The Polygon piece on FromSoftware’s future being decided by a messy Kadokawa investor fight points at a real question for the millions of players who’ve poured a few hundred hours into Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The next FromSoftware title is a long way off, and the studio’s direction depends on votes that go far beyond game design. We tested seven Elden Ring alternatives on Windows that capture the open-world Soulslike feel from different angles — some closer to the formula than others, but all worth the time.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Cost | Standout | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lies of P | Bloodborne-flavoured Soulslike | $59.99 | Weapon-assembly system | Steam |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Cinematic Souls-action hybrid | $59.99 | Sun Wukong setting and animations | Steam |
| Nioh 2 | Deepest Soulslike combat system | $49.99 | Yokai stances and weapon depth | Steam |
| Lords of the Fallen | Open-world Soulslike with dual realms | $59.99 | Umbral lamp world-switching | Steam |
| Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty | Sekiro-flavoured parry combat | $59.99 | Three Kingdoms setting | Steam |
| Stellar Blade | Action-RPG with Souls-style boss design | $59.99 | Stylish action and boss fights | Steam |
| Code Vein | Anime Souls-like with companions | $49.99 | Blood code class switching | Steam |
Why Elden Ring players are looking around
The pattern from the r/Eldenring and r/Fromsoftware threads:
- The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC closed the story arc; most players have hit “the end”
- The next FromSoftware game is years away and the studio’s path is uncertain
- Some players want a return to Bloodborne or Sekiro’s tighter pacing after the open world
- Build replay is deep but eventually settles into known meta paths
- Many fans want a different setting after 200 hours in the Lands Between
Each pick below addresses one of those. The list is mixed on price; expect heavy seasonal discounts.
The 7 best Elden Ring alternatives
Lies of P — best Bloodborne-flavoured Soulslike
Lies of P picks up the Bloodborne torch FromSoftware has left dormant. Combat is parry-and-counter-leaning, set in a gothic Belle Époque Krat, and the weapon-assembly system (swap blade and handle to build new weapons) is genuinely fresh. The Overture DLC and patches through 2026 have added bosses and difficulty modes the launch version didn’t carry.
Where it falls short: Visual variety is narrower than Elden Ring’s open world. Some early bosses spike difficulty.
Pricing: $59.99 base.
vs Elden Ring: Linear and gothic-flavoured rather than open-world fantasy. The closest Bloodborne descendant on PC.
Download: Lies of P on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Lies of P first if Bloodborne is the FromSoftware game you miss most.
Black Myth: Wukong — best cinematic Souls-action hybrid
Black Myth: Wukong isn’t a strict Soulslike — Game Science calls it action-RPG — but bosses are designed in the Souls tradition and the difficulty curve respects the player. Combat draws from Sekiro’s parry rhythm and Devil May Cry’s combo flow. The Sun Wukong mythology setting is visually unlike anything else on PC.
Where it falls short: Exploration is more linear than Elden Ring’s open world. Some boss patterns punish lingering.
Pricing: $59.99 standard. Frequent seasonal discounts.
vs Elden Ring: Cinematic and tightly designed rather than freeform exploration. The visual setting alone is worth the entry.
Download: Black Myth: Wukong on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Wukong when you want big-budget Souls-action with a setting that genuinely surprises.
Nioh 2 — best Soulslike combat system
Nioh 2 has the deepest combat system in the Soulslike family. Three stances per weapon, yokai shifts, ki-pulse timing, and a loot economy borrowed from ARPG genre. Endgame content stretches dozens of hours past the main story. New Game Plus modes layer modifiers on top.
Where it falls short: Loot drops are heavy enough that some players bounce on the menu management. Mission-based structure has no open world.
Pricing: $49.99 Complete Edition with all DLC.
vs Elden Ring: Far deeper at the combat-system level, narrower at the exploration level. The endgame replay loop is the standout.
Download: Nioh 2 on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Nioh 2 when you want the genre’s deepest moment-to-moment combat.
Lords of the Fallen — best open-world Soulslike alternative
Lords of the Fallen (the 2023 reboot, not the 2014 original) is the closest open-world Soulslike to Elden Ring’s structural feel. Dual-realm world (Axiom and Umbral) layered through the lamp mechanic; co-op support throughout; weapon variety in the FromSoftware mould. Post-launch patches addressed difficulty balancing and performance.
Where it falls short: Mob density on launch was higher than ideal; patches have rebalanced it but some players still find it busy.
Pricing: $59.99 standard. Heavy seasonal discounts.
vs Elden Ring: Smaller open world but the dual-realm twist is unique. Co-op is friendlier than Elden Ring’s.
Download: Lords of the Fallen on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Lords of the Fallen when you want Elden Ring-flavoured exploration with friends.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty — best Sekiro-flavoured parry combat
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is Team Ninja’s Three Kingdoms take on the Sekiro formula. Parry-heavy combat, deflect timing, morale system, and Wuxia-style movement. Co-op throughout the campaign with up to three players. DLC has fleshed out the post-launch content significantly.
Where it falls short: Parry timing is unforgiving early on. Story is light compared to other Team Ninja titles.
Pricing: $59.99 base. Sales below $20 are common.
vs Elden Ring: Linear and parry-focused. Closer to Sekiro than Elden Ring, but in the same family.
Download: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Wo Long when Sekiro’s parry rhythm is the FromSoftware mechanic you want back.
Stellar Blade — best action-RPG with Souls-style boss design
Stellar Blade ported to PC in 2025 with full keyboard-and-mouse plus controller support. Combat blends action-RPG combos with Souls-style boss design. Eve’s traversal is more agile than a typical Soulslike character’s, and the post-apocalyptic setting is visually distinct.
Where it falls short: Not a strict Soulslike — resurrection and checkpoint feel are gentler. Story leans cinematic.
Pricing: $59.99.
vs Elden Ring: Lighter on punishment, heavier on choreography. Boss fights are the standout.
Download: Stellar Blade on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Stellar Blade when you want Souls-flavoured boss fights without the full Souls grind.
Code Vein — best anime Soulslike with companions
Code Vein is the anime Soulslike with the genre’s best companion system. Switch Blood Codes (class-equivalents) on the fly to specialise into tanking, support, or DPS. AI partners are competent enough that solo play is viable; co-op support runs throughout the campaign.
Where it falls short: Difficulty is gentler than mainline FromSoftware titles. Some areas reuse assets.
Pricing: $49.99 base. Heavy seasonal discounts.
vs Elden Ring: Friendlier entry into the genre with anime aesthetics. The companion system makes solo play less brutal.
Download: Code Vein on Steam
Bottom line: Pick Code Vein as the most welcoming Soulslike for newcomers or co-op-only players.
How to choose
Pick Lies of P if Bloodborne is what you really miss. Pick Black Myth: Wukong for cinematic Souls-action in a Sun Wukong setting. Pick Nioh 2 for the genre’s deepest combat system. Pick Lords of the Fallen for open-world Soulslike with friendly co-op. Pick Wo Long for Sekiro-flavoured parry combat. Pick Stellar Blade for boss-design highlights with a gentler curve. Pick Code Vein as the most welcoming entry point. Stay on Elden Ring and replay with different builds if the Lands Between still has corners you haven’t explored — the catacombs and side dungeons reward fresh starts.
FAQ
What is the closest game to Elden Ring on PC in 2026?
Lords of the Fallen has the closest open-world Soulslike feel. Black Myth: Wukong matches the cinematic boss design. Lies of P captures the Bloodborne flavour FromSoftware itself hasn’t continued.
Is Black Myth: Wukong a Soulslike?
It’s an action-RPG with Souls-style boss design rather than a strict Soulslike. Difficulty is high but checkpointing is friendlier than the genre standard.
Can I play Elden Ring alternatives co-op?
Lords of the Fallen, Wo Long, and Code Vein support co-op throughout. Nioh 2 supports co-op missions. Lies of P, Black Myth: Wukong, and Stellar Blade are single-player.
Is Lies of P harder than Elden Ring?
Lies of P leans harder on parry timing. Elden Ring offers more build flexibility to lower difficulty (summoning spirits, ranged builds). Both are challenging but in different ways.
Which Elden Ring alternative is best for beginners?
Code Vein is the gentlest entry. Lords of the Fallen and Wo Long with co-op are also friendlier than playing solo.
Should I wait for the next FromSoftware game?
The next major release is years away. These alternatives are how most players bridge the wait.
