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 92/100 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 (92/100, 10 shared attributes) 2. Legend of Grimrock 2 (71/100, 9 shared attributes) 3. Legend of Grimrock (70/100, 9 shared attributes). All share Shining in the Darkness's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.

Is Legend of Grimrock 2 similar to Shining in the Darkness?

Yes, very much so — Legend of Grimrock 2 scores 71/100 similarity to Shining in the Darkness. They share 9 attributes, including deep RPG systems and puzzle design. 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, Legend of Grimrock 2, Legend of Grimrock and Arx Fatalis. 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.

50 Games like Shining in the Darkness that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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 compared Shining in the Darkness against over 6,700 titles across 12 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Might & Magic X - Legacy, Legend of Grimrock 2 and Legend of Grimrock lead the list, with Might & Magic X - Legacy reaching a 92/100 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

Top games similar to Shining in the Darkness

50 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Shining in the Darkness. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Might & Magic X - LegacyClosest overall match

iRank62

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.

After a decade, a Might & Magic® RPG is back with both the unique core formula and a new set of improved and fine-tuned features. The best RPG of its class!

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals68

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Steam

#2Legend of Grimrock 2

iRank90

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

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: tone.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression86Combat82Visuals68

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

For all your misdeeds, you are sentenced to die at the top of Mount Grimrock. No one ever returned from this gruesome prison alive, but you can try and be the first to escape. On the inside, Mount Grimrock is full of dungeons that can allow the prisoners to slowly descend to the earth level.

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: tone.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression77Combat75Visuals68

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

This critically acclaimed first-person RPG takes the player on an amazing journey into the fantasy world of Arx. The game mixes intelligent story with immersive and actual medieval surroundings. Arx Fatalis allows the player to feel that all his actions have a direct consequence on those around him.

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: combat and setting.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Progression100Tone72Visuals68Setting48

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Steam GOG

#5Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorClosest on tone

iRank89

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

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: visuals.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Tone100Combat89Genre75Setting65Visuals0

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Nintendo

#6The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

iRank87

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

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: setting and combat.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 21 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals67Progression55Combat48

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Steam GOG

#7Avowed

iRank80

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

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: progression and visuals.

Released 8 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Combat77Tone61Visuals43

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Steam Xbox PS

#8King's Bounty: Armored Princess

iRank89

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreIsometric ARPG

SoloMagicTacticalFantasyExploration

Steam👍 91%· 1.3KRAWG👍 90%· 240MC82IGDB90· 1

Year 2009Dev Katauri Interactive · 1C-SoftClubPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Like Shining in the Darkness, it's known for deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat magic

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, open world exploration and historical setting, while skipping puzzle design

King’s Bounty: Armored Princess is a real-time strategy game, serving as a direct sequel to King’s Bounty: The Legend, and based on an older series of King’s Bounty.

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: visuals and progression.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Genre75Setting46Progression45Visuals0

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Steam Epic

#9Gladiator Guild Manager: Prologue

iRank93

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPG

SoloTacticalMagicFantasyMedieval

Steam👍 93%· 1.6K

Year 2020Dev Entertainment Forge · GrabTheGamesPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ If you enjoyed Shining in the Darkness, expect deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, survival mechanics and setting medieval, while skipping puzzle design

ADD FULL GAME TO YOUR WISHLISThttps://store.steampowered.

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: progression and setting.

Released 3 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Combat100Game mode100Genre75Setting39Progression0

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Steam

#10Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

iRank89

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

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: tone and setting.

Released 7 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Progression56Visuals48Combat33Tone0

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Steam GOG Xbox

#11The Elder Scrolls: Arena

iRank83

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

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: combat.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 23 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Visuals67Progression55Combat48

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Steam GOG

#12Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

iRank86

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicTacticalFantasyMelee

IGDB87· 12OC85· 38

Year 2004Dev LEVEL-5 · Square Enix

✓ Shared with Shining in the Darkness: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat magic

≠ Where it differs: brings adventure storytelling, melee combat and ranged combat, while skipping puzzle design

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: visuals.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Setting100Combat76Genre75Visuals0

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#13Marvel's Midnight Suns

iRank81

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloTacticalMagicFantasySkill Tree

Steam👍 82%· 24KRAWG👍 78%· 106OC82· 137

Year 2022Dev Firaxis · 2K GamesPlaytime ~8hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Shared with Shining in the Darkness: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: card game strategy, adventure storytelling and skill tree progression, while skipping puzzle design

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a new tactical RPG set in the darker side of the Marvel Universe, putting you face-to-face against demonic forces of the underworld as you team up with and live among the Midnight Suns, Earth's last line of defense.

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: progression and visuals.

Released 5 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Combat100Game mode100Setting100Genre75Progression0Visuals0

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Steam Epic PS

#14Paper Mario

iRank90

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloTacticalDarkFantasyMelee

IGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev 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 visual 2d, while skipping puzzle design

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: visuals.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 17 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Tone100Setting100Genre75Combat50Visuals0

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Nintendo

#15Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

iRank80

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreIsometric ARPG

SoloTacticalMagicFantasyMelee

IGDB80· 1

Year 2005Dev Nintendo

✓ Like Shining in the Darkness, it's known for deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and combat tactical

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, melee combat and ranged combat, while skipping puzzle design

Where it drifts furthest from Shining in the Darkness: visuals.

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 12 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Setting100Combat78Genre75Visuals0

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Complete list of Shining in the Darkness alternatives

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Shining in the Darkness, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Atomic Heart

RPG · Action RPG

Fire Emblem Awakening

RPG · Roguelike

Pillars of Eternity

RPG · Adventure

Final Fantasy Tactics

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Dark and Darker

RPG · Shooter

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

RPG · Shooter

Jagged Alliance 2

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Cyberpunk 2077

RPG · Action RPG

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

RPG · Action RPG

ULTRAKILL

RPG · Action RPG

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

RPG · Adventure

Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

RPG · Deck Builder

Hellgate: London

RPG · Action RPG

RoboCop: Rogue City

RPG · Action RPG

Bright Memory: Infinite

RPG · Action RPG

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

RPG · Adventure

Fallout: New Vegas

RPG · Action RPG

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

RPG · Action RPG

Bayonetta 3

RPG · Action RPG

Fallout 3

RPG · Action RPG

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

RPG · Action RPG

Dead Island

RPG · Action RPG

The Elder Scrolls: Blades

RPG · Adventure

Fallout 4

RPG · Action RPG

Devil May Cry

RPG · Action RPG

Lollipop Chainsaw

RPG · Action RPG

Dead Island: Riptide

RPG · Action RPG

Starfield

RPG · Action RPG

Dark Cloud

RPG · Simulation

Vagrant Story

RPG · Adventure

Final Fantasy Adventure

RPG · Adventure

Bayonetta

Action RPG · Shooter

Sonic and the Black Knight

RPG · Action RPG

Drakengard 3

RPG · Action RPG

Castlevania: Bloodlines

RPG · Action RPG

Explore games similar to Shining in the Darkness by category

Recent releases similar to Shining in the Darkness

Newest titles in the list, for anyone who has already played the classics.

2025Avowed 2025Kingdom Come: Deliverance II 2024Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

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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 92/100 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 (92/100, 10 shared attributes) 2. Legend of Grimrock 2 (71/100, 9 shared attributes) 3. Legend of Grimrock (70/100, 9 shared attributes). All share Shining in the Darkness's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 12 dimensions.
Is Legend of Grimrock 2 similar to Shining in the Darkness?: Yes, very much so — Legend of Grimrock 2 scores 71/100 similarity to Shining in the Darkness. They share 9 attributes, including deep RPG systems and puzzle design. 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, Legend of Grimrock 2, Legend of Grimrock and Arx Fatalis. 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.