The Souls games are critical to my development as a person, my love of gaming, and my passion for art. I even built an entire YouTube channel off of them, and ranking them!
So now, I’d love to give my takes in written form, ranking the Dark Souls games from worst to best.
Dark Souls Ranked:
3. Dark Souls 2
2. Dark Souls 1
1. Dark Souls 3
3. Dark Souls 2
I’m going to choose to discuss the vanilla version of the game, because the additions in Scholar of the First Sin do nothing but make the game much worse to me.
Dark Souls 2 is a tough game to discuss. While is is certainly a solid game, it’s really hard to comment on it in the category of Souls games. Why? Well, it is a good game, but not a genre defining game. Not a masterpiece. Just a good game.
That would be enough for most games. But there is a standard that’s expected when it comes to games carrying the souls title. First of all, Miyazaki was not the game director when it came to Dark Souls 2, and there are obvious shortcomings due to this. People go as far as to refer to the developers on DS2 as the “B-Team”, which I find to be pretty cruel. I actually think the bones of Dark Souls 2 are very solid. The game has great progression, some cool additions like dual wielding, and tons of unique locations and enemies. Unfortunately, there are a few elements that make the game feel overly rushed.
For example, the graphical fidelity feels on par or slightly worse than DS1. The combat feels slightly more clunky and sluggish. Just drinking an estus flask takes longer than it should, and some of the bosses are horribly phoned in.
What makes this so frustrating is that this feels like a demo for a masterpiece. It feels like the team was rushed to quickly push out an unfinished product to hit a deadline. And I understand, with Bloodborne and DS3 right on their heels, they were definitely kicked into overdrive.
The reason I feel confident in saying this is that the DLC is a significant upgrade from the base game. The base game has some good moments, but all pail in comparison to the DLCs. Every one of them is oozing with charm. From the bosses of Crown of the Iron King, to the exploration of the Crown of the Ivory King. And finally, the world of Crown of the Sunken King. Each has its own flavour and contributes greatly to a game that was dying for S tier content.
It makes you wonder though, what if they had some guidance from Miyazaki. Or, just a bit more time. I’m still happy with what we got, though.
2. Dark Souls 1
While I know it’s sacrilegious to place anything other than Dark Souls 1 in first place, I have to go with my heart. And my heart is still telling me that Dark Souls 1 belongs here.
That’s not to say that DS1 isn’t special. In fact, Dark Souls 1 is definitely the most iconic, the most charming, and the most cohesive of the Souls games. From the world, to the story, the interconnectivity and themes, Dark Souls 1 can’t be beat.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the pure action elements of the game, it is somewhat lacking. The game definitely shows its age when you can strafe around literally any enemy you find for an easy backstab. And some bosses are a complete joke, from Ceaseless Discharge to Bed of Chaos.
And, despite the iconic worldbuilding, it also has the worst level in the series. Tomb of the Giants. What a nightmare.
But for all of its technical flaws, I see this as a perfected masterpiece. Even Tomb of the Giants is an experience. Sharing in that pain with others who have conquered the game is part of the joy. And let’s not even get started on the flawlessness of the DLC. One of the best put to gaming.
FromSoftware certainly missed an opportunity with the remaster to really put something special together. I couldn’t imagine how popular a DS1 remake similar to the PS5 Demon’s Souls remake would have been. But it would’ve been huge.
Nothing can compete with discovering the layout of the world of DS1. That sense of discovery and camaraderie with Solaire. The horror of Blighttown. Conquering Dragonslayer Ornstein & Executioner Smough for the first time.
It’s also worth noting how Dark Souls 1 was the first to do it. It created the framework that the follow-ups benefited from. It created that foundation of obscure lore that could be discovered with an attentive eye. Or quick VaatiVidya search.
And finally, seeing Gwyn amongst his kingdom of ash. Or Artorias, limp arm by his side. Even now, I get light chills thinking about the moment I first experienced this game. And I will cherish that memory for the rest of my life. But it was just slightly edged out by number 1.
1. Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 was my first souls game. Many say that whichever game you start with will be the hardest, and your favorite. That rule certainly stands true for myself. I took over 70 tries on The Abyss Watchers. Don’t even ask how. I don’t know what I was doing…
As much as I love the worldbuilding and charm of Dark Souls 1, the main reason I’m here is the bosses. And boy, does Dark Souls 3 have some amazing bosses. Even from the very start of the game we have access to Iudex Gundyr, likely the best tutorial boss. Then, shortly after you can fight The Dancer of the Borreal Valley and the Abyss Watchers. And it only gets better from there.
Pontiff Sulyvahn. Soul of Cinder. And the DLC, with Slave Knight Gael – the best moment in all of Dark Souls.
I could gush about these bosses all day, and I have on my YouTube channel repeatedly. But it goes beyond just the boss experience. It’s really the fluditiy of the game. It’s the first time I really have felt like I’m playing a “modern” game when playing a Souls game. The combat is so fluid and fresh. There is constant push and pull with the enemies, and it’s the most fun game to just – play.
Then it has by far the best soundtrack of the 3. Just the title theme alone is enough to be a top song in any other game, but then there is just consistent banger after banger. The Twin Princes theme, Slave Knight Gaels theme, I could go on.
But the reality is, when it comes down to it, you can’t objectively rank things like games. It’s all about what your experience is, and what you value. I value those jaw dropping moments where Father Ariandel eviscerates the entire church in rage, and Friede raises from the dead. I value seeing the Nameless King fly down on his Wyvern. I value the epic battlefield and call back to Gwyn against Soul of Cinder in phase 2.
But it’s just as valid to adore the multiplayer memories of DS2 or world connectivity of DS1. I’m just happy that we have these games to debate about, because the world is a better place with them in it.
But what do you think? Did I get the ranking just right, or do you have a different order yourself? Be sure to let me know down below!
Nightwalk 
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