What Dark Souls Game Should I Play First

The best Dark Souls game to play first is Dark Souls: Remastered.

So, you’re curious about jumping into the brutally beautiful world of Dark Souls, but you’re not sure where to begin. It’s a common question: what dark souls game should i play first? Don’t worry, many gamers have faced this dilemma before.

The franchise has a reputation for its difficulty, but also for its rewarding gameplay, making the decision of where to start a bit daunting. This guide aims to point you in the right direction so that you can start your journey as an undead.

What Dark Souls Game Should I Play First?

So, you’re ready to dive into the world of Dark Souls? That’s awesome! But with three main games (and a few other similar ones), it can be tricky to know where to begin. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you figure out which Dark Souls game should be your first adventure. Let’s break down the key things to think about.

Understanding What Makes Dark Souls Special

Before we get into specific games, let’s talk about what makes Dark Souls different from other video games. These games are known for being challenging. When you die, you lose your souls (the game’s currency) and have to fight your way back to get them. It’s a tough cycle, but it’s also very rewarding. Dark Souls games are not about button mashing; they’re about learning enemy patterns, using your environment, and carefully choosing your moves. They also have interconnected worlds, where secrets are hidden everywhere, and the story is often revealed through item descriptions and world building rather than in your face cutscenes.

Key Features of Dark Souls

• Challenging but Fair Combat: Enemies can pack a punch, but they all have weaknesses you can learn to exploit.
• Tough Boss Battles: Big bad bosses will test your skills and patience.
• Interconnected World: Areas connect in clever ways, making the world feel real and vast.
• Rich Lore: The story isn’t given to you; you have to piece it together yourself.
• Customizable Character Builds: You can make your character play how you like.

These elements make Dark Souls more than just a game; they create an experience. They can be difficult, yes, but the feeling you get when you overcome a tough spot is unlike any other.

Dark Souls Remastered: The Classic Starting Point

Many people consider the original Dark Souls Remastered to be the best starting point for the series, and there are a lot of reasons why. This game sets the stage for the whole series, introducing you to the core gameplay loop, the lore, and the general feel of the series. The world of Lordran is designed in such a way that you gradually learn the mechanics while being given enough freedom to explore.

Why Choose Dark Souls Remastered First?

• Foundational Experience: Dark Souls Remastered introduces the core mechanics and feel of the series most effectively.
• Interconnected World: Lordran, the game’s world, is incredibly interconnected, meaning it loops back on itself frequently. The world itself is a character in the game, and learning its geography is part of the learning curve.
• More Forgiving (Compared to Later Entries): While still challenging, it’s slightly more forgiving than the later games when it comes to some mechanics, such as less punishing death penalties. It still is challenging, but not as unforgiving as other titles.
• Nostalgic Feel: It’s where many players started, giving it a certain charm.
• Great Level Design: The game boasts phenomenal level design with lots of shortcuts that make progression much easier. The feeling of finding new shortcuts, is a reward in itself.
• Teaches Core Concepts Effectively: It has a very streamlined process of introducing players to the core mechanics of the souls games.

If you choose this, you will experience the roots of the Dark Souls series and understand many of the recurring elements and lore that are referenced in the later games. It’s a strong foundation to understanding the whole series, and while it might have its flaws due to age, its level and world design still hold up even today.

Dark Souls II: A Unique But Controversial Option

Dark Souls II is the odd one out in the trilogy, and opinions vary widely on this game. While it does use many of the core mechanics of the Dark Souls series, it tries to do its own thing, and many players don’t consider it to be a true Dark Souls experience. It introduces a different story, with a slightly different feel, and some gameplay elements are changed, some that players prefer and some that they dislike. It’s not necessarily a bad game, but it’s a different one.

Reasons To Maybe Consider Dark Souls II

• Unique Mechanics: Dark Souls II has a different feel to its combat and includes some mechanics not present in other games, like the Adaptability stat which affects your invincibility frames when rolling.
• More Content: Dark Souls II has the most content in the series. More areas, more bosses, and more equipment.
• A Different Story: The world and story are different from the other games, offering a fresh experience if you’re familiar with the series.
• PVP Focused: Dark Souls II is considered to be the best of the series in terms of the multiplayer aspect of the game. The PVP, which is player vs player mode, has a very devoted fanbase.

Reasons Against Starting With Dark Souls II

• Different Feel: The movement and combat are different from Dark Souls Remastered and Dark Souls III.
• Level Design: Many players find the level design to be less inspired and less interconnected compared to the other games.
• Can Feel Less Polished: The game has a reputation for feeling less polished and having some questionable design choices.
• May not be True Souls Experience: Some longtime fans don’t consider it a true Dark Souls game and think it’s not the best representation of what the series is about.
• Adaptability Mechanic Can Confuse New Players: The added Adaptability stat can be confusing and can seem unfair to players who don’t know what to do.

Because of its differences, many players, and many reviews, suggest that you shouldn’t start with Dark Souls II. Most recommend playing it after you have a good grasp of what the series is about, either after playing Dark Souls Remastered or Dark Souls 3.

Dark Souls III: The Fast-Paced Finale

Dark Souls III is often considered the most refined of the three games in terms of combat. It’s the fastest paced, and it brings a more modern feel to the series. The bosses are also considered to be some of the best of the series. While it is an excellent game, it might not be the best first game for new players.

Why Choose Dark Souls III

• Fast-Paced Combat: The combat is more fluid, making it exciting and engaging.
• Impressive Graphics and Design: Dark Souls III has the best visuals in the series, making the world feel more immersive.
• Amazing Bosses: Many players think the boss battles in Dark Souls III are the best in the trilogy.
• More Streamlined Experience: Dark Souls III has a more streamlined and polished experience compared to the earlier entries.
• Great Variety of Weapon Options: Dark Souls III boasts a wide array of weapons and builds you can make.

Why It Might Not Be the Best First Game

• Fast Paced Combat May Be Overwhelming For Newcomers: Combat is much more fast paced, and can feel overwhelming for a new player.
• Story Assumes You’ve Played Other Souls Games: The story and the world build heavily on previous games in the series, and you may feel a bit lost if you haven’t played the other games.
• It Builds On The Legacy Of The Series: It references past characters, events, and locations, which can reduce its appeal to newcomers who might miss the call backs.
• Less Forgiving: It’s considered to be more difficult than Dark Souls Remastered, meaning it could potentially turn off newer players.
• Doesn’t Provide The Foundational Understanding: It doesn’t provide the core foundational elements to newcomers to the series.

While it is a good game, most players recommend you experience Dark Souls Remastered before you play this game, as the story of Dark Souls III may not make sense without the context of its predecessors.

Other “Souls-like” Games to Consider

Besides the main Dark Souls trilogy, there are other games that capture the essence of the “Souls-like” genre. These games can be good options if you want something similar but slightly different.

Games Similar to Dark Souls

• Demon’s Souls: The game that started it all. It’s older but very important to the history of the genre, and was recently remade, if you have a PlayStation 5 this could be a great choice.
• Bloodborne: Set in a gothic world with faster-paced combat and a very horror focused experience. It’s exclusive to the Playstation consoles.
• Elden Ring: An open-world game by the same developers, offering a vast world to explore and a more approachable experience.
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: A different style of combat focused on parrying with less of an emphasis on role-playing.
• Lords of the Fallen: Considered to be a more beginner friendly soul-like, with slower paced combat, a different setting and an interconnected world.

While each of these games are excellent, it’s generally recommended that you play Dark Souls Remastered first as a starting point for the genre.

Summary: Which Game is Right for You?

Here’s a quick summary to help you decide which Dark Souls game to start with:

The best choice for most beginners is Dark Souls Remastered. It teaches you the ropes and allows you to enjoy the other games in the series with a better understanding of the lore, mechanics and gameplay.

Choosing your first Dark Souls game can be tough, but you really can’t go wrong with starting with Dark Souls Remastered. It’s the most beginner friendly and provides a good foundation for understanding the rest of the series. No matter which one you pick, prepare to die, learn, and enjoy the incredible, challenging worlds that await you.

What's THE BEST Souls game for beginners?

Final Thoughts

For a first time player, Dark Souls Remastered is the ideal entry point. It presents a relatively slower pace and simpler mechanics. The world’s interconnected design makes exploration rewarding.

Dark Souls III, while polished, assumes some franchise knowledge. Its faster combat might prove overwhelming initially. Therefore, deciding what dark souls game should i play first has a clear answer: Remastered. This will provide a good foundation.