Few games have been as anticipated as Elden Ring was heading into 2022. So watching the game finally debut to stellar reviews across the board is enough to pique the interest of just about every gamer under the sun. That is to say, the game would probably end up being the first taste of the Soulsborne genre for many people.
But as many of these people will quickly discover, this particular crop of games is not for the faint of heart. Their overwhelming difficulty is, after all, part of their very DNA, and most people just don’t have the time or patience to tackle it. For those who don’t mind the challenge (or some of the other elements introduced in FromSoftware’s first-ever open-world game), these additional titles might also be of interest.
6 Demon’s Souls
If Elden Ring happens to be your first taste of the Soulsborne genre, then a good game to check out next would be Demon’s Souls. This is where it all started on the PS3 in 2009, introducing gamers to the core elements that would define follow-up games.
Those lucky enough to own a PS5 can of course choose to check out the 2020 remake instead. Developed by Bluepoint Games, the remake is a faithful recreation of the original game with a graphical overhaul that makes the most of the bells and whistles of the PS5.
5 dark souls 3
While the original Dark Souls served to refine the gameplay mechanics first introduced in Demon’s Soul, this is actually the third and final installment in the Dark Souls trilogy, Dark Souls 3, which is the current pinnacle of what these games represent.
Released in 2016, the game once again puts players in the shoes of a cursed undead (this time known as Ashen One) as they fight their way through an unforgiving land filled with poisonous swamps and threatening dragons. The game received two expansions, Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, before being re-released with both DLCs as Darks Souls 3: The Fire Fades.
4 Deadly Shell
Fans of the Soulsborne formula should find plenty to love in Mortal Shell, an action role-playing game released in 2020 as the debut game from indie development studio Cold Symmetry. The game draws a lot of inspiration from the Dark Souls trilogy but offers a level of accessibility that was previously lacking in these other games.
Mortal Shell would go on to earn a Best First Game nomination at The Game Awards 2020, ultimately losing to Kinetic Games’ Phasmophobia. An update to the game dubbed Rotting Autumn was also released, featuring a new quest and photo mode, while a remastered version was later released for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2021.
3 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars fans were treated to one of the best games based on the multi-billion dollar property when Jedi Fall Order released in 2019. Set between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the game had players playing as Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padawan struggling to survive in the aftermath of Order 66.
The game itself was a hodgepodge of different genres, but most surprising was the inclusion of Soulsborne elements through its challenging combat and moderate difficulty. While neither of these two things are as punishing as what can be found in Elden Ring, they still work to scratch that itch for players who want more of the same.
2 transmitted by blood
Often considered one of the best PS4 exclusive games, Bloodborne is another action RPG that should immediately appeal to Elden Ring players. Released in 2015, the game has players playing as a hunter who must fight with the various creatures that have taken over the gothic city of Yharnam.
Unlike Dark Souls games, combat is much faster. This speed comes at a cost, however, as players often find themselves facing hordes of multiple enemies at once. But the game still manages to strike a good balance between being difficult without becoming too unforgiving or overwhelming.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
What else can be said about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that hasn’t already been said? Simply put, the game is one of the few to sit at the pinnacle of open-world game design. Released simultaneously on Wii U and Nintendo Switch in 2017, the game had set a new standard for the genre, and it was a long time before we had another to follow in its footsteps.
Much like Elden Ring, Breath of the Wild launches players into a vast and beautiful open-world adventure, giving them the freedom to approach its giant sandbox however they please. It also poses its own challenges in the form of breakable weapons and enemies that can pretty much shoot the player if care isn’t taken. So if any of these things sound like your kind of jam and for some reason you haven’t tried this masterpiece yet, then now is the time to do so.
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