Every Installment in This RPG Franchise Is Considered 10/10 by Players (& It’s Inspired Countless Games)

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Few role-playing game series have had as big an impact on game design and player expectations as FromSoftware’s ‘Souls’ games. From the original *Dark Souls* to *Elden Ring*, each installment is widely considered a masterpiece, earning both critical praise and a devoted fanbase. These games aren’t just highly regarded within the action RPG genre; they’ve become cultural touchstones that have shaped modern gaming.

The Souls games aren’t just great RPGs-they offer unique experiences unlike anything else in gaming. Many games have attempted to replicate their feel, but always fall short. Each new installment builds upon the series’ core principles while introducing fresh ideas, making each game feel distinct yet undeniably connected. This careful blend of familiarity and innovation is what makes the series so highly regarded and consistently earns each game a spot among the best ever made.

Why the Souls Games Stand Apart

Souls games have a reputation for being difficult, and a big reason is their unique combat system. It’s deliberate and demanding, meaning you need to be patient and precise. Every action – like swinging a weapon or dodging an attack – has real consequences. Players quickly discover that skill and timing are more important than simply hitting things repeatedly. If you don’t learn this, you’ll likely fail. But overcoming these tough challenges feels incredibly rewarding, and that sense of accomplishment is what sets Souls games apart. When players finally conquer a difficult obstacle, that victory is truly memorable.

One of the main reasons the Souls games are so memorable is their incredible level design. It’s truly legendary. *Dark Souls* is a prime example, featuring a world of connected areas that cleverly loop back on themselves. Finding a shortcut doesn’t just make things easier-it feels like discovering a secret about the world itself, and it’s incredibly satisfying. Even in *Elden Ring’s* open world, the joy of discovery is central, with hidden dungeons and winding castles scattered across a huge landscape that rewards exploration. Few games build their worlds through geography as consistently and effectively as the Souls series.

One of the biggest reasons the Souls games are so memorable is how they tell stories. Instead of relying on long cutscenes, FromSoftware hides lore within item descriptions, vague conversations, and details in the game world. Players have to actively explore and piece things together to understand the world around them, which gives them a real sense of ownership over the experience. This makes the story feel discovered, not just told. This approach has inspired many other games, but few have captured the delicate subtlety of a Souls narrative. Interestingly, most players never fully uncover the complete story, yet the narrative remains powerful even with minimal dialogue.

Even the “Weakest” Entry Is Still a Masterpiece

Okay, so everyone always says *Dark Souls 2* is the weakest in the series, and I get that when you compare it to the others. But honestly, when I play it on its own, it’s still a fantastic RPG! It’s packed with cool ideas and really ambitious design choices, and there are *so* many bosses to fight. It definitely took some risks that not everyone loved, but it ended up creating its own feel within the *Dark Souls* world. It just proves that even when FromSoftware tries something different, it’s still a great game compared to most others out there.

Honestly, what’s so fascinating about talking about *Dark Souls 2* is how much it depends on what you’re comparing it to. For most game series, it would be considered amazing, a real high point. It only gets called the ‘weakest’ one because the other *Dark Souls* games and *Elden Ring* are just *that* good. When you stack it up against those titles, its ideas don’t feel as polished, but it’s definitely not a bad game, and it’s still full of cool ideas.

This really highlights how consistently excellent FromSoftware has been. The fact that even their least-praised game is still considered a classic is rare. The series isn’t measured against other games, but against its own high standards, which shows just how much it dominates the action RPG genre. While *Dark Souls 2* might not be the best in the series, its quality still proves how strong the foundation of the entire franchise is.

The Lasting Legacy of the Souls Franchise

The *Souls* series has had a huge impact on gaming. Before *Dark Souls*, many believed that games needed to be easy to appeal to the widest audience. Publishers thought more players equaled a better game, but FromSoftware proved this wrong. They showed that players actually *wanted* challenging games, as long as those challenges were fair and felt rewarding. This led to the creation of a new type of RPG – often called “Soulslike” – which focuses on difficult, skill-based gameplay.

FromSoftware’s impact quickly became widespread throughout the gaming industry. Games like *Nioh 2*, *Hollow Knight*, and *Lies of P* clearly took inspiration from their formula, using similar systems like challenging, stamina-based combat and intricate boss battles. Even games in different genres have cleverly adopted elements of the “Souls” style, such as the interconnected worlds of *Metroidvania* games and the immersive storytelling in *Remnant 2*. This influence has significantly changed how developers design gameplay and create game worlds.

The *Souls* games have also fostered a remarkably unique community. Its distinctive message system lets players leave tips and warnings for each other, and the incredibly difficult gameplay creates a strong sense of shared experience. The release of *Elden Ring* demonstrated this perfectly, as players around the globe united to overcome the challenging boss Malenia, Blade of Miquella. This strong community, combined with consistently high-quality games, establishes the *Souls* franchise as a landmark series in gaming history, alongside hugely influential titles like *Half-Life*.

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2025-09-24 03:11