FromSoftware's Dark Souls is more than just an action RPG. It is a cultural phenomenon and an institution. Along with Demon's Souls and Bloodborne, Dark Souls crafted a new subgenre that birthed the likes of The Surge, Ashen, and Code Vein. More importantly than any of that, Dark Souls is difficult, notoriously so.
Challenging as it might be, the franchise provides players with all the necessary tools to overcome any challenge. In the universe of Dark Souls, death is a rite of passage and a means to grow. Phrases like "git gud" and "filthy casual" have been repeated so often that they have become almost meaningless, but they highlight Dark Souls' fair nature. Naturally, such a passionate fanbase has inspired countless epic memes.
10 Parry This
Meme by Saysonnehkyin.
Nothing is impossible in Lordran or any of Dark Souls' other kingdoms. Going up against a gargoyle? Chuck a couple of Firebombs to get the job done. Facing off against four fallen kings in almost complete darkness? Just be aggressive and destroy them. Greeted by a gun-wielding Gwyn, Lord of Cinder? OK, that might be an issue.
Parrying is a difficult to master but highly rewarding mechanic that can turn boss fights into walks in the park, and Gwyn is not immune to this strategy. However, a Gwyn who copied a page from Bloodborne's weapon book is a whole other story.
9 Prepare To Parent
Shelter 2 is an open-world survival game about a lynx and her kittens. As the mother in question, players are tasked with protecting, feeding, and naming their offspring. Each playthrough is unique, so one run might result in all the cubs surviving without much issue while another leaves only a mother with memories of children and dangerous wolves.
While Dark Souls has become the poster child of "tough" games, it tends to be exaggerated a little. There are a ton of harder titles out there, even if most are unfairly punishing.
8 A Purrfect Boss Battle
Meme by Nalac.
Dark Souls' official PC releases have a habit of leaving something to be desired, especially the original Prepare to Die Edition. That said, an active modding community has arguably made PC the definitive platform to experience the game in its most ridiculous state. Just to be clear, that is a positive.
Nalac's meme is presumably just (really good) photoshop but it does highlight the endless potential of mods. For a brief second, one might believe this is something that actually exists.
7 A Welcoming Community
Dark Souls' community has a perplexing reputation. The fanbase is known not to react too positively to suggestions that FromSoftware should add an easy mode to the games, while terms like "git gud" do little to imply a beginner-friendly environment.
However, Dark Souls' veteran players can be quite welcoming of newcomers and many are willing to offer a helping hand through summonings. The franchise fosters an environment were commitment is respected, and that is reflected by its community's mentality.
6 Baby Steps
Demon's Souls might have started it all, but Dark Souls was a lot of players' first taste of this type of game. As such, the Asylum Demon holds a special place in the franchise's legacy. Dark Souls is known for its epic and challenging boss fights, therefore, it only makes sense that the tutorial boss would be of the same ilk.
The Asylum Demon's moves are clearly telegraphed and it does not take a lot to defeat it, but a newcomer still learning how to lock on to an enemy will only see a towering beast with a hammer bigger than a tree.
5 The Age Of Fire Pauses For Nobody
One of the franchise's more polarizing decisions was to omit a pause option. While this makes sense when playing online, it can be a touch frustrating if that is not the case. Now, in all fairness, this is offset by a very accommodating autosave system that encourages players to simply quit the game if they need to step away.
If someone is in Lordran, then they must abide by its rules. Ornstein and Smough cannot pause a battle to fetch a cup of water, so the Chosen Undead cannot do so either.
4 Really, Isn't Everyone Dark Souls?
Over the last decade, it has become commonplace to describe a difficult game as the Dark Souls of its respective genre. This comparison seems to be solely dependent on a title's capacity to cause players to fail, which makes the whole thing feel kind of pointless.
Dark Souls was hardly the first hard game to ever be released; in fact, many NES and SNES titles put FromSoftware's franchise to shame in that department. Was Dark Souls the Battletoads of the SoulsBorne subgenre?
3 Puny Giant
Without Storm Ruler and Siegward of Catarina, Yhorm the Giant is among the toughest boss fights in any Souls game. With either of those components aiding the player, the Lord of Cinder is reduced to a fly to be swatted without breaking much of a sweat.
The Storm Ruler is pretty much vital for overcoming this boss. The weapon is a neat addition that Dark Souls 3 throws out to differentiate Yhorm from its other bosses, even if it trivializes the fight.
2 All Roads Lead To Majula
While still a good game, Dark Souls 2 is regarded as the weak link of FromSoftware's trilogy. One of the biggest criticisms leveled at the sequel is its level design and poor connectivity. Not only do the areas connect in ways that do not always make sense, but it is simple to get lost due to the RPG's lack of meaningful shortcuts.
Dark Souls 2 has more backtracking than any of the other entries in the series, and it can get quite tiring.
1 Bro
Solaire of Astora, affectionately known as Sunbro, has become Dark Souls' unofficial mascot. Be it his refreshingly cheerful attitude or his possibly tragic storyline, Solaire is a sun that shines brightly in every Chosen Undead's life. He is also useful in a fight.
Dark Souls II's Lucatiel of Mirrah also has a memorable and haunting storyline, perhaps even more so than Solaire; unfortunately, she has a history of being slightly more useless as a companion. She is the best at getting herself killed, though.