So, Elden Ring was your first experience with From Software’s catalogue… Well, you’re in luck as there’s plenty more where that came from. Since 2009 From Software have been perfecting their formula which is now known by the sub-genre of the souls-like.
Whether you enjoyed Elden Ring’s rich lore, it’s depressing backstories, its deliberate combat or it’s nail-biting PvP after stocking up on billions of Elden Ring Runes, the rest of From Software’s catalogue is ready for you to enjoy. Here are the top games to play, for each type of player!
For the Difficulty – Bloodborne
One of the greatest draws of From Software’s catalogue is difficulty. While you may have thought Elden Ring was hard; you’re in for a treat with Bloodborne! That’s because Bloodborne introduced something new to the formula—fast combat. And I mean fast combat.
In Bloodborne, enemies still hit hard, but they also hit fast.
And not only that but Bloodborne took away the shield, destroying any attempt you may have made of slowing down the pace of combat.
Beyond the difficulty, Bloodborne also takes on a totally different style to many of the games on this list—opting for the other-worldly aura of cosmic horror instead of the traditional Souls take on European fantasy.
Unfortunately for PC and Xbox players, Bloodborne is only available on PlayStation—but it is well worth it.
For the Story – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The only of From Software’s Souls-like catalogue which features a named protagonist, Sekiro has you play as Wolf—a shinobi with one task: to protect your young master. The trouble is, everyone seems to want a piece of him, meaning you are going to need to pull off some serious feats of skill to protect him.
Sekiro is mainly known for its punishing difficulty, but it should be known for its incredibly rich narrative. This narrative is so rich, in comparison to From Software’s catalogue, because it places you in the shoes of Wolf, instead of having you create your own character.
Sekiro is also well worth playing for its pacey, parry-heavy combat, incredible Japanese Sengoku-Period aesthetics and its reams of memorable boss fights. Seriously, I think Sekiro has many of From Software’s best bosses!
If you’re on PC, get Sekiro now at a delicious discount!
For Weighty Combat – Dark Souls
Nothing quite compares to the original Dark Souls. After all, it’s where the whole souls-like subgenre was spawned.
Known particularly for its slow, intentional pacing and weighty combat, Dark Souls is a beautiful, memorable and obscure masterpiece; and if you haven’t played it yet… Well, what are you waiting for?
For PvP – Dark Souls 3
While Elden Ring’s PvP scene is exploding, no Souls-like ever attained a PvP scene quite like Dark Souls 3. With excellent invasions, summons and designated duelling arenas, Dark Souls 3 is the pinnacle of Souls PvP.
Not only that, but DS3 also features a truly awesome number of viable builds, meaning you can get creative and express yourself just as you can in Elden Ring.
And, of course, the rest of Dark Souls 3 ain’t bad either!
For Something Lighter – Dark Souls 2
Known as the runt of the litter, Dark Souls 2 has a pretty poor reputation, but I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that this was the game that got me into Dark Souls. Part of this is due to the fact that Dark Souls 2 is simply a bit easier than FromSoft’s other games. But there’s nothing to be ashamed about there!
Dark Souls 2’s simpler gameplay and slightly less harrowing aesthetic is a great entry point into the Souls-series-proper.
For the Original Souls-like – Demon’s Souls (2009/2020)
While Dark Souls took the formula mainstream, the first souls-like was actually Demon’s Souls—originally released for the PS3. While the original version certainly shows its age, the recent 2020 reboot gives the game a new coat of paint while keeping all the original charm and content.
So, it’s a great place to see where the series began. Especially if you want to play through From Software’s catalogue from the very beginning.
To See Where It All Started – King’s Field
Okay, I know I said it all started with Demon’s Souls, but if we want to get technical, we should probably look all the way back to King’s Field which released as a launch title for the Sony PlayStation way back in 1994, seeing three sequels in following decade.
King’s Field is so important as it was From Software’s first foray into the genre, and laid out much of the tough, intentional combat which characterised the later games. Of course, it’s the first game From Software ever released and it was released before gaming looked anything like it did today, so of course it’s an oddball. But if you’re looking for a history lesson… give it a shot.
For Something Totally Different – Armored Core 2
This might not be what you expect from the creators of Elden Ring, but it’s time to strap into your mech and get shooting sci-fi style.
Released for the PS2, Armored Core 2 is confusingly the fourth instalment in the franchise and is by far the most well remembered.
This crazy shooter may certainly seem at least a little campy today, but the thrill it provides is something totally different… while still retaining the sheen of From Software’s stellar catalogue.