Head-to-Head Game Comparisons

All Comparisons

• Elden Ring vs Dark Souls III

  Play Dark Souls III first if you have played neither.

• Dark Souls vs Demon's Souls

  Dark Souls is the better game and the better starting point.

• Bloodborne vs Dark Souls III

  Bloodborne if you want to be fast, Dark Souls III if you want options.

• Sekiro Shadows Die Twice vs Elden Ring

  Elden Ring if you want to build a character, Sekiro if you want to master one.

• Nioh 2 vs Elden Ring

  Elden Ring for exploration, Nioh 2 for combat depth.

• Lies of P vs Elden Ring

  Elden Ring is the bigger game; Lies of P is the tighter one.

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt vs Elden Ring

  The Witcher 3 for stories, Elden Ring for exploration.

• Red Dead Redemption 2 vs Grand Theft Auto V

  Red Dead Redemption 2 is the better single-player game by some distance; GTA V is the better game to play with friends.

• The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild vs Elden Ring

  Breath of the Wild is about climbing anything; Elden Ring is about fighting anything.

• The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom vs The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

  Play Breath of the Wild first.

• Horizon Zero Dawn vs Horizon Forbidden West

  Start with Horizon Zero Dawn — the story is the reason the series works, and Forbidden West assumes you know it.

• Cyberpunk 2077 vs The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

  The Witcher 3 is the more complete game; Cyberpunk 2077 is the better one to be inside.

• Assassin's Creed Valhalla vs Assassin's Creed Odyssey

  Odyssey if you want the better world, Valhalla if you want the better structure.

• Ghost of Tsushima vs Sekiro Shadows Die Twice

  Ghost of Tsushima if you want to feel like a samurai, Sekiro if you want to earn it.

• Baldur's Gate 3 vs Divinity: Original Sin 2

  Baldur's Gate 3 is the more polished and more accessible game; Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the more chaotic sandbox.

• Final Fantasy VII vs Final Fantasy VI

  Final Fantasy VI is the better-written game; Final Fantasy VII is the more influential one.

• Chrono Trigger vs Chrono Cross

  Chrono Trigger, without hesitation, if you are choosing one.

• Persona 5 vs Persona 4 Golden

  Persona 5 Royal is the better game to start with — it is the most polished, best-looking entry and its combat and calendar systems are the series at full strength.

• Mass Effect 2 vs Mass Effect 3

  Mass Effect 2 is the better game; Mass Effect 3 is the better shooter.

• God of War vs God of War Ragnarok

  Play God of War (2018) first — Ragnarok is a direct continuation and assumes every beat of it.

• The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time vs The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past

  A Link to the Past has aged better; Ocarina of Time was the bigger leap.

• Uncharted 4: A Thief's End vs The Last of Us

  The Last of Us if you want to be moved, Uncharted 4 if you want to have fun.

• The Last of Us vs The Last of Us Part II

  Play the first one first — Part II is a direct response to it and does not work standalone.

• Hollow Knight vs Ori and the Blind Forest

  Hollow Knight is the bigger, harder game; Ori is the more beautiful, more guided one.

• Celeste vs Hollow Knight

  Celeste is a precision platformer; Hollow Knight is a metroidvania.

• Hades vs Dead Cells

  Hades if you want a story and characters, Dead Cells if you want the combat.

• Stardew Valley vs Animal Crossing New Horizons

  Stardew Valley if you want systems, Animal Crossing if you want a routine.

• Stardew Valley vs Coral Island

  Stardew Valley is the safer recommendation; Coral Island is the more modern one.

• Disney Dreamlight Valley vs Animal Crossing New Horizons

  Animal Crossing for design freedom, Dreamlight Valley for things to do.

• Helldivers 2 vs Deep Rock Galactic

  Helldivers 2 for spectacle, Deep Rock Galactic for cooperation.

• Destiny 2 vs Warframe

  Destiny 2 for gunplay, Warframe for movement and depth.

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III vs Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

  Modern Warfare III has the better multiplayer; Modern Warfare II has the better campaign.

• Doom Eternal vs Doom (2016)

  Doom (2016) if you want a shooter, Doom Eternal if you want a puzzle at 200mph.

• Halo Infinite vs Halo 5 Guardians

  Halo Infinite, clearly.

• Street Fighter 6 vs Tekken 8

  Street Fighter 6 if you are new, Tekken 8 if you want depth of movement.

• Mortal Kombat 1 vs Mortal Kombat 11

  Mortal Kombat 1 for the fighting, Mortal Kombat 11 for the content.

• Super Smash Bros Ultimate vs Super Smash Bros Melee

  Ultimate for almost everyone; Melee if you want the competitive one.

• FIFA 23 vs eFootball 2024

  FIFA 23 is the more complete package; eFootball 2024 is free and plays a slower, more deliberate game of football.

• Forza Horizon 5 vs Forza Horizon 4

  Horizon 5 is the better game to start now — bigger car list, better handling model and it is still supported.

• Gran Turismo 7 vs Forza Motorsport

  Gran Turismo 7 if you want a career and a collection, Forza Motorsport if you want to race.

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe vs Mario Kart 64

  Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, easily, unless you specifically want nostalgia.

• Resident Evil 4 vs Resident Evil 2

  Resident Evil 4 Remake is the better action game; Resident Evil 2 Remake is the better horror game.

• Silent Hill 2 vs Resident Evil 4

  They are barely the same genre.

• Dead Space vs Resident Evil 4

  Dead Space is the scarier game; Resident Evil 4 is the more fun one.

• Minecraft vs Terraria

  Minecraft for building, Terraria for progression.

• Valheim vs Minecraft

  Valheim if you want survival with real combat and a boss progression; Minecraft if you want unlimited creative freedom.

• Super Mario Odyssey vs Super Mario 64

  Super Mario Odyssey is the better game to play now, and Super Mario 64 is the one that mattered.

• Super Mario Bros Wonder vs Super Mario Odyssey

  Odyssey if you want depth, Wonder if you want delight.

• Sonic the Hedgehog vs Super Mario Bros

  Super Mario Bros is the better-designed game; Sonic the Hedgehog is the better-looking and better-sounding one.

• Civilization VI vs Civilization V

  Civilization VI is the more mechanically interesting game; Civilization V is the calmer one.

• Age of Empires IV vs Age of Empires II Definitive Edition

  Age of Empires II is still the better competitive game and has by far the larger player base.

• Palworld vs Pokemon Legends Arceus

  Play Pokémon Legends: Arceus if catching and completing a Pokédex is what you want — every system in it serves that.

• Super Mario Galaxy 2 vs Super Mario Odyssey

  Play Super Mario Galaxy 2 if you want the best-designed levels in 3D Mario: short, inventive, and harder than they look.

• Earthbound vs Mother 3

  Play EarthBound first.

• Star Wars Jedi Survivor vs God of War Ragnarok

  God of War Ragnarök is the stronger game — better combat, better writing, better pacing — and the one to play if you only play one.

• Ori and the Will of the Wisps vs Ori and the Blind Forest

  Play Ori and the Blind Forest first, then Will of the Wisps.

• Final Fantasy X vs Persona 5 Royal

  Play Final Fantasy X if you want a classic, linear JRPG with a strong ending and turn-based battles that are easy to read.

Not Sure Which Pair You Want?

Start from a game instead: every title we cover has a page of hand-written recommendations, the genre guides cut the same library by what kind of game you are after, and the best-games lists cut it by era, audience and mood.