Ranking the Soulsborne Games: Worst to Best

I am going to rank every soulsborne games ranked from worst to best atleast in my opinion. Let’s get started

A cursed warrior travels to Drangleic, the forgotten land of a once-great king, hoping to find a cure before going insane.

Weakest entry in the series and one of the reasons is that Miyazaki wasn’t involved in this game. Hitboxes are terrible, most of the bosses badly designed, areas and level design terrible. Enemy placements in the areas are also terrible with insane amount of enemies in terrible spots. Music, atmosphere and weapons customization is great though and the only saving grace. The game is 100% need of a proper Remake

Demon Souls

  • Worst

  • While Demon’s Souls is the game that started it all, it does show its age in terms of mechanics and design compared to the more refined entries that followed. However, the 2020 remake significantly improves the graphics and adds some modern conveniences.
  • Still, it’s often considered the weakest of the series because it lacks some of the intricacies of later games, particularly in terms of world design and combat.

The game that made the franchise popular and brought it into the spotlight. Level design is the second best in the series after Bloodborne (All the way up until Anor Londo level design is a masterpiece) after that it falls of, music, atmosphere, art direction amazing. Combat and movement is clunky and the bosses and graphics a bit outdated but overall amazing game. The game would greatly benefit from a Remake like Demon Souls

  • Rough edges like poor hit detection and Lost Izalith.
  • Clunky mechanics by modern standards.

Summary: The game that defined the genre and remains a classic despite its flaws.

The fire is fading. Darkness creeps across the land. The Lords of Cinder charged with watching over the First Flame have abandoned their thrones. The Champion of Ash, an undead is chosen to return them to their thrones.

Pros:

  • Gorgeous visuals and polished combat.
  • Memorable bosses (Nameless King, Soul of Cinder).
  • A satisfying culmination of the Dark Souls story.

Cons:

  • Some areas feel rushed (Irithyll Dungeon, Smouldering Lake).
  • Lacks the same interconnected world as Dark Souls 1.

Summary: A thrilling finale that blends elements of all previous entries but doesn’t break new ground.

In a dark fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls) and George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire), the player is a Tarnished who is called back to the Lands Between to restore the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord.

Pros:

  • Vast open world with unparalleled exploration.
  • Deep build diversity and a staggering amount of content.
  • Iconic bosses (Radahn, Maliketh).

Cons:

  • Some repetition in side content and bosses.
  • Performance issues at launch.

Summary: A bold evolution of the Soulsborne formula that redefines open-world design but sacrifices some focus

Set in a reimagining of 1500s Sengoku era Japan. An unnamed shinobi, tasked with protecting a young lord of mystical lineage, who is left for dead when a powerful samurai attacks and chops off his arm.

My second favorite Fromsoftware game and easily in my top 10 games of all time. The only negatives of the game is that you should have being able to replenish your spirit emblems instead of having to buy them every time you rest at the sculptor idol. Or at least make the Spirit emblems cost less at the early and mid game. Also some outfits for Wolf’s customization could have been cool if they were included. Not just from Gauntlet of Strength trials.

Now to the positives the combat (best sword combat of all time) combining it with Combat arts and Prosthetic tools was such a cool idea. The game doesn’t need rpg elements or weapon and build variety cause it would ruin it’s purpose and structure. It is purely an action game. Music, bosses (top 3 easily along with DS3 and Bloodborne with Sword Saint, Lady Butterfly, Owl Father, Genichiro and Guardian Ape being the highlights), areas, art direction (also top 3 along with Bloodborne and Elden Ring) are phenomenal. Also story is very interesting and underrated for being straightforward with real characters and a clear plot

Bloodborne

A hunter awakens in the plagued lands of Yharnam, where the denizens have succumb to beast hood, in an attempt to learn the truth and how to end the plague, unbeknownst of the true horror lurking within the city.

Negatives of the game are loading times and optimization (30 fps locked, frame pacing, antialising, shadows and textures, resolution scaling issues) and being an exclusive. It doesn’t even have a 60 fps patch on the PS5 which is unacceptable.

Despite the optimization and exclusive issues it’s not only the best Fromsoftware game but also my favorite game of all time for many reasons. It has the best DLC (Old Hunters) out of all games even better than Ringed City (second best) in my opinion, trick weapon system is amazing and very fun, rally system is great with the play-style being risk-reward, best lore and backstory out of all games, best atmosphere, best interconnectivity and level design out of all games. Music, art direction and bosses (Gerhman, Ludwig, Lady Maria, Martyr Logarius and Orphan of Kos are easily one of the best bosses of any game ever) are all perfect

10 thoughts on “Ranking the Soulsborne Games: Worst to Best

  1. This text is written in **English**. Here’s the comment:

    The ranking of Soulsborne games is always a topic of heated debate among fans. Each entry has its unique strengths and flaws, making it hard to declare a definitive favorite. While some games like *Dark Souls II* have noticeable weaknesses, their redeeming qualities like music and atmosphere keep them memorable. I appreciate how you highlight both the positives and negatives of each game. Do you think the lack of Miyazaki’s involvement in *Dark Souls II* is the main reason it’s considered the weakest in the series?

    1. Many fans consider Dark Souls II the weakest because its level design and enemy placement feel a bit off compared to other Soulsborne games. Plus, some of the mechanics are clunky. Since Miyazaki, who directed most of the other games, wasn’t involved, it just feels different. Still, it has its own cool atmosphere and lots of content, so some people really enjoy it!

  2. Interesting ranking of the Soulsborne games! It’s always fascinating to see how different entries in the series resonate with players. The critique of *Dark Souls II* is fair, especially regarding the hitboxes and enemy placements, but the praise for its atmosphere and customization is spot on. *Dark Souls* truly deserves its legendary status, though a remake could modernize its clunky combat. *Sekiro* is a masterpiece, but the spirit emblem system could have been more player-friendly. Do you think *Elden Ring* will eventually surpass *Dark Souls* in terms of legacy?

  3. I found your ranking of the Soulsborne games quite intriguing, especially your take on Dark Souls II. It’s interesting how you highlight the lack of Miyazaki’s involvement as a major factor in its shortcomings. Do you think a remake could truly fix its core issues, or are some flaws too deeply rooted? I also agree that the music and atmosphere in that game are underrated—it’s a shame the gameplay didn’t match up. Your praise for Dark Souls’ level design up to Anor Londo is spot on, but do you think the later areas are as bad as some fans claim? I’m curious, what would you change in a potential remake of the original Dark Souls? Lastly, your love for Sekiro is relatable, but do you think the spirit emblem system was a deliberate design choice to add challenge, or just an oversight? Great analysis overall—I’d love to hear more of your thoughts!

  4. This ranking of Soulsborne games is quite intriguing, especially the detailed critiques of each entry. I agree that *Dark Souls II* has its flaws, but I think the atmosphere and weapon customization truly stand out. *Dark Souls* remains a masterpiece, though a remake could modernize its clunky combat. *Elden Ring* seems like a perfect blend of Miyazaki’s and Martin’s storytelling, but do you think it surpasses *Bloodborne* in terms of world-building? *Sekiro* is a gem, but the spirit emblem system could indeed be more forgiving. Overall, your ranking feels fair, but I’m curious—what makes *Bloodborne* your favorite, if it is? Would you consider revisiting *Dark Souls II* if it gets a proper remake?

  5. This ranking of Soulsborne games is quite intriguing, especially the detailed critique of each entry. I agree that *Dark Souls II* has its flaws, but I think its unique atmosphere and weapon customization deserve more credit. *Dark Souls* truly set the standard, though I’d argue its combat feels more nostalgic than clunky. *Elden Ring* seems like a masterpiece, but do you think its open-world design overshadows the tight level design of earlier games? *Sekiro* is a gem, but the spirit emblem system could’ve been more forgiving. Overall, your analysis is spot on, but I’m curious—what would you change in a *Dark Souls II* remake to make it stand out more? Would you prioritize fixing the hitboxes or reworking the enemy placements?

  6. I found your ranking of the Soulsborne games quite interesting, especially your take on Dark Souls II. It’s true that Miyazaki’s absence was noticeable, but do you think the game’s flaws overshadow its unique strengths, like the weapon customization and atmosphere? I agree that a remake could fix a lot of its issues, but wouldn’t that risk losing some of its original charm? Also, your praise for Dark Souls’ level design up to Anor Londo is spot on—it’s truly a masterpiece. However, do you think the clunky combat holds it back from being the best in the series? Lastly, I’m curious, what would you change about Sekiro’s spirit emblem system to make it more player-friendly without breaking the game’s balance? Would love to hear your thoughts!

  7. Interesting take on the Soulsborne series! I agree that Dark Souls II had its flaws, especially with the hitboxes and enemy placements, but the atmosphere and weapon customization were indeed its strong points. Dark Souls truly set the standard with its level design, though the combat could feel a bit clunky by today’s standards. Elden Ring’s collaboration with George R. R. Martin added such depth to the lore, making it a standout in the series. Sekiro’s combat mechanics were so satisfying, but the spirit emblem system could be frustrating at times. Do you think FromSoftware will ever revisit these games for remakes or sequels? I’d love to see a modern take on Dark Souls II with Miyazaki’s full involvement. What’s your favorite moment from any of these games?

  8. This ranking of Soulsborne games is quite intriguing and brings up some valid points. I agree that Dark Souls II had its flaws, especially with hitboxes and enemy placements, but the atmosphere and weapon customization were indeed its saving graces. Dark Souls truly set the standard for the series, and its level design up to Anor Londo is unmatched. However, I’m curious why you didn’t mention the impact of Demon’s Souls more prominently, as it laid the foundation for everything that followed. Sekiro’s combat system is a masterpiece, but the spirit emblem mechanic could have been handled better. Do you think Elden Ring’s open-world approach will influence future FromSoftware titles, or should they stick to their linear, interconnected designs? I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the series could evolve while staying true to its roots.

  9. Interesting ranking and analysis of the Soulsborne games! I definitely agree that *Dark Souls II* felt a bit off compared to the rest, especially without Miyazaki’s direct involvement. The hitboxes and enemy placements were frustrating, but I still think it had some charm with its customization and atmosphere. *Dark Souls I* is a masterpiece, though—Anor Londo still gives me chills! And *Elden Ring*? A perfect blend of Miyazaki and Martin’s genius. But I’m curious, what made you rank *Sekiro* as your second favorite? The combat felt so rewarding, but I agree about the spirit emblems—having to grind for them was a bit annoying. Would you say *Sekiro* deserves a sequel, or should FromSoftware focus on new IPs? Also, do you think *Bloodborne* would’ve been higher if it had a PC port or remake?

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