Assassin's Creed Valhalla is one of the rare, expansive open-world games that tackles the pivotal Viking conquest of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms during the height of the Dark Ages. As such, its setting has appealed to millions of gamers interested in exploring alternate timelines of European history. Ubisoft's masterful reimagining of England's lush landscapes and quaint settlements nestled amid Norway's snowy peaks left many fans wanting to discover more of Valhalla's features, along with those of similar titles in the genre.

It's no secret that action-adventure games focused on role-playing elements provide a solid foundation for gameplay immersion. With timely incorporation of enhanced accessibility, engaging background stories, free-roam aspects and rewarding in-game systems, their success is almost guaranteed. Assassin's Creed Valhalla does the genre justice in several ways, but its conclusion is inevitable despite the extended playtime its DLC provides. Once fans are ready to leave Eivor's late ninth-century journey behind, they should consider spending some time with the following five games.

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Elden Ring Challenges Gameplay Conventions

Screenshot depicting Elden Ring gameplay, featuring a Tarnished, Tree Sentinel and the Erdtree.

If a steep difficulty curve, unforgiving challenges structured around trial-and-error and scant guidance sound interesting, players should look no further than FromSotware's latest entry. The game's overall setting is certainly not for the faint-hearted. However, with enough determination and a few helpful guides, there is not a single obstacle the players cannot surmount in Elden Ring.

Set in the mysterious region known as the Lands Between, Elden Ring follows the story of a Tarnished on their journey to becoming the rightful Elden Lord. The game features a dozen classes to choose from, full character customization and unrestricted freedom of exploration, allowing players to discover its secrets at their own pace and unlock multiple endings. While the in-game leveling system is not necessarily reminiscent of Valhalla's, Elden Ring's mechanics and action-packed combat will not present an issue to fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise.

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Ghost of Tsushima Mixes Contemporary Mechanics With Feudal Japan

Screenshot depicting Ghost of Tsushima environment, featuring Jin Sakai.

Many Assassin's Creed enthusiasts would love nothing more than to see a future installment set in Japan. However, there is no telling what Ubisoft has in store for the series. As gamers patiently await the next mainline entry, Ghost of Tsushima will provide them with ample opportunity to engross themselves in a fictional setting during the feudal era of Japan known as the Kamakura period.

Inspired by the first Mongol invasion of Japan, players take control of one Jin Sakai, a former samurai lord and the last heir to Clan Sakai determined to protect Tsushima Island. Much like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the game features a large open world filled with quests and activities waiting to be discovered. At the heart of its combat system lies Jin's trusty katana. As players progress through the story, bows promoting a stealthy approach and various abilities are eventually made available.

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God of War Releases the Franchise's Previous Inhibitions

Screenshot depicting God of War gameplay, featuring Kratos and Atreus.

Sony's long-running God of War franchise has undergone several overhauls during its lifetime. However, the latest installment is the first true departure from the series' original formula. Along with an updated combat system, Kratos' exploration of fatherhood and his growth as a person rather than a half-empty shell hell-bent on revenge ensures that the game appeals to a much broader audience.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla fans will feel right at home in God of War's setting because its story is loosely inspired by Norse mythology, with the majority of it set in ancient Scandinavia. Though players get to control Kratos for the most part, the game features two protagonists, the second being his son Atreus. As opposed to Valhalla, mechanics in God of War may feel somewhat constricting. However, an iterative equipment and skill upgrade system coupled with engaging combat sequences and puzzle elements that add more contrast to the overworld make up for any perceived shortcomings.

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Immortals Fenyx Rising Plays on the Beholder's Perception

Immortals Fenyx Rising gameplay, featuring Fenyx solving a puzzle with large blue orbs

Released around the same time as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising is Ubisoft's unlikely golden child and a seemingly conspicuous ode to the innovation found in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Part of the team that worked on Assassin's Creed Odyssey used its expertise to bring Immortals to fruition. This is hardly surprising, given the game's roots in Greek mythology.

Immortals Fenyx Rising presents its addictive gameplay through a humorous tone and mature themes in a colorful, eye-catching environment. Players can customize their experience by altering the protagonist's gender and appearance, opting for melee or ranged combat and exploring the overworld as they see fit. While Immortals utilizes a bird companion to help locate points of interest on the map and focuses on combat-related progression, its puzzles are well-designed and suitable for all audiences.

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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Provides Stealth-Based Thrills

Screenshot depicting Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain gameplay, featuring Snake on the move.

Hideo Kojima's final work under Konami's banner is, by far, the most ambitious entry in the entire Metal Gear franchise. It's also one of the best stealth open-world games of all time. As such, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a title that every Assassin's Creed Valhalla aficionado should experience at least once, despite the game being marginally unfinished.

The Phantom Pain houses a vast open world rich with side objectives, collectibles and small details that bolster in-game physics and enemy AI. Its design allows players to cherry-pick the order in which they would like the story events and missions to unfold without missing out on the big picture or misunderstanding the encompassing message by the end of the journey. Unlike the ubiquitously present free-for-all approach to adversaries in Valhalla, The Phantom Pain encourages stealth strategies while supporting more forceful methods of offense whenever players feel the need to let loose.