Unfortunately for Nintendo Switch owners, the game has only been released on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation systems. Exclusivity is a common annoyance for gamers, and although many Nintendo-only players will be used to their system being shunned by now, it can still be frustrating when a new, highly talked about game is released and they can’t play it. Thankfully, there are a handful of other excellent games like Elden Ring on the Nintendo Switch, all of which offer a similar experience to FromSoftware’s latest masterpiece.

Updated on May 17th, 2022, by Jack Pursey: It’s been a few months now since Elden Ring hit stores, though the game is still a major talking point among the gaming community. Moreover, Elden Ring still has an impressive number of concurrent players, and to the surprise of many, it recently overtook Call of Duty: Vanguard in US sales, which is an incredible achievement for a single-player game that targets the so-called “hardcore” crowd.

The continued discussion around the game is likely frustrating some Switch owners who can’t play the action RPG, so we’ve expanded this list to include a few more games like Elden Ring on the Nintendo Switch.

8 Monster Hunter Rise

For Switch owners who like the look of taking down enormous enemies and bosses in Elden Ring, Monster Hunter Rise is the perfect alternative. As the name suggests, Monster Hunter Rise tasks players with the perilous mission of taking down dangerous monsters, either alone or with friends using the game’s excellent co-op features.

Monster Hunter Rise was developed by Capcom and first released on the Nintendo Switch in March 2021. The game was a hit with fans and critics, exemplified by its matching 88 Metascore and 8.8 user score.

7 The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Skyrim is 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 all-out aggressive playthroughs both providing hundreds of hours of entertainment.

Those looking for an Elden 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 in Skyrim is often criticized for being bland, though the range of weapons and spells available keep things interesting.

6 Hades

Hades has a handful of core differences from Elden Ring, most notably its roguelike structure and isometric view. However, Hades is still a great choice for those interested in FromSoftware’s game as the action RPG is frighteningly easy to sink countless hours into as the combat is so enjoyable and the enemy designs are so well-designed both from a visual and gameplay perspective.

Hades is one of the most critically acclaimed games of the 2020s thus far. The role-playing game earned a 93 score on Metacritic and also picked up Game of the Year awards from both IGN and the Game Developers Choice Awards.

5 Dark Souls: Remastered

Kicking off with the most obvious choice first, Dark Souls: Remastered is an action RPG that was developed by FromSoftware, the same team behind Elden 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, old-school emphasis on tough boss fights, and lore-based storytelling. Dark Souls also 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 a rewardingly difficult challenge.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild was released in March 2017 and is considered by some to be the greatest game of all time. Nintendo made the bold decision of changing the tried and tested linear formula that had worked wonders for the franchise since Ocarina of Time, by implementing a sprawling open-world.

Although high-quality and care are synonymous with Nintendo’s first-party releases, few expected Breath of the Wild’s open-world to be as impressive as it was. The divisive map is enormous yet meticulously designed to ensure that a quest, activity, or secret is never too far away. This makes Breath of the Wild an absolute joy to explore, as although fast travel is tempting given the map’s size, players know that they’ll uncover all sorts of exciting things by journeying on foot.

One key similarity between Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring is the sense of freedom that both games give to players. Each features a short tutorial - which is optional in Elden Ring’s case - before giving players the freedom to explore the world in any way that they choose. Breath of the Wild takes this concept even further than Elden Ring, as Link is free to fight the final boss as soon as he finishes the tutorial.

3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was 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 visuals 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 Hunt is an action RPG like Elden Ring, but differentiates itself by focusing on dialogue-heavy storytelling. The game’s engrossing narrative is one of its strongest features, as almost every quest in the game features an interesting tale that requires players to make a range of difficult choices in order to determine how it concludes.

2 Salt And Sanctuary

Salt and Sanctuary may seem like an odd choice for a list of Nintendo Switch games that are like Elden Ring when looking at images of the game, particularly as it trades Elden Ring’s massive 3D open-world for more contained 2D areas.

However, Salt and Sanctuary is one of the most common names to come up when people recommend Souls-like games, with Ska Studios’ release being given the complimentary tag of “2D Dark 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 Souls-like adventure.

1 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning was first released in September 2020 on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. It came to the Switch the following year and is a remaster of February 2012’s Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning’s critical reception doesn’t compare to aforementioned games like Breath of the Wild or The Witcher 3, though the game still scored a very respectable 81 on Metacritic. Re-Reckoning on the Nintendo Switch scored a bit lower, however, earning a score of just 72, with critics feeling that it was starting to show its age. Still, for players who want an action RPG with an engrossing fantasy story, Kingdoms of Amulr: Re-Reckoning is a solid choice.

Elden Ring is out now for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC

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