Want to play through all of the Dark Souls/FromSoft games in order? In this post, we’ve listed all Dark Souls games and FromSoft titles released since the first game in 2009.
The release of Elden Ring has made waves in the video game industry, so much so that people previously uninterested in the video game scene have started buying consoles or building PC’s just to play it.
Such widespread success has led people to wonder what else FromSoft has to offer, specifically with their entries in the Soulslike genre.
But given the sheer volume of games that FromSoft releases, it can be a little difficult to sift through their titles and find what you’re looking for.
To that end, I’ve ordered all of their so-called “Soulslike” games by their release date.
List of FromSoft Games in Order
6. Dark Souls Remastered (2018)
7. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
1. Demon’s Souls (2009)
Released on February 5th, 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Demon’s Souls is the one that started it all. In Demon’s Souls, the player-controlled character traverses the crumbling kingdom of Boletaria, with the singular mission of defeating the kingdom’s fallen leader, and pacifying an ancient being known only as “The Old One.”
Despite the game’s initial lack of focus, Miyazaki’s takeover of the project was key in shaping it into today’s beloved franchise. Despite fears that Sony would request the overall difficulty be lowered in order to increase accessibility, the game’s unforgiving combat became a selling point, leading to great critical success in the West.
Demon’s Souls would also set the precedent for other Souls titles going forwards. The character customization, weapon selection, a grimdark fantasy setting, minimalist storytelling, and unforgiving, brutal combat quickly became the trademark aspects of future Souls entries.
2. Dark Souls (2011)
Released on September 22, 2011 for the PlayStation 3, and eventually PC, the titular Dark Souls is the first of a trilogy under the same name. Often cited as one of the greatest games of all time, players of Dark Souls take control of an unnamed Undead journeying through the kingdom of Lordran.
Dark Souls takes heavy inspiration from its spiritual predecessor, adding new combat mechanics, increasing the array of available weapons, and crafting intricate levels every step of the way.
3. Dark Souls II (2014)
Despite the acclaim of its direct predecessor, Dark Souls II remains something of a mixed bag. Released on March 13, 2014, on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, Dark Souls II received so-called “universal acclaim” from critics- though many players felt that the series had lost its focus, considering the title’s focus on storytelling, as opposed to gritty combat.
Dark Souls II would later be expanded with a set of 3 DLC’s, known as The Lost Crowns. Each DLC provided the player with a new area, a variety of new weapons, and a plethora of new enemies (including bosses) to fight.
4. Bloodborne (2015)
Released on March 26, 2015 as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, Bloodborne is perhaps the most fabled title on this list, and for good reason. Bloodborne strikes a balance between the slow and steady combat of previous Souls entries, while promoting an aggressive, fast-paced playstyle via the Rally system, allowing players to heal themselves from consecutive strikes.
Set in Yharnam, a city infested by abhorrent Lovecraftian abominations, the player navigates the city streets in search of a cure known only as “Paleblood” for an unnamed or unknown ailment.
5. Dark Souls III (2016)
Released on March 24th, 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, Dark Souls III is the last entry of the titular Dark Souls trilogy, barring an eventual remaster of the original.
In Dark Souls III, the player takes control of yet another Undead, this time known as an Unkindled, with an important duty in front of them: Relinking the First Flame, the only thing keeping the world from falling into an Age of Darkness.
In comparison to the previous games, Dark Souls III speeds up combat noticeably. Rolls are performed more quickly and cover more distance, and the player is now able to form more actions while moving. Dark Souls III was the fastest selling Bandai Namco game at the time of its release, shipping over 3 million copies within the first two months of release, and over 10 million by 2020.
Dark Souls III would later receive 2 DLC’s: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City. Each one provided players with a new area to explore, new weapons, and a host of new, intensely difficult bosses.
6. Dark Souls Remastered (2018)
Following the commercial success of Dark Souls III, Dark Souls received a remaster released on May 24th, 2018 for PC, Xbox One, and PS4, complete with an increase in native frame rate from 30 to 60, and significant graphical updates. At the time of writing, the original Dark Souls (now stylized as Dark Souls: Prepare to Die) is no longer available for purchase, leaving this remastered iteration the only (legal) method of experiencing the original.
7. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
Released on March 22, 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Sekiro marks FromSoft’s largest departure from the Soulslike formula to date. While the trademarks of a Soulslike are all present, its focus on swordplay, parrying, and stance-breaking mark a significant difference between Sekiro and its predecessors.
In Sekiro, the player controls a shinobi known only as Wolf, assigned to guard the prince of the land from any and all danger.
In comparison to previous FromSoft entries, Sekiro focuses almost solely on swordplay. Players must block enemy’s attacks with precision, lest their stance break and subject them to a deathblow. Interestingly enough, Sekiro plays with Souls fans, as dodging (the method of choice for avoiding damage) is all but useless.
8. Demon’s Souls Remastered (2020)
A confession: Including Demon’s Souls remaster is somewhat of a deception. Despite the original being developed by FromSoft, the remaster was developed by Bluepoint Games as a PS5 exclusive title. This 2020 remaster remains faithful to the original, while updating graphics and gameplay systems.
9. Elden Ring (2022)
Released on February 25th, 2022 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, and PC, Elden Ring is FromSoft’s latest (and greatest) Soulslike to date. Building upon previous game’s interlinked, semi-open world map designs, Elden Ring crafts a downright gorgeous open world environment, complete with separate storylines, expansive NPC quests, and a veritable arsenal of weapons and spells.
Elden Ring takes inspiration from nearly all of FromSoft’s Soulslike entries to date. Combining the brutal, trial and error combat of the Dark Souls trilogy with strings of parries and stance-breaking from Sekiro, Elden Ring holds itself high as nothing short of a masterpiece, and the culmination of FromSoft’s experience in game development.