The Dark Souls series, and its developer FromSoftware, are at the height of their popularity. Thanks to the unprecedented success of Elden Ring, the already popular developer is attracting more and more new fans who are eager to explore what its older titles are like. Some studios like to leave a certain specific calling card, or Easter egg, in their games. Rockstar, Capcom, and Blizzard are all partial to leaving small, hidden messages or Easter eggs scattered throughout their releases. FromSoftware is no exception to this, although its Easter egg usually comes in the form of an NPC rather than an item or message. That NPC goes by the name of Patches.
From his very first appearance, right up to his most recent one in Elden Ring, Patches is portrayed as a cunning, cowardly trickster, always looking for ways to fool the player. Even though each iteration is slightly different, all share these same traits and are very obviously the same person. It's worth noting that Patches doesn't actually appear in Dark Souls 2, which is also the only entry in the series that is not directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki. All of Patches' iterations, barring his very first one, are voiced by William Vanderpuye.
Armored Core: For Answer- Patches For Good Luck
Patches' first chronological appearance was actually pre-Souls, as he showed up in the 2008 mech-action title Armored Core: For Answer, which Hidetaka Miyezaki directed himself. During the campaign, the player is challenged by a mercenary with the code name 'Patches For Good Luck', who, perhaps unsurprisingly, uses long-ranged weaponry and stealth elements, rather than attempting to stand toe to toe with the player. It seems even in his earliest iteration, Patches was still displaying his trademark traits of cowardice and trickery. Further evidence of this comes when he very quickly waves the white flag and begs for his life as soon as the fight starts to go against him.
Demon's Souls- Patches the Hyena
The Patches that Souls fans are familiar with made his debut in Demon's Souls, under the moniker Patches the Hyena. He is encountered twice, once in Stonefang Tunnel where he mysteriously urges the player to grab an item placed precariously underneath a ledge, only to find a huge Bearbug lying in wait to ambush them. Not content with this though, Patches can then be found in The Shrine of Storms, standing over a pit that seems to be housing lots of sparkly treasure. Once the player gets close enough though, he promptly boots them down this pit, eagerly proclaiming his intent to raid the player's equipment once they inevitably starve to death. This version of Patches is very much a sign of things to come, and serves to warn the player that all is not what it seems in the world of Souls.
The PS5 exclusive launch title Demon's Souls, a remake of the 2009 game, brought Patches the Hyena to life in far greater detail than gamers remembered in the 2009 original. While his encounters and schemes are largely the same, William Vanderpuye recorded several new lines of dialogue, and the power of the PS5 meant that Patches facial expressions were much more emotive, enabling players to really see the devious nature of the man throughout the impressive Demon's Souls Remake.
Dark Souls- Trusty Patches
The original Dark Souls title sees Patches re-emerge, this time ironically named Trusty Patches. He looks and sounds just like he did in Demon's Souls, despite the two titles not sharing the same reality, implying that Patches is either trans-dimensional or potentially has doppelgangers in every universe. His devious schemes in Dark Souls include trying to drop the player off a bridge and attempting once again to kick them down a pit which this time is filled with hollowed clerics. Making their way back to Patches without dying will result in the usual routine of him begging for his life, and if spared, he will become a merchant at the Firelink Shrine.
Bloodborne- Patches The Spider
Patches' next appearance is his most gruesome one yet, when he shows up in Bloodborne as Patches The Spider. Bloodborne's Lovecraftian horror setting sees Patches appear as a huge spider with a human head, portraying his usual bald, grinning face. He can first be discovered in the streets of Yharnam behind one of several windows, but players won't get a full view of him until exploring the dark corridors of the Lecture Halls, where he will engage in conversation from behind a locked door. A devoted servant of the great one Amygdala, a monstrous spider, Patches attempts to lure the player to their death by coaxing them into a poisonous pit in the Nightmare Frontier area. After the player survives this, he can be found back in the Lecture Halls and will ask for forgiveness, gifting the player an item if they choose to spare him.
Dark Souls 3- Unbreakable Patches
Many fans feel that Patches' appearance in Dark Souls 3, as Unbreakable Patches, is his most cunning and devious to date. Disguised as the friendly Siegward of Catarina, he tricks the player into entering a bridge, before lowering it down into an area with hulking giants to keep the player company. It is later discovered that Patches actually trapped the real Siegward inside a well and stole his armor in order to pose as the ill-fated onion knight. Upon discovering his ruse, he will perform his usual routine of profusely apologizing before becoming a vendor and eventually spawning at the Firelink Shrine, where he will remain.
Elden Ring- Patches The Untethered
Patches' most recent appearance was in Elden Ring. It came as no surprise that he was included in the game, but what was surprising was the nature in which he is discovered. Opening a chest in Murkwater Cave will trigger a boss fight with none other than Patches The Untethered. Predictably weak and easy, Patches will swiftly try to surrender when the player does a certain amount of damage. He will then open up a shop right there within the cave, but that isn't the end of his story here.
Patches can then be found within the lakes of Liurnia, where he attempts to trick the player into teleporting to a dangerous location. He can also be found in Mt Gelnir, where he once again kicks the player off a cliff in an attempt to prevent them reaching Volcano Manor, before retreating to the Manor itself where the player can engage in a questline until he eventually becomes friendly. Elden Ring features more of Patches than any other game. Patches has become increasingly popular with fans over the years, and whatever FromSoftware's next game might be, having him show up in it in some way, shape or form, is probably a safe bet.