Summary
Dark Soulsis easily one of the most important video games released in the modern era. The game single-handedly proved a solid and decisive point that most gaming studios at the time were failing to understand — that there was definitely a viable market for hardcore AAA video games that wouldn’t hold a player’s hand at every step of the way.Dark Soulswas — and still is — a raging phenomenon that has birthed a genre in itself while simultaneously becoming a common comparison when it comes to analyzing difficulty in video games.
While its release on the PC was marred with controversy — and a ton of optimization issues — patches have somewhat improved the overall experience. However, to really make the most of playingDark Soulson the PC, many players recommend downloading a host of useful mods that do a great job of augmenting the experience. Regardless of what a person’s impression may be regarding the use of fan-made content, there’s no denying that the modders forDark Soulsare extremely talented and do a great job of enhancing the experience of playing this game in their own unique ways.
Updated on Aug 08, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Dark Souls is one of the greatest video games ever made, ushering in a new age of action RPGs that didn’t hold a player’s hand and trusted them to get through a game that rewarded player skill without making things too unfair. The sheer number of times players have gone through Dark Souls and witnessed its brilliance over and over again can’t be stated enough, with the addition of New Game+ ensuring that players will always face a hefty challenge in this game in these repeated playthroughs. However, there’s no denying that some people may find the vanilla experience to be a bit too repetitive for their liking. For these players, the best course of action to take is to download mods on PC that help improve and freshen up the experience in a myriad of ways.
How To Install Mods For Dark Souls
The process for installingDark Soulsmodsis pretty similar to most other games on PC. Players need to ensure thatthey read the instructions of every modbefore opting for a download, otherwise, the installation process can seem more cumbersome than required. Modding might seem like a complicated process, but all it involves is ensuring thatthe files are placed in the proper location.
Most modsrequire players to overwrite certain files, with texture mods being a great example of the same. In this case,players should definitely create a backup of the files they’re planning to overwrite. It might seem like fairly obvious advice, but there are many players who end up overwriting files incorrectly,leading to everything from incorrect visual artifacts to the dreaded crashes on startup.
The most important thing a player should keep in mind while downloading mods isresearching what they alter or overhaul and wondering if such mods are even required in their playthrough. A player’s mileage can vary for almost every mod, and not all the fan content available for the game (regardless of its quality and popularity) will fit in with the player’s definition of fun.
24Dark Souls Easy Mod PTDE
Downloads: 2,155
There’s no denying that the difficulty ofDark Soulsis well-balanced, letting players slowly come to grips with how the game works before challenging their expertise with some tricky encounters and tough bosses. However, after a point, some players may want an easier time going through the game instead of being forced to struggle over and over again.
To accommodate this, there are many mods that activate an easy mode forDark Soulsin some form or the other. In this mod’s case, the starting classes in the game are enhanced considerably. Each armor set is of the +10 variety and the weapons & spells players have access to are also improved considerably.
23PS4 Button Interface
Downloads: 3,360
The PC port ofDark Soulshas its fair share of problems, and the fact that it doesn’t auto-detect a player’s controller to add context-sensitive buttons for the same feels downright amateurish. Thankfully, players can easily make up for this with a simple mod that adds the interface of the PS4 buttons to the game without any issues.
It’s a simple mod, but players who are used to PlayStation controllers would appreciate the ease with which they can get into the game if they’re not too busy struggling with the Xbox prompts. In a game where split-second decisions are the difference between life and death, the smallest things help.
22Mouse And Keyboard Prompts For DSCI
Downloads: 3,428
PlayingDark Soulswith a mouse and keyboard can lead to some serious problems if players want to survive against the hordes of enemies that will whoop them silly if they make even the slightest mistake. While using a controller is recommended in almost every instance, players who are too comfortable with a mouse and keyboard would want their playthrough to be as smooth as possible.
With this mod, keyboard and mouse prompts are added to the game to make things way easier. It’s a simple change but something that people who abstain from using a controller will find to be invaluable to their enjoyment of the game.
21Age Of Sunlight
Downloads: 5,463
Gameplay overhauls are pretty abundant inDark Souls, but Age of Sunlight has the distinction of being a mod that was released quite recently but is already turning some heads. Boasting a total of over 12,000 (!) changes to the game, Age of Sunlight is an ambitious attempt at overhauling the gameplay ofDark Soulsin order to streamline and improve the overall experience of playing this brilliant game.
Players who want to enjoy something fresh and engaging in a title that they’ve scoured to death will find Age of Sunlight to be right up their alley. The sheer number of rebalances coupled with the introduction of new mechanics is somethingDark Soulsfans will love, showing just how much effort was put into making this mod as unique and interesting as possible.
20Optimized Lava Eyesore Fix
Downloads: 20,358
Dark Soulsmight be an excellent title, but the experience does end up wavering a bit over the latter half of the game. A huge offender in this regard is the lava areas, which look ugly, feature uninspired encounters, and house the worst boss in the entire series.
While there’s not a ton that can be done for the last two points, players can at least make the lava look better with this mod. It’s a small change, but anything that makes the lava areas ofDark Soulsbearable is a must-have. Now, players can go through the latter stages ofDark Soulswithout feeling like their eyes will burn at the sight of these annoying levels.
19Roguelike Souls - The Binding Of Lordran
Downloads: 27,401
There’s a reason why so many Soulslike games incorporate roguelike elements because of how well these genres merge together. So, it’s only a given that a mod exists that turns the experience of playingDark Soulsinto an engaging roguelike.
The world of Lordran is divided into numerous sections, with players having a total of five chances to tackle each section. Failure to do so will lead to progress being reset for that particular run, which adds even more pressure to a game that is already pretty hard as is.
18Thanks Obama
Downloads: 42,408
The first mod that we should give due props to is a hilarious running gag in theDark Soulsfandom that has become quite legendary in its own right.
With this mod, one thing is guaranteed — regardless of the frustrating manner in which a person may die in the game, the player will definitely chuckle once the words “THANKS OBAMA” pop up on the screen.
17Ascended Mod (RPG)
Downloads: 63,020
There’s no denying thatDark Soulsis one of the toughest video games ever made, but there are some players who actively enjoy being punished. For these psychopaths, the Ascended Mod is a perfect addition.
Not only does it make the game’s usual RPG mechanics, like leveling and upgrading, more important than ever before, but it also changes the game in meaningful ways. Featuring new boss OSTs, more explorable areas, and enhanced armor, it’s easy to see why the Ascended Mod is considered to be so underrated by many.
16Prepare To Die Again — Of Ash And Dust
Downloads: 73,757
A lore-friendly modthat attempts to restore the cut content of the game and expand upon certain areas to bring a fresh yet familiar experience to players, Prepare To Die Again — Of Ash And Dust is one of thebestDark Souls 1modsthat no fan of the game should miss out on.
This mod can be the perfect way to play throughDark Soulsanother time to experience the game with what is essentially a fresh coat of paint.
15HD Player Messages
Downloads: 94,747
Player messages are a huge part of what madeDark Soulssuch a breakthrough hit, with players loving the small moments of levity brought about by other Chosen Undead who posted the most hilarious messages possible. It helped that these messages were pretty useful sometimes, allowing players to find hidden places and be aware of tough enemies that could take them out at a moment’s notice.
Players who want these messages to pop out in the game world can check out the HD Player Messages mod, which states exactly what it does in the title itself. It improves the texture of these messages and makes them pop out in the game world, with many players appreciating the high-quality textures, even if their impact isn’t all that massive.
