enough to give you an enjoyable and challenging experience.
2. The Surge/ The Surge 2
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
While the subject, setting, and time period couldn't be further from Elden Ring, you'll find that The Surge plays quite similarly and offers you a similar level of immersion and challenge. Set in a post-technological-disaster world where robots roam the streets, you will have to slowly but surely upgrade your equipment and armor as you go around dismembering bosses and mobs.
If you like the action RPG genre but are also a big fan of sci-fi, then The Surge and its sequel, The Surge 2, have everything you could want. If you enjoy The Surge you can rest assured that The Surge 2 is even better, with a cleaner UI, smoother combat, and just a general broad improvements across the board.
3. Sifu
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
While an action beat-'em-up rather than an action RPG, there are a few similarities between Sifu and Elden Ring. Both games are consistently challenging and punish you for simply rushing in, requiring you to take the time to learn enemy attack patterns.
Customization and exploration are much more in-depth in Elden Ring; Sifu instead takes a more bare-bones (but no less punishing) approach.
So if you're the sort of gamer that doesn't mind difficulty but dislikes getting bogged down in a multitude of customization routes and you want a more linear experience, then chances are you will really like Sifu.
4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Series S/ X, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia
Garnering much praise from both critics and fans alike, Jedi: Fallen Order is one of the most significant Star Wars game releases of the late 2010s.
A very Souls-lite experience, you travel around the galaxy uncovering old Jedi mysteries, assisting previously established rebel characters, and fighting against the Inquisitors as they hunt you down on behalf of the Empire.
Jedi: Fallen Order's combat is similar to Elden Ring through its dodging and rolling mechanics. And if you're playing on a harder difficulty mode, you'll find the same combat principle that you're used to from Souls and Elden Ring—having to stay out of reach and study an enemy's attack pattern before wading in. Also, there are "Meditation Points" dotted around the planets you visit, resetting the mobs every time you use them, just like with Sites of Grace.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U
Hidetaka Miyazaki has always been open about his love for the Zelda series, including Breath of the Wild. So, it's no surprise that Elden Ring and the previous FromSoftware titles have taken inspiration from these games.
Breath of the Wild is an extremely immersive world that is nonlinear, allowing you complete control over which parts of the story you engage in and when. Despite the size of the map, it is very densely populated. This means that no matter where you go, you'll have something to do, find, and, in many cases, fight.
You probably won't find Breath of the Wild's difficulty to be too challenging following a playthrough of Elden Ring, but you'll be just as immersed.
6. Nioh/Nioh 2
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
The Nioh games delve into Japanese history, while offering a much more clear-cut level design and with a more linear experience than Elden Ring, you'll find the combat mechanics quite similar to FromSoftware's Soulslike games.
The Nioh games' focus on the stamina mechanic during combat obviously draws comparison to Dark Souls and other FromSoftware games, and it's generally considered online to be a natural jump for Dark Souls players to begin playing this.
Chances are if you've been having fun with Elden Ring but want a more linear experience steeped in history, Nioh and Nioh 2 are the games for you.
7. Bloodborne
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Bloodborne proved to be immensely popular, having been ranked as one of the greatest games ever made according to a Wikipedia article that takes game rankings from over 34 different publications. Made by FromSoftware, it's not difficult to see why this game is worth a play if you loved Elden Ring, with similarities in the combat mechanics between the two titles.
The main difference between Bloodborne and Elden Ring, apart from the narrative, is Bloodborne's more linear game design. Elden Ring drops you into a world and lets you explore pretty much any of it in any order you want. With Bloodborne, the game typically leads you through different areas according to your point in the story.
While Bloodborne's map is sizable, exploration of it comes from playing through the story which may suit you more if you're a gamer who prefers linear experiences.
8. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia
Sekiro was very popular when it came out and sees FromSoftware trying to break out of the box the Soulslike series put it into. With a larger focus on boss battles and stealth, Sekiro gives you hours of fun as a shinobi exploring the world and slaying anyone who stands in your way of rescuing your kidnapped lord from a samurai clan.
While there are much fewer role-playing elements in Sekiro than Elden Ring, you are likely to enjoy it if you've enjoyed other FromSoftware titles.
Finished Elden Ring? Try These Games
There are many games to move on to if you've completed Elden Ring and loved it. While a fair number of the games are also made by FromSoftware, there are some by different developers that feel similar enough to Soulslike games while still giving you something new.
Elden Ring is a great example of how developers are creating experiences with an authentic video game difficulty rather than relying on tired easy-medium-hard 'modes'. Hopefully, the wider games industry can learn from this.