This Brutal Setting Is Perfect for a Soulslike Dungeons & Dragons Game

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When people think of *Dungeons & Dragons*, they often picture classic high fantasy adventures with heroic characters. While *Baldur’s Gate 3* is a popular example for many modern fans, *D&D* actually includes a wide variety of different worlds and settings. There’s definitely an appetite for more *D&D* video games, but it’s uncertain what those games will look like. There’s a huge potential to explore settings beyond the familiar Forgotten Realms – I believe it’s time to move past places like Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep and try something new, both in terms of location and genre.

Combining the challenging gameplay of ‘Souls-like’ games with a ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ setting is a great way to create something fresh, and ‘Dark Sun’ is the ideal world for it. Originally released in the early 1990s, ‘Dark Sun’ is known as the most harsh and demanding setting ever created for ‘D&D’. Its difficult world and built-in challenges perfectly complement the ‘Souls-like’ style, making it a perfect match.

Dark Sun, A Harsh World Built on Survival and Despair

The soulslike genre is built on a sense of hopelessness and challenge. These games typically feature crumbling worlds, dangerous enemies, and difficult combat. The *Dark Sun* setting for *Dungeons & Dragons* perfectly captures this feeling. Its world, Athas, is a harsh desert where even the environment is hostile. Resources like food and water are scarce, cities are places of tyranny, and every fight isn’t about victory – it’s about making it through the next one.

The world of Dark Sun is incredibly challenging, much like the difficult gameplay found in soulslike video games. The gods have either perished or left the land of Athas, and the environment is a harsh, unforgiving desert where water is far more valuable than gold. Players focus on simply surviving, scavenging for essential supplies rather than riches. Every decision carries significant weight, as a single error can easily prove fatal – a feeling that strongly resonates with the soulslike genre.

Even the cities offer no refuge in Athas. Each one is controlled by a ruthless sorcerer-king who rules through fear and possesses almost god-like power. They demand complete obedience from everyone within their walls, and even travelers aren’t exempt. It’s a world where safety is an illusion, and that message is constantly reinforced. Danger is everywhere, and I think this setting would be perfect for a challenging, ‘soulslike’ game.

Dark Sun’s Psionics, Scarcity, and Moral Choices as Core Mechanics

The *Dark Sun* setting stands apart from other *Dungeons & Dragons* worlds primarily due to its unique take on magic. Here, magic isn’t a benevolent force; it’s dangerous and responsible for the devastation of the planet Athas. Powerful spellcasters once used a destructive form of magic called Defile to drain the life from the world, leaving behind only a desolate wasteland. Because of this, magic is widely feared and those who practice it risk being attacked or killed if discovered. Furthermore, using magic requires drawing upon the planet’s dwindling life force, creating a difficult moral dilemma for players. This inherent risk and reward system would be a perfect fit for the challenging gameplay style of a ‘soulslike’ game.

Athas isn’t just a world of magic; powerful mental abilities called psionics are common. Nearly everyone possesses some level of psionic skill, from moving objects with their mind to launching powerful psychic attacks. Incorporating both magic and psionics into a challenging game would give players diverse options. While magic might be more potent, using it could attract unwanted attention. Psionics are safer to use, though they can be countered by enemies with similar abilities. However, exceptionally strong psionic powers could draw the notice of the ruling sorcerer-kings, who might see them as a danger.

Because resources are so limited in *Dark Sun*, the game can introduce interesting challenges. Healing items might be rare, making players think carefully before using them. Weapons could break down quickly, especially metal ones, forcing players to choose battles wisely. Players might even have to decide whether to scavenge for supplies or risk stealing from others. Every choice could feel difficult and impactful, like a major encounter.

The Perfect Fusion of Lore and Difficulty

What would make a *Dark Suninspired soulslike game truly special isn’t just how it plays, but how perfectly the challenging gameplay fits the world itself. Soulslike games are known for being difficult and grim, which aligns perfectly with the atmosphere of *Dark Sun*. Players typically uncover the story by exploring the environment, deciphering vague conversations, and gradually understanding the world’s past. The ruined cities, powerful and oppressive sorcerer-kings, and dangerous wilderness of *Dark Sun* would be ideal for this kind of storytelling, especially for players new to the setting.

Exploring the crumbling ruins of old cities or the last remaining forests would reveal glimpses of Athas’s former glory. Players might uncover clues about how the sorcerer-kings gained control, or even find the Wanderer’s Journal, a key item in the *Dark Sun* setting. Hidden agreements between druids or wandering Elven tribes could lead to trades of information for precious goods. These discoveries offer a chance to tell stories about how Athas became so dangerous and what life was like before its fall.

I’m a big fan of the *Dark Sun* setting, and I believe it’s uniquely suited for a soulslike game. Its themes of scarcity, corruption, and hopelessness are difficult to portray effectively in other genres. However, the soulslike formula – overcoming extreme challenges and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it – blends perfectly with *Dark Sun*. With *Dungeons & Dragons* games being so popular right now, I think this combination has the potential to be a huge success.

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2025-09-28 17:12