Should You Brave the Bonfires of Dark Souls Before Conquering the Lands Between in Elden Ring?

Should you play Dark Souls before Elden Ring? The answer, as with many things in the FromSoftware universe, is both straightforward and nuanced: No, you don’t need to play Dark Souls before Elden Ring to enjoy and understand the latter. Elden Ring is designed to be a standalone experience, accessible even to newcomers to the “Souls-like” genre. However, playing Dark Souls can enrich your experience with Elden Ring, providing context and a deeper appreciation for FromSoftware’s design philosophy, recurring themes, and gameplay mechanics. The choice ultimately depends on your priorities and gaming preferences.

Why Play Dark Souls First? The Case for the Bonfires

There are several compelling reasons why embarking on a Dark Souls journey before entering the Lands Between might be a beneficial choice.

Understanding FromSoftware’s DNA

Dark Souls, particularly the original Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition (or its remastered version), is often considered the quintessential “Souls-like” experience. Playing it first allows you to internalize the core mechanics that define the genre:

• Deliberate Combat: The emphasis on timing, spacing, and stamina management.
• Punishing Difficulty: Learning to accept death as a learning opportunity.
• Intricate Level Design: Discovering interconnected areas and hidden secrets.
• Environmental Storytelling: Unraveling the lore through item descriptions, character interactions, and visual cues.
• Triumphant Progression: The immense satisfaction of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Experiencing these elements in their relatively “pure” form within Dark Souls provides a solid foundation before navigating Elden Ring’s expansive open world.

Appreciating Elden Ring’s Innovations

Elden Ring builds upon the foundations laid by the Dark Souls series, adding a wealth of new features and refinements. By playing Dark Souls first, you’ll be better equipped to appreciate these innovations.

• Open World Exploration: The freedom to explore a massive, interconnected world is a significant departure from Dark Souls’ more linear structure.
• Mounted Combat: Riding Torrent into battle offers a new dimension to combat encounters.
• Spirit Ashes: Summoning AI-controlled allies provides strategic options and assistance, especially for solo players.
• Crafting System: Gathering resources and crafting items adds a layer of resource management and customization.
• Greater Emphasis on Storytelling: While still cryptic, Elden Ring offers a slightly more accessible narrative than Dark Souls.

Knowing the limitations of previous games enhances your appreciation of these improvements. You will readily appreciate how much player freedom Elden Ring has to offer over the somewhat linear nature of the earlier Dark Souls games.

Lore Connections and Easter Eggs

While not directly connected in terms of plot, Elden Ring contains numerous references, nods, and thematic parallels to the Dark Souls series. Playing Dark Souls will allow you to recognize these subtle connections, enriching your overall understanding of FromSoftware’s artistic vision. Spotting a familiar weapon animation or a visual callback to a memorable enemy can be a rewarding experience for long-time fans.

Adjusting to the FromSoftware Difficulty Curve

Dark Souls is known for its unforgiving difficulty. By tackling it first, you’ll be forced to adapt to FromSoftware’s unique style of gameplay, learning to manage your resources, analyze enemy patterns, and persevere through challenging encounters. This “baptism by fire” can make Elden Ring’s initial hurdles feel less daunting. Learning how to dodge is a key ingredient to success in these games.

Why Skip Dark Souls? The Case for Forging Your Own Path in the Lands Between

Despite the potential benefits, there are also valid reasons to jump directly into Elden Ring without playing Dark Souls.

Accessibility and Player-Friendliness

Elden Ring is arguably the most accessible FromSoftware game to date. Features like Spirit Ashes, a more open world structure, and a wider variety of build options provide more flexibility and make it easier for new players to find their footing. While still challenging, it’s designed to be more welcoming than the notoriously unforgiving Dark Souls.

Modern Gameplay and Graphics

Elden Ring boasts significantly improved graphics, smoother combat, and a more modern user interface compared to the older Dark Souls titles. If you prioritize visual fidelity and contemporary gameplay mechanics, you might find Dark Souls to be dated or clunky in comparison. Elden Ring is a beautiful game with vast landscapes.

Time Investment

The Dark Souls trilogy (including Demon’s Souls Remake) represents a considerable time investment. If you’re eager to experience Elden Ring and don’t have the time to dedicate to multiple playthroughs of older games, it’s perfectly acceptable to dive straight in. You don’t want to spend several weeks playing other games if you’re excited to jump into the Lands Between.

Avoiding Burnout

Playing through multiple Souls-like games in quick succession can lead to burnout. If you’re concerned about tiring of the genre before you even reach Elden Ring, it might be better to skip Dark Souls and save the experience for later.

Ultimately, The Choice is Yours

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to play Dark Souls before Elden Ring depends on your individual preferences, priorities, and gaming habits.

• If you’re new to the genre and seeking the most accessible entry point, Elden Ring is a great choice. Its open world and numerous quality-of-life improvements make it more forgiving than previous FromSoftware titles.
• If you value understanding the historical context and appreciating the evolution of the genre, Dark Souls can provide valuable insight.
• If you’re a completionist who wants to experience everything FromSoftware has to offer, playing Dark Souls is a must.

No matter which path you choose, prepare to be challenged, rewarded, and immersed in a world of captivating lore, intricate combat, and unforgettable experiences. Both games are masterpieces, and they both offer incredible adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which Dark Souls game should I play first if I decide to try the series before Elden Ring?

Dark Souls: Remastered (or the original Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, if you can find it) is the best starting point. It’s generally considered the most polished and accessible entry in the trilogy, and its interconnected world design is a hallmark of the series.

2. Is Dark Souls 2 worth playing before Elden Ring?

Dark Souls 2 is a divisive entry in the series, with some players enjoying its unique mechanics and world design, while others find it to be less polished and inspired than its predecessor. It’s not essential to play before Elden Ring, but if you enjoy Dark Souls: Remastered and want more, it’s worth considering.

3. Do I need to play Demon’s Souls before Dark Souls or Elden Ring?

No, Demon’s Souls (especially the remake) is a fantastic game and arguably the precursor to the entire Souls-like genre, but it’s not required to understand or enjoy either Dark Souls or Elden Ring. The games are not connected in terms of lore.

4. Is Elden Ring just Dark Souls but open world?

While Elden Ring shares many of the same core mechanics and design philosophies as Dark Souls, it’s much more than just an open-world version of the series. The open world structure allows for greater exploration, freedom, and a different approach to progression. Mounted combat and spirit ashes also introduce new gameplay elements.

5. Is Elden Ring easier or harder than Dark Souls?

Elden Ring is arguably more accessible than Dark Souls, but not necessarily easier overall. Features like Spirit Ashes and a wider variety of build options can make certain encounters easier, but the sheer scale and complexity of the open world can also present new challenges.

6. How much time will it take to beat Dark Souls before playing Elden Ring?

A playthrough of Dark Souls: Remastered can take anywhere from 30 to 60 hours, depending on your skill level, play style, and completionist tendencies. Beating the entire trilogy could easily take over 100 hours.

7. Are the PC versions of Dark Souls games good, or should I play on console?

The PC versions of Dark Souls games are generally good, especially Dark Souls: Remastered. However, the original Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition had some initial technical issues that were later addressed by the community. Be sure to check system requirements and read reviews before purchasing.

8. What if I get stuck in Dark Souls?

Don’t be afraid to consult online guides, walkthroughs, and community forums. The Souls-like community is incredibly supportive and willing to offer advice and assistance. Experiment with different weapons, builds, and strategies.

9. Will playing Dark Souls spoil any of the story in Elden Ring?

No, playing Dark Souls will not spoil any of the story in Elden Ring. While there are thematic similarities and some lore implications you might recognize, the narratives are distinct.

10. Is there a specific order I should play the Dark Souls games in?

The recommended order is Dark Souls: Remastered, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, and then Dark Souls 3. This order follows the chronological release order and provides a natural progression of gameplay mechanics and difficulty.

11. Are there any multiplayer elements in Elden Ring similar to Dark Souls?

Yes, Elden Ring features similar multiplayer mechanics to Dark Souls, including cooperative play (summoning other players to help with bosses or explore areas) and player-versus-player (PvP) invasions.

12. Will my Dark Souls experience help me with Elden Ring’s combat?

Absolutely. The core combat mechanics, such as stamina management, dodging, and timing attacks, are fundamental to both Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Your experience in Dark Souls will give you a significant advantage in understanding and mastering Elden Ring’s combat system.

13. Should I be worried about Dark Souls being too difficult?

Dark Souls is known for its difficulty, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. It’s about learning from your mistakes, adapting to challenges, and persevering through adversity. Don’t be discouraged by initial setbacks; with patience and determination, anyone can overcome the challenges of Dark Souls.

14. Does Elden Ring have multiple endings like Dark Souls?

Yes, Elden Ring has multiple endings, similar to the Dark Souls series. The ending you receive depends on your choices and actions throughout the game. This adds replayability and encourages players to explore different paths and strategies.

15. If I don’t like Dark Souls, will I still enjoy Elden Ring?

It’s possible. Elden Ring’s open world, more flexible difficulty, and broader range of gameplay options might appeal to players who were turned off by the more linear and punishing nature of Dark Souls. However, if you fundamentally dislike the core “Souls-like” combat and design philosophy, you may still not enjoy Elden Ring.