17 games to play after Elden Ring while you wait for Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring is very large and dense. It transplants FromSoftware’s tried-and-true design pillars of issue and experimentation into the sprawling Lands Between. And after 100-plus 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 Shadow of the Erdtree.

So the place do you go subsequent after ending among the best video games ever made and through the lengthy look forward to the DLC (or the inevitable sequel)? We may help you with that.

We’ve damaged 17 video games into 9 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 raised information your alternative of style or vibe.

You’re by no means going to get that excellent one-to-one Elden Ring feeling with out leaping into Bloodborne, the Darkish Souls video games, or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. However with our record, you’ll be able to attempt to keep that top with a otherwise themed however related recreation, or gently experience again all the way down to Earth with one thing fully totally 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 recreation about somewhat fox tasked with roaming round a world and fixing puzzles. At occasions, it’s frustratingly tough and it tells you virtually nothing about the way it works or what it’s essential do. Nevertheless it’s additionally cute and colourful and vivid. Tunic offers you totally different vibes whereas additionally making for a pure transition for those who’re nonetheless seeking to punish your reflexes and scratch the previous noggin.

Dissimilar: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Tonally, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is about as removed from Elden Ring as you may get. Certain, 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 briefly bursts, and it’s often only for a breezy puzzle that can finally funnel you again to the place it’s essential go subsequent. For those who 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, for those who’re attractive

Picture: Sport Grumps

Related: Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen

Dragon’s Dogma Darkish Arisen is like Elden Ring in that it’s tough, 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. For those who’ve at all times wished you may 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. Actually, it might be the least Elden Ring-like recreation on this record. In Dream Daddy, you play as a single dad who goes round courting different single dads. You get to speak, 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 aren’t any Elden Lords or horrible plagues to be discovered.

Group 3: Exploration, with monsters and with out

Picture: Thekla, Inc.

Related: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Whereas Skyrim’s mechanics could 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 course and coming throughout a brand new catacomb, city, or large boss. In 2012, Skyrim virtually boiled that thrill all the way down to a science, supplying you with mountains of random dungeons and encounters to locate as you discover Bethesda’s large, icy world.

Dissimilar: The Witness

For those who’re desperate to discover however need one thing fully totally different than Elden Ring, The Witness is a good place to start out. It is a puzzle recreation that makes use of refined and unexplained guidelines that will help you draw a line over a wide range 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 allow you to maintain your thoughts off Godrick’s disturbing dragon arm.

Group 4: Demise and 2D worlds

Picture: Crew Cherry

Related: Hole Knight

Hole Knight is a superb metroidvania with some critical FromSoftware leanings. It’s punishing, its methods are obfuscated, and failure comes with a worth. It’s additionally bought a number of the gentle horror parts seen in Elden Ring, though filtered by way of a a lot cuter artwork fashion. Whereas it’s actually a lot less complicated than From’s newest, and never almost as lengthy, it’s an amazing little journey that received’t really feel like whiplash after the punishing Lands Between.

Dissimilar: Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer could also be about dying, but it surely 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 closing resting place. However as a substitute 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 positively unhappy, in the best way loss at all times is, however there’s a hopeful twinge there. For those who want one thing with a extra loving undertone that also offers with the finality of dying, Spiritfarer is a good soar after Elden Ring.

Group 5: (Kinda) chill vibes

Picture: FuturLab/Sq. Enix

Related: Demise’s Door

Demise’s Door is a few 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 unravel. Certain, you’ll should get into the zone once you attain a boss, however in any other case you should use your little chook legs to discover far and large on this enjoyable journey. It’s an amazing combine between the jaw-clenching fight of Elden Ring and a chill romp all over the world.

Dissimilar: PowerWash Simulator

PowerWash Simulator is likely one of the most “no ideas” video games on the market, and it has nothing in widespread with Elden Ring. All the aim of PowerWash Simulator is to make use of an influence washer to scrub off grime and filth from varied autos and areas. The extra you clear, the additional cash you’ll get, and the higher tools and cleaning soap you’ll be able to afford. There are stains that can take you longer to defeat than any boss in Elden Ring, but it surely’s nonetheless simply an especially chill recreation all about making the world cleaner.

Group 6: Video games with mates

Picture: Gunfire Video games/Excellent World Leisure

Related: Remnant: From the Ashes

Remnant: From the Ashes is a FromSoftware recreation changed into a third-person shooter. There’s melee fight, sure, but it surely’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. For those who’re searching for that Elden Ring feeling of accomplishment however you additionally wish to go questing with a buddy, Remnant: From the Ashes is a good place to start out.

Dissimilar: Golf with Your Mates

Golf with Your Mates is precisely what it feels like: You play on-line digital mini-golf together with your buddies. It’s also possible to run particular programs with skulls and pirate ships and attempt to get a gap in a single whereas speaking smack over Discord. For those who want one thing to get your thoughts off of Radhan or Godfrey, Golf with Your Mates is the right distraction.

Group 7: Elden Ring + The Industrial Revolution

Picture: Neowiz

Related: Lies of P

Lies of P might be the perfect FromSoftware recreation not made by FromSoftware. It stars Pinocchio (you understand, the puppet that’s additionally a routine liar) and duties you with beating up highly effective automatons and monsters. Like Elden Ring, it’s a recreation full of satisfying fight and construct decisions. And in addition like Elden Ring, it’ll have you ever screaming obscenities at your TV since you maintain getting killed by the stupidest-looking boss you’ve ever seen. What units Lies of P aside is that it takes place within the late 1800s and is full of fashionable innovations so that you can struggle towards and with. So for those who ever seemed on the Excessive Fantasy world of the Lands Between and thought “I like this, however I want I may struggle an enormous boss robotic that’s additionally a twentieth century British cop,” Lies of P is your solely logical subsequent step.

Dissimilar: Passable

Passable is a recreation the place you construct factories, and it’s virtually nothing like Elden Ring. In Passable, your mission is to make use of assets to construct mechanical items you could then assemble into extra intricate mechanical items. To do that, it’s essential construct machines, which absorb assets through a conveyor belt and spit out one thing new on the opposite facet. However this isn’t a soothing or cozy constructing recreation the place you simply kick your toes up and watch. Your machines could also be doing the give you the results you want, however within the meantime you’ll be rearranging your manufacturing unit to enhance output and operating throughout a hostile wilderness to seek out new assets you could ship again to your private home base. So for those who’re completed being burdened by tough fight encounters within the Lands Between, it’s time to face down humanity’s true nemesis: logistics.

Group 8: Limp Bizkit, clearly

Picture: Koei Tecmo/Sq. Enix

Related: Stranger of Paradise: Remaining Fantasy Origins

OK, no, Limp Bizkit’s music isn’t truly in Stranger of Paradise, however that’s the joke that’s going round, and actually, I can’t inform the distinction. (And for those who can, maintain it to your self). If ever a recreation screamed Limp Bizkit vibes, it’s Stranger of Paradise: Remaining Fantasy Origins. Even higher, it truly 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 quite a lot of focus to outlive. It might not have that gothic environment, but it surely’s bought the basic FromSoftware frustration/accomplishment seesaw. So for those who 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: Remaining Fantasy Origins is as shut as you’re gonna get to fulfilling that dream.

Dissimilar: Rock Band 4

Positive, you bought me. I initially put Rock Band 4 right here to make the Limp Bizkit joke work (though Limp Bizkit is truly on this recreation, so long as you’re keen to pay for the DLC). However the extra I give it some thought, the extra I’m certain that Rock Band belongs on this record. It’s a cathartic chaser after Elden Ring, so let’s run with it. Rock Band permits you to simply throw your self into the music (Bizkit or in any other case), channeling very totally different feelings, and serving to you overlook about all of the horrible plague canines 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 for those who broke yours whereas enjoying Elden Ring. And once you think about 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.)

[Ed. note: Let’s not lie to our readers, Ryan.]

Group 9: 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 commonest 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 also 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 recreation all about bashing your head towards one wrestle or one other. Breath of the Wild has a few of that as nicely, however with the power to play with a physics puzzle for some time, or climb a mountain and simply look over the vista. For each large boss there’s a serene second ready simply on the opposite facet of a hill, and that makes Breath of the Wild the right chaser after enjoying Elden Ring.