Shining in the Darkness

20 Dark 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.

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Shining in the Darkness down to the 20 that fit the “Dark” category. Arx Fatalis, Final Fantasy Tactics and Avowed top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Shining in the Darkness.

iRank54/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

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DarkSolo

Year 2017Dev CALIIXTE

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Quick answer

Within the “Dark” category, the closest game to Shining in the Darkness is Arx Fatalis — scoring 69/100 on our similarity scale. Final Fantasy Tactics and Avowed follow close behind.

#1Arx Fatalis69 #2Final Fantasy Tactics58 #3Avowed58 #4Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door57 #5The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall56

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The best dark games like Shining in the Darkness

20 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.

#1Arx FatalisClosest overall match

69

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

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

#2Final Fantasy TacticsClosest on tone

58

Final Fantasy Tactics

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreIsometric ARPG

SoloTacticalMagicDarkFantasyPixel Art

Year 1997Dev Square Product Development Division 4 · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3

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

≠ Its own twist: 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 20 years, with what that implies technically.

Game mode100Tone100Combat78Genre75Setting59Visuals46

#3AvowedClosest on setting

58

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

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

Released 8 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Combat77Tone61Visuals43

#4Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

57

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

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

#5The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

56

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

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

53

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

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

Released 6 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals68Tone60Progression59Combat0

#7Jagged Alliance 2Closest on combat

52

Jagged Alliance 2

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreIsometric ARPG

SoloTacticalMagicDarkHistorical

Year 1999Dev Sir-Tech Canada · Titan ComputerOn Linux · PC · Mac

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

≠ Stands apart with adventure storytelling, roguelike runs and historical setting, while skipping puzzle design

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

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 18 years, with what that implies technically.

Combat100Game mode100Tone100Genre75Setting0Visuals0

51

Paper Mario

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

#9Pillars of Eternity

49

Pillars of Eternity

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreIsometric ARPG

SoloTacticalMagicDarkFantasyExploration

Steam👍 88%· 26KIGDB81· 6OC89· 71

Year 2015Dev Obsidian EntertainmentOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ If you enjoyed Shining in the Darkness, expect deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat tactical

≠ Its own twist: adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration, while skipping puzzle design

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

Combat100Game mode100Setting100Genre75Tone64Progression36

#10Hellgate: London

47

Hellgate: London

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG

SoloMagicDarkLootFirst Person

Steam👍 57%· 2.3KIGDB70· 2

Year 2007Dev Flagship Studios · HanbitSoftOn PC

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

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

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

It predates Shining in the Darkness by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone89Progression65Game mode55Visuals54Combat51

#11Cyberpunk 2077

44

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

Cyberpunk 2077 is a science fiction game loosely based on the role-playing game Cyberpunk 2020. ###Setting The game is set in the year 2077 in a fictional futuristic metropolis Night City in California.

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

Released 3 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Tone66Visuals54Progression53Combat0

44

Dark Cloud

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMagicDarkFantasyThird Person

Year 2000Dev LEVEL-5 · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PS4

✓ If you enjoyed Shining in the Darkness, expect deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat magic

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, adventure storytelling and visual third person, 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 mode100Tone100Setting100Genre75Combat67Visuals0

#13Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

43

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreIsometric ARPG

SoloMagicDarkFantasyHorror

IGDB85· 1

Year 1996Dev Silicon Knights · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Like Shining in the Darkness, it's known for deep RPG systems, dark, oppressive atmosphere and combat magic

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

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

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

Game mode100Tone100Genre75Combat67Setting62Visuals0

#14RoboCop: Rogue CityClosest on visuals

42

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

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

Released 6 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals70Tone67Combat0Setting0

#15Bright Memory: Infinite

42

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

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

Released 4 years after Shining in the Darkness.

Genre100Game mode100Tone79Visuals68Combat0Setting0

Complete list of dark games like Shining in the Darkness

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.

Dead Island

Dead Island

RPG · Action RPG

Dead Island: Riptide

Dead Island: Riptide

RPG · Action RPG

Lollipop Chainsaw

Lollipop Chainsaw

RPG · Action RPG

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence

RPG · Action RPG

Castlevania: Bloodlines

Castlevania: Bloodlines

RPG · Action RPG

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