Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

56 Games like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor that you should try

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Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 19 gameplay attributes and found 56 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, God of War and Bayonetta lead the list, with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim reaching a 98/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor special.

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

Tags

DarkNarrativeSolo

Year 2014Dev Monolith Productions

Stores

Steam ↗PS ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — scoring 98/100 on our similarity scale. God of War and Bayonetta follow close behind.

#1The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim98 #2God of War97 #3Bayonetta98 #4Ninja Gaiden97 #5Bayonetta 398

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Games like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

56 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

#1The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

98

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloStealthMagicMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 95%· 318KRAWG👍 89%· 4.9KMC94IGDB80· 10

Year 2011Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~46hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: procedural generation, crafting mechanics and visual first person, while skipping loot and gear systems

97

God of War

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyThird PersonHistorical

OC94· 256

Year 2009Dev SCE Santa Monica Studio · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with historical setting, while skipping sandbox freedom

98

Bayonetta

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyThird Person

IGDB91· 15OC85· 51

Year 2009Dev Nex Entertainment · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: action RPG combat, adventure storytelling and fantasy world

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter and third-person shooting, while skipping deep RPG systems

97

Ninja Gaiden

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicMeleeRangedThird Person

IGDB93· 2

Year 2004Dev Team NINJA · Tecmo

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: sandbox freedom.

98

Bayonetta 3

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyThird Person

IGDB90· 4OC85· 142

Year 2022Dev PlatinumGames · NintendoOn Switch

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter and third-person shooting, while skipping sandbox freedom

98

Infamous 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloOpen WorldExplorationThird Person

IGDB85· 6

Year 2011Dev Sucker Punch Productions · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, while skipping sandbox freedom

#7Devil May Cry

98

Devil May Cry

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyThird Person

IGDB85· 4OC77· 12

Year 2001Dev Capcom Production Studio 4 · Capcom

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: sandbox freedom.

#8Fable: The Lost Chapters

96

Fable: The Lost Chapters

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeMagicRangedNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 8.2KIGDB84· 3

Year 2005Dev Big Blue Box · Microsoft Game StudiosOn PC · Mac

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: stealth mechanics.

96

Fable

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person

IGDB90· 2

Year 2004Dev Big Blue Box · Microsoft Game Studios

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with historical setting, while skipping action RPG combat

#10The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

95

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 97%· 869KRAWG👍 93%· 7.2KMC92IGDB92· 26OC93· 179

Year 2015Dev CD PROJEKT REDPlaytime ~43hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: sandbox freedom.

96

Gothic

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloStealthMagicRangedMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationLootSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 93%· 18KIGDB78· 1

Year 2001Dev Piranha Bytes · JoWooD Entertainment AGOn PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: punishing difficulty, historical setting and crafting mechanics, while skipping sandbox freedom

#12Final Fantasy XII

95

Final Fantasy XII

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicMeleeRangedSandbox WorldOpen WorldFantasyExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

IGDB91· 4

Year 2006Dev Square Enix Product Development Division 4 · Square Enix

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and sandbox freedom

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, while skipping action RPG combat

#13The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

95

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 95%· 52KIGDB81· 6

Year 2006Dev Bethesda Game Studios · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Fits the third-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings historical setting, setting mythology and visual first person, while skipping stealth mechanics

#14Heavenly Sword

95

Heavenly Sword

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloNarrativeFantasyThird Person

IGDB88· 4

Year 2007Dev Ninja Theory · Sony Computer Entertainment EuropeOn PlayStation 3

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.

≠ Missing: sandbox freedom.

#15Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

97

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloDarkFantasyMedievalThird Person

IGDB78· 3

Year 2003Dev KonamiOn PlayStation 3

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings horror setting, while skipping sandbox freedom

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?: The closest game to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, scoring 98/100 on our similarity scale. They share 18 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?: The three closest games to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor are: 1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (98/100, 18 shared attributes) 2. God of War (97/100, 6 shared attributes) 3. Bayonetta (98/100, 5 shared attributes). All share Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 56 candidates across 19 dimensions.
Is God of War similar to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?: Yes, very much so — God of War scores 97/100 similarity to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. They share 6 attributes, including deep RPG systems and action RPG combat. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor?: The best RPG games similar to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor are The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, God of War, Ninja Gaiden and Bayonetta 3. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor attributes like deep RPG systems, action RPG combat and adventure storytelling.
How is similarity to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor calculated?: We compare Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor against every game in our catalog using 19 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.