13 Magic games like Dark Souls II that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Dark Souls II does: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with open world exploration and online features.

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Dark Souls II on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression.

Genre puts it alongside Dark Souls II, and so does punishing difficulty, ranged combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: an anime aesthetic and 2D presentation.

It shares the essentials of what Dark Souls II does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode.

Held in common with Dark Souls II: deep RPG systems, magic-based combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to PvP competition and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting: offline play.

On paper it is what Dark Souls II is — punishing difficulty, ranged combat and fantasy world — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and an anime aesthetic.

The genre is the same as Dark Souls II’s, and with it punishing difficulty, ranged combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and game mode: this one brings cozy, relaxing feel and an anime aesthetic.

If Dark Souls II worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. Both also lean on multiplayer gameplay and skill tree progression. The distance is in progression.

If Dark Souls II worked for you because of strong narrative focus, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. To that it adds single-player focus and a third-person camera. They part company on setting: this one brings horror setting.

What brings it close to Dark Souls II is punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, tone and setting. To that it adds a third-person camera and single-player focus. They part company on game mode: this one brings online features.

It comes from the same genre as Dark Souls II and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: an anime aesthetic and 2D presentation.

If Dark Souls II worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is game mode and progression: open world exploration.

Shelved next to Dark Souls II for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and progression: this one brings 3D presentation.