Elden Ring vs Lords of the Fallen: Which Soulslike Is Better for Beginners?

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For most first-time Soulslike players, Elden Ring is the better starting point. Its large connected world, horseback travel, stealth, varied weapons and magic, online play, and ally summons give beginners several ways to reduce pressure when a fight or area feels overwhelming. You can leave a difficult encounter, explore elsewhere, change your equipment or build, and return with more options.

Lords of the Fallen is the better fit if you specifically want co-op or a more directed dark-fantasy campaign. It offers nine classes, hundreds of weapons, fast combat, an interconnected world, and a mechanic that lets your character rise again in the realm of the dead after falling in the living world. Those systems can help, but the combat is still explicitly described as fast and challenging.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version)	$34.00	Buy on Amazon
2		Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc	$74.27	Buy on Amazon
3		Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5	$43.95	Buy on Amazon
4		Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5)	$40.00	Buy on Amazon
5		Elden Ring - PlayStation 5	$39.99	Buy on Amazon

This comparison treats “the new PlayStation Plus Soulslike” as Lords of the Fallen (2023). PlayStation Plus monthly-game rotations are temporary and can differ by region: Sony’s April 29, 2026 announcement said members could add Lords of the Fallen through May 4, before identifying Wuchang: Fallen Feathers in the May lineup. Check your own PlayStation Store before assuming either game is currently included.

The short answer for a first Soulslike

Choose Elden Ring if you are new to the genre, are comfortable learning at your own pace, or want the greatest ability to change your approach when you get stuck. Choose Lords of the Fallen if your priority is playing alongside a friend, following a more directed dark-fantasy journey, or trying a game through a current free trial or subscription offer before buying.

#1 Best Overall

Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version)

• Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
• Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.

$34.00

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“Better for beginners” is a fit judgment, not an official difficulty ranking. Neither Bandai Namco/FromSoftware nor PlayStation publishes a standardized beginner-difficulty score for these games. The recommendation here comes from the practical escape routes each game documents: where you can go, how many approaches you can use, whether another player can help, and what happens after failure.

What each game actually offers

Why Elden Ring is the safer first choice

You can leave a problem instead of repeatedly hitting it

The most useful beginner feature in Elden Ring is not a single weapon or spell. It is the ability to change the situation. Bandai Namco and FromSoftware describe a world that can be crossed on foot or horseback, with enemies that can be approached directly, picked off using stealth, or confronted with allies. That creates several practical responses to a defeat:

• Ride away from a dangerous group and investigate another area.
• Explore a different section of the connected world rather than treating one boss as a mandatory immediate test.
• Return with a different weapon, magical ability, or character setup.
• Use stealth to reduce the number of enemies you face at once.
• Call allies when a fight is more manageable with additional pressure on the enemy.

This does not make Elden Ring objectively easy. It means a beginner is less often forced to solve one combat puzzle with one narrow answer. The recommendation is an inference from those documented systems, not a claim that every boss or area will be simpler.

A large world can teach you without a tutorial checklist

Elden Ring’s connected landscapes and complex dungeons let you learn by moving through the world. A player who is unsure about timing, spacing, equipment or resource use can spend time in a different area and return later. That natural pacing is valuable because Soulslikes usually teach through consequences: an enemy attack reveals a timing problem, a crowded room reveals a positioning problem, and a failed attempt shows which part of your plan needs changing.

The trade-off is that a very large world can be disorienting. If you prefer a clear route and a compact sequence of challenges, the same freedom that helps one beginner may feel like a lack of direction to another. Use a simple personal rule: when a location stops teaching you anything new and only produces repeated defeats, mark it mentally as a return-later problem.

Multiple builds reduce the cost of early mistakes

The official description emphasizes many weapons and magical abilities. For a new player, variety matters because your first choice does not have to define the entire game. A close-range approach, a ranged or magical approach, stealth, and ally support can all change how much risk you take in a fight. You still need to learn the controls and enemy patterns, but you have more room to find a style that feels natural.

Rank #3

Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5

• Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5

$43.95

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Bosses are not the only way to make progress

Readers often ask whether Elden Ring lets them skip a boss and come back later. Its open exploration and horseback travel provide the practical answer: when a boss or encounter is beyond your current comfort level, you can usually pursue other activities and return with more experience or different tools. “Usually” matters here; the game still contains progression gates and specific encounters, but its structure is far less dependent on defeating every challenge the first time you see it.

Where Lords of the Fallen can be better for a beginner

Co-op is a first-class reason to choose it

PlayStation lists an expansive campaign that can be played alone or with a second player in uninterrupted online co-op, while the product comparison identifies optional online co-op for up to three players. If you already have a friend willing to learn alongside you, that changes the beginner equation. You can discuss a failed attempt, divide attention during a difficult encounter, and maintain motivation when learning solo would feel isolating.

Co-op is not a substitute for understanding the game. Agree on basic responsibilities before starting: who explores first, when to pause and change equipment, and whether you will retry a difficult encounter immediately or continue elsewhere. Also verify the exact player limit and platform requirements shown for your edition and region, because online features and subscription requirements can change.

The living-world and dead-world mechanic gives failure a second context

PlayStation describes a mechanic in which a character who falls in the living world can rise again in the world of the dead. This is a distinctive recovery layer: a defeat does not always end the sequence at the same point, and the alternate realm can become part of how you navigate danger.

It should not be read as a universal safety net. The mechanic adds decisions and can introduce its own threats, so a beginner still needs to learn when to continue, when to retreat, and how to manage the additional risk. Its value is that failure can open another state of the level rather than functioning only as a reset.

Classes and equipment support deliberate experimentation

The official PlayStation page lists nine character classes and hundreds of weapons. That is enough range to let you choose a starting identity that matches your preference, then refine your approach as you understand the combat. If you enjoy comparing equipment and planning a build before entering an area, Lords of the Fallen may feel more immediately structured than Elden Ring’s enormous field of possibilities.

Rank #4

Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5)

$40.00

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A directed dark-fantasy campaign may be easier to follow

The game’s interconnected world is presented as a deliberate campaign rather than an invitation to wander indefinitely. That can suit beginners who want a stronger sense of “where next?” The trade-off is pressure: PlayStation also characterizes the combat as fast and challenging. A more directed route does not automatically mean less demanding fights.

Head-to-head: the beginner questions that matter

Which is easier: Elden Ring or Lords of the Fallen?

There is no authoritative numeric answer. For most beginners, Elden Ring is more forgiving in the practical sense because exploration, stealth, mounts, varied equipment and ally summons let you reduce difficulty without abandoning the game. Lords of the Fallen can be more comfortable for a player who has a co-op partner or prefers a focused route, but its advertised fast, challenging combat may demand quicker adaptation.

Is Elden Ring a good first Soulslike?

Yes, especially if you are willing to explore rather than repeatedly challenge the same obstacle. Start by treating the world as a set of options, not a test you must pass in a fixed order. Experiment with one weapon or spell at a time, learn which attacks you can safely punish, and use the game’s travel and ally systems when a fight exceeds your current skill.

Should you play Lords of the Fallen before buying Elden Ring?

Play it first if you can access a legitimate current trial, subscription listing or copy and want to test whether the genre’s combat loop suits you. It will show you whether you enjoy stamina-conscious attacks, learning enemy patterns, recovering from deaths and making build decisions. It will not serve as a direct tutorial for Elden Ring: the worlds, timing, equipment systems and encounter designs differ.

Can you play Lords of the Fallen with a friend?

Yes. PlayStation advertises online co-op, including an uninterrupted campaign with another player, and the comparison materials list support for up to three players. Confirm the current online requirements for your console account and edition before inviting someone, then decide whether you want to progress together or use co-op only for difficult sections.

Does Elden Ring let you avoid a boss?

Its open exploration means you can often leave a difficult encounter, travel elsewhere and return later. That is one of the strongest beginner advantages in the comparison. It is not a promise that every boss is optional or that the entire game can be completed without required fights.

Best Value

Sale

Elden Ring - PlayStation 5

• ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware Inc. and produced by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG and FromSoftware's largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril
• Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
• Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, and foreboding castles
• Create your character in FromSoftware’s refi ned action-RPG and defi ne your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world
• Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid - many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat

$39.99

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Choose by your learning style

A beginner plan for Elden Ring

1. Begin with exploration, not a completion deadline. Spend your first sessions learning movement, basic attacks, guarding or evasion, and how enemies signal their strongest moves.
2. Use the world as a difficulty control. If an encounter repeatedly defeats you, ride or walk away and investigate another route. Return after you have learned more or changed your equipment.
3. Test one major change at a time. Swap a weapon, magical ability, stealth approach or ally option, then observe which part of the fight improves. Changing everything at once makes it hard to identify what helped.
4. Practice spacing before damage chasing. A safe opening is more valuable than an extra attack that leaves you exposed. Watch an enemy’s recovery, take one measured opportunity, and reset your position.
5. Use help without treating it as failure. The official feature list explicitly includes calling allies. Summons are one of the systems intended to let players approach encounters differently.
6. Keep a return list. When a boss, dungeon or enemy group feels beyond you, note it mentally and move on. This prevents one roadblock from becoming the definition of the whole game.

A beginner plan for Lords of the Fallen

1. Choose a class that matches your preferred distance. The game offers nine classes, so select a starting style you are willing to practice rather than choosing only for appearance.
2. Learn the pace before optimizing. PlayStation describes the combat as fast and challenging. Focus first on recognizing attack ranges, recovery windows and when to disengage.
3. Use the two-world mechanic deliberately. When you rise in the world of the dead after falling in the living world, assess the new situation instead of rushing forward automatically.
4. Change equipment with a purpose. Hundreds of weapons create options, but constant switching can hide the fundamentals. Keep a reliable choice while testing alternatives against specific problems.
5. Set co-op expectations. Decide whether your partner is helping with exploration, difficult fights or both. Communication prevents one player from advancing while the other is still learning the area.
6. Take advantage of a trial if available. A trial can answer the most important personal question—whether the combat rhythm feels satisfying—without assuming that a past PlayStation Plus listing remains active.

Access, editions and the PlayStation Plus timing issue

Elden Ring’s official publisher listing includes PS5 editions and bundles connected with Shadow of the Erdtree. Check the edition description, region and current stock before purchasing; bundle contents and availability can change.

PlayStation lists Lords of the Fallen standard and deluxe PS5 editions and a free trial. It was also included in the specific PlayStation Plus rotation announced by Sony on April 29, 2026, with members able to add it through May 4. Sony’s announcement identified the following month’s lineup afterward. That date is a historical access window, not a guarantee of availability now. PlayStation Plus catalogs vary by region and can change when a title leaves the service.

Before starting either game through a subscription, verify three items in your own storefront:

• The title is currently included in your exact PlayStation Plus tier and country.
• The listing’s “add to library” deadline has not passed.
• Your edition supports the online features you intend to use, especially co-op.

Common beginner mistakes and fixes

Mistake: assuming every death means you chose the wrong game

Fix: Separate a genre learning problem from a game-fit problem. If you enjoy discovering patterns but need more flexibility, Elden Ring’s exploration and alternate approaches may help. If you enjoy the challenge but want company, Lords of the Fallen’s co-op may address the real issue.

Mistake: changing builds constantly

Fix: Keep one dependable setup long enough to understand its strengths. Make a single controlled change when you identify a problem, such as lack of range, insufficient crowd control or difficulty maintaining distance.

Mistake: treating the first visible route as mandatory

Fix: In Elden Ring, use travel and exploration to find a better challenge match. In Lords of the Fallen, use the interconnected route and the living/dead-world state to reassess rather than charging through every encounter.

Mistake: buying on the assumption that a subscription listing is permanent

Fix: Check the current PlayStation Store page and the date attached to the offer. The Lords of the Fallen PlayStation Plus inclusion cited here was limited to the May 2026 rotation and was region-dependent.

Final recommendation

Pick Elden Ring as the default first Soulslike. Its open structure gives beginners the broadest set of ways to manage difficulty: leave, explore, ride, sneak, change tools or call allies. Pick Lords of the Fallen instead when co-op, a more directed dark-fantasy campaign, or a currently available trial is the deciding factor. Neither choice removes the need to learn, but each supports a different way of learning.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version)

$34.00

Bestseller No. 2

Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc

$74.27

Bestseller No. 3

Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5

Elden Ring: Nightreign - Seekers Edition /PS5

$43.95

Bestseller No. 4

Bandai Namco Entertainment Elden Ring (PS5)

$40.00

SaleBestseller No. 5

Elden Ring - PlayStation 5

$39.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.