14 Dark games like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King down to the 14 that fit the “Dark” category. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, Overlord II and Hunted: The Demon’s Forge top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

The best dark games like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

14 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Each one has been evaluated across 14 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.

#1Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

iRank86

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMagicMeleeRangedDarkFantasyThird Person

IGDB86· 5

Year 2009Dev LEVEL-5 · Nintendo

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: turn-based strategy, sandbox freedom and sandbox world, while skipping action RPG combat

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeMagicDarkFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 89%· 4.9KIGDB79· 4

Year 2009Dev Triumph Studios · CodemastersOn PlayStation 3 · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, real-time strategy and strong narrative focus, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

Steam GOG

#3Hunted: The Demon’s Forge

iRank62

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloCo-opMeleeMagicRangedDarkFantasyLootSkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 75%· 1.4KRAWG👍 41%· 79MC61IGDB66· 5

Year 2011Dev Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

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

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping multiplayer gameplay

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeMagicDarkFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 64%· 7.0KRAWG👍 37%· 267MC76IGDB69· 6

Year 2010Dev Reality Pump · TopWare InteractivePlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

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

≠ Where it differs: brings strong narrative focus, open world exploration and setting medieval, while skipping ranged combat

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloCo-opMagicMeleeDarkFantasyThird Person

IGDB78· 8

Year 2010Dev Lionhead Studios · Microsoft Game StudiosOn PC

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

≠ Stands apart with deep simulation, sandbox freedom and strong narrative focus, while skipping ranged combat

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerMagicMeleeDarkFantasyLootSkill TreeThird Person

IGDB74· 6

Year 2010Dev Visceral Games · Electronic ArtsOn PlayStation 3

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

≠ Where it differs: brings horror setting and setting mythology, while skipping ranged combat

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkThird Person

Steam👍 91%· 4.2KIGDB88· 6OC79· 99

Year 2022Dev INTERIOR/NIGHT · Xbox Game StudiosOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design and strong narrative focus, while skipping action RPG combat

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#8The Haunted: Hells Reach

iRank59

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

Co-opMultiplayerSoloMeleeRangedDarkThird Person

Steam👍 85%· 765RAWG👍 25%· 20MC51

Year 2011Dev KTX Software · ValuSoftPlaytime ~2hOn PC

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

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and third-person shooting, while skipping adventure storytelling

Details →

Steam

#9South Park™: The Stick of Truth™

iRank90

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMeleeMagicRangedDarkFantasySkill TreeThird Person

Steam👍 98%· 72KRAWG👍 91%· 1.7KMC84IGDB80· 14OC85· 72

Year 2014Dev Obsidian Entertainment · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Where it differs: brings turn-based strategy, open world exploration and exploration and discovery, while skipping action RPG combat

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

#10Rune

iRank83

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerMeleeDarkFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 90%· 922IGDB70· 1

Year 2000Dev Human Head Studios · Nine RealmsOn Linux · PC · Mac

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

≠ Its own twist: setting mythology, while skipping combat magic

Details →

Steam

#11Overlord

iRank83

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

MultiplayerSoloMeleeMagicDarkFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 94%· 6.7KRAWG👍 77%· 638MC81IGDB70· 2

Year 2007Dev Triumph Studios · CodemastersPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox · Apple Macintosh

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

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, real-time strategy and strong narrative focus, while skipping ranged combat

Details →

Steam Xbox

#12Red Dead Redemption 2

iRank93

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeRangedDarkThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 876KRAWG👍 91%· 5.5KMC96IGDB94· 17OC95· 220

Year 2018Dev Rockstar GamesPlaytime ~21hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are third-person Action RPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

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

Details →

Steam Epic Xbox

#13Styx: Shards of Darkness

iRank77

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkFantasyThird Person

Steam👍 83%· 6.8KIGDB71· 14OC72· 75

Year 2017Dev Cyanide Studio · Focus EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Same family of third-person Action RPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and dark, oppressive atmosphere

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, punishing difficulty and open world exploration, while skipping action RPG combat

Details →

Steam GOG Epic

#14Deadpool

iRank84

GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG

SoloMultiplayerMeleeDarkThird Person

Steam👍 91%· 3.3KIGDB70· 13

Year 2013Dev High Moon Studios · ActivisionOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

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

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, third-person shooting and first-person shooting, while skipping combat magic

Details →

Steam Xbox PS

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