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DARK SOULS™ II similar games & best alternatives

DARK SOULS™ II

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 • 2014

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Quick resume

Developed by FROM SOFTWARE, DARK SOULS™ II is the highly anticipated sequel to the gruelling 2011 breakout hit Dark Souls. The unique old-school action RPG experience captivated imaginations of gamers worldwide with incredible challenge and intense emotional reward.

Global score

88/100

Genres

Action, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure

Similar games

    Pros

    • Challenging and rewarding combat
    • Deep character customization and builds
    • Large, detailed world with secrets
    • Engaging multiplayer co-op and pvp
    • High replay value and long playtime

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve and difficulty may frustrate
    • Some technical issues and hitbox inconsistencies
    • Story and lore are obscure and fragmented
    • Enemy placement can feel unfair at times
    • Pc controls less intuitive without gamepad

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Domination, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Story. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to build characters, choose weapons, and explore multiple paths with minimal handholding."

    • Competence
      5

      "High skill requirement with challenging combat, boss fights, and learning enemy patterns."

    • Competition
      3

      "Includes PvP invasions, duels, and covenants encouraging player versus player combat."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Players report long playtimes, repeated attempts, and habitual return to the game."

    • Cooperation
      4

      "Co-op multiplayer is integral, allowing summoning of other players to assist in boss fights."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Character builds and weapon customization allow creative playstyles and experimentation."

    • Domination
      2

      "PvP invasions and competitive covenants allow exerting dominance over other players."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a challenging escape from real life, immersing in its dark world."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and desire, not obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players try different builds, weapons, and strategies to overcome challenges."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Game world is large with many secrets, hidden paths, and encourages thorough exploration."

    • Expression
      3

      "Character customization and armor sets allow personal expression within game constraints."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Dark fantasy setting with mythical creatures, undead, and supernatural elements."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Community interaction through multiplayer, shared experiences, and covenants."

    • Growth
      5

      "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and improve through repeated attempts."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement, not suited for idle play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some social interaction in multiplayer but limited emotional closeness."

    • Leadership
      -2

      "Mostly individual progression with some cooperative support roles, no strong leadership."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on leveling up, collecting souls, upgrading weapons and gear."

    • Relaxation
      -4

      "Game is tense and challenging, causing frustration and adrenaline rather than relaxation."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Atmospheric visuals and sound design provide immersive sensory experience."

    • Status
      2

      "PvP and multiplayer recognition provide some social status and visibility."

    • Story
      3

      "Lore is fragmented and subtle, delivered through NPCs and item descriptions."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Requires planning, timing, and tactical thinking to defeat enemies and bosses."

    • Thrill
      4

      "High tension and suspense from risk of death and difficult encounters."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report high replay value and long hours of engaging content."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat focused on defeating enemies and bosses with weapons and magic."

    • Survival
      4

      "Players must manage health, stamina, and resources to survive hostile environments."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026