The 4 action RPGs you should play while waiting for Elden Ring
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Elden Ring has been the talk of the town once again with players and critics sharing their impressions of the game based on the closed network test, which gives a clear idea on how the game plays and how dense the world From Software is creating.
Safe to say, everybody who has touched a Soulslike game is ecstatic for the game’s release in February 2022 and the wait can feel like years for some. To ease the pain, the only logical option is to play games like it , so here are 4 action RPGs you should play to keep you busy as we get closer for the game’s launch.
Take note: this list will not feature the Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, or the Demon’s Souls remake because that's a given - you should definitely revisit these games as you anxiously wait for the release of Elden Ring.
But there are tons of games greatly inspired by what developer From Software has started. In case you missed out on it, now would be the best time to look back as these games are fantastic in their own right.
Nioh series
Ah, Japan in the 1600s, where demons roamed the land and greatly affected the civil war the country experienced during that time. It’s historically inaccurate, but it was definitely a perfect setting for a Soulslike game.
Nioh 1 & 2 can be special for fans of the Soulslike subgenre due to the many character systems stacked up onto each other. There’s a lot in Nioh’s hood that this has to be one of the deepest character progression in an action RPG, to a point that it felt intimidating at first. Yokai abilities, weapon stances (for each weapon), ninjutsu, magic, loot stats, crafting, the list goes on!
The Nioh series will test your patience, but if you let it slowly unravel in it’s own way, you’ll soon experience each feature work hand in hand perfectly, leaving you with so many viable build options supporting your preferred fighting style. The first Nioh was great, but the sequel took things to a whole new level that over 100 hours of game time isn’t nearly enough to fully maximize a single character’s endgame potential.
The Surge series
The Surge will seem weird at first glance as the first game starts with you in the future, playing a cripple fending off mechanical monstrosities with the use of an exoskeleton that is fully customizable. For some reason, ranged weaponry is rare and you and your enemies fight with melee weapons that look like salvaged parts from different machines and just repurposed as a 1-hand or 2-hand weapon.
The whole gameplay makes it a complete Dark Souls clone but with a few twists here and there, like being able to target specific limbs for a better chance at earning specific loot. But don’t scratch this off your list just yet as this is one of the good clones that took me by surprise as this is easily the best Soulslike game set in a futuristic setting.
Remnant: from the Ashes
If you want something completely out of the circle, then you should really give Remnant from the Ashes a try. Many would argue if it can be even considered in the same vein as other action RPG games but you can’t deny that it was greatly inspired by From Software’s previous work as the shooter has all the key elements to make you think you are playing a Souls game.
The punishing difficulty is there, its level design, even checkpoints function like bonfires. 90% of the time you are shooting whatever moves and relying on the invulnerability frames found in your dodge rolls to stay alive. I consider it more of a shooter on paper, but it has enough similarities to scratch your Elden Ring itch.
Mortal Shell
Cold Symmetry’s Mortal Shell has all the Soulslike mystery you need as this action adventure embraces the vague story approach as it took a lot out of me to fully understand what’s going on. At least, I think I understood most of it when I finished the game.
You got to give it to Mortal Shell’s eerie atmosphere as it would make any Souls fan feel like home. It doesn’t feature a robust character progression system like Nioh. It’s not even that difficult of a game thanks to the Harden ability - a standard move that lets your character turn to stone for just a few seconds and be invulnerable to any attack. Despite this, it still respectfully captures the essence of a Soulslike game, making it a good recommendation as a palate cleanser if you’re hoping to ease a friend or two in the punishing world of Soulslike games.
