7 Best Dark Souls Games To Test Your Action RPG Skills
Picking the best Dark Souls game will be challenging if you’re unfamiliar with the franchise. FromSoftware, the company behind Dark Souls, released three games for the franchise, plus four more unrelated games with similar souls-like characteristics. They all have unique quirks and features that make them appealing and challenging in their own ways.
Dark Souls games can be hard to get into due to their challenging gameplay and minimal in-game explanations. For some, that’s part of their appeal, and at least these games have a dedicated community that creates extensive guides explaining the game’s various mechanics.
These games are top-tier action RPGs with numerous customization options when it comes to creating your characters and preferred gameplay style. Whether you want to be a hard-hitting fighter, a defensive knight, or a spell-wielding magician – Dark Souls will accommodate your playstyle.
However, anyone who’s played Dark Souls, even for a bit, will tell you that you must “get good” to enjoy this game properly. Getting into these games is difficult because their unique mechanics and lore are never adequately explained in-game. For some, this is part of the franchise’s charm and uniqueness.
Top Picks: Best Dark Souls Games
While there are many souls-like games to choose from, this article focuses on titles created by FromSoftware. It includes all Dark Souls games and the developer’s other titles that fit into the souls-like category.
Below is how I would rank them regarding overall quality and what aspect makes each stand out.
- Dark Souls 3 – the best Dark Souls game overall offering deep combat and memorable bosses.
- Elden Ring – excellent souls-like game for open-world fans and newcomers to the genre.
- Bloodborne – PS4 exclusive souls-like game in a Victorian-era setting, offering a unique story and certain gameplay deviations.
- Dark Souls Remastered – the original Dark Souls that defined the souls-like genre and captivated gamers.
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – souls-like action RPG with a unique and satisfying combat system.
- Dark Souls 2 – an excellent Dark Souls game offering different game mechanics to increase the challenge.
- Demon’s Souls – the worthwhile but flawed predecessor to all Dark Souls games.
Read on to learn more about each Dark Souls game and what specific features make them compelling souls-like action RPGs. I’ll mention their most notable highlights and potential drawbacks so you’ll know what challenges await with each installment.
What Makes the Best Dark Souls Game?
Let’s overview some key characteristics that define the best Dark Souls and souls-like games in general. Details usually differ, but here’s what die-hard fans typically expect.
Broadly speaking, Dark Souls games are third-person action RPGs in a dark fantasy setting. Unlike many other hack-and-slash games, souls-like games are slower-paced and require a more strategic and patient approach to combat. You’ll have to time your dodges and parries carefully because all enemies have various attacks that hit hard and stagger you, rendering you unable to retaliate.
It’s normal in Dark Souls games to die repeatedly to learn your opponent’s attack patterns and move sets. However, dying in these games means dropping all your Souls, the currency used to upgrade your character. You’ll have one chance to retrieve them, but falling again without picking them up means losing them forever.
You respawn at Bonfires upon death, which are the in-game checkpoints where you can rest and upgrade your character’s stats. Finally, healing options are usually minimal to increase difficulty. Typically, you’ll have an Estus Flask that has a few charges and will heal you. But you can’t just gulp it down in a millisecond.
When creating a character, you can choose from various classes, but these primarily define your starting stats and equipment. Your starting class doesn’t limit what kind of equipment and skills you can use, meaning you’re free to customize your character however you please. This is great because you can adjust your gameplay style on the fly to suit your current preferences and the items you find.
Pick the Best Dark Souls Game From 7 Excellent Options
This list includes 7 top-tier Dark Souls games that are guaranteed to challenge your action RPG skills to their limits. I’ll discuss their most notable highlights in the following sections so you’ll have an easier time choosing a game that suits your gaming preferences. Besides that, I’ve also mentioned some issues many players have with these games so you’d know what to expect while playing. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
1. Dark Souls 3
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 10 | Windows, PS4, Xbox One | 2016 |
Dark Souls 3 is the franchise’s third and final installment that has perfected the souls-like formula. It improved where previous titles have faltered, thus refining the overall experience with various quality-of-life improvements.
Gameplay wise, the combat is smoother than in previous titles. Your dodge rolls are faster but that means most enemies are also quicker to compensate. Additionally, the game permits fast travel from the very beginning and provides more checkpoints (Bonfires) throughout the world to make progression easier.
Many players praise the game’s well-designed boss battles, which are unique, challenging, and memorable. The character-building system is also expanded with more options, making Dark Souls 3 one of the best RPG games available. For example, the new Focus Point system means some weapons and shields have skills that enable special abilities during combat.
Regarding potential drawbacks, Dark Souls 3 is more linear than previous titles, leading to fewer exploration options. But, if you want a souls-like game with a vast open world, consider Elden Ring.
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2. Elden Ring
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 9 | Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | 2022 |
Elden Ring stands out from other Dark Souls games because it is a completely open-world experience. You’re free to roam the expansive world however you see fit after completing the tutorial, meaning you can avoid areas that are too daunting. The world is filled with secret areas and dungeons to explore if you don’t feel ready to tackle the main areas. You can even summon a mount named Torrent to traverse the Lands Between.
The combat in Elden Ring is similar to other Dark Souls games, although it has a greater emphasis on Spirit Summons. Moreover, the massive world offers a staggering array of weapons and armor to uncover, which can provide powerful abilities to assist in combat. These two aspects make Elden Ring one of the best souls-like games for beginners to the genre. However, there are plenty of games like Elden Ring if you’re looking for something less challenging.
One major gripe players have with the game is the questing system, which doesn’t provide any notes for future reference after speaking with the quest-giving NPC. This, of course, is perfectly in line with the souls genre, but it’s made more frustrating due to the game’s massive scale.
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3. Bloodborne
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 8 | PS4 | 2015 |
Bloodborne is a PS4 exclusive souls-like game with a few unique aspects that make it a fan favorite. You’ll notice at first glance that its overall aesthetic is based on the Victorian era, which sets it apart from other dark fantasy souls-like games.
Regarding gameplay, the unique Rally system allows players to recover some lost health by striking an enemy shortly after receiving damage, thus encouraging riskier game styles. Secondly, the game includes trick weapons, which can transform into alternative modes to spice things up. Moreover, instead of shields, your secondary weapon will typically be a gun, which you can use to, unsurprisingly, shoot enemies. But the other, more exciting benefit is stunning your enemies to enable Visceral attacks to deal heaps of damage.
However, some of the innovations in Bloodborne aren’t very favorable, especially to newcomers. For example, the blood vial healing system is finite, entirely opposite to Estus Flasks. Secondly, you can’t teleport between the game’s lanterns, aka the checkpoints used to save your progress.
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4. Dark Souls: Remastered
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 8 | Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | 2018 |
The quality of the franchise’s original installment is a contentious topic, but I think Dark Souls Remastered is still an excellent game despite its drawbacks. After all, it was massively successful upon release and became the reference point for all other souls-like games.
The very first Dark Souls game has exceptional world design, with the game’s many areas being interconnected in unexpected ways. You can walk for hours in a direction and end up in a place that’s visible from your starting point. Unsurprisingly, you’ll have all the standard features of an excellent quality souls-like game, such as challenging encounters, countless viable builds, epic boss fights, and beautiful scenery throughout.
Of course, the first installment in this iconic franchise is not without flaws. For starters, the controls sometimes feel clunky and unresponsive, especially considering the dodge roll is only in four directions. Secondly, many players are disappointed by the game’s latter half, which appears unfinished or at least lacking in polish compared to the first half.
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5. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 8 | Windows, PS4, Xbox One | 2019 |
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is rather different from other Dark Souls games in terms of gameplay, especially regarding combat. For some, this is one of the best parts of this game since its combat is so satisfying.
To start, there’s a greater emphasis on blocking and parrying enemies’ rapid attacks instead of dodging. This aspect makes Sekiro one of the hardest FromSoftware games to date, yet extremely rewarding if you learn the combat. Secondly, since you’re a powerful shinobi, you can unlock powerful abilities via a skill tree, which isn’t available in other Dark Souls games. Other tools at your disposal include a grappling hook and stealth if you want to feel like an assassin.
Unlike other Dark Souls games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice lacks the genre’s extensive customization and build variety. You can change your prosthetics to unlock different abilities, but you’re limited to using a katana, meaning the game has lower replay value. Another thing worth mentioning is that Sekiro focuses more on the overarching story, making it an excellent story game compared to other games by FromSoftware.
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6. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 7.5 | Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | 2014 |
Dark Souls 2 is a great entry to the franchise, but some of its unique mechanics make it more difficult and frustrating than other installments. Some of the game’s design decisions are attributed to the fact that this game wasn’t directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, who directed all other Dark Souls entries.
The game has the same overall vibe as its predecessor: you’re playing as an undead on a quest through a fallen kingdom. Regarding positive changes, many players enjoy the bonfire ascetic mechanic, which allows you to increase enemies’ power in a particular area and respawn its bosses. Another favored addition is Power Stance, which allows striking with both weapons simultaneously you’re currently wielding.
As for common player frustrations, one of the main ones is the new adaptability stat, which influences the amount of invincibility frames you get when dodging. Moreover, the hollowing mechanic means your maximum health reduces each time you die, up to a maximum of 50% health reduction.
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7. Demon’s Souls
| Our score | Platforms | Year of release |
| 7 | PS3, PS5 (remake) | 2009 |
Demon’s Souls is the spiritual predecessor to the Dark Souls franchise and has many of its characteristic traits. It was initially released on PS3 in 2009 and was remade in 2020 for the PS5. Unsurprisingly, the original souls-like action RPG isn’t as polished as its successors, hence its last place in this ranking. However, it holds up well and is still a great souls-like action game. Plus, its remake features many quality-of-life and graphical improvements.
In Demon’s Souls, you start your journey at the Nexus hub and can choose to go to one of five different areas of the world map. This gives the player more flexibility when struggling in certain areas. As expected, you can create a unique character using the game’s customization options and find a preferred play style to tackle the game’s challenges.
Compared to modern iterations, the bosses in Demon’s Souls are rather underwhelming and frequently described as gimmicky. The game also shares its hollowing mechanic with Dark Souls 2, where your max health is reduced each time you die, thus making the game more challenging. Lastly, you can only unlock an area’s bonfire after defeating its boss, which is a radical difference compared to modern souls-like games.
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Conclusion
The Dark Souls franchise is notorious for its difficulty, but many players overlook that due to its excellent overall game design. Moreover, it becomes pretty fun once you master the game’s various mechanics, especially the combat. Then, it becomes clear why the souls-like genre is so popular beyond the Dark Souls trilogy.
FAQs
What is considered to be the best Dark Souls game?
Dark Souls 3 is considered to be the best Dark Souls game. It offers smoother combat, well-designed boss fights, and a wide range of weapons and armor to choose from.
What is the hardest Dark Souls game?
Dark Souls 2 would be my pick as the hardest Dark Souls game. Your health bar is reduced each time you die, and you must invest in the adaptability stat to ensure your dodges are effective.
Is Dark Souls 3 or 1 better?
Dark Souls 3 is better because it offers smoother and faster combat, more exciting boss fights, and greater equipment variety. However, since it’s more linear, players who prefer exploration consider Dark Souls 1 to be better.
Which game is better, Dark Souls 1 or 2?
Dark Souls 1 is usually considered better mostly because Hidetaka Miyazaki didn’t direct the second installment. As such, Dark Souls 2 has made some unfavorable changes, such as including the adaptability stat and the shrinking health bar after each death.
