Games like Black Desert
If Black Desert is your kind of game, the closest matches are The Elder Scrolls® Online, Lost Ark and The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its tactical positioning matters, writing quality is exceptional and challenging. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →Black Desert is an open-world action MMORPG developed by Pearl Abyss, released in 2017 at $9.99. The game features combat-systems with emphasis on tactical-positioning-matters according to players, alongside extensive gear-progression and lifeskills spanning fishing, trading, crafting, and cooking. PvP-battles form a core part of the experience, with large-scale sieges and castle conquests available. Players describe the game as challenging and punishing, with reviewers highlighting the strategic depth of its combat mechanics. Set in a fantasy open world, the title achieved a 72% positive rating from over 35,000 Steam reviews, with Metacritic scoring it 80. The game is not currently supported on Steam Deck.
About Black Desert: Played by over 20 million Adventurers - Black Desert Online is an open-world, action MMORPG. Experience intense, action-packed combat, battle massive world bosses, fight alongside friends to siege and conquer castles, and train in professions such as fishing, trading, crafting, cooking, and more!
Players who liked Black Desert also play
Steam players who put hours into Black Desert also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
The Elder Scrolls® Online
WHY THIS
Top pick for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Join millions of players in an online, fantasy RPG set in a vast living Elder Scrolls world.
Lost Ark
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Second-strongest match for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Embark on an odyssey for the Lost Ark in a vast, vibrant world: explore new lands, seek out lost treasures, and test yourself in thrilling action combat in this action-packed free-to-play RPG.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom
WHY THIS
Third-strongest match for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Traverse the Telvanni Peninsula in Morrowind and preserve secrets ascribed to the unfathomable realms of Apocrypha. Unlock the runic power of a brand-new class - the Arcanist - and fight to uphold reality itself.
FINAL FANTASY XIV Online
WHY THIS
Ranked #4 for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Massively Multiplayer and RPG with Black Desert.
Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of captivating environments to explore.
New World: Aeternum
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Ranked #5 for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Experience a thrilling action RPG set on the supernatural island of Aeternum. Forge your destiny on an adventure filled with danger and opportunity.
Neverwinter
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Ranked #6 for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Neverwinter is a free, action MMORPG based on the acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Epic stories, action combat and classic roleplaying await those heroes courageous enough to enter the fantastic world of Neverwinter!
EVE Online
WHY THIS
Ranked #7 for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Strategy with Black Desert.
Over 20 years of legendary space battles! Explore a massive living universe of danger and opportunity in a challenging and highly rewarding space adventure. Fight, trade, build, and connect with a universe driven and shaped directly by players.
Guild Wars 2®
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Ranked #8 for Black Desert fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Adventure and Massively Multiplayer with Black Desert.
Guild Wars 2 is an award-winning online roleplaying game with fast-paced action combat, deep character customization, and no subscription fee required. Choose from an arsenal of professions and weapons, explore a vast open world, compete in PVP modes and more. Join over 16 million players now!
Reviewers mention these as similar to Black Desert
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
Warframe
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and RPG with Black Desert.
Awaken as an unstoppable warrior and battle alongside your friends in this story-driven free-to-play online action game
World of Witchcraft
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Immerse yourself in a world where ambition, magic, and lust intertwine.
Valheim
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, set in a procedurally-generated purgatory inspired by viking culture. Battle, build, and conquer your way to a saga worthy of Odin’s patronage!
Metin2
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Become a part of the legendary oriental action MMO – now also on Steam! Put your skill to the test in epic PvE battles against dragons and sinister demon lords, enter merciless PvP duels and become a true martial arts master!
Throne and Liberty
WHY THIS
Shares gear progression and a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Throne and Liberty captures the essence of classic MMORPGs while introducing new gameplay elements, depth and excitement at every turn. Gather your guild, prepare for battle, and set forth for throne... and liberty!
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with Black Desert.
Step into this Slow-Life RPG where you can freely switch between 14 unique jobs, so called "Lives," and enjoy a carefree life in a fantasy world. Fish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world.
FINAL FANTASY XIV Online
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Massively Multiplayer and RPG with Black Desert.
Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of captivating environments to explore.
Melvor Idle
WHY THIS
Shares gear progression with Black Desert.
Reviewers of Black Desert cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Adventure and RPG with Black Desert.
Inspired by RuneScape, Melvor Idle takes the core of what makes an adventure game so addictive and strips it down to its purest form! This is a feature-rich, idle/incremental game combining a distinctly familiar feel with a fresh gameplay experience. Maxing 20+ skills has never been more zen.
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Black Desert at current Steam store prices.
Vampire Survivors
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Action and RPG with Black Desert.
Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you. Be the bullet hell!
Titanfall® 2
WHY THIS
Priced ~55% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Action with Black Desert.
Respawn Entertainment gives you the most advanced titan technology in its new, single player campaign & multiplayer experience. Combine & conquer with new titans & pilots, deadlier weapons, & customization and progression systems that help you and your titan flow as one unstoppable killing force.
Cookie Clicker
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Strategy with Black Desert.
An idle game about making cookies! Originally released in 2013 on the web, and actively developed since then. This is the official version for Steam.
WEBFISHING
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Massively Multiplayer with Black Desert.
WEBFISHING a multiplayer chatroom-focused fishing game! Relax and fish (on the web!)
POSTAL 2
WHY THIS
Priced ~90% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Live a week in the life of "The POSTAL Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Strategy with Black Desert.
Zombies are invading your home, and the only defense is your arsenal of plants! Armed with an alien nursery-worth of zombie-zapping plants like peashooters and cherry bombs, you'll need to think fast and plant faster to stop dozens of types of zombies dead in their tracks.
Buckshot Roulette
WHY THIS
Priced ~70% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Action with Black Desert.
Play Russian roulette with a 12-gauge shotgun. Four enter. One leaves. Roll the dice with your life. Good luck!
Brotato
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Black Desert on Steam right now. Shares Action and RPG with Black Desert.
Brotato is a top-down arena shooter roguelite where you play a potato wielding up to 6 weapons at a time to fight off hordes of aliens. Choose from a variety of traits and items to create unique builds and survive until help arrives.
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
Ultimate Custom Night
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Black Desert.
Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!
Bongo Cat
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Massively Multiplayer with Black Desert.
Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find?
Indigo Park: Chapter 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.
STRAFTAT
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Black Desert.
STRAFTAT is a 1v1/2v2 ONLINE first person SHOOTER with quick rounds in over 350 MAPS ; Including all WEAPONS, proximity chat and 4 players FFA.
The Looker
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.
Counter-Strike:Global Offensive
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Black Desert.
Counter-Strike:Global Offensive (CS:GO) expands upon the team-based action gameplay that it pioneered when it was launched over 2 decades ago. CS:GO features new maps, characters, weapons, and game modes, and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust2, etc.).
The Expendabros
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
The Expendabros have assembled and set their sights on the forces of ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks in the forests of Eastern Europe.
Magic Archery
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares RPG with Black Desert.
Train a commoner to become the greatest archer in this short incremental game! Increase your stats, gather wealth from quests, buy upgrades, and infuse your arrows with magic.
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
More from Pearl Abyss
Other recommendable Steam games by Pearl Abyss, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.
Crimson Desert
WHY THIS
Shares a challenging mood with Black Desert.
Another title from Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert. Shares Action and Adventure with Black Desert.
Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure set on the continent of Pywel. Join Kliff on his journey to rebuild the Greymane faction and to save the land from a looming threat. From vast wilderness and cities to ruins and the mysterious Abyss, forge your path through battles and discovery.
Shadow Arena
WHY THIS
Another title from Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert. Shares Action and Strategy with Black Desert.
Shadow Arena Early Access has ended. A heartfelt thank you to all the players who walked with us on this journey.
Black Desert Online - Traveler's Package
WHY THIS
Another title from Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert. Shares Action and Strategy with Black Desert.
This package contains the base game Black Desert Online and the Traveler's Package DLC.
Frequently asked about Black Desert
- Does Black Desert work on Steam Deck?
- Black Desert is currently rated Unsupported on Steam Deck. It may not launch or may have significant issues that block normal play.
- How much does Black Desert cost?
- Black Desert is listed on Steam at 9.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
- Does Black Desert have multiplayer or co-op?
- Yes — Black Desert supports multi-player play according to its Steam store listing (Multi-player, Online PvP, Online Co-op).
- What games are most similar to Black Desert?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Black Desert are The Elder Scrolls® Online, Lost Ark, The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom.
- Who developed Black Desert?
- Black Desert was developed by Pearl Abyss.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Black Desert.
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