Elden Ring has hours upon hours of content that has kept fans satisfied since its release. However, every good thing must end. Fortunately, there are many Soulslike games that still follow the Dark Souls formula while also offering some variety.
Due to the success of Elden Ring predecessors, many developers have begun attempting to adapt the ideas behind the Dark Souls games while keeping the core principles. These Soulslike games feature challenging gameplay with environmental storytelling that'll grasp the attention of Elden Ring fans.
The Surge Series
The Surge and The Surge 2 were released in 2017 and 2019, respectively, and added a futuristic twist to the Soulslike formula. The series allows players to utilize a customizable exosuit and melee weapons to fend off mechanized enemies. The story of the game revolves around a dystopian future and is told primarily through audio logs found within the world.
The original game put a heavy focus on limb-based combat, which gave players the option to attack different parts of enemies and utilize weak points. The Surge 2 expanded on its predecessor’s playstyle by adding a larger variety of weapon types, as well as, introducing a block and parry system. Both games provide a Soulslike experience while also telling their own story with unique characteristics.
Nioh Series
The original Nioh was released as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, but a remastered version has recently been released for the PlayStation 5. This title follows Western samurai William Adams during the Sengoku period in Japan as he faces off a variety of human and supernatural enemies.
Combat is stamina-based with a focus on well-timed attacks and dodges and features a variety of different weapon types and attack stances that affect the player’s speed and defense. Nioh 2 improved on the original’s formula while also giving players the ability to fully customize their character.
Mortal Shell
Mortal Shell is very similar to Dark Souls in both setting and gameplay. Set in a dark, mysterious fantasy world, players are given little guidance and must explore the world to unravel the story. The combat is based around dodging and attacking but features a unique alternative to guarding. Instead of using a shield, players have the ability to “harden,” which effectively makes them impervious to damage for a short period of time. Well-timed hardens can create openings in enemy attacks, whereas poorly timed ones will leave the player vulnerable to decimating hits.
In addition to the unique blocking system, players are able to curate their playstyle through the different Shells that occupy the world. Once discovered, each Shell provides a different set of skills and stats. It is through mastering the hardening system and upgrading different Shells that players are able to overcome the variety of punishing enemies of Mortal Shell.
Tunic
Tunic is an isometric game that bears a close resemblance to The Legend of Zelda series, while also borrowing many Soulslike features. Players are dropped into a vast, colorful world with almost no direction, except through the discovery of small pages scattered around the world that act as a guide to the game. As players progress, they discover more weapons, items, and pages that slowly reveal the map, as well as the objectives.
Combat is very similar to Dark Souls as it relies mostly on stamina management, blocking, and item utilization. Enemies become more and more challenging as the game progresses and players are encouraged to use items found within the world to upgrade skills and abilities. Tunic takes the Soulslike formula away from dreary, dark worlds but still features a challenge and foreboding enemies and bosses.
FromSoftware has mastered a playstyle so well that it has created its own sub-genre. Many of these Soulslike games provide a reimagination of the punishing yet rewarding combat system that provides fans with the same satisfaction as the originals.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.