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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If you have finished Elden Ring, the best next game depends on which part of it you want to keep: open-ended exploration, punishing duels, build experimentation, gothic atmosphere or spectacular bosses. No single Soulslike reproduces every one of those qualities. Dark Souls III is the safest choice for the classic interconnected formula, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the strongest test of parry timing, and Lies of P is the most approachable story-led alternative outside FromSoftware’s catalog.
The recommendations below are organized by the experience they deliver rather than by an artificial overall ranking. Each entry explains where its combat, world structure, mood, build systems and difficulty differ from Elden Ring, including games that are adjacent to Soulslike conventions rather than strict copies.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $49.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Visions of Mana - Amazon Exclusive Edition (PS5) | $27.70 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Lost Soul Aside - PS5 | $33.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Mortal Shell II - PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Star Ocean: The Second Story R (PS5) | $25.10 | Buy on Amazon |
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Quick guide: choose by the experience you want next
| Game | Best fit | Combat emphasis | World structure | Atmosphere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring | Open-world exploration and broad build variety | Roll-and-space combat with extensive weapon and ability options | Large open world | Dark fantasy |
| Dark Souls III | The traditional Souls structure | Spacing, rolling, shields and deliberate weapon timing | Interconnected zones | Dark fantasy |
| Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice | Parry-focused duels | Aggressive deflection and posture breaks | Focused areas linked by exploration routes | Japanese historical fantasy |
| Lies of P | A story-driven third-party Soulslike | Readable weapon combinations and timed defensive play | Focused campaign | Belle Époque-inspired city |
| Nioh 2 | Fast combat and deep build crafting | Ki management, weapon skill trees and yokai powers | Mission-based levels | Japanese historical fantasy with yokai |
| Bloodborne | Gothic aggression | Offensive pressure and health recovery after taking damage | Dense interconnected zones | Gothic horror |
| Lords of the Fallen (2023) | Environmental puzzles and dual-world traversal | Conventional Soulslike spacing with realm-switching tools | Two overlapping realms | Dark fantasy |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Cinematic boss spectacles | Fast action built around memorable encounters | Structured areas rather than a traditional Souls map | Chinese myth |
| Demon’s Souls (2020 remake) | Seeing the template’s earliest form on PS5 | Deliberate combat with highly distinctive enemy and level rules | Separate stage-based areas from a central hub | Dark fantasy |
For the closest continuation of Elden Ring’s design language, start with Dark Souls III. For the largest mechanical change, choose Sekiro or Nioh 2. If you want a similar rhythm from a different studio, choose Lies of P. Bloodborne remains the mood-first pick, but it is available only on PlayStation hardware.
Elden Ring: the open-world benchmark to return to
Elden Ring is the reference point for this list because it combines freeform exploration, flexible character building and a very large dark-fantasy setting. Bandai Namco’s official action-games catalog lists its release date as 25 February 2022. If you have completed the main path but have not explored every region, a second character can feel substantially different by changing your starting attributes, weapon class and approach to optional encounters.
#1 Best Overall
- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
Its importance is not that every Soulslike should copy its map. The useful question is which part of that formula you want another game to preserve. Elden Ring lets you leave a difficult fight, discover a side area, return with a new tool and solve the problem through a different build. Most of the recommendations below trade away at least one of those freedoms in exchange for tighter encounters, more specialized combat or a stronger narrative route.
Dark Souls III: the cleanest classic Souls recommendation
Why choose it
Choose Dark Souls III when you want the concentrated version of the formula: tense dungeon exploration, dangerous enemies, shortcuts that reconnect previously visited spaces and discoveries that feel earned rather than marked on a map. Its structure is more compact and deliberate than Elden Ring’s open world, so the next objective is usually shaped by the environment instead of a distant icon.
FromSoftware describes the Dark Souls series as action RPGs built around “a high sense of accomplishment,” traditional RPG elements, tense dungeon exploration, fearsome enemies and the joy of discovery. Dark Souls III is the clearest expression of that description for a player coming from Elden Ring.
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- You lose the ability to ride across a huge world or bypass most problems by wandering elsewhere.
- Build variety remains meaningful, but the game presents fewer opportunities to over-level through optional exploration.
- Boss runs, environmental hazards and shortcut management matter more because the world is compact and interconnected.
Who should skip it
If your favorite Elden Ring moments came from finding an unexpected region, solving a large environmental puzzle or switching freely between many activities, Dark Souls III may feel restrictive. It is a focused campaign, not an open-world sequel.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: the best parry-focused challenge
Why choose it
Sekiro is the right follow-up when you want to replace roll-and-shield habits with precise deflections. Its central skill is learning an enemy’s timing, staying close and breaking posture through repeated successful parries. Winning usually comes from controlling the duel rather than waiting for a safe opening and taking one hit.
How its combat differs
- Deflection over evasion: the safest response to many attacks is a correctly timed guard, not a retreat.
- Posture over conventional damage: sustained pressure can create a finishing opportunity before a large health bar is depleted.
- Limited conventional builds: the game does not offer Elden Ring’s broad weapon-and-stat experimentation, so execution matters more than respec planning.
This makes Sekiro both more demanding and more coherent. Once its timing becomes familiar, encounters that initially seem impossible become readable sequences. If you dislike parry-heavy games or want to solve bosses through equipment changes, choose Dark Souls III or Lies of P instead.
Rank #2
- Immerse yourself in the vibrant graphics of this beautiful world, where the powers of nature blend with the elemental aspects of mana to create a rich tapestry of life.
- Journey through enchanting locations with near-seamless transitions in a semi-open field that’s yours to discover.
- Brace yourself for fast-paced, multi-dimensional actions in battle to enrich your fighting experience.
- Use the magic of the Elementals to explore this vast world to your heart's content!
- The Visions of Mana Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a bonus sticker set (inside the case).
Lies of P: the strongest story-led third-party Soulslike
Why choose it
Lies of P is a focused, narrative-driven alternative set in a puppet-filled city inspired by the Belle Époque. GamesRadar+ reports a 18 September 2023 release and availability on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Its readable weapon system and guided campaign make it a strong bridge for players who want the tension of a Soulslike without another sprawling open world.
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What makes its setting distinctive
The Belle Époque influence gives the game a different visual vocabulary from medieval dark fantasy: ornate architecture, mechanical puppets and an urban setting replace Elden Ring’s ruined castles, open fields and mythic wilderness. The result is still bleak and dangerous, but the mood is more theatrical and tightly authored.
What to expect mechanically
- Weapons are easier to understand at a glance than Nioh 2’s layered equipment systems.
- The campaign is more directed than Elden Ring, so story progression and level order are easier to follow.
- Defensive timing is important, but the combat does not demand Sekiro’s exclusive reliance on perfect deflections.
Pick Lies of P if you want a complete, story-forward campaign from another studio. It is adjacent to the Soulslike tradition rather than a one-to-one clone: the setting, weapon presentation and progression rhythm are its own.
Nioh 2: the choice for build crafters and fast combat
Why choose it
Nioh 2 is for players who found Elden Ring’s equipment and stat combinations exciting but wanted even more combat density. GamesRadar+ lists its release date as 12 March 2020 and availability on PC, PS4 and PS5. Its defining systems include ki management, weapon skill trees, yokai powers and highly intense fights.
Why it feels different
Nioh 2 uses mission-based levels rather than one continuous open world. That structure lets each mission function as a concentrated combat course: you enter with a plan, learn enemy placements and systems, then refine your equipment and techniques between attempts. The pace is faster and the number of interacting mechanics is greater than in a typical Soulslike.
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- Ki: managing your stamina-like resource affects both attacking and recovering from enemy pressure.
- Weapon skill trees: each weapon type supports a more specialized move set than a standard weapon class in Elden Ring.
- Yokai powers: supernatural abilities add another layer to human-versus-human and monster encounters.
Choose Nioh 2 when experimentation is the point. Avoid it if you want a simple equipment screen, a single continuous map or a slower, more readable combat tempo.
Rank #3
- Fight to save your world. Save your sister. Save your soul.
- Fight for everything. Legends are born from trials.
- Epic weaponry, collect a diverse array of melee weapons and define your playstyle with stylish, effective combat.
- Stunning worlds to explore. Prepare to adventure far and wide across dangerous dimensions, majestic lands and strange new worlds.
Bloodborne: the gothic aggression specialist
Why choose it
Bloodborne is the mood-first recommendation: dense gothic architecture, nightmarish imagery and a combat system that rewards attacking after taking damage. Its health-recovery loop encourages you to answer danger with pressure instead of immediately backing away.
Its key trade-off
The game is available only on PlayStation hardware, so platform ownership is the first practical question. It also offers less conventional build breadth than Elden Ring and commits more strongly to its gothic identity. That narrowness is a strength if you want a unified atmosphere rather than a menu of biomes and play styles.
Choose Bloodborne for aggressive close-range combat and a world where every district reinforces the same oppressive tone. If you want ranged options, open landscapes or a more forgiving ability to change direction, Elden Ring remains broader.
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Why choose it
Lords of the Fallen’s defining idea is its two-realm structure. The overlapping worlds are not merely a visual effect: moving between them is part of traversal, environmental problem-solving and discovering routes that are inaccessible from only one side.
Who benefits most
Choose it if your favorite Elden Ring moments involved reading the environment, searching for hidden paths and understanding how a location fits together. The dual-world design gives exploration a puzzle-solving dimension that the other recommendations do not emphasize in the same way.
It is a better fit for players who enjoy spatial thinking than for players seeking Sekiro’s duel precision or Nioh 2’s equipment complexity. Its identity is built around moving through two versions of a dark-fantasy world, making it an adjacent Soulslike rather than a strict structural copy.
Rank #4
- THEIR FLESH IS YOUR WEAPON: The corpses of exceptional warriors are scattered throughout Mortal Shell 2’s destroyed world. Once discovered, each warrior can be possessed, awakening their innate strengths and mastered abilities. Evolve your own style of combat by harnessing the unique abilities of each warrior and unlock their secrets through the discovery of lost memories.
- CLEANSE A RAVAGED WORLD: Mortal Shell 2’s compact open world connects over winding footpaths guarded by desperate and fanatical adversaries. Players who wander are rewarded with new warriors to possess, additional story elements, powerful and strange weaponry, upgrades, curiosities and more. Step through derelict temples of ancient deities, across forbidden forests and icy graves, into citadels carved out of bone. Scattered between these lost landmarks are more than 60 dungeons, each providing a challenging test of the talents and weaponry you have collected on your journey.
- DETHRONE FALSE GODS: You control the Harbinger, a being that must reclaim the Undermether’s stolen eggs that are now ruthlessly guarded by grotesque, dangerous creatures. Mortal Shell 2’s combat system is agile and expressive. Stamina gauges are removed, and execution options have been enhanced, delivering a kinetic and chaotic dark power fantasy. Precision meets intensity in high-stakes combat.
Black Myth: Wukong: cinematic boss spectacle
Why choose it
Black Myth: Wukong is the recommendation for players who remember Elden Ring’s major bosses more vividly than its map. It draws on Chinese myth and places a strong emphasis on dramatic encounters and presentation. The appeal is the spectacle of meeting distinctive opponents and learning their attack patterns, not reproducing every convention of a traditional Souls level.
How it differs from a strict Soulslike
Its structured areas and cinematic focus make it adjacent to the genre. You should not choose it expecting the same interconnected world logic, freedom to wander in every direction or exact checkpoint rhythm as Dark Souls III. Choose it when atmosphere, mythic imagery and memorable boss battles matter more than a purist interpretation of Souls progression.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Demon’s Souls (2020 remake): the polished origin point on PS5
Why choose it
The 2020 remake of Demon’s Souls is the best entry point for PlayStation 5 owners who want to see the template’s earliest form in a polished presentation. Its stage-based areas branch from a central hub, so each region has a distinct rule set, enemy ecology and route to learn.
What it teaches you
Compared with Elden Ring, Demon’s Souls is less about carrying one character through a huge landscape and more about mastering separate challenges. That makes it valuable historically and mechanically: you can see how the series’ ideas about risk, shortcuts, resource management and enemy placement developed before later games expanded them.
Choose it when you want a compact, highly distinctive set of areas and own a PS5. Choose Dark Souls III instead if you specifically want one continuous, interconnected journey.
How to choose by combat style
If you prefer roll-and-space combat
Start with Dark Souls III for the most direct continuation of Elden Ring’s fundamentals. Lords of the Fallen is another fit if you want environmental traversal layered onto that foundation.
Best Value
- Internet connection and download required to access additional languages and bug fixes
- From dangerous dungeons to bustling towns, the world of STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R is depicted in a stunning 2.5D style that combines beautiful 3D graphics with nostalgic 2D pixel characters
- Start your journey with either Claude or Rena; Depending on your choice, the perspectives and the allies you can recruit will change
- Customize party progression with a large selection of skills, including Cooking, Art, Metalcraft, and many more; Build up to Specialty levels and master the enhanced Item Creation system to craft ultimate equipment with different effects
- Japanese and English voiceover
If you want to master parries
Pick Sekiro for a system built around deflection and posture. Pick Lies of P if you want timed defense within a more conventional weapon-and-story framework.
If you want speed and mechanical variety
Nioh 2 offers the deepest combination of ki management, weapon skills and yokai abilities in this group. It asks you to learn more systems at once and rewards players who enjoy optimizing a build between missions.
If you want aggression after taking damage
Bloodborne’s health-recovery loop makes attacking the answer to a mistake. Its gothic world and offensive tempo are unusually cohesive, but the PlayStation-only restriction limits who can play it.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow to choose by world and atmosphere
- Largest sense of freedom: Elden Ring.
- Most deliberate interconnected route: Dark Souls III.
- Most distinctive exploration puzzle: Lords of the Fallen’s two realms.
- Most focused authored campaign: Lies of P.
- Most mission-driven structure: Nioh 2.
- Strongest gothic identity: Bloodborne.
- Strongest Japanese historical-fantasy identity: Sekiro or Nioh 2.
- Strongest Chinese-myth presentation: Black Myth: Wukong.
- Best look at the formula’s early design: Demon’s Souls (2020 remake).
A practical order for different players
For a first Soulslike after Elden Ring
- Start with Lies of P if you want a guided campaign and a readable transition.
- Move to Dark Souls III if you want the classic structure in a more concentrated form.
- Try Sekiro once you are ready for a combat system centered on deflection rather than build changes.
For an experienced player seeking a new mechanical ceiling
- Choose Nioh 2 for the largest jump in build and combat complexity.
- Choose Sekiro for the strictest demand for timing and aggression.
- Choose Bloodborne for a more specialized offensive loop and gothic setting.
For a player who values atmosphere above systems
- Choose Bloodborne for gothic horror.
- Choose Lies of P for Belle Époque machinery and puppet imagery.
- Choose Black Myth: Wukong for Chinese myth and cinematic boss presentation.
Platform and availability notes
Platform fit can decide the recommendation before combat preferences do. Lies of P is reported for PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Nioh 2 is reported for PC, PS4 and PS5. Bloodborne is PlayStation-only, while Demon’s Souls (2020 remake) is aimed at PS5 owners. Verify the current regional edition, platform listing and price before buying, because availability and physical stock can change.
Bottom line: which game should you play first?
Play Dark Souls III for the most reliable continuation of Elden Ring’s classic Souls fundamentals. Play Sekiro if you want to rebuild your combat instincts around parries. Play Lies of P for the best focused, story-led third-party alternative. Choose Nioh 2 for build complexity, Bloodborne for gothic aggression, Lords of the Fallen for dual-world exploration, Black Myth: Wukong for boss spectacle and Demon’s Souls for a polished look at where the formula began.
Quick Recap
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