FromSoftware has a long and storied history, although most gamers came to know the studio in the wake of Demon’s Souls, which is arguably the most influential video game of the 2000s. While there have been some non-soulslike FromSoftware games in recent memory, namely Veracine, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (even if it's somewhat debated), and Armored Core 6, the company may always be best known for the likes of Dark Souls and Elden Ring.

There are certainly worse things to be known for; FromSoftware not only invented the soulslike genre, but also perfected it. While I love Lies of P and Another Crab’s Treasure just as much as the next guy, it’s hard to argue that they capture the same atmosphere, tone, adventure, and mechanical depth of FromSoft’s best work. This is reflected in the culture that’s formed around FromSoftware’s soulslikes, as audiences have, over the years, made discoveries in these games that their developers may never have even envisioned. Nowhere is this clearer than in the myriad distinct builds that have sprouted from the FromSoft community, some of which are more memorable and distinct than others.

best fromsoftware games armored core, bloodborne, sekiro
15 Best FromSoftware Games, Ranked

FromSoftware's long roster of games is full of excellence. From Dark Souls to Armored Core 6 and Nightreign, here's how the best titles rank up.

6

Demon’s Souls - Gloom Knight

Using a Scraping Spear Build Near the Gates of Boletaria in Demon's Souls remake

Although it’s not commonly named as someone’s first FromSoft experience, Demon’s Souls still stands tall as the progenitor of the studio’s now-iconic formula. Among other things, it kick-started FromSoftware’s penchant for brutal difficulty, which is why the Gloom Knight build, which features a heavy shield and spear, is so common. With this build, the once-difficult Demon’s Souls becomes almost trivially easy, as you can attack and block at the same time. Still, it doesn’t spoil the experience entirely, and for a newcomer looking for a fun and reliable kit, it’s hard to beat.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

Honorable Mention - Blue Sentinel

A Demon's Soul Buiild Using Old King Doran's Set in the Nexus

Also worth noting is the Blue Sentinel build, which uses the legendary Demonbrandt sword and focuses on serious damage output. In the years following the original Demon’s Souls’ release, this has become an increasingly popular weapon and setup. The only reason I’m including it as an honorable mention is because it’s rather complicated to create, involving the Blue Eye Stone, World Tendency, and co-op, whereas Gloom Knight is intuitive.

Demon's Souls (2020) Tag Page Cover Art
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 99%
Released
November 12, 2020
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
Developer(s)
Bluepoint Games
Publisher(s)
Sony

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Entirely rebuilt from the ground up, this remake invites you to experience the unsettling story and ruthless combat of Demon’s Souls.
From PlayStation Studios and Bluepoint Games comes a remake of the PlayStation classic, Demon’s Souls. Entirely rebuilt from the ground up and masterfully enhanced, this remake introduces the horrors of a fog-laden, dark fantasy land to a whole new generation of gamers. Those who’ve faced its trials and tribulations before, can once again challenge the darkness in stunning visual quality with incredible performance.

In his quest for power, the 12th King of Boletaria, King Allant channeled the ancient Soul Arts, awakening a demon from the dawn of time itself, The Old One. With the summoning of The Old One, a colorless fog swept across the land, unleashing nightmarish creatures that hungered for human souls. Those whose souls were stripped from them, lost their minds – left only with the desire to attack the sane that remained.

Now, Boletaria is cut off from the outside world, and the knights who dare penetrate the deep fog to free the land from its plight, are never seen again. As a lone warrior who has braved the baneful fog, you must face the hardest of challenges to earn the title “Slayer of Demons” and send The Old One back to its slumber.

Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Dark Souls
Number of Players
1-6
Genre(s)
RPG
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
23 Hours
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

Dark Souls - Giant Dad

Dark Souls - GiantDad

An icon since it was discovered in 2012, the Giant Dad build is arguably Dark Souls 1’s most recognizable. It derives its name from its armor (Giant Armor, Mask of the Father), and is commonly paired with the Zweihander sword, though not always. The idea behind Giant Dad is to deal heavy HP and stagger damage while boasting high stagger resistance, allowing users to unleash quick and devastating punishment on their foes. For this reason, Giant Dad is particularly notorious in Dark Souls’ PvP scene.

Honorable Mention - Havel

Havel's Armor Set Dark Souls

Considered something of a precursor to Giant Dad, the Havel build is similarly tank-like, though not nearly as game-breaking. Still, the ludicrously chunky armor, greatshield, and Dragon’s Tooth Hammer make for an effective and often hilarious playthrough, especially for experienced players who don’t mind losing some dodge roll I-frames in favor of greater defense.

Dark Souls Tag Page Cover Art
Action RPG
Soulslike
Adventure
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 84/100 Critics Rec: 88%
Released
September 22, 2011
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
Publisher(s)
Namco Bandai
Dark Souls Player faces off against the Demon Firesage in Demon Ruins

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Re-experience the critically acclaimed, genre-defining game that started it all. Beautifully remastered, return to Lordran in stunning detail. DARK SOULS: REMASTERED includes the main game plus the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. This marks the franchise’s debut on a Nintendo platform, and for the first time ever can be played on-the-go with Nintendo Switch™.

Deep and Dark Universe— Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by the Curse. Explore its intricate world design, full of hidden passages, dungeons and secrets.

Each End is a New Beginning— Each playthrough surprises you with new challenges and discoveries.

Gameplay Richness and Possibilities— Use hundreds of unique weapon, armor, magic, and crafting combinations to create your own playstyle and gaming experience.

The Way of the Multiplayer (up to 6 players)— Whatever your motivations are to play online – collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal – you’ll find your true home among the nine covenants.

Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
No, Dark Souls 3 is not cross-platform between PS4 and PC
Cross Save
Dark Souls always save your game data using steam cloud
Franchise
Dark Souls
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
PC Release Date
August 24, 2012
Genre(s)
Action RPG, Soulslike, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
100 hours
X|S Optimized
no

Dark Souls 2 - Fast Sorcerer

Dark Souls 2 Lion Mage Set Full
Dark Souls 2 Lion Mage Set Full

Dark Souls 2 is still seen as the black sheep of the Dark Souls franchise, but it’s got a few key strengths, with many of them revolving around magic builds. There are plenty of powerful spells to find, sure, but also gear that greatly increases spell-casting speed. Indeed, with the right kit, usually involving the Clear Bluestone Ring and Lion Mage Set, you can crank up your cast speed as much as 86%, making for a unique and addictive magic setup.

Honorable Mention - Vampire

The Eleum Loyce sword in Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls 2 has some killer health regen gear as well, making so-called “vampire” builds especially viable. With items like The Crown of the Ivory King and the Charred Loyce Shield, you can get a steady supply of passive HP, and if you throw in the Eleum Loyce Curved Sword, which heals upon landing heavy attacks, you'll become nearly immortal.

Dark Souls 2 Tag Page Cover Art
Action RPG
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 91%
Released
March 11, 2014
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Dark Souls 2, released in 2014, is the second title in From Software's iconic Dark Souls series. Players create their own character, an "undead" who will one day become a zombie-like Hollow if players cannot break the curse by defeating a powerful enemy.

Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Dark Souls
Genre(s)
Action RPG
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Dark Souls 3 - Sellsword Twinblades

Dark Souls 3 Sellsword Twinblades

Likely influenced by the design of Bloodborne, Dark Souls 3’s combat system is considerably faster and more aggressive than those of its predecessors, which is precisely why the quick, blood-loss-accumulating Sellsword Twinblades are so powerful. Upgrading these swords and speccing into Dexterity and Endurance can turn the player-character into a deadly ballerina of sorts, and on NG+ runs, this build is basically unstoppable.

Honorable Mention - Guts

Dark Souls 3 Cosplay Builds Guts

It’s no secret that FromSoftware is heavily inspired by Berserk, and as such, just about every FromSoft soulslike features a not-so-subtle homage to Guts’ Dragonslayer Greatsword. I’ve played every Dark Souls game as Guts, and I have to say that Dark Souls 3 probably offers the best soil for this kind of build. Maybe it’s because combat is faster, but I find that DS3 makes this setup especially enjoyable. In my mind at least, it’s the definitive “Guts-like” experience.

Dark Souls 3 Tag Page Cover Art
Action RPG
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 90/100 Critics Rec: 94%
Released
March 24, 2016
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood Violence
Developer(s)
From Software

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Winner of Gamescom 2015 'Best RPG” and over 35 E3 2015 Awards and Nominations, DARK SOULS™ III continues to push the boundaries with the latest, ambitious chapter in the critically-acclaimed and genre-defining series.

As fires fade and the world falls into ruin, journey into a universe filled with more colossal enemies and environments. Players will be immersed into a world of epic atmosphere and darkness through faster gameplay and amplified combat intensity. Fans and newcomers alike will get lost in the game hallmark rewarding gameplay and immersive graphics.

Now only embers remain… Prepare yourself once more and Embrace The Darkness!

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Franchise
Dark Souls
Genre(s)
Action RPG
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

Bloodborne - Ludwig Warrior

Bloodborne Ludwig Blade Guide

Nothing quite screams “Bloodborne noob” like maining Ludwig’s Holy Blade, but there’s no shame in that—I’ve beaten Bloodborne countless times, and I still dip into the Holy Blade pond now and then. It’s an incredibly reliable weapon, and when backed by high Endurance, Strength, and Skill, it can make for a very fun, albeit straightforward, build. Plus, it’s one of only a few greatswords in Bloodborne, which ironically makes it stand out despite its relative simplicity.

Honorable Mention - Bloodborne Cover Art

clean-cover-art-bloodborne

It almost feels like cheating to include a starting build here, but I think Bloodborne has one exception. To emulate the character on the game’s box art, all you need to do is choose the Saw Cleaver and Hunter Blunderbuss after the cold open, and then pick up the Hunter Set. You’ll be well on your way to being the Bloodborne poster child. Not only is this build fundamentally iconic, but it’s also quite viable—you can do worse than the Saw Cleaver, I’ll tell you that.

Bloodborne Tag Page Cover Art
Action
RPG
Soulslike
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 91/100 Critics Rec: 98%
Released
March 24, 2015
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
Publisher(s)
Sony
Bloodborne-maintenance-times

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

Hunt your nightmares as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets in order to survive.
A Terrifying New World: Journey to a horror-filled gothic city where deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures lurk around every corner.
Strategic Action Combat: Armed with a unique arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers, you'll need wits, strategy and reflexes to take down the agile and intelligent enemies that guard the city's dark secrets.
A New Generation of Action RPG: Stunningly detailed gothic environments, atmospheric lighting, and advanced new online experiences showcase the power and prowess of the PlayStation(R)4 system.
Ever-changing Chalice Dungeons to Explore: Use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins, filled with traps, beasts, and rewards, to explore and conquer alone or with others. These procedurally generated dungeons offer brand new challenges to master, and can be uploaded or shared with friends.

Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
ps4,ps5
Cross Save
yes
Steam Deck Compatibility
no
Genre(s)
Action, RPG, Soulslike
Platform(s)
PlayStation 4
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
33 Hours
X|S Optimized
no
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

Elden Ring - Let Me Solo Her

Elden Ring Let Me Solo Her

The legendary PvE Elden Ring player Let Me Solo Her got so good at beating Malenia that gamers across the globe have sought to emulate him, donning the unforgettable jar-and-loincloth look in their own playthroughs (and sometimes in real-life cosplays). With an upgraded Uchigatana in one hand and Rivers of Blood in the other, this setup is remarkably effective from a DPS perspective, although it offers little in the way of defense. It’s a high-risk, high-reward glass cannon setup, and for those who master it, it’s incredibly fun.

Honorable Mention - Moonveil Battlemage

Elden Ring Moonveil Weapon Art Cropped

This build is iconic by virtue of its sheer popularity. Much like the Ludwig Warrior build in Bloodborne, this loadout is a great fit for beginners, not only because of its immense power, but also because of its versatility. With a staff in one hand and the Moonveil Katana in the other, this is perfect for anyone splitting the difference between melee and magic, and Moonveil’s bifurcated Ash of War attacks make it ideal in the close and mid-range. It’s a hum-dinger, to be sure.

Elden Ring Tag Page Cover Art
Top Critic Avg: 95/100 Critics Rec: 98%
Released
February 25, 2022
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
The Erdtree in Elden Ring

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.

George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Cross Save
no
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
RPG, Action
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
58 Hours
X|S Optimized
yes
PS Plus Availability
N/A