So, you’ve played all of the best dark souls games and are now hunting for similar games like Dark Souls to sink your teeth into next. Well, it’s your lucky day as there’s plenty of souls like games to choose from and I have put a list together for you right here!
But be warned, there’s not much that can live up to the Dark Souls series so don’t go expecting the same level of detail or mechanics with all of these titles!
Scroll down to find new similar games to Dark Souls to play next! 👇
10 Similar Games Like Dark Souls:
Now that you know what I have considered when selecting my shortlist of the best games like Dark Souls, let’s take a look at what games you can explore next. Take a look through my shortlist below and keep scrolling to find out more about each game.
Here are the best games like Dark Souls:
- 1. Demon’s Souls: Remake
- 2. Salt & Sanctuary
- 3. Bloodborne
- 4. Nioh
- 5. The Surge
- 6. Elden Ring
- 7. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- 8. Ghost of Tsushima
- 9. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- 10. Mortal Shell
Demon’s Souls Remake
Release Date: 12th November 2020
Developer: Bluepoint Games
Platforms: PS5
It wouldn’t be fair to kick off this list of souls like games without mentioning Demon’s Souls – the game that led to the making of Dark Souls in the first place. Yes, Dark Souls was inspired by Demon’s Souls, and you will find a lot of similarities between the two.
Learn More: Read Demon Souls Remake Review
For instance, both games were developed by FromSoftware and the remake by Bluepoint Games who are also renowned for souls like experiences. Both games boast of dark fantasy universes, fearsome enemies, and enemy encounters. Both have similar combat mechanics. Both have similar progressions and skill trees and yet both are two very different games in their own rights.
If you love Dark Souls and want to go back in time to where the inspiration began, play through Demon’s Souls and enjoy the upgraded version with Demon Soul’s remake.
Salt & Sanctuary
Release Date: 15th March 2016
Developer: SKA Studios
Platforms: Switch, PC, PS4, Vita, Xbox One
While Demon’s Souls arguably influenced Dark Souls, Salt and Sanctuary was one of the first games to be influenced by the Dark Souls formula. So much so, avid souls fans even claim that Salt & Sanctuary is the best souls like game since Dark Souls itself.
There are many similarities between Dark Souls and Salt and Sanctuary. From in-game currency and bonfires to how the game progresses, there is something about the tone and feel of the game that makes you sometimes wonder whether you are playing a souls game. SKA Studios have done a really nice job here.
Anyone who has played Dark Souls will immediately feel the familiarity creep in as they play Salt and Sanctuary. However, with only limited copies available, grabbing a physical copy of this game will set you back hundreds of dollars.
So, make sure you really love Dark Souls!
Bloodborne
Release Date: 24th March 2015
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: PS4
Bloodborne is another third-person perspective action RPG featuring several elements like those found in the Dark Souls series. But while Dark Souls has a medieval fantasy setting, Bloodborne has a gothic/Lovecraftian setting which is a really nice change.
FromSoftware develops both games, and Bloodborne would not exist without Dark Souls. In many ways, Bloodborne is much better than the original Dark Souls that made FromSoftware famous. In fact, today, the game is said to be one of the most challenging games of all time, thanks to its fast-paced combat and complex game mechanics. If you love Dark Souls for it’s challenges, you are going to want to marry Bloodborne
Be ready to be punished if you play this second-hardest Soulsborne game passively. A warning – the bosses in this game are some of the hardest of all Soulsborne games.
Nioh 1 & 2
Release Date: 5th February 2021
Developer: Team Ninja
Platforms: PC, PS4 & PS5
Nioh adapts many lessons from Dark Souls while putting a meaningful spin on everything taken from the original game. While both have similar creativity, the world in which you explore is very different.
Here, an Irish samurai prepares to take down an army of phantoms. It’s Ireland blending with Japan and you will absolutely love the variety of Japanese weapons you have at your disposal. Nioh is much faster, zippier, and frantic than Dark Souls, though it becomes more exploitable once you get the hang of the game.
While there is no mechanics like losing souls upon death, both Nioh 1 and 2 are equally as complex as the Dark Souls series and will definitely get your blood pumping. If you’re looking for a games like Dark Souls that are not carbon copies with different clothes on Nioh is a great option for some diversity.
The Surge
Release Date: 24th May 2016
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: Switch, PS4, Xbox One & PC
Put Dark Souls in space and what you have is The Surge.
If you have ever wondered what Bloodborne blending with Dark Souls would be like within the galaxy, The Surge delivers some of the best features of both games. While the games design naturally differs from Dark Souls, the surge is very much like Dark Souls and Bloodborne for a number of reasons.
In Surge, a man in a wheelchair who took part in an experiment that went wrong is left in a dystopian facility full of evil drones and robots. The Surge’s combat style brings back strong memories of Bloodborne and the games complexity is not as difficult but difficult nonetheless.
For a fantasy with a twist, The Surge is simply one of those games like Dark Souls that you simply have to say that you’ve played.
Elden Ring
Release Date: 25th February 2022
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4 & PS5
Out of all the games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring comes closest.
While Elden Ring in an entirely different universe and carries many features that are not a part of the Dark Souls series, I would have to say that almost all aspects of Elden Ring felt similar to Dark Souls. Both games leave play up to the player, giving them the freedom to choose how they progress through the game and both have similar gameplay. The storytelling themes are identical and the game mechanics parrallel.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise to DS fans, as Hidetaka Miyazaki created both games.
Learn More: Read Elden Ring Review
Once you’ve played both Dark Souls and Elden Ring, you might feel that Dark Souls is very compartmentalised and linear compared to Elden Ring. That’s because Elden Ring allows you to go where you want – when you want – across different types of landscapes. However, if that’s the type of game you enjoy, there’s plenty of games like Elden Ring to play through before you die too!
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Release Date: 21st March 2019
Developer: FromSoftware
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Google Stadia
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a wildly different take on Dark Souls. However, there are many similarities to Dark Souls that fans will enjoy.
In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you play as a samurai lusting for revenge against a clan that did you harm. There’s a storyline to Sekiro far linear than Dark Souls but that is also what makes it so good. The boss fights are epic, the combat flow is arguably better than dark souls and the graphics compelling.
If you are a fan of Dark Souls for it’s challenging nature then you’ll absolutely love Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice also. Even the most seasoned Dark Souls gamers find Sekiro hard to conquer and I must say, there were many moments where I wanted to throw my controller at the wall too.
But that’s why we endure such games, right!?
Ghost Of Tsushima
Release Date: 17th July 2020
Developer: Sucker Punch Studios
Platforms: PS4 & PS5
After years of development, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation 4 exclusive game Ghost of Tsushima finally released. And, it’s the feudal Japanese saga we have all been begging to adventure. As the last surviving member of the Tsushima clan, Jin Sakai, must use every weapon and technique at his disposal to defend his home and defeat the invaders.
But make so mistake, just like Dark Souls, Ghost of Tsushima is very tough.
Learn More: Read Ghost of Tsushima Review
Players love this game because of its beautiful graphics and engaging story. But at the same, some players criticize it for its historical inaccuracies. However, these inaccuracies should not deter players from experiencing this masterpiece for themselves.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Release Date: 17th July 2020
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Platforms: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & PC
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an action-RPG video game that is the fifth main installment following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
The game’s main story revolves around the Dragonborn, the player-controlled protagonist, on a quest to defeat Alduin, a dragon prophesied to destroy the world.
Players are highly praising its gameplay experience, story, and graphics. More than 30 million copies of the game are already sold out, so it is also a commercial success. It is an excellent option if you want a fascinating video game with some hardcore action.
Mortal Shell
Release Date: 18th August 2020
Developer: Cold Symmetry
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X
Mortal Shell is a new action-RPG game set in The Elder Scrolls World. The game was developed by Cold Symmetry and published by Playstack. It was released on August 18th, 2020, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
In this game, you will get the role of a mortal human with the ability to possess the corpses of dead warriors.
Mortal Shell is a story-driven game with a focus on exploration and combat. The game features an open-world environment and allows players to roam the world and interact with NPCs freely. The game also features a crafting system, enabling players to create new weapons and armor.
If you are a fan of The Elder Scrolls, you will enjoy Mortal Shell.
The Final Word
So there you have it – seven games very similar to Dark Souls – yet unique and unlike any Souls game. If you are wondering what game to play next, this list should help you get through a couple of months of boredom. Well, probably years if you decide to complete every game to the max.
If you loved the Dark Souls series, you would also love these seven games. If you haven’t tried Dark Souls, you might find that playing one of these games can help you decide if you want to try your hand at the DS series.
Know of any other awesome games like Dark Souls? Drop them in the comments.
When you’re done, don’t forget to check out some of my other game tutorials, roundups and articles about Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls, Elden Ring and all of your favourite RPG and JRPG classics. It’s an all out souls-fest at GamePro.
- All Dark Souls 3 Covenants Explained
- How To Beat All Bosses In Demon Souls
- Best Weapons In Dark Souls 3
- How To Learn Magic In Demon’s Souls: Remake
- Must Play JRPG Games Before You Die
- Ghost Of Tsushima Legends Review
- Best RPG Games On Xbox
- Monster Hunter Rise Review
- Games Like Dying Light 2
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