15 similar and dissimilar games to play after Elden Ring

Elden Ring is very large and dense. It transplants FromSoftware’s tried-and-true design pillars of problem and experimentation into the sprawling Lands Between. And after 100+ hours with FromSoftware’s magnum opus, you’re both prepared for one thing new or are chasing the subsequent Elden Ring to tide you over till the inevitable sequel.

So the place do you go subsequent after ending among the finest video games ever made? We might help you with that.

We’ve damaged 15 video games into eight distinctive classes. Every group will provide one suggestion that’s much like Elden Ring and one other that’s nothing like Elden Ring. However every pair can even have a theme that unites them, to higher information your selection of style or vibe.

You’re by no means going to get that excellent 1-to-1 Elden Ring feeling with out leaping into Bloodborne, Darkish Souls, or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. However with our record, you possibly can attempt to preserve that top with a in another way themed however related sport, or gently experience again right down to Earth with one thing utterly completely different.

Group 1 – Cute wanderers

Picture: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo

Related: Tunic

Tunic captures a few of Elden Ring’s freedom, complexity, and opaqueness. It’s a sport about a little bit fox tasked with roaming round a world and fixing puzzles. At instances, it’s frustratingly tough and it tells you nearly nothing about the way it works or what you’ll want to do. However it’s additionally cute and colourful and vibrant. Tunic will provide you with completely different vibes whereas additionally making for a pure transition in the event you’re nonetheless seeking to punish your reflexes and scratch the outdated noggin.

Dissimilar: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Tonally, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is about as removed from Elden Ring as you will get. Certain, it takes place within the ruins of a as soon as nice land, however that’s the one factor the 2 video games have in widespread. Kirby is easy, straightforward, and linear. You possibly can deviate from the trail, however solely in brief bursts, and it’s normally only for a breezy puzzle that may finally funnel you again to the place you’ll want to go subsequent. In the event you want one thing that’s “no ideas, simply cute” or a co-op journey with a kiddo or a pal, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a superb post-Elden Ring pickup.

Group 2 – Romance, in the event you’re sexy

Picture: Sport Grumps

Related: Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen

Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen is like Elden Ring in that it’s tough, archaic, and takes place in a grim medieval setting. However in contrast to Elden Ring, you possibly can date round in Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen. In the event you’ve all the time wished you may smooch the NPCs in FromSoftware video games after which additionally crawl round on a large monster for hours, begin your post-Elden Ring life off proper with Dragon’s Dogma.

Dissimilar: Dream Daddy

Dream Daddy could be very a lot not Elden Ring. The truth is, it might be the least Elden Ring-like sport on this record. In Dream Daddy, you play as a single dad who goes round relationship different single dads. You get to talk, go on dates, and attempt to sustain along with your teenage daughter in a brand new city. It’s pleasant, cute, and romantic, and there aren’t any Elden Lords or horrible plagues to be discovered.

Group 3 – Exploration, with monsters and with out

Picture: Thekla, Inc.

Related: The Elder Scroll’s V: Skyrim

Whereas Skyrim’s mechanics might not have a lot in widespread with Elden Ring, the exploration is part-and-parcel. A part of the enjoyable of Elden Ring goes off in a random route and coming throughout a brand new catacomb, city, or large boss. In 2012, Skyrim virtually boiled that thrill right down to a science, supplying you with mountains of random dungeons and encounters to come across as you discover Bethesda’s large, icy world.

Dissimilar: The Witness

In the event you’re desperate to discover however need one thing utterly completely different than Elden Ring, The Witness is a superb place to start out. This can be a puzzle sport that makes use of refined and unexplained guidelines that can assist you draw a line over a wide range of maze-like tablets. It’s mysterious and gigantic, however utterly freed from fight. It’s all about majesty and discovery in a colourful world, and can make it easier to preserve your thoughts off Godrick’s disturbing dragon arm.

Group 4 – Loss of life and 2D worlds

Picture: Workforce Cherry

Related: Hole Knight

Hole Knight is a wonderful metroidvania with some severe FromSoftware leanings. It’s punishing, its techniques are obfuscated, and failure comes with a worth. It’s additionally acquired a few of the mild horror components seen in Elden Ring, though filtered by means of a a lot cuter artwork model. Whereas it’s actually a lot easier than From’s newest, and never practically as lengthy, it’s an incredible little journey that gained’t really feel like whiplash after the punishing Lands Between.

Dissimilar: Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer could also be about loss of life, but it surely has little or no in widespread with Elden Ring. In Spiritfarer, you ferry the souls of the lifeless by means of the afterlife and to their ultimate resting place. However as a substitute of being grim and creepy, it’s healthful. You create bonds with every soul, and assist them embrace eternity comfortably, once they’re prepared. It’s positively unhappy, in the way in which loss all the time is, however there’s a hopeful twinge there. In the event you want one thing with a extra loving undertone that also offers with the finality of loss of life, Spiritfarer is a superb soar after Elden Ring.

Group 5 – (Kinda) Chill vibes

Picture: FuturLab/Sq. Enix

Related: Loss of life’s Door

Loss of life’s Door is a few cute little crow who serves because the grim reaper, and its fight is commonly harking back to FromSoftware’s. It’s each punishing and remarkably chill, with the world performing as its personal, low-stakes puzzle to resolve. Certain, you’ll must get into the zone if you attain a boss, however in any other case you should utilize your little hen legs to discover far and large on this enjoyable journey. It’s an incredible combine between the jaw-clenching fight of Elden Ring and a chill romp all over the world.

Dissimilar: PowerWash Simulator

PowerWash Simulator is likely one of the most “no ideas” video games on the market, and it has nothing in widespread with Elden Ring. The complete purpose of PowerWash Simulator is to make use of an influence washer to wash off grime and filth from varied autos and places. The extra you clear, the additional cash you’ll get, and the higher tools and cleaning soap you possibly can afford. There are stains that may take you longer to defeat than any boss in Elden Ring, but it surely’s nonetheless simply an especially chill sport all about making the world cleaner.

Group 6 – Video games with pals

Picture: Gunfire Video games/Excellent World Leisure

Related: Remnant: From the Ashes

Remnant: From the Ashes is a FromSoftware sport become a third-person shooter. There’s melee fight, sure, but it surely’s largely about dodging enemies whereas taking pictures cool weapons. And, most significantly, it’s co-op. Remnant: From the Ashes is a ton of enjoyable to play alongside a buddy, and nonetheless fairly punishing. In the event you’re in search of that Elden Ring feeling of accomplishment however you additionally need to go questing with a pal, Remnant: From the Ashes is a superb place to start out.

Dissimilar: Golf along with your Pals

Golf along with your Pals is precisely what it seems like: You play on-line digital mini-golf along with your friends. You can even run particular programs with skulls and pirate ships and attempt to get a gap in a single whereas speaking smack over Discord. In the event you want one thing to get your thoughts off of Radhan or Godfrey, Golf along with your Pals is the right distraction.

Group 7 – Limp Bizkit, clearly

Picture: Koei Tecmo/Sq. Enix

Related: Stranger of Paradise: Last Fantasy Origins

OK, no, Limp Bizkit’s music isn’t really in Stranger of Paradise, however that’s the joke that’s going round, and actually, I can’t inform the distinction. (And in the event you can, preserve it to your self). If ever a sport screamed Limp Bizkit vibes, it’s Stranger of Paradise: Last Fantasy Origins. Even higher, it really shares fairly a little bit of DNA with Elden Ring, so hear me out. Jack — the rejected Abercrombie mannequin that serves because the butt-rock-listening protagonist — collects forex from enemies to degree himself up. This empowers him to emerge victorious from tightly balanced fight encounters that require quite a lot of focus to outlive. It might not have that gothic ambiance, but it surely’s acquired the basic FromSoftware frustration/accomplishment seesaw. So in the event you performed Elden Ring and, like the remainder of us, thought “that is lacking one thing, and that one thing is Limp Bizkit,” Stranger of Paradise: Last Fantasy Origins is as shut as you’re gonna get to fulfilling that dream.

Dissimilar: Rock Band 4

Fantastic, you bought me. I initially put Rock Band 4 right here to make the Limp Bizkit joke work (though Limp Bizkit is really on this sport, so long as you’re keen to pay for the DLC). However the extra I give it some thought, the extra I’m certain that Rock Band belongs on this record. It’s a cathartic chaser after Elden Ring, so let’s run with it. Rock Band permits you to simply throw your self into the music (Bizkit or in any other case), channeling very completely different feelings, and serving to you neglect about all of the horrible plague canine and dragons that gave you a lot hassle in The Lands Between. You don’t even have to make use of an actual controller, which is very helpful in the event you broke yours whereas taking part in Elden Ring. And if you consider Limp Bizkit Pack 01 (sadly there isn’t a Limp Bizkit Pack 02), it’s the right strategy to re-center your thoughts.

(Word: I’ve by no means deliberately listened to a Limp Bizkit music.)

[Editor’s note: Let’s not lie to our readers, Ryan.]

Group 8 – Breath of the Wild and Breath of the Wild

Picture: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo

Related AND Dissimilar: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the commonest comparability level for Elden Ring, and for apparent causes. It’s large, constructed for exploration, and has tons of secrets and techniques to uncover. However The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can also be peaceable, colourful, and cute. It’s low stakes exploration, and it’s one-shot fight towards Guardians.

For all of Elden Ring’s flexibility, it’s nonetheless a punishing FromSoftware sport all about bashing your head towards one wrestle or one other. Breath of the Wild has a few of that as nicely, however with the flexibility to play with a physics puzzle for some time, or climb a mountain and simply look over the vista. For each large boss there’s a serene second ready simply on the opposite facet of a hill, and that makes Breath of the Wild the right chaser after taking part in Elden Ring.