Finished the Lands Between? These games deliver the same open-world exploration, punishing combat, and sense of discovery.
Elden Ring set a new standard for open-world design — exploration that rewards curiosity, combat that demands mastery, and a world that refuses to hold your hand. If you've finished it (and its DLC) and need something to fill that void, these 8 games capture different parts of what makes Elden Ring special.
The most direct predecessor. Faster combat than DS1/2, incredible boss design, and the same sense of oppressive atmosphere. If you haven't played it, this is your next stop — it's essentially Elden Ring's DNA in a more linear package.
FromSoftware's parry-based masterpiece. No builds, no summons — just you and the sword. If you loved Elden Ring's combat but wished it was even more demanding, Sekiro is the purest expression of FromSoft's design philosophy.
A Pinocchio-themed Soulslike that borrows heavily from Sekiro's parry system. Gorgeous Belle Époque art direction, weapon assembly system for build variety, and a surprisingly emotional story. The best non-FromSoft Soulslike.
Open-world action RPG with incredible combat and a pawn system that gives you AI companions. Less punishing than Elden Ring but the exploration and monster-fighting scratch a similar itch. Climbing onto a griffin mid-flight never gets old.
Faster, more technical combat than Elden Ring with a loot system that adds build variety. Sengoku-era Japan with yokai demons. The stance-switching system is incredibly deep — it's the Soulslike for people who want more combat complexity.
Not a Soulslike, but the exploration philosophy is identical — a vast interconnected world that rewards curiosity, punishing bosses, and a melancholy atmosphere. If you loved Elden Ring's exploration more than its RPG systems, Silksong is essential.
Hunt massive creatures across open environments with 14 distinct weapon types. The combat has a similar weight and learning curve to Elden Ring, and the cooperative multiplayer adds hundreds of hours of content.
Completely different setting (medieval Bohemia, no fantasy) but the same refusal to hold your hand. Combat is demanding, the world is systemic and immersive, and exploration is rewarded. For Elden Ring fans who want hardcore RPG without the fantasy.
Start with Dark Souls III if you want more FromSoftware. Start with Lies of P if you want something fresh. Start with Hollow Knight: Silksong if exploration is what hooked you. All 8 of these are excellent — the hard part is choosing which to play first.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the site running. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in.