Well-met our fellow gaming masoch*sts in love with FromSoftware and their SoulsBorne games. We’re part of the fandom that’s still burning with the desire to know everything key detail within these titles. The beloved and critically acclaimed hardcore franchise sits at the pinnacle of gaming as an art. So today, we’re celebrating the SoulsBorne games by Mr. Miyazaki.
What do we do to celebrate these games? Why, pit them against each other, that’s what! If you were ever thinking about which entries in the FromSoftware SoulsBorne series are top-tier, wonder no longer since we’re gonna be answering that very query. Yep, everybody in the ‘git-gud’ crow’s got an opinion, so we’re not holding back ours either. Stick around, and you’re definitely in for a surprise.
How are We Gonna Rank the FromSoftware SoulsBorne Games?
Alright, so listen up! We’re not gonna lie; this is like choosing between children, so no matter which order of ranking we go with, someone’s bound to rage. Well, it’s alright, we can take it. Anyway, before we begin, y’all should know a couple of things so that we don’t hear any lip about it later on.
- We’re only going with FromSoftware SoulsBorne games that form up the series’ particular benchmark. Anything that falls short, we’ll skip. Case-in-point, series creative director Miyazaki said, Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twice isn’t a SoulsBorne game, so we’re NOT picking it. We love Sekiro: Shadow’s Die Twice, but it’s more like the PS5 hack-and-slash games than SoulsBorne.
- Secondly, the order of preference for us in the FromSoftware SoulsBorne games will depend on uniqueness and personal enjoyment. Simply put, if a SoulsBorne title isn’t getting us hooked as much as it should, it’ll be in the lower tier.
- Finally! Expect a few curveballs with our picks and a healthy dosage of unpopular opinions. Don’t worry; we’re not being different for the sake of fanboyism; we’ll justify our ranking with sound arguments. Okay, so mayyyybe there’s gonna be a hint of bias, too, but only a teeny tiny bit. We got our favorites, too, sue us.
Alright, that about covers everything; let’s get this party started! Here we go!
7. Dark Souls 3
Whoa! Right? We know what you’re thinking, so chill and take a deep breath. Dark Souls 3 is not a bad game; let’s get this outta the way first and foremost. However, it’s got a lotta problems that hamper the enjoyment. The major issue we got with Dark Souls 3 is the game’s linear nature and the strange decision to cut back the features and combat mechanics of other FromSoftware SoulsBorne games.
Specifically, Dark Souls 3 tries its damnedest to recapture the magic of the first game but also appeals to modern gamers who’re fans of the open-world games trend. The result is a mixed bag with half-baked ideas and a frustration that leaves us wondering what could have been. The poise in combat, a huge deal in Dark Souls 1, is missing in Dark Souls 3. The armor sets and shields are practically useless.
It’s also a case of bigger doesn’t mean better. The throwback feeling of seeing Andre the Blacksmith and a few familiar faces was a nice touch, but that’s nostalgia bait. Don’t even get us started on the whole PVP situation in Dark Souls 3; it’s so much worse than it’s ever been.
6. Demon’s Souls
Okay, time to make a confession. We actually love the original Demon’s Souls a lot more than most other PS3 fantasy-action RPGS. Demon’s Souls’ world-building and haunting feeling are beyond stellar, making it one of our favorite FromSoftware SoulsBorne games. A thick fog envelopes the kingdom of Boletaria because the Soul Arts were constantly abused, and a demonic infestation of the land begins.
The protagonist is a hunter of demons that players can tweak, from appearance to play style. Plus, there are loads of mechanics that would serve as the blueprint for the entire Soulslike genre. Demon’s Souls has a clunkiness to it, and there are flaws, but we still enjoy the game. The boss fights are epic, with intimidating designs, especially that darn armor spider, and the musical score is just chef’s kiss.
Demon’s Souls isn’t a linear experience either; there’s a tutorial stage to teach basics, and after that, you enter the Nexus. It’s a hub space that’s magnificently integrated within the lore and gameplay. Players can use the Nexus to travel to different regions of Boletaria in any order and return there after killing the demon or dying. Be careful, though, as getting killed will only make the experience harder.
5. Bloodborne
Keeping the trajectory of revolutionizing the SoulsBorne genre of FromSoftware games going, we present Bloodborne. The thing about Bloodborne that even naysayers can’t deny is that it’s on par with the greatest PS4 games ever. The world design is drop-dead gorgeous, the enemies are grotesque, straight out of the pages of HP Lovecraftian novels, and there’s ambiance for days.
Bloodborne has a spooky vibe that’ll make players question everything around them. The enemies are greater in number, and their visceral nature doesn’t leave any room for errors. You can’t play it safe in Bloodborne either because it completely flips the script. Not only does Bloodborne encourage players to fight aggressively to survive, but it even rewards players by tying the hits to a ratio of health recovery.
Another thing that makes Bloodborne feel like such a spectacle is the game’s gothic architecture and visuals. The body horror of enemies and the blood-curdling sound design is a powerful combo that’ll get players invested in the story. There are loads of secrets to uncover and sinister NPCs that’ll have you go through every nook and cranny in Yarhnham and other nearby locales. Long story short, Bloodborne’s awesome!
4. Demon’s Souls Remake
Next on our list of top FromSoftware SoulsBorne games is the PS5 exclusive Demon’s Souls Remake. What is there to say about this gem except, if you liked the original, then the Demon’s Souls Remake is a must-play. Bluepoint Games is a studio that’s certainly proved its worth in gold, bolstering Sony’s first-party lineup of games. The movement is no longer clunky, and the graphics are a treat to behold, pushing the PS5 to the very limit.
The story elements are more or less the same in Demon’s Souls Remake from the original one since Bluepoint Studios wanted a faithful remake. It even has the blessing and seal of approval of former creative director Miyazaki. Gameplaywise, there are several noticeable improvements; the chief one is the traversal and movement speed. Everything feels so fluid and responsive, and the enemies are also more lethal and relentless.
Also, to make the game more balanced and not exploit the original’s oversights, healing grasses have weight, so you can’t carry infinite amounts of them. There are lots of new armor, weapons, and rings in the Demon’s Souls Remake that add to the experience with new dimensions to equipment burden and movement. Demon’s Souls Remake is an excellent showcase of Sony catering to hardcore fans. But don’t worry, Demon’s Souls Remake is still the most accessible game in the franchise.
3. Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a collaboration between two colossal names that blew the minds of the FromSotftware SoulsBorne games fandom. Mr. Miyazaki’s level design and creative vision with storytelling and lore by George R.R. Marton, what else were you expecting besides a modern masterpiece? If you’re wondering whether Elden Ring’s worth playing in 2023? Well, here’s a news flash: the game still has sizable Steam charts numbers.
It’s not exactly easy to describe Elden Ring; what’s certain is that it’s a true SoulsBorne experience. You get the character that you customize to your heart’s content, a huge interconnected world map with a non-linear level structure to boot. Plus, the enemies are diverse, and the bosses are borderline absurd. On another game-changing note, Elden Ring also has mounts that let players ride them, even during combat encounters! Neat, huh?
Elden Ring’s open-world map layout is the perfect example of freedom in gameplay, truly offering players a unique gaming experience. You can easily bypass tricky and tough bosses if you’re clever enough to find shortcuts. This requires paying extra attention to the environment and looking for clues and hints in between dialogues of NPCs. The combat is the show-stealer in Elden Ring, making players switch up strategies, weapons, and skills on the fly.
2. Dark Souls
So, for our runner-up choice, we’re going with the one that started it all, Dark Souls. It is the forbearer of the FromSoftware SoulsBorne games. Setting the sales charts on fire, Dark Souls was unlike anything else at the time, quickly gaining traction within the player base. This game is darn perfect in every way because it’s intentionally vague. Every area of the map is littered with details that intrigue the curious.
Dark Souls forums, Youtubers, and even Wiki-pages of fansites are still to this day gushing and fawning over the game’s lore. The story isn’t spoon-fed to players; you gotta piece everything together and form your theories. Then double-check to see if it’s not contradicting with established lore. Dark Souls also presents players with an unprecedented level of interconnectivity between extremely diverse regions.
The enemies and especially the bosses in Dark Souls are iconic and timeless, whether it’s The 4 Kings, Grave-Lord Nito, The Scaleless Albino Dragon Seethe, or our personal favorite, Artorius Of The Abyss. The items and weapons scaling depth was truly grand and far beyond the surface level. Every NPC serves a function, and depending on player action, their fates may be grim or tragic. One thing’s for certain: Dark Souls’ uniqueness has yet to be topped, often imitated, never duplicated.
1. Dark Souls 2
Alright, so our top choice is gonna ruffle some feathers and raise plenty of eyebrows, so nothing new, really. For the top-dog of FromSoftware SoulsBorne games, we’ve got Dark Souls 2. Some hate it with a burning passion; others defend it with an unflinching iron will. We’re in the latter half of the fandom camp. Why? Well, simply put, Dark Souls 2 is the most fun, intriguing, and downright easiest game to date.
Dark Souls 2 also features fast travel from the start, something you had to earn the first time around. Plus, there are bonfires littered unevenly to mitigate the difficulty, and enemies stop respawning after farming them. Dark Souls 2’s weapon power stances and the healing gems, even though they were divisive for us, were Godsends. Plus, we just love our wifu NPC, the Emerald Herald; she’s the best Firekeeper and female character in all FromSoftware SoulsBorne games.
Dark Souls 2 also shows the kingdom of Drangleic in ruins and decay, overtaking the lands. Mini-bosses like the Pursuer were the bane of our existence during the initial days. Traversing these strange lands provides a sense of adventure and melancholy that’s unlike any other we’ve experienced. The story of Dark Souls 2, when you make sense of it all, can easily hang with our favorite story-driven games.
Final Thoughts on the Best and Worst FromSoftware SoulsBorne Games
Phew~ we can practically feel the fandom’s collective meltdown, or maybe it’s the sweltering temperature outside, no? Either way, we’re done with ranking all the FromSoftware SoulsBorne games. Yeah, yeah, you’re probably all raging now, but don’t worry, we’re veterans of these games, so we know what we’re talking about. Feel free to appreciate (for a change) or rage (as usual) in the comments below.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to tell us how you would rate the order of these games. We’re curious to know, and if you’re still hankering for more SoulsBorne content, there’s plenty more in the works. Oh, and if these aren’t your jam, we can totally understand. So, for anyone looking for a more casual and accessible category of games, check out our 2023’s best Xbox X|S Action-Adventure games so far. Alright, that’s it, we’re outta here, and we’ll see ya in the next one.
