Top Games for Elden Ring Fans: Experience the Thrill of Open-World Adventure

FromSoftware took a bold step when they decided to create Elden Ring as an open-world game. There were doubts about whether they could replicate the success of their Dark Souls franchise in a different setting. However, all the skepticism was put to rest once Elden Ring was released. It surpassed expectations for many and developed its own loyal fan base, cementing its place as one of FromSoftware's greatest titles.

As a lengthy adventure, players can easily lose themselves for hours exploring the vast and beautiful world of The Lands Between. Nevertheless, after completing the game, players may be on the lookout for something similar to sink their teeth into. Here are some of the best games with Elden Ring vibes; whether they offer an open-world experience or simply provide immense challenges and entertainment value.

The Dark Souls series is an obvious choice for those who enjoyed Elden Ring. Developed by FromSoftware, the series has a cult following and is renowned for its difficulty. The series comprises Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls 3, each with its own unique story and challenges. The average playtime for each game is around 33-45 hours, providing plenty of gameplay for players to enjoy.

Those who have yet to experience the Dark Souls series but have played Elden Ring should prioritize playing it. The gameplay and combat in Dark Souls are perhaps the closest experiences to Elden Ring, although it is not as open-world as FromSoftware's latest offering. Nevertheless, the worlds in the Dark Souls saga are just as dark, foreboding, and imaginatively vast as some of The Lands Between. Players who enjoy the gritty aesthetic of Elden Ring's dungeons, castles, and catacombs will feel right at home.

The formula found in Elden Ring was pioneered by the Dark Souls series, so players will already be familiar with the idea of resting at particular areas to level up their character, as well as the weapons and armor systems found throughout each game.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have an approximate game length of 50 and 52 hours, respectively. Breath of the Wild was released on March 3, 2017, while Tears of the Kingdom is set to be released on May 12, 2023. Both games were developed by Nintendo EPD.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined the open-world genre by showcasing Hyrule and its inhabitants in an entirely expanded way. Players can freely explore The Lands Between and experience Link's trials at their own pace. While the combat may not be as punishing as Elden Ring, it still presents a challenge. Tears of the Kingdom, the BOTW sequel, takes place in the same iteration of Hyrule, but with a few settlements and a desolate open-world. It is generally a harder game than BOTW, but its fusion system encourages players to experiment with their tools. Shadow of the Colossus offers a linear gameplay experience where players take down colossal creatures in a specific order, but the gritty areas and towering enemies provide a challenge and a satisfying payoff for those who enjoy boss gauntlets.

Team Ninja has a strong track record when it comes to developing challenging games in the Souls-like genre, and Nioh and Nioh 2 are no exception. While both games share similarities, they also have distinct differences that make them stand out on their own. Of all the Souls-like titles from Team Ninja, Nioh and Nioh 2 are arguably the most memorable and difficult, with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty being a recommended choice for fans of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Nioh offers players a supernatural adventure through Feudal Japan, with a fair amount of customization options for weapons and Guardian Spirits. The combat, influenced by Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden background, is fast-paced and exciting. Its sequel builds on the original game's strengths while also introducing a player-created character. While Nioh may not have Elden Ring's open-world or exploration, it does offer thrilling boss fights and deep mechanics with a steep learning curve that rank among the best in the Souls-like genre.

Those in search of another thrilling adventure filled with danger should look no further than the Middle-earth series. Both Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War put players in the shoes of Talion, a Ranger of Gondor, on a quest for revenge. While the original release serves as a great setup for Talion's journey, Shadow of War introduced a plethora of fantastic open-world mechanics, including the Nemesis System. This gameplay addition allows players to develop rivalries with their enemies, adding a new layer of depth to the experience.

The Middle-earth games can be dark and gritty at times, and the level of challenge will depend on the path that players choose to take.

Hollow Knight by Team Cherry is a testament to the fact that Indie games can be just as captivating, demanding, and enjoyable as AAA titles. This 2D adventure takes players through a dark and enemy-filled world, presenting them with a challenging yet rewarding experience. Hollow Knight offers smooth platforming mechanics and upgrades in a Metroidvania style, which requires players to explore every corner of the Hallownest to find new skills and items to progress. The game has a beautiful, eerie, and war-torn world, which is reminiscent of what players can expect in Elden Ring. Although the combat is not as flashy due to the 2D format, it is still very satisfying and quite challenging as players advance.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, released shortly following the original Dark Souls, received a predominantly positive reception. The addition of Dark Arisen, a new endgame area that greatly ramped up the difficulty, enhanced the title's hardcore appeal. The vanilla campaign is not particularly challenging outside the opening few hours, but Dragon's Dogma has a proper open-world that encourages exploration to an extent. The game's map is on the small side, although it seems bigger than it really is due to limited fast-travel options. The fantastic class system allows players to follow a wide range of builds, and the gameplay changes considerably depending on someone's chosen path. The RPG also nails magic, which is very satisfying to master. Rather than summon players or NPCs, Capcom's game utilizes pawns, which are user-created A.I. fighters who act as party members.

Nier: Automata is a game that reinvigorated the franchise and attracted new fans to its lore and character design. Developed by PlatinumGames, the game offers players an interesting world to explore with new enigmatic characters. The fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay is engaging and entertaining, while the game's replayability factor is high, as players can try to unlock every possible ending. With a game length of approximately 37 hours, Nier: Automata is a must-play for fans of the franchise and those who enjoy action-packed gameplay.

Assassin's Creed Series (Origins, Odyssey, & Valhalla) boasts three exciting installments, each with its own unique storyline and gameplay mechanics. With Origins offering around 30 hours of gameplay, Odyssey clocking in at approximately 45 hours, and Valhalla boasting a whopping 60 hours of content, there's plenty to keep players engaged. The games were released in 2017, 2018, and 2020 respectively.

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series has evolved from stealth-driven open-world games to more action-oriented combat, with Assassin's Creed Origins marking the turning point. Odyssey added RPG elements and a polarizing loot system. Valhalla offers a curated experience with fine-tuned loot drops, but the campaign's excessive length may be off-putting. While not quite as challenging or satisfying as FromSoftware's Elden Ring, all three games have decent melee combat and beautiful open-worlds stuffed with content. If someone is specifically yearning to dive into a history-based map that can keep them engaged for a very long time, Ubisoft's franchise is worth a try.

Ghost of Tsushima allows players to experience a thrilling adventure where they must face tough enemies and formidable bosses to change the fate of their world. Jin Sakai, the protagonist, embarks on a mission to rid his beloved island of a looming threat, bringing peace back to his homeland. The game offers players the freedom to shape Jin's character, balancing between honor and dishonor as he grapples with his own morals to safeguard his people. The combat and story elements of the game are of the highest quality, and the world of Ghost of Tsushima is expansive and captivating.

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Compared to Elden Ring, Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning offers a less challenging hack and slash combat system that may have aged over the last decade, but it still manages to be fast-paced, flashy, and entertaining. The game also boasts a range of build types for players to customize their load-outs. Unlike Elden Ring's dark aesthetic, Amalur's world is full of vibrant colors that create a refreshing atmosphere. Despite not being a huge hit when it was first released in 2012, the game has gained a substantial cult following that has secured its legacy, leading to a remaster called Re-Reckoning, which even received its own expansion.

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One of the standout features of Elden Ring is its challenging boss difficulty, which many players find entertaining. To reach these boss arenas, players must fight through hordes of enemies and then carefully learn the boss' attacks and skills to effectively combat them. However, for those who prefer to focus solely on boss fights and avoid the filler content in between, Monster Hunter: World is a great choice. This impressive and expansive adventure is a constant battle against massive monsters, offering players a chance to use a variety of weapons and armor to take down their foes. While some weapons have a steep learning curve, players will find that this game is one of the best in terms of a "boss gauntlet" style, with some battles taking a considerable amount of time to complete.