If you want another dark, demanding action RPG after The Relic: First Guardian, start with Lies of P. It is the closest match in this list for dark-fairytale storytelling and focused melee combat. For other parts of The Relic—faster weapon play, Gothic atmosphere, exploration, or challenging bosses—these alternatives offer a better fit.
What to look for in a game like The Relic: First Guardian
The Relic: First Guardian is a single-player dark fantasy action RPG from Project Cloud Games, published by Perp Games. Its world draws on Korean folklore and ancient mythology, with a story framed around restoring memories and following traces left by the people who lived there. Creative director Inhyuk Park described its intended tone as “like an old folktale told by a grandfather to a child; gentle, lingering, and quietly profound.” (PlayStation Blog)
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Its combat and progression also shape what counts as a close alternative. Park says attacks do not consume stamina; defensive actions such as dodging do, while skills have cooldowns. The game features five weapon types, and its official description presents weapons and armor as distinctive finds rather than interchangeable loot. Progression centers on discovered gear and relics instead of traditional character levels. (PlayStation Blog; US PlayStation Store)
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Exploration is semi-open and interconnected, with ruins, dungeons, artifacts, secrets, and lore. Store descriptions advertise “up to 80” boss encounters; that is a publisher-stated maximum, not an independently confirmed count of distinct fights. (Steam; US PlayStation Store)
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Best games like The Relic: First Guardian
| Game | Best fit if you want | What differs | Platforms listed by GamesRadar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lies of P | Dark-fairytale story and melee-focused Soulslike action | A puppet-filled wasteland and an emphasis on offense make it a thematic and combat match, not a direct copy of The Relic’s setting or systems. | PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X |
| Nioh 2 | Fast, technically rich weapon combat | It emphasizes a broad weapon selection, skill trees, and timing-based ki recovery rather than The Relic’s stamina-free attacks. | PC, PS4, PS5 |
| Bloodborne | Gothic atmosphere and aggressive combat | Its health-recovery mechanic rewards attacking; its listed platform is PS4. | PS4 |
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | Exploration and hard boss fights, if 2D is welcome | It is a 2D adventure rather than a third-person 3D action RPG. | PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox family systems |
| Steelrising | Story-driven alternate history and movement-focused combat | Its mechanical-monster take on 1789 Paris and focus on traversal offer a different setting and emphasis. | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
Platform lists above follow GamesRadar’s guide, dated 4 May 2026; check current store listings for platform and edition availability. (GamesRadar)
Start with Lies of P for the closest overall mood
Lies of P is the strongest first pick if what stayed with you was a grim, story-led world and melee action with a Soulslike feel. Its puppet-filled setting gives it a dark-fairytale identity, while its offensive focus makes its fights feel assertive. Choose it for the broad overlap in tone and combat, not because its folklore, exploration structure, or progression system is the same as The Relic.
Rank #2
- Release date is tentative, updates will be posted on the page
Choose Nioh 2 for deeper weapon mechanics
Nioh 2 suits players who want combat to move quickly and reward deliberate weapon and timing choices. Its many weapons, skill trees, and ki recovery system make it a better match for mechanical variety than for The Relic’s quiet folktale tone.
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Choose Bloodborne for Gothic tension
Bloodborne is the pick when atmosphere matters more than matching the fantasy setting. Its Gothic world and health recovery tied to aggressive play favor pressing an attack rather than relying only on cautious defense.
Rank #3
- Visceral Action Combat: Real-time combat keeps action at the forefront; Switch between jobs with a push of a button, use the powerful Lightbringer ability to push back monstrous hordes, and finish them off with a crystal crushing finishing move
- Deep Character Customization: With each enemy defeated and chest opened, uncover powerful treasure to help on your journey; Find the right combination of abilities to fit the way you play and don’t forget to customize your teammates gear for added support
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Choose Hollow Knight: Silksong for exploration and bosses in 2D
If you are open to leaving third-person 3D behind, Hollow Knight: Silksong offers a large, dangerous space to explore and challenging boss encounters. It shares the exploration-and-boss appeal, but not the camera, scale, or action-RPG presentation.
Choose Steelrising for traversal and alternate history
Steelrising pairs a story-driven alternate-history setting—mechanical monsters in 1789 Paris—with movement-focused combat and weapon variety. It is a useful alternative if you value navigating the world and changing how you fight more than a folklore setting.
Rank #4
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- A NEW TAKE ON 3rd PERSON COMBAT: The martial arts style combat system allows you maximum freedom of movement and agility while mixing shooting, melee and powers from your mutations.
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How to choose based on what you liked
- Dark fairytale and story: Start with Lies of P.
- Weapon depth and fast combat: Choose Nioh 2.
- Gothic mood and aggressive play: Choose Bloodborne.
- Exploration and bosses, with a 2D perspective: Try Hollow Knight: Silksong.
- Traversal and alternate history: Try Steelrising.
What to know about The Relic’s current reception and release dates
Store ratings are a changing snapshot, not a controlled measure of quality. When accessed on 7 October 2026, Steam showed 44% positive from 175 all-time reviews and 50% positive from 12 recent reviews; its page also said Project Cloud Games had released 18 patches and was still working on technical and performance issues. The US PlayStation Store showed 2.48 out of 5 from 973 global player ratings on that date. (Steam; US PlayStation Store)
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