It has been just over a decade since the firstDark Soulshit consoles in 2011, and since then a whole genre has been born. While it wasn’t FromSoftware’s first game, it’s undeniable that it had struck gold as the industry began to evolve in response toDark Soulsbucking traditional gameplay experiences.
However, it’s worth looking at howDark Soulsrevolutionize the scene, and what its legacy will look like the longer games follow in its wake. As of this writing, an exceptionally difficult title can earn itself the moniker ofa “Souls-like” gameas a badge of honor, guaranteeing a certain degree of success just by mere association. But whether this will last forever remains to be seen.
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The Appeal of Dark Souls
The genre arguably first began in full withDemon’s Souls, a precursor to theDark Soulsthat served as a spiritual successor to FromSoftware’sKing’s Fields. What differentiated the twoSoulsgames was a matter of timing and platform, withDark Soulsno longer being a PlayStation exclusive and launching at a time when the industry was under fire for producing games that “held players' hands” by making things too easy and obvious.
Unlike contemporary games of the time that focused on formulas like tutorials with in-game prompts,Dark Soulswas developed so thatpolished combat mechanics and balanced game designcould complement one another, with deaths not merely being a possibility, but an inevitability. When players failed, it was never attributed to poor game design, but a lack of player skill. Moreover, the ability to progress and a limited availability of checkpoints - bonfires - were tied into this system. Deaths meant losing significant progress, something few other titles allowed for, andDark Soulsmade no apologies for how challenging or difficult the game could get.
Defining The Souls-like Genre
FollowingDark Souls' monumental climb into notoriety, a new generation of games that sought to emulate the style came into being. This was especially prominent within the indie scene, as AAA developers appeared slow on the uptake. The likes ofHollow KnightandSalt and Sanctuaryfollowed the path thatDark Soulsforged, combining unforgiving combat and nuanced gameplay with dark fantasy narratives. These titles even welcomed the association withDark Souls, as if the comparison were a testament to their careful design.
TheSouls-like genre did not have a solid, concrete definition or determining criteria, yet it escalated to a point where any game with a high difficulty would draw ire from players for likening itself toDark Souls.As more time passed andDark Souls' impact solidified, core components of the genre it inspired would emerge: high levels of difficulty, recurrent deaths, resource management, and a focus on subversive worldbuilding with environmental storytelling and cryptic interactions. While this often leadsSouls-like games to embrace dark fantasy settings, recent games are beginning to challenge this, opening more potential forSouls-like interpretations.
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The Future of Souls-like Games
A remake ofDemon’sSoulsmade its way to PS5 in 2020, led by a different studio, as FromSoftware moved on to other projects likeElden Ring. With Elden Ring’s open-world nature seeming to change the industry once again, one could argue thetraditional FromSoftSouls-like genre ended withDemon’s Souls, the same way it began. Though that being said, other games developed by studios beyond FromSoftware have garnered cult followings, with sequels such asHollow Knight: SilksongandSalt and Sacrificeawaiting their own releases.
Over 10 years on, it’s hard to imagine how one game could reinvigorate the industry and spawn an entire genre.Dark Souls' legacy is sure to keep gamers' attention as future titles are released, with the prospects of what might be in store for the likes ofElden Ringsuccessors or games such asStar Wars Jedi: Survivorhopefully painting a bright future.
Dark Soulsis available now for PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
