Shining in the Darkness

50 Games like Shining in the Darkness that you should try

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Shining in the Darkness is hard to replace: few games combine deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat magic in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Might & Magic X - Legacy, The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Avowed lead the list, with Might & Magic X - Legacy reaching a 100/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Shining in the Darkness special.

iRank54/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

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Year 2017Dev CALIIXTE

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Quick answer

The closest game to Shining in the Darkness is Might & Magic X - Legacy — scoring 100/100 on our similarity scale. The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Avowed follow close behind.

#1Might & Magic X - Legacy100 #2The Elder Scrolls: Arena93 #3Avowed93 #4Legend of Grimrock 290 #5The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall91

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Games like Shining in the Darkness

50 similar games found

#1Might & Magic X - Legacy

100

iRank62

Might & Magic X - Legacy

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicTacticalFantasyExplorationLootFirst Person

Steam👍 66%· 3.4KRAWG👍 44%· 62MC70IGDB70· 2

Year 2014Dev Ubisoft · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Nearly identical: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and puzzle design.

≠ Missing: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

#2The Elder Scrolls: Arena

93

iRank83

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicFantasyExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 80%· 2.5KIGDB88· 2

Year 1994Dev Bethesda SoftworksOn PC

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, combat magic and fantasy world

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and open world exploration, while skipping puzzle design

93

iRank80

Avowed

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicDarkFantasyExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 77%· 12KIGDB85· 5OC80· 200

Year 2025Dev Obsidian Entertainment · Xbox Game StudiosOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat magic

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus, while skipping puzzle design

#4Legend of Grimrock 2

90

iRank90

Legend of Grimrock 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicTacticalFantasyExplorationLootFirst Person

Steam👍 91%· 4.0KIGDB88· 2

Year 2014Dev Almost Human Ltd.On Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, puzzle design and combat magic

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, survival mechanics and strong narrative focus, while skipping turn-based strategy

#5The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

91

iRank87

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicDarkFantasyExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 86%· 3.5KIGDB89· 1

Year 1996Dev Bethesda SoftworksOn PC

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat magic

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping puzzle design

#6Legend of Grimrock

89

iRank83

Legend of Grimrock

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicTacticalFantasyExplorationLootFirst Person

Steam👍 94%· 6.7KRAWG👍 75%· 298MC82IGDB75· 3

Year 2012Dev Almost Human GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, puzzle design and combat magic

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, survival mechanics and strong narrative focus, while skipping turn-based strategy

89

iRank82

Arx Fatalis

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicDarkFantasyExplorationLootFirst Person

Steam👍 88%· 2.5KRAWG👍 79%· 171MC77IGDB78· 2

Year 2002Dev Arkane Studios · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are first-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, puzzle design and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration, while skipping turn-based strategy

#8Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

79

iRank89

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloTacticalExplorationFirst PersonMelee

Steam👍 90%· 19KIGDB89· 12OC86· 226

Year 2024Dev MachineGames · Bethesda SoftworksOn Xbox · Switch · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, puzzle design and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, precision platforming and strong narrative focus, while skipping turn-based strategy

78

iRank93

ULTRAKILL

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloFantasyFirst PersonRangedMelee

Steam👍 97%· 228KRAWG👍 87%· 141

Year 2020Dev Arsi "Hakita" Patala · New Blood InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Linux

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, fantasy world and single-player focus

≠ Where it differs: brings action RPG combat, first-person shooting and shooter, while skipping puzzle design

#10RoboCop: Rogue City

81

iRank80

RoboCop: Rogue City

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloDarkFirst PersonMeleeNarrative

Steam👍 87%· 34KIGDB74· 6OC73· 114

Year 2023Dev Teyon · NaconOn Xbox · PC · PS5

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, shooter and first-person shooting, while skipping puzzle design

#11Cyberpunk 2077

80

iRank80

Cyberpunk 2077

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloDarkExplorationFirst PersonRanged

Steam👍 86%· 938KRAWG👍 83%· 3.0KMC73IGDB75· 21OC76· 226

Year 2020Dev CD Projekt Red · CD PROJEKT REDPlaytime ~29hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, adventure storytelling and shooter, while skipping puzzle design

#12Bright Memory: Infinite

81

iRank79

Bright Memory: Infinite

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloDarkFirst PersonMeleeHardcore

Steam👍 92%· 40KIGDB67· 5OC63· 95

Year 2021Dev FYQD-Studio · PLAYISMOn Xbox · Android · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and single-player focus

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, shooter and first-person shooting, while skipping puzzle design

#13Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

78

iRank89

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicTacticalDarkFantasy

IGDB90· 2OC88· 100

Year 2004Dev Intelligent Systems · Nintendo

✓ If you enjoyed Shining in the Darkness, expect deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, melee combat and setting scifi, while skipping puzzle design

#14Dark and Darker

83

iRank65

Dark and Darker

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloTacticalMagicExplorationLootFirst Person

Steam👍 65%· 83K

Year 2023Dev IRONMACEOn PC

✓ Fits the first-person Action RPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, combat tactical and combat magic

≠ Stands apart with shooter, adventure storytelling and first-person shooting, while skipping puzzle design

#15Atomic Heart

80

iRank77

Atomic Heart

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloDarkExplorationFirst PersonMelee

Steam👍 81%· 48KIGDB72· 4OC74· 141

Year 2023Dev Mundfish · Focus EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, puzzle design and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Stands apart with action RPG combat, shooter and first-person shooting, while skipping turn-based strategy

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Shining in the Darkness?: The closest game to Shining in the Darkness is Might & Magic X - Legacy, scoring 100/100 on our similarity scale. They share 10 gameplay attributes, including deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and puzzle design. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Shining in the Darkness?: The three closest games to Shining in the Darkness are: 1. Might & Magic X - Legacy (100/100, 10 shared attributes) 2. The Elder Scrolls: Arena (93/100, 6 shared attributes) 3. Avowed (93/100, 7 shared attributes). All share Shining in the Darkness's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is The Elder Scrolls: Arena similar to Shining in the Darkness?: Yes, very much so — The Elder Scrolls: Arena scores 93/100 similarity to Shining in the Darkness. They share 6 attributes, including deep RPG systems and single-player focus. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What RPG games are similar to Shining in the Darkness?: The best RPG games similar to Shining in the Darkness are Might & Magic X - Legacy, The Elder Scrolls: Arena, Avowed and Legend of Grimrock 2. All share the RPG genre alongside other key Shining in the Darkness attributes like deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and puzzle design.
How is similarity to Shining in the Darkness calculated?: We compare Shining in the Darkness against every game in our catalog using 12 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 Shining in the Darkness experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.