Dark Souls#Reception

The games take place within the land of Lordran, where the player's character fights against knights, dragons, phantoms, demons, and other monstrous or supernatural entities. The accretion, loss, and recovery of souls are central to the narrative and gameplay of Dark Souls games. These games are linked through their setting and an overarching cyclic narrative centering around fire, and are linked through common themes and elements, including interactions with phantoms and battles with demons. At the end of each game, characters may reignite the "first flame" or allow it to fade, recurring a choice others have made before.

{{See also|Soulslike}}

The Dark Souls games are played in a third-person perspective, and focus on exploring interconnected environments while fighting enemies with weapons and magic. Players battle bosses to progress through the story, while interacting with non-playable characters. The protagonist of each Dark Souls game can have a varying gender, appearance, name, and starting class via character creation. Players can choose between classes, including knights, barbarians, thieves, and mages. Each class has its own starting equipment and abilities that can be tailored to the player's experience and choices as they progress. The player gains souls from gameplay battles which act as both experience points to level up and as currency to buy items. Souls gained are usually proportional to the difficulty of fighting certain enemies; the more difficult an enemy, the more souls the player will gain from defeating it.

One of the core mechanics of the series is the use of how it handles progress, death, and player improvement. Bonfires serve as a checkpoint within the series, restoring all health and other critical resources when used, but also respawning most enemies and obstacles, making repeated trips back to safety untenable for forward progress. Upon losing all of their health points and dying, players lose their souls and appear back at the bonfire where they last rested. If the player can return to their point of death, their bloodstain, without dying again, they can regain all lost souls.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/how-fromsoft-took-the-action-rpg-to-a-new-level-by-putting-faith-in-dark-souls-players/|title=How FromSoft took the action-RPG to a new level by putting faith in Dark Souls' players|work=gamesradar|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222043837/https://www.gamesradar.com/how-fromsoft-took-the-action-rpg-to-a-new-level-by-putting-faith-in-dark-souls-players/|archive-date=February 22, 2018|url-status=live}} If the player dies again before reaching their bloodstain, the souls are permanently gone. Notably, using a bonfire manually and respawning at one after death have identical effects, save for the player losing their currency at their place of death, which can be retrieved with no penalty. In this way the player is encouraged to not fear death, as no progress is lost so long as they can learn from their mistakes.{{cn|date=May 2024}} As the player retraces their steps after death, they will naturally defeat more enemies, gaining more souls and allowing their character to gain experience alongside the player themselves.

Online interaction in the Dark Souls games is integrated into the single-player experience. Throughout areas of the game, players can briefly see the actions of other players as ghosts in the same area that may show hidden passages or switches. When a player dies, a bloodstain can be left in other players game world and when activated can show a ghost playing out their final moments, indicating how that person died and potentially helping other players online to avoid the same fate in advance. Players can leave messages on the ground that can help other players with tips and warnings. Multiplayer can be engaged in both player versus player combat and cooperative gameplay using invasion or summoning mechanics. Players can also rely on covenants, which serve as "factions" that can allow players to delve further into the multiplayer experience. In 2025 a fan released a mod for Dark Souls titled "Visual Overhaul" and was received very well improving the lighting and textures of the game.{{cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=Dark Souls 3 just got a hefty remaster you can download now |url=https://www.gamingbible.com/news/platform/dark-souls-3-remaster-download-now-056202-20250203 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=GamingBible}}

{{Video game timeline

| 2011 = Dark Souls

| 2014 = Dark Souls II

| 2016 = Dark Souls III

}}

{{Main|Dark Souls (video game)}}

Dark Souls is the first game in the series; it is considered a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls (2009).{{cite web|last1=Matulef|first1=Jeffrey|title=Demon's Souls still feels fresher than its "Dark" successors|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-09-30-why-demons-souls-still-feels-fresher-than-its-dark-successors|website=Eurogamer|date=October 3, 2014|publisher=dx.net|access-date=May 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426182657/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-09-30-why-demons-souls-still-feels-fresher-than-its-dark-successors|archive-date=April 26, 2016|url-status=live}} FromSoftware wanted to develop a sequel to Demon's Souls, but Sony's ownership of the intellectual property prevented them from doing so on other platforms.{{cite journal | title = Relationships among video games: Existing standards and new definitions | author = Jin Ha Lee |first2=Rachel Ivy |last2=Clarke |first3=Simone |last3=Sacchi |first4=Jacob |last4=Jett | journal = Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology | volume = 51 | issue = 1 | year = 2014 | pages = 1–11 | doi = 10.1002/meet.2014.14505101035 | doi-access = free }} It was released in 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/05/11/dark-souls-release-date-revealed | title=Dark Souls Release Date Revealed | work=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | first=Colin | last=Moriarty | date=May 11, 2011 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-date=April 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416082746/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/05/11/dark-souls-release-date-revealed | url-status=live }} In 2012, Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition was released for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, featuring the base game and the Artorias of the Abyss downloadable content.{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/05/31/new-dark-souls-content-coming-to-consoles-3 | title=New Dark Souls Content Coming to Consoles | work=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | first=Charles | last=Onyett | date=May 31, 2012 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821000055/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/05/31/new-dark-souls-content-coming-to-consoles-3 | archive-date=August 21, 2019 | url-status=live }} The game takes place in the fictional kingdom of Lordran. Players assume the role of a cursed human character who escapes from an asylum and sets out to discover the fate of undead humans like themselves. The plot of Dark Souls is primarily told through environmental details, in-game item flavor text, and dialogue with non-playable characters (NPCs). Players must piece together clues in order to understand the story, rather than being told the story through more traditional means, such as through cutscenes. Dark Souls and its predecessor Demon's Souls garnered recognition due to the series' high level of difficulty.{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dark-souls-review/1900-6337624/ | title=Dark Souls Review | work=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | first=Kevin | last=VanOrd | date=October 3, 2011 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626053846/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dark-souls-review/1900-6337624/ | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | url-status=live }}Houghton, David. (March 5, 2014). [http://www.gamesradar.com/why-dark-souls-friendliest-most-benevolent-game-its-generation/ "Why Dark Souls is the friendliest, most benevolent game of its generation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629155430/https://www.gamesradar.com/why-dark-souls-friendliest-most-benevolent-game-its-generation/ |date=June 29, 2018 }}. GamesRadar. Retrieved July 19, 2015.Harrison, William. (October 10, 2011). [https://venturebeat.com/community/2011/10/10/dark-souls-isnt-hard-gamers-are-just-stupid-and-impatient/ "Dark Souls isn't hard, gamers are just stupid and impatient"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629131607/https://venturebeat.com/community/2011/10/10/dark-souls-isnt-hard-gamers-are-just-stupid-and-impatient/ |date=June 29, 2018 }}. Venture Beat. Retrieved July 19, 2015.{{cite web|last1=North|first1=Dale|title=Non-review: Why I couldn't finish Demon's Souls|url=http://www.destructoid.com/non-review-why-i-couldn-t-finish-demon-s-souls-151008.phtml|website=Destructoid|date=October 5, 2009|access-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912024514/http://www.destructoid.com/non-review-why-i-couldn-t-finish-demon-s-souls-151008.phtml|archive-date=September 12, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Wilson|first=Ewan|date=22 September 2021|title=Ten years on, ‘Dark Souls’ is still corralling us through its hostile world|work=NME|url=https://www.nme.com/features/ten-years-on-dark-souls-is-still-corralling-us-through-its-hostile-world-3052179|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224034017/https://www.nme.com/features/ten-years-on-dark-souls-is-still-corralling-us-through-its-hostile-world-3052179|archive-date=24 December 2024|access-date=24 December 2024}} A version featuring some graphical and gameplay enhancements, Dark Souls: Remastered, was released in May 2018.{{cite web |first=Sherif |last=Saed |title=Dark Souls Remastered announced for PC, PS4, Xbox One with 4K and 60fps |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/01/11/dark-souls-remastered-announced-for-pc-ps4-xbox-one-with-4k-and-60fps/ |website=VG247 |date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114060757/https://www.vg247.com/2018/01/11/dark-souls-remastered-announced-for-pc-ps4-xbox-one-with-4k-and-60fps/ |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Dark Souls II}}

Dark Souls II was first announced in late 2012 during the Spike Video Game Awards. This is the only game in the series where director Hidetaka Miyazaki did not reprise his role, although he was still involved in supervision.{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2012/12/15/dark-souls-2-a-direct-sequel-to-first-title-may-not-make-2013/|title=Dark Souls 2 a direct sequel to first title, may not make 2013|website=VG247|date=December 15, 2012|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-date=December 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217034254/http://www.vg247.com/2012/12/15/dark-souls-2-a-direct-sequel-to-first-title-may-not-make-2013/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Matulef|first1=Jeffrey|title=Miyazaki won't be directly involved in Dark Souls 2, doesn't want too many sequels|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-29-miyazaki-wont-be-directly-involved-in-dark-souls-2-doesnt-want-too-many-sequels|website=EuroGamer|date=January 29, 2013|access-date=July 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827042930/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-29-miyazaki-wont-be-directly-involved-in-dark-souls-2-doesnt-want-too-many-sequels|archive-date=August 27, 2015|url-status=live}} It was released in 2014 for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.{{cite web | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-06-dark-souls-2-pc-release-date-confirmed | title=Dark Souls 2 PC release date confirmed | work=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network | first=Wesley | last=Yin-Poole | date=March 6, 2014 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706183901/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-03-06-dark-souls-2-pc-release-date-confirmed | archive-date=July 6, 2015 | url-status=live }} In 2015, an updated version featuring The Lost Crowns downloadable content was released for Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, under the title Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2014/12/29/dark-souls-2-scholar-of-the-first-sin-director-reveals-new-details | title=Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Director Reveals New Details | work=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | first=Jenna | last=Pitcher | date=December 29, 2014 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-date=April 16, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416082643/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/29/dark-souls-2-scholar-of-the-first-sin-director-reveals-new-details | url-status=live }} - with the latter two platforms receiving retail releases.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/25/7278217/dark-souls-2-ps4-xbox-one-release-date|title=Dark Souls 2 coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2015|author=mikemcwhertor|work=Polygon|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=July 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712085846/http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/25/7278217/dark-souls-2-ps4-xbox-one-release-date|archive-date=July 12, 2015|url-status=live}} The game takes place in the kingdom of Drangleic, where the player must find a cure for the undead curse.{{cite web | url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/11/5492096/dark-souls-2-review | title=Dark Souls 2 Review: not the end | work=Polygon | publisher=Vox Media | first=Philip | last=Kollar | date=March 11, 2014 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705234756/http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/11/5492096/dark-souls-2-review | archive-date=July 5, 2015 | url-status=live }} Although set in the same universe as the previous game, there is no direct story connection to Dark Souls.{{cite web | url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/19/3783452/dark-souls-2-staff-discuss-the-vga-trailer-and-what-having-real | title=Dark Souls 2 developer: If Dark Souls was set in the North Pole, this one would be in the South Pole | work=Polygon | publisher=Vox Media | first=Kevin | last=Gifford | date=December 19, 2012 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707165522/http://www.polygon.com/2012/12/19/3783452/dark-souls-2-staff-discuss-the-vga-trailer-and-what-having-real | archive-date=July 7, 2015 | url-status=live }}

{{Main|Dark Souls III}}

Dark Souls III was released in 2016 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.{{cite web | url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/15/8782845/dark-souls-3-announced-e3-2015-from-software | title=Dark Souls 3 confirmed, coming early 2016 | work=Polygon | publisher=Vox Media | first=Michael | last=McWhertor | date=June 15, 2015 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924182414/http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/15/8782845/dark-souls-3-announced-e3-2015-from-software | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | url-status=live }} The gameplay is paced faster than previous Souls installments,{{cite web|last1=Mahardy|first1=Mike|title=Dark Souls III is Faster, Smoother, and More Fluid Than its Predecessors|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-iii-is-faster-smoother-and-more-fluid-t/1100-6429464/|publisher=Gamespot|access-date=September 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919054802/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-iii-is-faster-smoother-and-more-fluid-t/1100-6429464/|archive-date=September 19, 2015|url-status=live}} which was attributed in part to the gameplay of Bloodborne.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/20/9002955/dark-souls-3-bloodborne-combat-influences|title=Dark Souls 3's combat is faster in a post-Bloodborne world|website=Polygon|date=July 20, 2015|access-date=October 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005080408/http://www.polygon.com/2015/7/20/9002955/dark-souls-3-bloodborne-combat-influences|archive-date=October 5, 2015|url-status=live}} The game takes place in the kingdom of Lothric, where the player must end the cycle of linking the Flame. In 2017, the complete version containing the base game and both expansions (Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City) was released, under the title Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition. Dark Souls III was both critically and commercially successful, with critics calling it a worthy and fitting conclusion to the series. It sold over 10 million copies by 2020, making it the fastest-selling game in Bandai Namco's history at the time{{cite web |last1=Talbot |first1=Carrie |title=Dark Souls 3 sales hits the ten million mark – and the series tops 27 million |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-3/sales |website=PCGamesN |date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=May 19, 2020 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514213022/https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-3/sales |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Matt |date=April 18, 2016 |title=Dark Souls 3 Is Bandai Namco's Fastest-Selling Game Ever |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/18/dark-souls-3-is-bandai-namcos-fastest-selling-game-ever |access-date=August 16, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816211330/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/18/dark-souls-3-is-bandai-namcos-fastest-selling-game-ever |url-status=live }} (until the record was beaten by Elden Ring).{{Cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Elden Ring Has Already Sold 12 Million Copies Worldwide |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/elden-ring-has-already-sold-12-million-copies-worldwide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316213048/https://www.ign.com/articles/elden-ring-has-already-sold-12-million-copies-worldwide |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |access-date=March 16, 2022 |website=IGN}} In 2015, Miyazaki said that Dark Souls III would likely be the last of the series, with FromSoftware choosing to move onto new games of unrelated IPs in the future.{{cite web|last1=Hussain|first1=Tamoor|title=Dark Souls 3 Interview: "It Wouldn't Be Right to Continue Creating Souls"|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-3-interview-it-wouldnt-be-right-to-cont/1100-6432425/|website=GameSpot|access-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122053418/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-3-interview-it-wouldnt-be-right-to-cont/1100-6432425/|archive-date=November 22, 2015|url-status=live}}

File:Cover art for the first Dark Souls comic.jpg

A comic book by Titan Comics based on the series debuted alongside the release of Dark Souls III in 2016.{{cite web|last1=Schedeen|first1=Jesse|title=DARK SOULS COMIC BOOK COMING IN APRIL 2016|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/19/dark-souls-comic-book-coming-in-april-2016|website=IGN|date=January 19, 2016 |publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=January 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120182254/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/19/dark-souls-comic-book-coming-in-april-2016|archive-date=January 20, 2016|url-status=live}} A Kickstarter campaign for a licensed board game by Steamforged Games, Dark Souls: The Board Game, was also announced around the same time.{{cite magazine|last1=Prescott|first1=Shaun|title=The Dark Souls series is getting a board game|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/the-dark-souls-series-is-getting-a-board-game/|magazine=PC Gamer|date=April 8, 2016|access-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411100243/http://www.pcgamer.com/the-dark-souls-series-is-getting-a-board-game/|archive-date=April 11, 2016|url-status=live}} The campaign was funded within the first three minutes of its launch and was released in April 2017.{{cite web|last1=Klepek|first1=Patrick|title=Crowdfunded Dark Souls Board Game Raises $200,000 In Less Than Two Hours|url=http://kotaku.com/crowdfunded-dark-souls-board-game-raises-200-000-in-le-1771884239|website=Kotaku|date=April 19, 2016 |access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419225531/http://kotaku.com/crowdfunded-dark-souls-board-game-raises-200-000-in-le-1771884239|archive-date=April 19, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=Dark Souls Board Game Funded in 3 Minutes|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-board-game-funded-in-3-minutes/1100-6439005/|website=GameSpot|access-date=April 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422173940/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-board-game-funded-in-3-minutes/1100-6439005/|archive-date=April 22, 2016|url-status=live}}

In February 2017, music from the series by Motoi Sakuraba was performed by a live orchestra at the Salle Pleyel concert hall in Paris.{{cite web |last=Osborn|first=Alex|title=Dark Souls to Be Featured in Bandai Namco's Orchestral Concert in Europe|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/12/20/dark-souls-to-be-featured-in-bandai-namcos-orchestral-concert-in-europe|website=IGN|date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=January 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118051617/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/12/20/dark-souls-to-be-featured-in-bandai-namcos-orchestral-concert-in-europe|archive-date=January 18, 2017|url-status=live}} In September of that year, a limited edition vinyl box set containing the soundtracks of all three games was released in Europe.{{cite web|last=Hussain|first=Tamoor|title=See The Dark Souls Series' Super Limited Vinyl Soundtrack Collection|url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/see-the-dark-souls-series-super-limited-vinyl-soun/2900-1376/|website=GameSpot|access-date=July 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234828/https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/see-the-dark-souls-series-super-limited-vinyl-soun/2900-1376/|archive-date=September 12, 2017|url-status=live}} In Japan, a box set containing the enhanced versions of all three games for the PlayStation 4, the soundtracks for each, bookends, artwork prints, and dictionaries detailing every in-game item was released on May 24, 2018.{{cite web|last=Barnett|first=Brian|title=Dark Souls Trilogy Box Set Announced for Japan|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/11/dark-souls-trilogy-box-set-announced-for-japan|website=IGN|date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111233804/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/11/dark-souls-trilogy-box-set-announced-for-japan|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live}} The romanticism of Dark Souls III setting has been the topic of analysts, emphasizing the sublime aspects it draws.{{cite web |title=Romanticism and the Art of Dark Souls III |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/art/romanticism-and-the-art-of-dark-souls-iii |access-date=2025-04-27}}

{{Main|Demon's Souls|Demon's Souls (2020 video game)|label 2 = its 2020 remake}}

Released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Demon's Souls is considered the spiritual predecessor to the Dark Souls series.{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2009/07/06/atlus-officially-announces-demons-souls-for-north-america | title=Atlus Officially Announces Demon's Souls for North America | work=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | date=July 6, 2009 | access-date=July 6, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Matulef|first1=Jeffrey|title=Bloodborne director reveals his favourite boss from the "Souls" series|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-07-bloodborne-director-reveals-his-favourite-boss-from-the-souls-series|website=Eurogamer|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=May 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218202246/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-04-07-bloodborne-director-reveals-his-favourite-boss-from-the-souls-series|archive-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=live}} It has also been described as a spiritual successor to the King's Field series of games,{{cite web | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-13-retrospective-kings-field-article | title=Retrospective: King's Field | work=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network | first=John | last=Teti | date=November 13, 2011 | access-date=July 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706183215/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-13-retrospective-kings-field-article | archive-date=July 6, 2015 | url-status=live }}{{cite web|last1=Kollar|first1=Phil|title=Demon's Souls Director Discusses Difficulty, Sequels, And More|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/demons_souls/b/ps3/archive/2009/11/05/feature-demon-s-souls-director-discusses-difficulty-sequels-and-more.aspx|website=Gameinformer|access-date=April 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603190430/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/demons_souls/b/ps3/archive/2009/11/05/feature-demon-s-souls-director-discusses-difficulty-sequels-and-more.aspx|archive-date=June 3, 2016|url-status=live}} while at the same time being described as a separate entity "guided by differing core game design concepts."{{cite magazine|last1=Mielke|first1=James|title='Dark Souls' Creator Miyazaki on 'Zelda,' Sequels and Starting Out|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/dark-souls-creator-miyazaki-on-zelda-sequels-w443435|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005123700/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/dark-souls-creator-miyazaki-on-zelda-sequels-w443435|archive-date=October 5, 2016|url-status=dead}} It also drew inspiration from video games such as Ico,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/31/bloodborne-dark-souls-creator-hidetaka-miyazaki-interview|title=Bloodborne creator Hidetaka Miyazaki: 'I didn't have a dream. I wasn't ambitious'|first=Simon|last=Parkin|work=The Guardian|date=March 31, 2015|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806022655/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/31/bloodborne-dark-souls-creator-hidetaka-miyazaki-interview|archive-date=August 6, 2017|url-status=live}}[http://ign.com/articles/2015/04/01/bloodborne-creator-describes-influences-and-game-design-history Bloodborne Creator Describes Influences and Game Design History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213004027/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/01/bloodborne-creator-describes-influences-and-game-design-history |date=February 13, 2017 }}, IGN The Legend of Zelda, and FromSoftware's Otogi: Myth of Demons,{{cite news |last1=Zeller |first1=Mike |title=Why Dark Souls Owes a Debt to its Forgotten Older Sibling Otogi |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/why-dark-souls-owes-a-debt-to-its-forgotten-older-sibling-otogi |access-date=March 8, 2022 |work=USgamer |date=May 2, 2019 |archive-date=September 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913180559/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/why-dark-souls-owes-a-debt-to-its-forgotten-older-sibling-otogi |url-status=dead }} as well as manga such as Berserk, Saint Seiya and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.{{cite web |date=August 12, 2015 |title=Dark Souls 3: Das komplette Gamescom-Interview mit Schöpfer Hidetaka Miyazaki |url=https://www.pcgames.de/Dark-Souls-3-Spiel-55615/Specials/Hidetaka-Miyazaki-im-Gamescom-Interview-1167759/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623003231/https://www.pcgames.de/Dark-Souls-3-Spiel-55615/Specials/Hidetaka-Miyazaki-im-Gamescom-Interview-1167759/ |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |access-date=June 22, 2019 |website=PC Games |language=de}}

Unlike its successors, Demon's Souls uses a central hub system known as the "Nexus" where players can level up, repair equipment, or buy certain items, before venturing into one of the five connected worlds. The "World Tendency" feature is also exclusive to Demon's Souls, where the difficulty of exploring a world is dependent on how many bosses have been killed, and how the player dies. The gameplay involves a character-creation system and emphasizes gathering loot through combat with enemies in a non-linear series of varied locations. It had an online multiplayer system integrated into single-player, in which players could leave messages and warnings for other players' worlds, as well as join other players to assist and/or kill them. After FromSoft extended the server's lifecycle past the original 2011 shutdown date, the multiplayer component was finally taken offline in early 2018. {{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Demon's Souls online services shutting down in 2018 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/27/16704974/demons-souls-online-service-ending-from-software-ps3 |website=Polygon |date=November 27, 2017 |publisher=Voxmedia |access-date=August 29, 2023}}

{{main|King's Field}}

The King's Field series, also developed by FromSoftware, is considered a spiritual predecessor to the series. It debuted in 1994 with King's Field for the PlayStation and had three sequels.

{{main|Slashy Souls}}

In February 2016, Bandai Namco Entertainment partnered with American retailer GameStop to release Slashy Souls, a free-to-play mobile endless runner, to promote Dark Souls III. The game was presented in a pixel art style, and shares the series' level of difficulty.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/27/11125424/slashy-souls-first-look-gameplay-video-dark-souls-mobile-namco-ios-android|title=Slashy Souls: a first look at Namco's new Dark Souls-inspired mobile game|first=Philip|last=Kollar|work=Polygon|date=February 27, 2016|access-date=February 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229041658/http://www.polygon.com/2016/2/27/11125424/slashy-souls-first-look-gameplay-video-dark-souls-mobile-namco-ios-android|archive-date=February 29, 2016|url-status=live}} The game was met with highly negative critical reception,{{cite web|last1=Matulef|first1=Jeffrey|title=Dark Souls 3's promotional mobile game Slashy Souls is terrible|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-02-29-dark-souls-3s-promotional-mobile-game-slashy-souls-is-terrible|website=Eurogamer|date=February 29, 2016|access-date=May 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529203719/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-02-29-dark-souls-3s-promotional-mobile-game-slashy-souls-is-terrible|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live}} with reviewers such as Chris Carter of Destructoid and James Stephanie Sterling both giving the game a 1/10.{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Chris|title=Review: Slashy Souls|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-slashy-souls-345257.phtml|website=Destructoid|date=February 28, 2016|access-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310132352/http://www.destructoid.com/review-slashy-souls-345257.phtml|archive-date=March 10, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thejimquisition.com/slashy-souls-review/|title=Slashy Souls Review – Dark Holes|website=thejimquisition.com|last1=Sterling|first1=Jim|access-date=June 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605062246/http://www.thejimquisition.com/slashy-souls-review/|archive-date=June 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}

{{Video game series reviews}}

File:Hidetaka Miyazaki, The Game Awards 2022 (cropped).png, creator of the series and director of Dark Souls and Dark Souls III|upright=.6|left]]

The Dark Souls series has been met with critical acclaim, with the first game often being cited as among the greatest video games of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-ever/|title=The 100 best games ever|date=February 25, 2015|work=GamesRadar|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120154914/http://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-ever/|archive-date=January 20, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://killscreen.com/articles/how-do-you-make-rpg-after-dark-souls/|title=How Do You Make An RPG After Dark Souls?|magazine=Kill Screen|last=Breault|first=Chris|date=February 24, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321081529/https://killscreen.com/articles/how-do-you-make-rpg-after-dark-souls/|archive-date=March 21, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Rad|first=Chloi|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/04/dark-souls-3-review|title=Dark Souls 3 Review|work=IGN|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404082010/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/04/dark-souls-3-review|archive-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-3-review/|title=Dark Souls III Review|work=PC Gamer|last=Davenport|first=James|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406050352/http://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-3-review/|archive-date=April 6, 2016|url-status=live}}

The "bloodstain" gameplay mechanic has been given praise by critics. David Craddock of Shacknews called them one of the core tenets of the series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/78729/the-dna-of-dark-souls-the-challenge-and-death|title=The DNA of Dark Souls: the challenge and death|website=Shacknews|date=April 15, 2013 |language=en|access-date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222044317/http://www.shacknews.com/article/78729/the-dna-of-dark-souls-the-challenge-and-death|archive-date=February 22, 2018|url-status=live}} He stated that the harshest punishment one can receive in a Souls game is "not dying once, but twice." GamesRadar+ called bloodstains, in combination with Demon Souls's message system, "a graceful, elegant way of letting players guide each other without the need for words", and said that "rarely has the price of failure been balanced on such a precarious knife edge" as being forced to retrieve one's bloodstain.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/how-demons-souls-became-one-of-playstations-toughest-yet-most-rewarding-challenges/|title=How Demon's Souls became one of PlayStation's toughest yet most rewarding challenges|work=gamesradar|access-date=February 23, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224112952/https://www.gamesradar.com/how-demons-souls-became-one-of-playstations-toughest-yet-most-rewarding-challenges/|archive-date=February 24, 2018|url-status=live}}

The bonfire concept was similarly praised. Matthew Elliott of GamesRadar+ called bonfires a powerful symbol of relief, and "a meaty cocktail of progress, exhaustion and joy",{{Cite news|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/why-i-love-bonfires-in-dark-souls/|title=Why I Love: bonfires in Dark Souls|work=gamesradar|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100857/https://www.gamesradar.com/why-i-love-bonfires-in-dark-souls/|archive-date=February 21, 2018|url-status=live}} and that, while other games evoke emotions with their save points, no other game does so as effectively. Vice called the Bonfire a "mark of genius" that "reinvented the save point" and allowed the player to reflect on their progress.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/an-ode-to-the-dark-souls-bonfire-225/|title=An Ode to the Dark Souls Bonfire|date=November 5, 2015|work=Vice|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100719/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4wbmgw/an-ode-to-the-dark-souls-bonfire-225|archive-date=February 21, 2018|url-status=live}}

{{As of|2024}}, the Dark Souls series had shipped 37.33 million copies outside of Japan.{{cite web |title=Fact Book 2024 |date=2024 |publisher=Bandai Namco Group |page=3 |url=https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/en/ir/library/assets/pdf/2024/factbook2024_en.pdf |access-date=December 17, 2024}} Dark Souls III broke sales records upon release, selling over three million copies worldwide by May 2016 and was Bandai Namco's fastest-selling game until being surpassed by Elden Ring in 2022.{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=Dark Souls 3 Breaks Sales Records|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-3-breaks-sales-records/1100-6438928/|website=GameSpot|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421070842/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-3-breaks-sales-records/1100-6438928/|archive-date=April 21, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/18/dark-souls-3-is-bandai-namcos-fastest-selling-game-ever|title=Dark Souls 3 Is Bandai Namco's Fastest Selling Game Ever|first=Matt|last=Potter|work=IGN|date=April 18, 2016|access-date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419203133/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/18/dark-souls-3-is-bandai-namcos-fastest-selling-game-ever|archive-date=April 19, 2016|url-status=live}}

The Soulslike genre was inspired by common features of the series, resulting in many games using similar mechanics. Other FromSoftware games directed by Miyazaki, such as Demon's Souls, Bloodborne,{{cite web|last1=Kollar|first1=Philip|title=Bloodborne is not Dark Souls; here's how it should set itself apart|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/11/5800246/bloodborne-is-not-dark-souls-heres-how-it-should-set-itself-apart|website=Polygon|date=June 11, 2014|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=April 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506030524/http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/11/5800246/bloodborne-is-not-dark-souls-heres-how-it-should-set-itself-apart|archive-date=May 6, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-the-similarities-and-differences-between-bloodborne-and-dark-souls/1100-6420378/|title=E3 2014: The Similarities and Differences Between Bloodborne and Dark Souls|first= Randolph|last=Ramsay|work=GameSpot|date=June 10, 2014|access-date=July 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709050644/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-the-similarities-and-differences-between-bloodborne-and-dark-souls/1100-6420378/|archive-date=July 9, 2015|url-status=live}} Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Dark Souls' creator on what sets Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice apart |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/2/17925002/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-tgs-2018-hidetaka-miyazaki-interview |website=Polygon |date=October 2, 2018 |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112310/https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/2/17925002/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-tgs-2018-hidetaka-miyazaki-interview |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }} and Elden Ring,{{cite web |last1=Krabbe |first1=Esra |title=Elden Ring Is an Evolution of Dark Souls Says Creator – E3 2019 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/06/21/elden-ring-is-an-evolution-of-dark-souls-says-creator-a-e3-2019 |website=IGN |date=June 21, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622003421/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/06/21/elden-ring-is-an-evolution-of-dark-souls-says-creator-a-e3-2019 |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live }} share many of the same concepts of Souls and are often associated with the series and grouped under the "Soulsborne" label.{{cite web|last1=Saltzman|first1=Mitchell|title=8 PlayStation Games That Need to be Remade or Remastered|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/05/8-playstation-games-that-need-to-be-remade-or-remastered|website=IGN|date=January 5, 2018 |access-date=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110215241/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/05/8-playstation-games-that-need-to-be-remade-or-remastered|archive-date=January 10, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Dayus |first1=Oscar |title=E3 2018 - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Is Not Part Of The Soulsborne Series, From Software Says |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2018-sekiro-shadows-die-twice-is-not-part-of-th/1100-6459819/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416082643/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-is-not-part-of-soulsborne/1100-6459819/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Iain |title=Soulsborne fans think Elden Ring is based on Celtic folklore |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/elden-ring/celtic-folklore |website=PCGamesN |date=June 11, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623225821/https://www.pcgamesn.com/elden-ring/celtic-folklore |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=Streamer pulls off five-game, no-hit 'Soulsborne' run, right before Sekiro launch |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/21/18275978/dark-souls-bloodborne-perfect-run-happy-hob |website=Polygon |date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421183953/https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/21/18275978/dark-souls-bloodborne-perfect-run-happy-hob |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}

The series has also been cited as an influence on several PlayStation Network features, including asynchronous messaging, social networking, and video sharing,{{cite news|last1=Kain|first1=Erik|date=November 22, 2013|title='Dark Souls' Inspired The Design Of Sony's PlayStation 4|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/11/22/dark-souls-inspired-the-design-of-sonys-playstation-4/|url-status=live|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005155401/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/11/22/dark-souls-inspired-the-design-of-sonys-playstation-4/|archive-date=October 5, 2018}} as well as for the television show Stranger Things.{{cite news|last=Tilly|first=Chris|date=August 26, 2016|title=How Silent Hill, Dark Souls and The Last of Us Influenced Stranger Things|website=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/26/how-silent-hill-dark-souls-and-the-last-of-us-influenced-stranger-things|url-status=live|access-date=October 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014010210/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/26/how-silent-hill-dark-souls-and-the-last-of-us-influenced-stranger-things|archive-date=October 14, 2018}}

{{noteslist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Dark Souls series}}

{{FromSoftware}}

{{Bandai Namco franchises}}

Dark Souls

Category:Mythopoeia

Category:Soulslike video games

Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2011

Category:Video games adapted into comics

Category:Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises