Highlights

• Elden Ring has received widespread praise and attention since its release. Its core gameplay is similar to Dark Souls 3 but with an enormous open world and new mechanics.
• Unfortunately, the game is not available on Nintendo Switch, but there are other excellent games on the console that offer a similar experience.
• Games like Monster Hunter Rise, The Witcher 3, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offer similar experiences on the Nintendo Switch.

Elden Ring was released in February 2022 and has been receiving widespread praise and attention ever since, best exemplified by the whopping 96 Metascore held by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the title. The game's core gameplay is similar to that of Dark Souls 3, though Elden Ring differentiates itself by throwing players into an enormous open world that is packed full of enemies, bosses, NPCs, and dungeons. The game also introduces a handful of new gameplay mechanics, such as summonable Spirit Ashes and the ability to ride a mount.

Unfortunately for Nintendo Switch owners, the game has only been released on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation systems. Exclusivity is a common annoyance for gamers, and although many Nintendo-only players will be used to their system being shunned by now, it can still be frustrating when a new, highly talked about game is released and they can't play it. Thankfully, there are several excellent games like Elden Ring on the Nintendo Switch that offer a similar experience to FromSoftware's latest masterpiece.

Updated January 9, 2024, by Jack Pursey: Elden Ring has solidified its position as one of gaming's greatest adventures, as although the game's initial hype has now passed, its level of acclaim and appreciation across the gaming industry has not diminished. Although there is no sign of the game coming to Nintendo Switch, there's no shortage of great games like Elden Ring on Switch, so this list has been updated to include a few more entries.

1 Dark Souls: Remastered

Metascore: 83

Kicking off with the most obvious choice first, Dark Souls: Remastered is an action RPG that was developed by FromSoftware, the team that developed Elden Ring. The game fine-tuned and expanded upon the mechanics introduced in its predecessor, Demon's Souls, and has gone on to become one of modern gaming's most influential releases.

Among the game's many influential features were its interconnected level design, bonfire checkpoint system, and lore-based storytelling. Dark Souls also went against the grain of most AAA games at the time, which were becoming increasingly easier and more railroaded, by offering a notoriously difficult adventure with bosses that can feel like mountains to climb for first-time players.

Dark Souls' success, along with the continued success of the so-called Soulsborne series, has proven to the gaming industry that there are many people still seeking to play games that offer a rewardingly difficult challenge.

2 Monster Hunter Rise

Metascore: 88

For Switch owners who like the look of taking down enormous enemies and bosses in Elden Ring, Monster Hunter Rise is an ideal alternative. As the name suggests, Monster Hunter Rise tasks players with the perilous mission of taking down dangerous monsters, either alone or with friends, via the game's excellent co-op features.

Monster Hunter Rise sticks to the franchise's tried and tested gameplay loop of embarking on quests to earn loot and then using that loot to upgrade weapons and armor needed to take on tougher quests for bigger rewards.

3 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Metascore: 78

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen was released on Switch in April 2019 and is an expanded version of the original Dragon's Dogma. The expanded version introduced several new features, including full Japanese voice acting, new weapons, and a new dungeon.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen boasts a huge open world that feels truly alive thanks to its dynamic weather system and wide range of voiced NPCs that the player can interact with.

4 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Metascore: 84

Skyrim is an easy game to recommend to any RPG fan as it gives players the freedom to approach it however they want, with entirely passive or ultra-aggressive playthroughs both providing hundreds of hours of entertainment.

Those looking for an Elden Ring-like experience will want to head down the game's combat-centric routes, which are plentiful and pit players against a wide variety of enemy types. The combat in Skyrim is often criticized for being bland, though the range of weapons and spells available keep things interesting.

5 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Metascore: 85

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was initially released in May 2014 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 before eventually arriving on Nintendo Switch just over four years later. The game raised the bar for visuals in 2014, with its beautifully designed scenery and castles that showed off the full extent of eighth-generation console technology just one year after the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were released.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an action RPG that differentiates itself from Elden Ring with its dialogue-heavy storytelling. The game's engrossing narrative is one of its strongest features, as almost every quest in the game features an interesting tale that requires players to make a range of difficult choices to determine how it concludes.

6 Salt and Sanctuary

Metascore: 82

Salt and Sanctuary may seem like an odd choice in a list of games like Elden Ring when looking at images of the game, particularly as it trades Elden Ring's massive 3D open world for more contained 2D areas.

However, Salt and Sanctuary is one of the most common names to come up when people recommend Souls-like games, with Ska Studios' release being given the complimentary tag of "2D Dark Souls." The game's combat, level design, bosses, items, and weapons all take clear influence from FromSoftware's Soulsborne series, making the indie game a great budget option for those looking for their next Souls-like adventure. The game's 2D perspective, meanwhile, adds an interesting twist to the Souls-like formula.

7 Immortals Fenyx Rising

Metascore: 78

Immortals Fenyx Rising was developed by Ubisoft and effectively feels like the French company's take on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game immediately catches the eye with its gorgeous Greek mythology setting that is bursting with color, charisma, and character.

Immortals Fenyx Rising is significantly easier than Elden Ring and has the usual Ubisoft open-world design tropes that can be off-putting for some players; however, it offers a welcoming experience for players who aren't looking for too much challenge and want a more forgiving open world to explore.

8 Hollow Knight

Metascore: 90

Team Cherry's Hollow Knight was first released in 2017 and has been one of the most talked about indie games since. The game immediately draws players in with its intriguing dark and gloomy atmosphere and ingeniously designed Metrodvania-style map that is begging to be explored.

Hollow Knight's interconnected map can feel claustrophobic compared to Elden Ring's wide open spaces, but it certainly deserves a spot on this list for not only its sheer quality but also for its fantastic boss fights, memorable characters, and well-balanced combat that will appeal to fans of FromSoftware's Soulsborne games.

9 Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Metacritic: 72

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a remaster of February 2012's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The game was first released in September 2020 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 before arriving on Switch the following year.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's critical reception doesn't compare to aforementioned games like Monster Hunter Rise or The Witcher 3, though the game still scored a respectable 81 on Metacritic. Re-Reckoning on the Nintendo Switch scored a bit lower, however, earning a score of just 72, with critics feeling that it was starting to show its age. Still, for players who want an action RPG with an engrossing fantasy story, Kingdoms of Amulr: Re-Reckoning is a solid choice.

10 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Metascore: 96

It wasn't long after the release of Breath of the Wild that people were debating whether it was the greatest video game of all time. Consequently, the hype and expectations for its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, were through the roof.

Tears of the Kingdom, like Elden Ring, is a rare example of a piece of media that lives up to, or even exceeds, the enormous expectations of fans and critics. The game expands and improves upon Breath of the Wild in multiple areas, most notably with its sandbox mechanics that let players flex their creative muscles in brilliant and hilarious ways. The game is not just a must-buy for fans of Elden Ring but for any Switch owner who wants to sink their teeth into an open-world masterpiece.