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The Dark Souls series has existed across three generations of consoles and, over its course, has spawned an entire sub-genre. FromSoftware’s titles are nearly always met with critical praise, and in truth, none of their games have been received overly negatively by critics. Even so, there are undoubtedly some differences in how each installment has been received over the series’ lifetime. Using an average of scores from Metacritic and Internet Games Database, here’s every entry in the Souls series ranked according to critics.
The Souls series is comprised of Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls titles. The games are famous for their brutal boss fights and responsive, precise combat. Over the years, they’ve even inspired a wide selection of Souls-like titles that have sprung up and served to evolve the genre further.
7. Dark Souls Remastered (2018) – 85.6/100
Dark Souls Remastered gave players another chance to play one of the most important titles to action RPGs in the last decade. Whether players have already played the game and are looking to re-experience the title alongside its improved performance or are diving into Dark Souls for the first time, Dark Souls Remastered allows even more players to experience the praised title. All in all, very little changed between the original release and the remastered versions. Perhaps Dark Souls Remastered‘s greatest strength is keeping the title relevant — even for Nintendo Switch players.
Minor graphical improvements and updates to performance helped Dark Souls Remastered keep pace on newer consoles, but it remains essentially the same game as it was a console generation prior. This includes many annoying bugs and issues that remained neglected in the remastered version.
6. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (2015) – 86/100
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is an enhanced and complete version of Dark Souls II, complete with DLC offerings, updated visuals and slight changes to enemy layout and tactics. The title was initially released to coincide with the newly released PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but it also appeared on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Though it serves as the definitive version of Dark Souls II, it did not leave the same lasting impression as the original.
With Bloodborne released, some found it challenging to return to the more traditional Dark Souls style of Souls-like games, the fast-paced combat of Bloodborne adding some nice variation to what was becoming a standardized formula. That said, many critics did find Scholar of the First Sin a necessity for any players that hadn’t already experienced Dark Souls II.
5. Dark Souls III (2016) – 87.1/100
Dark Souls III served as a worthy sequel to the Dark Souls series, picking up the threads from the original Dark Souls and offering closure. Dark Souls III is a fantastic game, but previous entries overshadow it in the series. Likely because those titles provided something much more unique among an industry when the Souls-like genre was still finding its footing. However, Dark Souls III delivers a suitable finale to one of the highest regarded series of its time.
When stacked against titles that helped invent and redefine a sub-genre, being a fantastic game isn’t enough to make it to the top of the list. Dark Souls III contains some of the best fights in the series and it perfects its delivery of tone, immersing players deep within its ominous world. These accomplishments will please any player that decides to spend some time taking on the Lords of Cinder.
4. Demon’s Souls (2009) – 88.5/100
Demon’s Souls is the title that kicked off the Souls-like craze and served as the forebear to the Dark Souls series. It was something of an oddity when it was released. A hard-as-nails game that did its best to hide essential narrative in item descriptions and one-off conversations with NPCs? It didn’t take the world by storm, but it certainly got some people’s attention.
Perhaps the title’s biggest fault is the relative obscurity that defined its existence. The game didn’t make a big splash at launch and didn’t receive much promotion, resulting in little attention paid to Demon’s Souls when released. However, the title would eventually become something of a cult classic and grow in renown among groups of players looking for challenging titles or Japanese-made RPGs. This would have to do until Dark Souls set the world on fire, and some looked back at its predecessor.
3. Dark Souls (2011) – 89.3/100
Demon’s Souls was remarkable in many ways, but it didn’t blow up in the public consciousness the same way Dark Souls did. Dark Souls served to really get the series — and sub-genre to a greater extent — on the map. Taking what worked from Demon’s Souls and scrapping what didn’t, Dark Souls redefined the Souls-like experience and would go on to set the example, using this formula for years to come.
Gone were hard-to-understand systems in Demon’s Souls, and they were replaced with a simplified, albeit still challenging, experience. Critics were impressed by the game’s bosses, but even more so the sense of accomplishment that accompanied defeating each one. Laying the groundwork for nearly every Souls-like title to come after, Dark Souls illustrated how a game’s ultimate rewards could be just in overcoming the insurmountable challenges.
2. Dark Souls II (2014) – 90.5/100
Dark Souls II was, in many respects, the perfect sequel. It took just about everything people loved about its predecessor, added some extra substance to the core experience and did away with anything that got in the way of enjoyment. As a result, Dark Souls II was both a follow-up longtime Souls-like players could easily enjoy just as well as newcomers. Hailed for its great combat, boss fights and world-building, the series earned its place in players’ hearts with this entry.
Dark Souls II was a game that veterans could meticulously tear into, discovering the world’s lore and perfecting their character’s build and loadout. At the same time, the sequel’s streamlined overall presentation and narrative independent from the original Dark Souls offered a welcome start for those just jumping into the genre. Dark Souls II would propel the series from gaming curiosity to a full-blown sub-genre.
1. Demon’s Souls (2020) – 92/100
Genuinely showcasing the difference between a remake and a remaster, 2020’s PlayStation 5 version of Demon’s Souls stands as the highest-rated title in FromSoftware’s Souls series. At launch, critics adored the remake and found it to be as faithful as it was enjoyable. Some subtle changes to the overall game left nearly all of what originally made the title great shine even brighter alongside some of the best-looking visuals PS5 had at launch.
Offering the first must-have title for PS5, Demon’s Souls also presented players with a new definitive Souls adventure. Demon’s Souls‘ remake impressed players beyond what the Dark Souls series had accomplished, little doubt due to a refreshing combination of its subtley unique gameplay and breathtaking visuals. Bluepoint Games masterfully reintroduced players to the Kingdom of Boletaria and modernized Demon’s Souls‘ progenitor Souls-like experience to leave many blown away by the result.
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