By marrying its Soulslike mechanics to an open-world RPG format,Elden Ringhas made the franchise more approachable than ever. Whereas past Souls games were more linear or had more limited options, the unparalleled freedom ofElden Ringcreates an unparalleled sense of exploration and reward. It’s one of few open-world RPGs to actually capture the beauty of an adventure.
Of course, the problem now is following upElden Ring. Many have beaten the game a few times over before now and are probably waiting forElden RingDLC to be announced/release. The problem is that’s a wait, and it can be hard to find another game to play once shelving the game for a bit. Thus, for those looking for open-world games that can scratch a similar itch, here are some that come close to whatElden Ringhas to offer.
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Like Elden Ring’s Unique Open-World Qualities? Play Dragon’s Dogma
Dragon’s Dogmais a unique open-world RPG. While games likeSkyrimhave a history and pedigree to back up their claim to ten years of fame,Dragon’s Dogmais a standalone title that did the same. Of course,Dragon’s Dogma 2has now been announced, and that gives open-world RPG fans even more reason to check out the first. But the first is different from other games. It allows players to climb on their enemies, it requires tactical combat, and the design of the open world makes every path all the more interesting.
Combined with this isDragon Dogma’s Pawn system, which allows players to make their own Pawn and travel the world with their party. It’s different from other games with companion systems, and whatDragon’s Dogmadoes is uniquely combine companions, in-depth combat, and more into a unique open-world RPG.
Very few games capture realism well, at least in a fun way.Red Dead Redemption 2probably does this the best, offering tons of little mechanics and elements that help its game stand out. All the same,Kingdom Come: Deliveranceoffers very similar gameplay featuresin terms of player health, the need to eat, resource management, and tons more. Both games offer unparalleled levels of freedom to, with players able to explore the Wild West or Bohemia in truly detailed yet free ways.
Red Dead 2andKingdom Come: Deliverancehave more realistic mechanics thanElden Ring,but where they match is the depth.Elden Ringis all about obtaining the right gear,getting good at the combat, understanding when to use what tactic, and finding new elements along the way. Elden Ring’s freedom to approach is incredibly rewarding, perhaps more so than these other games, but trading one element for another here is the name of the game. Neither are just likeElden Ring, but they are all in-depth, freeing open-world RPGs.
Want Elden Ring’s Build Depth? Check Out Pillars of Eternity
When it comes to build depth, there’s not anotherSoulsborne game that rivalsElden Ringin full.Dark Souls 2and others do beat it somewhat in terms of build variety, but those looking for a more open experience but similar build depth may want to check out Pillars of Eternity (the first and second ones) too.Pillars of Eternityis a top-down game, which may be a deal-breaker for some, but it has all the redeeming qualities of an open-world RPG too.
What it does better than most, though, is how deep and how varied its builds can genuinely be. Players will spend as much time on theirPillars of Eternitybuildsas they doElden Ring’s, if not perhaps more so. In terms of depth likeElden Ring, this is a great safe option.
Elden Ringis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
