FromSoftware is a company that has impacted the gaming scene on a massive scale with its distinctive sub-genre that brought about the “soulslike” origin in the first place. This spans a great library of games, but for this list, I focus on the official ones stemming from the company that started it all.
So, what are their best games? Of course, this will all be in my opinion… but I’ll try my utmost to explain the rationale after experiencing each and every one of these games for myself (as well as the ones that sadly did not make it on the list).
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
Right off the bat, I’m sure this one will ring out as controversial for most, particularly due to the Souls community in general being divided into two parts of haters and enjoyers of the game. Of course, I’m on the “enjoyer” side of the spectrum for Dark Souls 2. So yes, I will have to elaborate greatly on why of all things I chose Dark Souls 2 over the original for this (and believe me, there’s no sequel bias).
Scholar of the First Sin is regarded as a “special edition” of the original Dark Souls 2 that changes a lot from said original and does so drastically to an overwhelmingly positive effect. Contrary to its game of origin, it includes the three DLCs as well as the base game within its already bundled package. With additional upgrades to sound, performance, and graphics, as well as extending the multiplayer session to six players in total, Scholar of the First Sin automatically becomes a better version than the already well-received base game.
The foundations for both story and gameplay had been set by the original Dark Souls before. While again divisive on the gameplay regard where some would prefer things like movement and combat depending on their selection between the base and the sequel — the story, along with its areas and bosses are the major turning point for me. I cannot stress the absolute thrill I have when replaying Dark Souls 2 compared to its predecessor, it’s just that much fun.
The game is typically much longer, but the overall sense of creative variety it has compared to Dark Souls makes the original come off as fairly “dry” by comparison. Players that enter Majula for the first time might understand just a bit of what I mean by this… and the fact is, the game is like this almost everywhere. No one area will feel exactly the same to the other, making for a rich and grand player experience overall.
Sekiro
Ah, yes, the “ninja” Souls fantasy. I’ve had a great experience with Sekiro — and by great, I mean exponentially great. Personally, grinding the rest of the game out for the “Shura” outfit was a bit of a challenge but well worth it.
Where Sekiro’s story may falter a bit for some, the gameplay more than definitely makes up for it. By popular acclaim, it has taken Game of the Year at 2019’s The Game Awards, but that isn’t what makes it great. The skill requirement in order to master Sekiro is entirely different from the skill requirement that it takes to beat it. To clarify, completing Sekiro’s main game does not mean that one has mastered the game entirely, only partially — this is due to the insane depth layered within the combat system.
The game’s unique combat system is such an upgrade from the standard FromSoftware style that it singlehandedly improves upon that, and those that manage to figure out all the intricacies within fighting are able to express themselves as skilfully as a “real” shinobi. On top of the free update, which includes a boss rush mode, new costumes, and messages able to be set by players, it definitely takes the cake over the previous entry on this list.
The only real “problem” with Sekiro is that you remain with the same primary weapon, with customization that goes into the shinobi prosthetics rather than the wide range of weapon customization like the standard Souls series. This along with a few other factors may take away from the New Game+ experience for this game like many report, but it certainly isn’t a deal-breaker by any means.
Bloodborne
Bloodborne is another extremely creative entry from FromSoftware, specializing in intense, eldritch horror that practically oozes out from every facet of the game… and it’s great. I believe that I would have put it higher if it was not an exclusive title, but because it is, many fans may not have access to even play the game. Hence, there are always a lot of rumors popping up about a remaster or sequel that may change this exclusivity. But other than that, it is a very good game.
Every nook and cranny of the hunter’s dream is filled with vile monsters and other types of enemies that will be sure to leave you breathless. Oh, and of course, what could Bloodborne be without the welcome inclusion of guns? If dark fantasy is what you crave the most from a game, then this is your pick. The story, atmosphere, and gameplay of Bloodborne are all stellar… and I think it’s good enough to look past its slight performance issues and frame drops. The 2015 game has been in desperate need for a revamp, as even on the PS5 it still tends to struggle with these issues. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for an especially unique gaming experience of a lifetime, Bloodborne is it.
Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 is absolutely amazing… breathtakingly so. If it wasn’t for the next entry on the list, I would have definitely placed it as number one if not for one more. DS3 feels great to play, to experience, to beat… and beat again when progressing through the two astounding DLCs associated with it — Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
It’s just that incredible, and definitely a good starting point for anyone wanting to play a Soulslike title by FromSoftware for the first time. The reason is that it takes features from its predecessors and amps it up to 100, polishing its combat and mechanics to the current standard that can be seen in its more modern games today. The new engine comes off as a lot quicker, with less “slow-paced” gameplay compared to the previous titles in the trilogy, and its bosses and story are nothing to scoff at, either. It wraps up the Souls trilogy quite perfectly, and placing it anywhere lower than this wouldn’t be enough to give it justice.
Elden Ring
Was there any surprise here? Maybe. If I didn’t place the highly acclaimed Elden Ring as number one on this list, I’m sure it would have been in the top three, regardless. Elden Ring is the first open-world entry from the FromSoftware team, and it immediately became an instant success from the moment of its conception (even before release, fans were going crazy, and it kept winning awards back-to-back).
The game has achieved universally renowned status with 10/10s all across the board from many popular game review sites. The bosses are phenomenal, albeit a bit controversial in terms of reuse some might say, but putting together a list of all the positive things that this game has done for the industry and how it revolutionized open-world gaming cannot be understated or ignored. It won Game of the Year in 2022 for a reason, folks!
