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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 top-of-the-line video games ever made? We may also help you with that.
We’ve damaged 15 video games into eight distinctive classes. Every group will supply one suggestion that’s much like Elden Ring and one other that’s nothing like Elden Ring. However every pair may also have a theme that unites them, to higher information your alternative of style or vibe.
You’re by no means going to get that good 1-to-1 Elden Ring feeling with out leaping into Bloodborne, Darkish Souls, or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. However with our listing, you’ll be able to attempt to preserve that top with a in another way themed however related sport, or gently trip again right down to Earth with one thing fully 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 bit fox tasked with roaming round a world and fixing puzzles. At occasions, it’s frustratingly troublesome and it tells you nearly nothing about the way it works or what it’s essential do. But it surely’s additionally cute and colourful and vibrant. Tunic gives you completely different vibes whereas additionally making for a pure transition if you happen to’re nonetheless seeking to punish your reflexes and scratch the outdated noggin.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 may get. Positive, 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, simple, 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 ultimately funnel you again to the place it’s essential go subsequent. In case you want one thing that’s “no ideas, simply cute” or a co-op journey with a kiddo or a buddy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a good post-Elden Ring pickup.
Group 2 – Romance, if you happen to’re attractive
Picture: Sport Grumps
Related: Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen is like Elden Ring in that it’s troublesome, archaic, and takes place in a grim medieval setting. However in contrast to Elden Ring, you’ll be able to date round in Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen. In case you’ve all the time wished you could possibly 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. In actual fact, it might be the least Elden Ring-like sport on this listing. In Dream Daddy, you play as a single dad who goes round courting different single dads. You get to talk, go on dates, and attempt to sustain together with your teenage daughter in a brand new city. It’s pleasant, cute, and romantic, and there are not 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 path and coming throughout a brand new catacomb, city, or large boss. In 2012, Skyrim virtually boiled that thrill right down to a science, providing you with mountains of random dungeons and encounters to come across as you discover Bethesda’s large, icy world.
Dissimilar: The Witness
In case you’re desperate to discover however need one thing fully completely different than Elden Ring, The Witness is a good place to start out. It is a puzzle sport that makes use of refined and unexplained guidelines that will help you draw a line over quite a lot of maze-like tablets. It’s mysterious and gigantic, however fully freed from fight. It’s all about majesty and discovery in a colourful world, and can assist you to preserve your thoughts off Godrick’s disturbing dragon arm.
Group 4 – Loss of life and 2D worlds
Picture: Staff Cherry
Related: Hole Knight
Hole Knight is a wonderful metroidvania with some critical FromSoftware leanings. It’s punishing, its programs are obfuscated, and failure comes with a worth. It’s additionally acquired a number of the gentle horror components seen in Elden Ring, though filtered by way 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 excellent little journey that gained’t really feel like whiplash after the punishing Lands Between.
Dissimilar: Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer could also be about loss of life, nevertheless it has little or no in widespread with Elden Ring. In Spiritfarer, you ferry the souls of the useless by way of the afterlife and to their last resting place. However as an alternative of being grim and creepy, it’s healthful. You create bonds with every soul, and assist them embrace eternity comfortably, after they’re prepared. It’s undoubtedly unhappy, in the best way loss all the time is, however there’s a hopeful twinge there. In case you want one thing with a extra loving undertone that also offers with the finality of loss of life, Spiritfarer is a good 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 couple of cute little crow who serves because the grim reaper, and its fight is commonly paying homage to FromSoftware’s. It’s each punishing and remarkably chill, with the world appearing as its personal, low-stakes puzzle to resolve. Positive, you’ll must get into the zone once you attain a boss, however in any other case you should utilize your little hen legs to discover far and extensive on this enjoyable journey. It’s an excellent combine between the jaw-clenching fight of Elden Ring and a chill romp around the globe.
Dissimilar: PowerWash Simulator
PowerWash Simulator is without doubt one of the most “no ideas” video games on the market, and it has nothing in widespread with Elden Ring. Your complete objective of PowerWash Simulator is to make use of an influence washer to wash off grime and filth from numerous automobiles and areas. The extra you clear, the additional cash you’ll get, and the higher gear and cleaning soap you’ll be able to afford. There are stains that may take you longer to defeat than any boss in Elden Ring, nevertheless it’s nonetheless simply a particularly chill sport all about making the world cleaner.
Group 6 – Video games with associates
Picture: Gunfire Video games/Excellent World Leisure
Related: Remnant: From the Ashes
Remnant: From the Ashes is a FromSoftware sport became a third-person shooter. There’s melee fight, sure, nevertheless it’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 case you’re searching for that Elden Ring feeling of accomplishment however you additionally need to go questing with a buddy, Remnant: From the Ashes is a good place to start out.
Dissimilar: Golf together with your Pals
Golf together with your Pals is strictly what it appears like: You play on-line digital mini-golf together with your buddies. You can too run particular programs with skulls and pirate ships and attempt to get a gap in a single whereas speaking smack over Discord. In case you want one thing to get your thoughts off of Radhan or Godfrey, Golf together 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 if you happen to 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 foreign money from enemies to degree himself up. This empowers him to emerge victorious from tightly balanced fight encounters that require a substantial amount of focus to outlive. It could not have that gothic ambiance, nevertheless it’s acquired the basic FromSoftware frustration/accomplishment seesaw. So if you happen to 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 definitely on this sport, so long as you’re prepared to pay for the DLC). However the extra I give it some thought, the extra I’m positive that Rock Band belongs on this listing. It’s a cathartic chaser after Elden Ring, so let’s run with it. Rock Band enables 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 bother in The Lands Between. You don’t even have to make use of an actual controller, which is very helpful if you happen to broke yours whereas enjoying Elden Ring. And once you consider Limp Bizkit Pack 01 (sadly there isn’t any Limp Bizkit Pack 02), it’s the right technique to re-center your thoughts.
(Notice: I’ve by no means deliberately listened to a Limp Bizkit tune.)
[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 most typical 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 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 properly, 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 huge boss there’s a serene second ready simply on the opposite aspect of a hill, and that makes Breath of the Wild the right chaser after enjoying Elden Ring.
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