The Dark Souls franchise has long been known for its challenging combat, intricate world design, and cryptic lore. However, at the heart of this famed set of games is a cast of characters that live troubled and often harrowing lives.
Indeed, each entry in the Dark Souls trilogy is filled to the brim with stories that could almost bring players to tears. From a pair of lifelong friends forced to fight at the end of the world, to a warrior and his wolf that chose to spend eternity holding back a dark and evil force, FromSoftware’s seminal franchise undoubtedly has some of the saddest character stories in gaming today.
10 Patches: Dark Souls 1 And Dark Souls 3
A recurring character in almost all of Fromsoftware’s games, Patches is a force for mischief and chaos, often tricking the player and putting them in tough and fatal situations. However, this want for disorder hides a character that has seen the effects of greed on the world and wishes to see it righted.
When the player meets Patches at the end of the world in Dark Souls 3’s final DLC, he has lost all memory and sense of himself. Here, at the end of the world, players find a man with a good heart, one that was taken from him over endless cycles of history. Ultimately, there is something tragic about Patches that is hard to put a finger on.
9 The Lost Sinner: Dark Souls 2
At the end of the Lost Bastille, in an area known as the Sinner’s Rise, players will find a boss, shrouded in dark and locked away from the world. Much of the lore surrounding the Lost Sinner is a mystery, but, undoubtedly, she lives a truly harrowing life.
According to item descriptions, the Lost Sinner has chained herself in the prison for eternity, punishing herself for the sins of her past. This boss lives in darkness, wearing clothes that inflict pain upon the wearer. If players delve deeper into her lore, they will find connections to an equally sad story in Dark Souls 1. Either way, the Lost Sinner has certainly lived a sad life.
8 The Crestfallen Warrior: Dark Souls 1
Is there a sadder life than one of hopelessness? The Crestfallen Warrior is likely the second NPC players will meet in the first Dark Souls. Sat by the bonfire in Firelink Shrine, this NPC has given up on the quest of the undead before even getting started.
Spending his days refusing to act, due to his belief that he stands no chance against the powerful enemies in Lordran, the Crestfallen Warrior eventually succumbs to madness and goes hollow. Ultimately he lived a life of inaction and paid the price for it, a sad existence indeed.
7 Solaire: Dark Souls 1
Solaire is an icon of the Dark Souls franchise. This warrior with a sunny disposition is there throughout the player's journey, to offer comfort and aid against bosses. Indeed, his lifelong quest to find his own sun is equal parts inspirational and tragic.
Without the help of the chosen undead, Solaire will travel to the deepest reaches of Lordran, finding his own sun in the form of a chaos demon, ultimately leading him to lose his mind. While he can be saved by the player, this tragic end to the much-loved character earns him a place on this list.
6 The Fair Lady: Dark Souls 1
"Please, sister, do not cry. I am happy, really. I have you... don't I?"
Sickly, blind, and unmoving, the Fair Lady, one of the children of Chaos, has spent ages tending to the parasite-ridden undead that worship her. Soothed only by her dear sister, Quelaag, the Fair Lady lives a life of constant pain, a result of her mother's attempts to bring chaos into the world.
Despite her hardship, the Fair Lady is content, taking the pain of her undead onto her own shoulders, and speaking with her sister. This is, until the player takes her sister from her in order to ring the bell of awakening, and with it, the only happiness she had left in her life.
5 The Ivory King: Dark Souls 2
Dark Souls 2 is an underrated entry in the franchise, and has great characters. A once-great and powerful warrior, the Ivory King chose to give his life in order to quell the powerful Flame of Chaos. One of the final bosses a player will fight in Dark Souls 2, the Ivory King is destined to spend eternity fending off chaos, until the player arrives.
Supported only by his loyal queen, this monarchical Dark Souls 2 boss lives an unenviable life indeed, with a burden worthy of his title and one we would not be too keen to take up.
4 Yhorm: Dark Souls 3
This biggest boss in Dark Souls 3 by some margin, Yhorm the Giant ruled over the Profaned Capitol. A good king, he spent his life defending the people in his care, despite their plots against him. This was until he lost the one he cared for the most, and with that, the will to carry on.
Yhorm would then be betrayed by the people he once protected, an act that would lead him to even greater despair. This struggle would continue until the player, and his lifelong friend Siegward, would end his suffering.
3 Lucatiel of Mirrah: Dark Souls 2
Lucatiel of Mirrah has a similar journey to that of Solaire in Dark Souls 1. They will be at the player's side as they travel through this distinctly challenging world, fighting mobs and bosses alike.
A great warrior from a distant land, Lucatiel was born with nothing and earned their place among the land's great warriors through hard work and skill alone, before travelling to Drangleic in search of… something. That is what really hurts about Lucatiel’s story: despite their rise, they are destined to forget and slowly go hollow all alone in a far away place.
2 The Last Giant: Dark Souls 2
The first main boss of Dark Souls 2 seems to be a simple creature at first glance: a moss-covered giant with very little wit or intelligence. However, the Last Giant was once a lord that wished to save his people, only for humans to destroy his army and leave him the sole survivor.
The Last Giant came to Drangleic from a kingdom far away, in order to reclaim what was taken from his people. After being felled by an unknown warrior, he was left alone, in a cave beneath a forest, for all time. Not the happiest of lives.
1 Artorias Of The Abyss: Dark Souls 1
Undoubtedly this is one of the most tragic stories in the Souls franchise, with a tale likely to bring a tear to players' eyes. The iconic Artorias of the Abyss, and his loyal hound Sif, held off the encroaching Abyss at the expense of his sanity and ultimately his own life.
Once one of the four knights of Gywn, Artorias discovered the Abyss on his journeys through New Londo. After finding this great evil, he dedicated his life to stopping its spread. Its power, though, was much too great. In one final act of heroism, this warrior gave his shield to his young companion so that he could escape and live on away form the Abyss.