It's difficult to replace the feeling that a Dark Souls game leaves you with. Haunting visuals, powerful enemies, bleak messages and hopeless NPCs around every corner. If it's your first time playing one of the games, the experience includes jump scare-enemies and confusing dead ends as well.
Since the release of the Dark Souls franchise, other developers have taken the souls-like game blueprint and run with it, with games featuring everything from cute penguins parrying each other to a crab fighting lobsters under the sea. But what about the bleak, dark fantasy atmosphere? The atmosphere is one of the most haunting and beautiful aspects of a Souls game.
Although Dark Souls is the pinnacle of dark fantasy, there are other games out there with a similar aesthetic. Sometimes you want to play a dark, atmospheric game with an environment like Dark Souls - but maybe without the stress that a souls-like game brings. If that's the mood you're in, check out these 12 dark medieval games like Dark Souls:
Diablo III Eternal Collection for PS4, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch. If you are completely new to the Diablo franchise, I definitely recommend playing Diablo III as well as Diablo IV. The story in Diablo III is a classic, dark fantasy tale featuring fallen angels, infernal powers, and the imminent end of the world. Play as either a classic medieval knight, a sorcerer, a necromancer and more in this classic dark fantasy game!
Diablo IV for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox is the latest installment in the Diablo franchise, with its first major DLC releasing this October 2024. Diablo IV is full of endless hordes of evil to conquer, nightmare dungeons, and world bosses to defeat either with your friends or other online players. Join the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells, defeating countless cultists that have pledged their lives to Lilith. If you find that you really enjoy Diablo III and IV, Diablo II and Diablo Immortal are other games in the franchise that are regularly updated with content!
Warhammer: Chaosbane for PC, PS4, and Xbox is a unique game in the Warhammer franchise. As a hack-and-slash game, Chaosbane gameplay is very similar to Diablo. Play as one of the classic fantasy characters including a paladin soldier or a wood elf specializing in bows! Take on over 70 beasts aligned with Warhammer lore. Warhammer: Chaosbane is designed for couch co-op. If there's someone you want to enjoy a dark fantasy game with who might be new to the genre, Chaosbane is a great game to start with!
Pillars of Eternity for PC, PS4, and Xbox was called "one of the best RPGs since Baldur's Gate" after its release in 2015. Pillars of Eternity is a dark, medieval fantasy that is even darker than the universe in Baldur's Gate 3. Find yourself in a country riddled with a sinister curse: children are being born without souls. As you find yourself wracked with flashbacks, journey through the country and assemble a team to find the answers you seek! Rebuild your own stronghold along the way. Every dialogue choice you make from side quests to main quests will impact your game later on, so choose the kind of adventurer you want to be carefully!
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation is an underrated medieval RPG created by the designer of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. As the first hero to ever be resurrected by a god, it's up to you to save the Kingdom of Amalur from evil. With quest design similar to World of Warcraft, and graphics and combat similar to Oblivion, Kingdoms of Amalur is a niche experience that players continue to rave about. The FATE edition adds 5 hours of DLC gameplay to this medieval game like Dark Souls!
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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation is an older prequel to Dragon's Dogma II that is definitely worth a playthrough. Embark on an epic, open-world adventure with a team of up to 3 pawns, AI companions that you can create yourself and borrow from other real players around the world. The Dark Arisen DLC includes a massive, underground labyrinth with endless hordes of monsters that will be perfect for lovers of Dark Souls.
Dragon's Dogma II for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation struggled to meet the expectations of thousands of fans of the cult classic Dark Arisen. Despite being delayed for PC, the game released with performance issues and game-breaking bugs. However, the game has undergone massive bug fixes over the last 6 months since its release. If you're looking for a dark fantasy game with powerful monsters, stunning graphics, and endless side quests to get lost in, Dragon's Dogma II is a must-have!
Kingdom Come: Deliverance for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation is the ultimate open-world medieval RPG. Taking place during the Holy Roman Empire, explore a vast open world with castles, forests, villages, and other realistic medieval settings. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a non-linear RPG - solve quests in different ways and suffer the consequences of your choices. The Royal edition includes 13 DLC content packs. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II was just announced for late 2024 or early 2025!
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance brings the classic medieval board game to life for PC, Xbox and PlayStation! Dark Alliance pits players against some of the most formidable beasts in D&D like frost giants, beholders, and white dragons. Dark Alliance is optimized for couch co-op, and you can play with up to 3 friends in a dynamic combat system. Explore the dangerous world of Icewind Dale and defend your homeland from endless hordes of monsters.
Planescape: Torment and Torment: Tides of Numenera for PC are two fantasy role-playing games using the same engine as Pillars of Eternity. GameSpot calls Torment "far more than just a phenomenal role-playing game." Journey through a dangerous fantasy environment called the Ninth World. Torment's combat system is a step above normal turn-based combat. Battles are combined with environmental puzzles, social interaction, stealth and more for a truly unique dark fantasy experience!
Gloomhaven for PC has been called "one of the best dungeon-crawlers ever made." Gloomhaven is a classic tabletop game imagined into a tactical RPG on Steam. Play as one of 17 unique mercenaries and guide your team through an unforgiving dark fantasy world. There are endless dungeons, caves, and dark forests where every choice will make the difference between life and death. Face the hordes alone or in online co-op with 4 players!
Path of Exile for PC is an online dark fantasy ARPG with over 220,000 very positive reviews on Steam. Now is the perfect time to start your journey in PoE with the new Settlers of Kalguur content update! The classic ARPG has added a settlement-building element to the game. Journey to the new outpost of Kalguur and complete quests to help settlers build and defend it. Path of Exile has been a completely free-to-play game since its release in 2013, and developers continue to focus on exciting combat, powerful items, and deep character customization.
Blasphemous and Blasphemous II for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation are the pixelated, Metroidvania version of Dark Souls. Play as the Penitent One, who awakens in a dark fantasy world surrounded by enemies. Blasphemous II released in 2023 with new weapons, new execution animations, and a new gothic world to explore. Blasphemous II is different from other Metroidvania games: explore a non-linear world with no wrong turns, aid NPCs, and customize your skill set. The Blasphemous II Limited Collector's Edition comes with a steel book, a 60-page game guide, 8 art cards, an art books, and the OST.
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