Dark Souls

22.09.2011
Critic 90/100
Users 86/100
Dark Souls is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released in September 2011 as a spiritual sequel to Demon's Souls, it is set in a dark, medieval fantasy world. It is renowned for its challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and deep lore. Players control a customizable character known as the Chosen Undead, embarking on a perilous journey to uncover the secrets of the cursed land of Lordran. Dark Souls is known for its punishing difficulty, requiring players to carefully manage combat, stamina, and resources while navigating hostile environments filled with dangerous enemies and formidable bosses. The game features a unique multiplayer component, allowing players to leave messages for others, summon allies for cooperative play, or invade other players' worlds for PvP combat. The original release of Dark Souls received critical acclaim for its atmospheric world, innovative mechanics, and rewarding gameplay, solidifying its place as a seminal title in the action RPG genre.
Dark Souls takes place in the dark, decaying kingdom of Lordran, a world in decline where gods, humans, and other mystical beings struggle with the inevitability of age, fire, and darkness. The player assumes the role of an Undead, a cursed being who is fated to resurrect repeatedly after death. The Undead is prophesied to either link the fire and prolong the Age of Fire or let it fade, ushering in the Age of Dark. The game begins with the player imprisoned in the Northern Undead Asylum. Escaping sets the stage for a journey across Lordran, from crumbling castles and ancient ruins to twisted forests and treacherous catacombs. Along the way, the player encounters remnants of once-great heroes, malevolent creatures, and godlike beings, each guarding vital keys, souls, or knowledge necessary to progress. Central to the story are the Four Lords of Cinder: powerful beings who previously linked the First Flame and have now abandoned their thrones. They include: Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight, whose fate is intertwined with the First Flame. Nito, the First of the Dead, a skeletal lord shrouded in deathly mists. The Witch of Izalith, whose attempts to recreate the First Flame led to catastrophic consequences. Seath the Scaleless, a dragon obsessed with immortality and forbidden knowledge. As the Undead, the player collects the Lord Souls, defeats these Lords, and reaches the Kiln of the First Flame, confronting Gwyn’s remnant. The climax offers a choice: to link the fire, continuing the Age of Fire, or let it fade, allowing the Age of Dark to begin—symbolizing the cyclical struggle between light and dark, life and decay, in Lordran. The narrative is deliberately ambiguous and cryptic, conveyed mostly through environmental storytelling, item descriptions, and subtle NPC dialogue. Themes of despair, perseverance, and the cyclical nature of history permeate the journey, creating a haunting and immersive experience that rewards careful observation and exploration.

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DLCs

24.08.2012

Artorias of the Abyss is additional content for the game Dark Souls. It was originally released for PC as part of the Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, and later for consoles as the eponymous DLC. A console version of the Prepare To Die Edition was also released at a later date.

Part of collection:
Dark Souls (last 3 games)

31.05.2019

The Dark Souls Trilogy includes Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls II: Scholar of The First Sin, Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades, plus all DLC content for all three games, a high-quality, numbered, and hand-painted 34cm Elite Knight at the Bonfire statue, the Dark Souls Trilogy soundtrack – featuring 6 soundtrack CDs with music from all three games, and a 460-page Dark Souls Trilogy compendium – containing illustrated maps with boss and NPC locations, item encyclopedia, bestiary of enemies and bosses, and a manuscript of all dialogue from each game reiterate.

23.05.2018

Dark Souls Remastered is a remastered version of the original game Dark Souls. The updated version of the game features graphical enhancements, an expanded online mode, and the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.

27.03.2017

Dark Souls III: The Ringed City is the second DLC expansion for Dark Souls III, released in March 2017. It introduces the Ringed City, a new area at the world's edge where the Age of Fire is ending. The expansion includes new environments, enemies, bosses, and items like weapons, armour, and spells. The content further explores the game's lore, focusing on the themes of decay and the cyclical nature of the world.

Part of franchise:
Dark Souls (last 3 games)

31.05.2019

The Dark Souls Trilogy includes Dark Souls Remastered, Dark Souls II: Scholar of The First Sin, Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades, plus all DLC content for all three games, a high-quality, numbered, and hand-painted 34cm Elite Knight at the Bonfire statue, the Dark Souls Trilogy soundtrack – featuring 6 soundtrack CDs with music from all three games, and a 460-page Dark Souls Trilogy compendium – containing illustrated maps with boss and NPC locations, item encyclopedia, bestiary of enemies and bosses, and a manuscript of all dialogue from each game reiterate.

26.10.2018

A bundle containing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Dark Souls III.

19.10.2018

For the first time ever, own all three critically-acclaimed Dark Souls games and all associated DLC content in one 3-disc collection. Enter the epic dark fantasy universe stricken by decline and the Curse. Explore the intricate world designs and deeply rooted lore. Each play through surprises with new challenges and discoveries. Play with hundreds of unique combinations of weaponry, armor, magic, and crafting options to create your own play style and gaming experience.

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11.03.2014

Dark Souls II is an action role-playing game set in the kingdom of Drangleic. Players control the Bearer of the Curse, navigating a dark, interconnected world filled with challenging enemies and complex boss encounters. Combat emphasizes precise timing, stamina management, and adaptability, with options for dual-wielding, varied weapon types, and a flexible character progression system. The online servers were shut down on March 31st, 2024.

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24.03.2015

An action RPG in which the player embodies a Hunter who, after being transfused with the mysterious blood local to the city of Yharnam, sets off into a "night of the Hunt", an extended night in which Hunters may phase in and out of dream and reality in order to thin the outbreak of abominable beasts that plague the land and, for the more resilient and insightful Hunters, uncover the answers to the Hunt's many mysteries.

24.03.2016

Dark Souls III is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released in March 2016, it is the fourth entry in the Souls series and the final instalment in the Dark Souls trilogy. Set in the decaying kingdom of Lothric, players take on the role of the "Ashen One," an undead warrior tasked with rekindling the First Flame to prevent the world from falling into darkness. The game features challenging combat, intricate level design, and a deep, lore-rich narrative.

07.11.2006

Gears of War is a third-person shooter built around a cover system, where players duck behind obstacles and use tactical fire to advance on enemies. The signature weapon is an assault rifle fitted with a chainsaw bayonet, and a timed reload mechanic can grant a brief damage bonus or jam the gun if mistimed. The five-act campaign can be played solo or in two-player co-op, and a competitive multiplayer mode supports up to eight players split between the two factions. It was the first game in the Gears of War series and helped popularize the modern cover-based shooter, later receiving remastered versions.

01.11.2011

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a co-op Action RPG that immerses you and your friends in a brutal new chapter in the War of the Ring. Snowblind Studios is in the unique position of drawing inspiration from both the literary and film rights to world of Middle-earth, allowing players to bloody their axes on a wide range of deadly enemies and traverse both established and never-before-seen locations. The result is a journey that is both epic and intimate, familiar yet unexpected.

28.11.2012

Explore an island playground as stunningly beautiful as it is diverse – from mountain ranges to swampy grasslands and white sandy beaches. Fight your way through the island’s towns, temples, river ports and more. Encounter a diverse and realistic cast of characters, including one of Far Cry’s most notorious villains: Vaas Montenegro. Dive into this deep and enriching story where morals are questionable and hope is all but abandoned.

25.01.2011

Three years after the Necromorph infestation aboard the USS Ishimura, Isaac Clarke awakens from a coma, confused, disoriented, and on a space station called The Sprawl. Just as his health begins to improve, The Sprawl is overrun with even more advanced forms of the alien-zombie hybrids.

18.11.2014

Dragon Age: Inquisition is a role-playing game and the third main game in the Dragon Age series. It is set in the Thedas continent, the same fantasy world as the two previous games. It consist of two large countries: Ferelden (from Dragon Age: Origins) and Orlais, as well as the land inbetween. True to the spirit of the series the character can be customized for appearance, sex, class and race. The available races are dwarf, elf, human, and Qunari and the classes are mage, rogue, and warrior with three specializations each. To grow the Inquisition experience needs to be earned by completing quests, which allows the player to further define allegiances and pursue romances. A custom party can be defined and each member benefits from experience as it opens up access to better weapons and more abilities. Power points open up new areas and Inquisition points define the influence over the region; each new level provides a perk that benefits the entire Inquisition.