Souls Series: The Main FromSoftware Games Ranked

The Souls series, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and produced by FromSoftware, set new precedents in the way of developing RPGs, prioritizing elements such as exploration of interconnected maps and persistence when overcoming challenges to create a new genre in modern games, Soulslike.

However, despite the various titles that stand out in this style today, FromSoftware's works remain the definer of the pillars that make up the key elements of a soulslike, and even the developer continues to create great innovations in each one of its games.

Whether it's exploring a vast open world on Elden Ring, facing Lovecraftian horrors in Bloodborne or the more daring proposals of Dark Souls 2, the games in the Souls series and other titles with the same formula have become references for challenging experiences, and in this article, we rank the main games produced by FromSoftware in the genre!

6 - Dark Souls 2

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One

Considered the worst game in the series by some and one of the best experiences in the franchise for others, Dark Souls 2 didn't meet all the expectations that fans had as a sequel of the title which popularized the Soulslike genre, in addition to receiving much criticism for the supposed absence of Hidetaka Miyazaki in its development and, consequently, the blame for most of its failures attributed to the lack of “vision” of the series' creator.

One of the biggest problems with Dark Souls 2 and what puts it in the last position on the list is the way the enemies behave: unlike its predecessor, DS 2 has several situations where the player is surrounded by several enemies in very tight spaces, and you need to find a way to deal with all of them, making combat seem unfair, frustrating and, consequently, repetitive.

The game also presents some hitbox issues (notoriously worse than in its predecessor) that also frustrated those more used to Dark Souls, in addition to the reskin of some bosses that, with the level design, made DS 2 feel, for many, a lazy work with much more effort put into making the title more difficult than into creating an experience of its own.

Despite the criticism, Dark Souls 2 is still considered by many to be a masterpiece with a different and bold proposal from the standards the rest of the series has established, but without giving up the essence that defines the genre, guaranteeing a great reception from fans and critics, especially with the Scholar of the First Sin version, which brings graphical and gameplay improvements in addition to all the DLCs.

5 - Demon’s Souls Remake

Platforms: PlayStation 5

The original Demon’s Souls is considered by some to be the worst game in the Souls series released because its troubled development created several limitations in gameplay and character building. Its remake for the PlayStation 5, on the other hand, retains some of the features of the original work while offering many quality of life improvements.

From rebalanced equipment to camera control adjustments, the PlayStation 5 version of the game is an excellent way to discover the origins of the series without going through the pitfalls of the original game, in addition to having more polished and deeply immersive visuals that blend perfectly with the first Souls game made exclusively for the new generation.

4 - Dark Souls

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Dark Souls may not have been the game that gave birth to Soulslike, but it was the title that solidified the pillars that make up the genre by improving, in almost every way, the gameplay standards started in Demon's Souls, with a completely interconnected map between different regions and more rewarding and fluid combat, in addition to greater gameplay diversity with the attribute system.

These innovations transformed Dark Souls into one of the most striking games of its generation and set the precedent for two direct sequels, new games from From Software that seek to merge its aspects with other narratives and/or gameplay proposals and dozens of titles attempting to reproduce its mix of difficulty and narrative elegance.

3 - Dark Souls 3

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Dark Souls 3 was built entirely to improve the challenging and immersive experience of its predecessors, following the step-by-step instructions left by the first game in the series while fixing mistakes from the previous title, solidifying what it meant to be a Souls game and what pillars define a Soulslike.

The learnings and philosophies surrounding gameplay also include FromSoftware's previous release, Bloodborne, whose faster combat opened up new proposals for Dark Souls 3, which bet on more fluid movement while maintaining the same atmosphere and mechanics of the first game, ensuring a unique and innovative experience with Weapon Arts.

In general, the third game in the franchise did an impressive job of improving all the details of its predecessors, culminating in the absolute Dark Souls experience.

2 - Bloodborne

Platforms: PlayStation 4

The Victorian gothic theme is just one of the great highlights of Bloodborne for the Souls series. Launched with the same mechanics and themes, the PlayStation 4 game relies on Lovecraftian horror to create an exclusively frightening atmosphere where we have to face humans and monsters as the Hunter.

Bloodborne is widely known for its more aggressive, fast-paced combat and focused on parrying, with several weapons - known as Trick Weapons - enabling innovative styles due to their changes between short and medium distance strikes, which fit perfectly with the dark and ominous atmosphere on the outskirts of Yharnam.

These mechanical and thematic changes take advantage of the essence of soulslike in the best way while presenting all the foundations that solidified Dark Soul and also causing many fans to ask for a remaster of the game for the PlayStation 5 and its release for PC/Steam.

1 - Elden Ring

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PC

Award-winning Game of the Year in 2022, Elden Ring became a landmark in FromSoftware's history, bringing all the challenge and mechanics of the Souls games to an open-world work completely free for exploration - and there is some magnificent charm in walking freely through a land where absolutely everything that moves wants to and might kill you.

The result of the brilliant minds of Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin, the title presents one of the most intricate and well-written stories in the series, with several striking characters, mysteries and world-building that, together, culminate in one of the most fascinating universes in modern gaming.

Furthermore, its non-linear progression allows different approaches while unveiling the map and finding great secrets, hidden treasures and even powerful weapons and items from the first minute, challenging not only the player's skills but also their creative ability to explore this world and make the most of every detail.

It's no surprise that Elden Ring is one of the most famous titles in open world games even two years after its release, and with the launch of the recent DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, the amount of content around it and the diverse possibilities of gameplay only tend to expand.

With Shadow of the Erdtree, fans of FromSoftware games have a few more days or weeks to enjoy new adventures and challenges. However, there is no indication of how long it will take until a new title from the developer focused on this style is released.

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