Summary
Elden Ringwas released in February 2022 and garnered near-universal praise. The game’s core gameplay is similar to that ofDark Souls 3, though itdifferentiates itself by throwing players intoan enormous open worldthat is packed full of enemies, bosses, NPCs, and dungeons. The game also introduces a handful of new gameplay mechanics, such as summonable Spirit Ashes and the ability to ride a mount.
Unfortunately for Nintendo Switch owners, the game has only been released on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation systems. Thankfully, there are several excellentSwitch games likeElden Ringthat offer a similar experience to FromSoftware’s latest masterpiece.
Updated July 27, 2025, by Mark Sammut:There are only so many Switch games that share similarities with Elden Ring, especially since 3D Soulslikes are not synonymous with the console. Consequently, players looking for something in the same realm might need to sacrifice some aspects and focus on others. For example, they might just need to look for a game that has pretty good boss fights, even if it has nothing else to offer. One such game has been added to this article, and click below to jump directly to this title.
Kicking off with the most obvious choice first,Dark Souls: Remasteredis an action RPG that was developed by FromSoftware, the team that developedElden Ring.The game fine-tuned and expanded upon the mechanics introduced in its predecessor,Demon’s Souls, and has gone on to become one of modern gaming’s most influential releases.
Among the game’s many influential features were its interconnected level design, bonfire checkpoint system, and lore-based storytelling.Dark Soulsalso went against the grain of most AAA games at the time, which were becoming increasingly easier and more railroaded, by offering a notoriously difficult adventure with bosses that can feel like mountains to climb for first-time players.
Dark Souls' success, along with the continued success of the so-called Soulsborne series, has proven to the gaming industry that there are many people still seeking to play games that offer arewardingly difficult challenge.
A44 specializes in Soulslike (or Soulslite) games, with 2024’sFlintlock: The Siege of Dawncoming out to a fairly mixed reception. While that project is not on the Nintendo Switch, the studio’s previous effort,Ashen, is available and, arguably, superior. Now, due to being a few years old by this point, the game shows its age to an extent, and it does feel more antiquated than something likeElden Ring; nevertheless, there is a lot to appreciate here, particularly for anyone craving a sandbox-style Soulslike. Even though exploration is a central component of most of its releases, the genre tends not to go full sandbox or open-world, andAshenwas among the very first to go down this route. Although far smaller, its map structure is similar toElden Ring, allowing players to mostly go where they please as long as they can face the threats that await.
Ashen’s combat sticks close to the Soulslike formula, albeit with a smaller range of weapons that mostly revolve around axes and clubs. A44’s biggest innovation or alternative choice was to mostly eliminate traditional stats, instead prioritizing equipment and upgrade items.Ashensupports multiplayer as well, along with providing AI NPCs who tag along for most encounters. The latter makes the game easier than most of its contemporaries, although bosses still pack a decent punch.
For Switch owners who like the look of taking down enormous enemies and bosses inElden Ring,Monster Hunter Riseis an ideal alternative. As the name suggests, this gametasks players with the perilous mission of taking down dangerous monsters, either alone or with friends, via the game’sexcellent co-op features.Monster Hunter Risesticks to the franchise’s tried and tested gameplay loop of embarking on quests to earn loot and then using that loot to upgrade weapons and armor needed to take on tougher quests for bigger rewards.
Now,Monster Hunterhas never focused on exploration, andRisemostly sticks to that formula. Missions take place in fairly small maps that provide some room to pick up resources, but they mostly just provide a straight shot at the target enemy. The game handles loot differently thanElden Ringas well, with players having to pick up resources to craft weapons and armor rather than receiving the latter as drops. Nevertheless, both games feature fantastic customization and build variety, even if they handle the concept differently.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenwas released on Switch in April 2019 and is an expanded version of the original game. This iteration introduced several new features, including full Japanese voice acting, new weapons, and a new dungeon.Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenboasts a decently-sized open world that feels pretty alive thanks to emergent enemy encounters that add an element of spontaneity, even if most of the map consists of somewhat linear passages.
Due to being roughly a decade old by this point,Dark Arisendoes show its age in place, including somewhat clunky combat and occasionally rough visuals. However, the game’s core has aged pretty well, particularly the vocation (class) system and Pawns. The latter allows players to create an AI support character, and they can even hire Pawns created by other people. While uneven at times and coming with a learning curve, the combat improves as players gain access to more skills, becoming satisfying in the process.
Skyrimis an easy game to recommend to any RPG fan as it gives players the freedom to approach it however they want, with entirely passive or ultra-aggressive playthroughs both providing hundreds of hours of entertainment.
Those looking for anElden Ring-like experience will want to head down the game’s combat-centric routes, which are plentiful and pit players against a wide variety of enemy types. The combat inSkyrimis often criticized for being bland, though the range of weapons and spells available keep things interesting.
Elden Ringhas way more to offer than just boss fights; that said, they are arguably the main attraction. The Lands Between is packed with larger-than-life enemies who can smash poorly prepared Tarnished, and learning how to overcome these challenges is a big part of the fun. In some cases, grinding levels is the way to go; otherwise, tweaking a loadout might be the best bet to try and target an enemy’s weaknesses. It is just addictive.
Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemptionstrips everything back to focus specifically on boss fights. To be exact, players have to overcome eight challenges, and they are allowed to pick the order they can approach some of these encounters. With no exploration and a way more limited selection ofbuild options than typical for Soulslikes,Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemptionneeded to knock its combat and boss design out of the park since it, well, has very little else to offer. Thankfully, the game shines in both of these areas, with the latter being particularly impressive and consistent. The combat sticks very close to theDark Soulsformula, and it is executed competently.
Also,Sinnerhas one pretty unique idea: Sacrifices. Before entering a boss fight, players must accept a sacrifice that will hamper their performance in one way or another. These are accumulative, so players will eventually be carrying every sacrifice. It is a cool and punishing concept that adds a strategic element to the campaign.
The Witcher 3: Wild Huntwas initially released in May 2014 for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 before eventually arriving on Nintendo Switch just over four years later. The game raised the bar for the RPG genre in 2014, with its beautifully designed scenery and castles that showed off the full extent of eighth-generation console technology just one year after the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were released.
The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis an action RPG that differentiates itself fromElden Ringwith itsdialogue-heavy storytellingand narrative-driven world-building, along with a divisive combat system that requires players to really master all of Geralt’s tools. The game’s engrossing writing is one of its strongest features, as almost every quest features an interesting tale that requires players to make a range of difficult choices to determine how it concludes. Ultimately,Elden RingandThe Witcher 3represent the RPG genre at its best, even if they excel in different areas.
While playable,The Witcher 3is, admittedly, at its worst on the Switch.
Salt and Sanctuarymay seem like an odd choice in a list of games likeElden Ring, particularly as it trades the latter’s massive 3D open world for more contained 2D areas. However, the indie game is one of the better examples of an indie Soulslike, with Ska Studios' release being given the complimentary tag of “2DDark Souls.”
The game’s combat, level design, bosses, items, and weapons all take clear influence from FromSoftware’s Soulsborne series, making the indie game a great budget option for those looking for their next Soulslike adventure. The game’s 2D perspective, meanwhile, adds an interesting twist to the Soulslike formula; furthermore,Salt and Sanctuary’s dark loreis fascinating.
Team Cherry’sHollow Knightwas first released in 2017 and has been one of the most talked about indie games since. The game immediately draws players in with its intriguing dark and gloomy atmosphere and ingeniously designed Metrodvania-style map that is begging to be explored.
Hollow Knight’s interconnected map can feel claustrophobic compared toElden Ring’s wide open spaces, but it certainly deserves a spot on this list for not only its sheer quality but also for itsfantastic boss fights, memorable characters, and well-balanced combat that will appeal to fans of FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoningcan be recommended to any Switch owner craving an action RPG set in an attractive fantasy world. Now, the game’s tone, combat, setting, and storytelling are all far removed fromElden Ring, to the point that fans of the latter cannot go in expecting a similar experience. However, if they want a more easy-going RPG with hack and slash combat and vibrant visuals,Kingdoms of Amalurshould more than deliver.
While the remaster does fix a few things,Re-Reckoningbetrays its PS3-era origins, resulting in a charming but janky game at times. It is still worth playing, but some nostalgia for the early 2010s might help the project go down.
