7 Games Like Code Vein if You’re Looking for Something Similar

Code Vein can be a lengthy and enthralling Souls-like experience, but even it will reach a point where you have nothing else to do. Fortunately, we’ve got seven games like Code Vein if you’re looking for something similar.

God Eater 3

If Code Vein’s anime aesthetic and action-heavy gameplay were what kept you drawn to the title, then God Eater 3 is right up your alley.

Set in a world where voracious beings known as Aragami have pushed humanity to the brink, you take the role of a God Eater – an individual capable of wielding weapons that can slay these otherworldly beasts.

Using your weapon of choice, you’ll be tasked with facing down these threats, growing stronger and digging deeper into the cause behind these creatures’ rise to power across the globe.

It’s pretty standard fare for a post-apocalyptic anime story, but one which drives the gameplay and character arcs much in the same way Code Vein did.

It likewise has a deep pool of character customization options both in how you look and how you play, allowing you to experiment and adjust your playstyle until you’re properly satisfied with your character.

Sekiro

While some of FromSoftware’s other games might be a better match to Code Vein in terms of gameplay, Sekiro‘s more readily apparent story is sure to strike a chord with those who enjoyed Code Vein’s narrative.

Every part of the story, from Sekiro’s journey to save his young lord Kuro to the dark secrets that are laid bare from the land of Ashina’s past, is masterfully told and draws you further into the world much in the same way Code Vein’s lore does.

It likewise makes the gameplay that much more rewarding, punishing as it may be.

What could have been a confrontation with a usual Soulsborne boss instead becomes an epic struggle for the future of the land, capped off with some epic anime-esque finishing blows when you finally overcome them.

Top it all off with a properly dark and dismal tone throughout, and you’ve got a Souls-like that’s sure to scratch the same itch as Code Vein for a good long while.

The Surge 2

While it may not be the perfect game, The Surge 2 has plenty to offer to those who enjoyed the open-ended nature of the gameplay and character customization in Code Vein.

As with the first entry in the series, The Surge 2’s gameplay is more complex than simply attacking an enemy after you’ve locked onto them. Each of an enemy’s limbs can be locked onto, allowing you to specifically target enemies in a way that opens up several avenues of attack and strategy.

This allows for a variety of builds to be implemented, from heavy-hitting tanks to classes which move fast and pick apart enemies from several different directions.

The character customization likewise offers just as many different options as Code Vein. From your character’s base appearance to the armor they wear, an impressive amount of how your character looks can be changed on the fly to suit your particular tastes at any given time.

Bloodborne

If you had to pick any Soulsborne title that had the biggest influence on Code Vein’s design, it would be hard not to point to Bloodborne as the strongest contender.

Both games share a hefty number of elements in common, from their gothic themes and character designs to their obsession with blood drinking, gory kills and the concept of blood in general.

Fortunately, this also means that those looking for an experience similar to Code Vein would be perfectly served by checking out or going back to Bloodborne.

In addition to the themes and tone being a perfect match for what they’re looking for, the gameplay is similarly open-ended and action heavy.

Unlike with Dark Souls or Sekiro, it finds a nice balance between tactical play and speed, making for an experience that engages players without bogging them down.

It’s about as good of a match as Code Vein fans could hope to find, and you’d be foolish to not at least give it a look after seeing the credits of Code Vein roll.

Darksiders 3

If the adherence to an original art style and aesthetic was a big part of what kept you hooked to Code Vein, then Darksiders 3‘s similar commitment to its own style will be right up your alley.

Similarly set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game bleeds with an energy and appearance that is hard to find in other games.

Everything, from the mythical characters to the arcane settings you travel to, feel like they were designed according to their own scheme and stick with you thanks to the art style used throughout.

It also helps that the game takes a fair few pages out of the Souls-like handbook for its gameplay, going for a much more tactical and thoughtful approach to combat than past entries in the series.

Top it all off with the fact that you don’t need to play the other entries in the series to enjoy the game, and you’ve got a title that’s perfect for anyone looking for a palette cleanser following a bulkier, lengthier playthrough of a game like Code Vein.

Nioh

Don’t let the realistic aesthetic fool you – Nioh is just as driven by anime themes and tropes as Code Vein is, all while embracing the punishing gameplay of the Souls-like genre.

The game places you in the role of William, a shipwrecked sailor and prison escapee who finds himself embroiled in a conflict involving Yokai wreaking havoc throughout the land as part of a political subterfuge campaign.

As it so happens, the orchestrator of the chaos is the same one who wrongfully jailed William, and so he agrees to help the people of Japan beat back the threat bearing down on them, no matter how many times he must come back to life to battle these ghostly threats.

The game is just as bonkers and ridiculous as it sounds, but it’s got a generous helping of anime craziness to keep the gameplay, story, and characters from ever feeling too serious.

It also helps that the game has a sequel on the way, making a playthrough all the more rewarding if you’re looking for something to grab your interest and drive your choice of what to play for what could be months on end.

Dark Souls (Any Entry)

Being that the series is the root of the Souls-like genre that Code Vein styles itself after, you can’t go wrong playing any of the Dark Souls titles if you want a similar experience.

From the iconic design of the first title that kicked off the series, to the dark ruminations behind the story of the third game, each of the Dark Souls games has something to offer to perspective fans of the genre.

Fans of Code Vein in particular will love the element of struggling for survival, and how this struggle impacts each character’s motivations as they make their way through a dark and inhospitable world.

There’s also the diverse and open-ended nature of the gameplay to consider. Like Code Vein, it offers a vast array of options for how you want to approach combat and rewards you for learning to play in whatever style suits you best.

It’s a be-all end-all of similar experiences, and they should be at the top of your list whether it would be your first time playing them or the hundredth go-around.