DARK SOULS™ III

This game literally defined a generation. So many comforting memories were made during its years-long height of popularity. There's nothing I could say that would do it justice. Absolute must play. Genuine 10/10

I originally bought this game because a friend of mine called it "his favorite game," and I wanted to play it for quite a while at that point. After I died at Iudex like 20 times, I stopped playing for a while. A few weeks passed, and I gave it another try. It was a great decision. Even though this was my first Souls game, I didn’t get absolutely crushed, and it was actually a very enjoyable experience (well, except for a few bosses and covenant farming). The world has its unique charm, and most of the enemies feel fair and balanced. Besides the covenant rewards, the collectibles are fun to collect, and they are not locked behind some super complicated questlines, which is something I like. When it comes to progression, it feels like there are almost no spikes in difficulty throughout the entire game. There are a lot, and I mean a LOT, of possible builds you can make when combining character attributes, weapons, many kinds of spells, and rings. The combat is very good. The OST is an absolute banger, and it makes the atmosphere during boss fights even more intense.
It was a powerful journey.

Now onto DS1 :)

I LOVE this game. My biggest complaint is why doesn't this game have steam cloud yet? I lost my save that I've spent a while on because of that (I'm fine with it because I was planning on replaying this game a few more times). But it would be really nice if I could play this on the go. DS remastered has it, same with ER, why not add it here?

The bosses are all difficult in their own ways which is why I enjoy this game a lot. Parry feels great in this game too!
+Orbeck of Vinheim <3

Love the game but how the FUCK are you gonna ask 60 Euros for a 9 year old game? And thats not even including the dlc which is another 25 euros, crazy stuff. Buy elden ring or the other games instead at this price lol.

It's Dark Souls 1, but the combat is more satisfying and the challenge is greater.

The video game industry is vast and varied, with countless genres, styles, and experiences available for players worldwide. However, among the immense catalog of titles, Dark Souls 3 stands out as a transcendent experience that deserves to be titled the best game ever made. From its intricate world-building and atmospheric storytelling to its challenging combat and deep lore, Dark Souls 3 combines these elements in a way that captivates players and immerses them into its unforgiving world. The game's design, philosophy, and enduring impact have made it a definitive masterpiece, one that continually influences and inspires the gaming landscape.

Challenging, Rewarding Combat

One of the most iconic features of the Dark Souls series, and specifically Dark Souls 3, is its combat. The game is renowned for its difficulty, which requires players to master both the timing and the stamina management of their character. Every enemy encounter is a test of precision, patience, and skill. The combat is not about button-mashing or spamming attacks; it’s about understanding the rhythm of battle, reading enemy movements, and responding accordingly. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from defeating a tough boss or overcoming a difficult area is unparalleled. Unlike most games, Dark Souls 3 does not hold the player's hand. Every victory feels earned, and this sense of accomplishment is one of the game's strongest draws.

The variety of weapons and playstyles available in Dark Souls 3 further enriches its combat. Players can choose between heavy, slow weapons or fast, dexterous ones, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Magic, pyromancy, and faith-based abilities also add layers of strategy to the gameplay. This flexibility allows players to tailor their approach to combat, creating a highly personalized experience that rewards experimentation and mastery.

World-Building and Environmental Storytelling

Another aspect that makes Dark Souls 3 so remarkable is its world-building. The game's setting, Lothric, is a desolate, decaying world where the flame that sustains life is flickering out. From the moment players step into the game, they are met with an overwhelming sense of atmosphere and tension. The architecture, the enemies, and the environments all tell a story of a once-great kingdom now on the brink of collapse.

What sets Dark Souls 3 apart from many other games is the way it conveys its lore. The game doesn’t provide exposition through long cutscenes or dialogues. Instead, it leaves pieces of the story scattered throughout the world for players to discover themselves. The locations are interconnected, and clues to the past can be found in the architecture, item descriptions, and the lore of the characters you encounter. This method of environmental storytelling is not only immersive, but it also encourages players to pay attention to their surroundings and piece together the narrative at their own pace.

The interconnected world of Dark Souls 3 is a work of art in its own right. The areas are meticulously designed, with hidden paths, secret rooms, and shortcuts that reward curiosity. Lothric is a world that feels alive, yet decayed, and the haunting beauty of its landscapes adds to the melancholy tone of the game. From the fiery ruins of the high walls to the eerie cathedral of the deep, each location tells its own tragic story, inviting players to explore every nook and cranny.

Philosophical Depth and Themes

The thematic richness of Dark Souls 3 is another factor that elevates it above other games. The central theme of the game revolves around the cyclical nature of life and death. The fire that sustains life is fading, and the world is slowly decaying, yet the characters in the game are determined to preserve it. This tension between preservation and decay runs throughout the entire narrative and manifests in the actions and motivations of the game's key figures.

The story of Dark Souls 3 revolves around the concept of "linking the fire," a ritual that keeps the flame alive and prolongs the world's existence. However, this ritual also brings suffering, as those who sacrifice themselves to the fire are condemned to an eternity of burning. In this way, Dark Souls 3 explores existential questions about the nature of sacrifice, the meaning of life, and the inevitability of death. The game doesn’t offer easy answers but instead leaves these questions for the player to contemplate as they progress.

This philosophical depth is what gives Dark Souls 3 its emotional resonance. It’s a game that challenges the player’s understanding of life and death and forces them to grapple with difficult moral decisions. The characters you meet along the way, whether allies or enemies, are all dealing with their own struggles and dilemmas. The game presents a world where hope is scarce, but it’s still possible to find meaning through perseverance and determination.

Enduring Impact on Gaming

Since its release in 2016, Dark Souls 3 has had a profound influence on the gaming industry. Its combination of difficult gameplay, intricate world-building, and philosophical themes has inspired countless developers and players. Many games have adopted elements from the Dark Souls series, such as challenging combat, interconnected worlds, and non-linear storytelling. The term "Souls-like" has become a genre unto itself, and Dark Souls 3 remains the gold standard by which all other games in this category are judged.

Furthermore, the game’s community continues to thrive, with players discussing strategies, uncovering hidden secrets, and sharing experiences. The game's online components, including invasions and co-op play, encourage player interaction in a way that few other games can match. The sense of camaraderie that emerges from helping others overcome difficult challenges is one of the many reasons Dark Souls 3 remains beloved by its fanbase.

Conclusion

In the world of video games, few titles achieve the level of excellence that Dark Souls 3 has attained. Its combination of challenging gameplay, deep lore, atmospheric world-building, and philosophical themes make it an experience unlike any other. The sense of accomplishment in overcoming its challenges, the joy of discovering its secrets, and the emotional weight of its narrative all contribute to making Dark Souls 3 the best game ever. It’s a game that demands respect, rewards perseverance, and leaves a lasting impression on everyone who steps into its dark and unforgiving world.

Dated by today's standards, but still golden. Between PS3, Xbox, and PC I have >1000 hours in this game. If you have only played Elden Ring - get ready for pain :)

Beat the game and DLC's a few times, then try out one of the major overhaul mods on Nexus to get a fresh experience and more replayability.

its great i love it! and hate it sometimes... its great if you want a challenge, souls games are probably one of my fav genres of games ever.

Dark Souls III is everything on the outside, that is claims to be on the inside.

Dark Souls III is a bleak, grey, melancholy conclusion to a trilogy that defined an era. To me, Dark Souls III is the weakest entry in the trilogy but one that serves its purpose perfectly. Without spoilers, Dark Souls III constantly paints a picture of a world run raw by its repeating nature. Characters, Items, and Locations from games that (lore-wise) took place thousands of years ago, reappear with no mention of how they have arrived, they share only one detail amongst them. All of these things are tired, and caught in a neverending cycle. This feeling is pushed onto the player through all of the recycled material and overall bleak and grey atmosphere the game provides.

Dark Souls III is as much a game as it is a commentary about the series as a whole, as great as it has been, the formula has become stale, and it's time to stop it now and move on to something new. If you have played Dark Souls I and Dark Souls II, Dark Souls III is a must play in order to conclude your adventure.

Really uninspired hybrid of DS1 and Bloodborne, the areas are ugly, insanely long with millions of little ambushes and ganks. NPC's seem limited to 1 line of dialogue each. It's probably amazing if it's your first souls game, but as my last I get the feeling this doesn't need to exist. The music is horrible too, generic choral/orchestral bombast just for the sake of hype, overly loud and busy. Worst game of the entire souls roster. Do yourself a favor and emulate the original Demon's Souls at a high resolution, that's actually a work of art, not this.

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☐ Decent
☑ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☑ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☑ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☑ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☐ Average
☑ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☐ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

Incredible game. Playing DS2 before this made me love it even more ofc, but nonetheless this has become one of my favorite games.
The art direction and the visuals are stunning, the bosses are pretty much ALL fun and diverse, and the map design is SO GOOD!!!!

Just remember, it's really easy to mess up a NPC questline.
And whatever you do, when someone asks you for Pale Tongues, DONT GIVE THEM.
Thank me later.

Dark fantasy aesthetic: check.
Difficulty: check.
music: check.
General terrible vibes: check.
10/10

very fun game, it do make me mad sometimes, orther than that its a fun game for people who have played a souls like game or never have played a souls like game before in their lives.

Its good but I'm glad we're past the Dark Souls franchise. I enjoyed about 80% of this game (including dlc). My biggest issue with this game is mostly the difficulty, it sometimes borders on being so punishing to the point of being almost unfair. There are too many boss fights and areas where your pitted against 2 and sometimes 3 enemy's and imo that is just lazy design. also too many boss fights with 3 phases where they come back with near or full hp. overall I do like this game quite a bit but man some the boss's difficulty was a little over board.

The last instalment in a series which spawned a genre and influenced gaming more than any other in the 2010s. One of the best games ever made. There will never be another Dark Souls, and I will always love Dark Souls.

This is the best game of all time. Saved my life. Praise the Sun! \[T]/ :praisesun:

Along with Elden ring and Dark souls 1 this trilogy is amazing. I have never played a game as fun and frustrating as this. Overall beautiful one the souls games this is my favorite one.

A friend of mine introduced me to FromSoft games by gifting me Elden Ring. After completing that game, I went back and played Dark Souls 1 which was amazing! Then I played Dark Souls 2 which was also amazing! Here I am after beating Dark Souls 3... WOW! I am a little sad that I slept on these games when they originally released but I am glad I am enjoying them now. Dark Souls 3 was an amazing journey, and seeing some of the locations and characters from Dark Souls 1 return was exciting and nostalgic. Another amazing story filled with several really fun bosses, except you Nameless King, lol. (On average, I beat every boss in 1 to 3 tries, but Nameless King took me over a dozen. Jokes aside though, they were still awesome!) A bunch of the armor sets from the previous games also returned which was an awesome touch, and so did a lot of the weapons. With Dark Souls 3 now completed, I am happy to say that the Dark Souls series is in my top 10 favorite series of all time. For those interested in trying out any of the games, I strongly recommend giving them a try!

if you care the most about bosses in souls games, this is going to be the best souls game for you

I played this game on my PS4 for the first time, so the amount of time I've spent on this game isn't accurate. Bloodborne was my first FromSoft game, so then I went to try out this one. I don't think there's another game in the market that has made me replay it over and over again to the extend that I've done with this game. It's one of the few games where I feel proud about having multiple save files, builds, and different ways of running through it. Fighting through the amazing bosses, interacting with all the NPCs, and seeing the world that Miyazaki has formed in this game. It is in my top 10 games of all time, and it holds a very special place in my heart. I suffered and struggled a lot in my first playthrough, but ever since then, it's something I always come back to enjoy. I got to play through the DLC I think about a year ago and actually beat it, and it just made me want to end my time with the game on a strong note. I'll come back to it every now and then, but it's truly a game I would recommend anyone to go through.

‌really great atmosphere and gameplay with enjoyable story
littraly enjoyed every second of playing it
the gameplay is smooth Contrary to previous ones
every boss were great and it was great to fight them
every weapon and outfit was great
worth every second you passing in this game🥹❤️

The third game telling the story of John Darksoul, a hero for the ages.

Dark Souls 3 is by far my favorite Souls game, though I have a lot of love for the entire series—except for Dark Souls 2. I wasn’t a fan of the decision to tie i-frames to a stat. I get that it’s a skill issue, but it felt like an odd direction. That aside, the series is incredible. I played DS3 offline while sharing my account through family sharing, rushing to complete my 100% run. Despite that, the combat, lore, and graphics are absolutely stunning and still hold up against today’s standards, even when compared to the newer Soulsborne games released in recent years. Even though I’ve fully completed the game, I always feel like going back to it. It’s a bit sad knowing there won’t be a Dark Souls 4, given the new direction FromSoft has taken, but honestly, they’ve been delivering masterpiece after masterpiece, so I can’t complain.

Overall, I’d highly recommend Dark Souls 3. Even when the challenge feels overwhelming, it’s an experience worth having.

This is no mere game but a crucible of will, where every fall births resolve. Kindle thy flame, face the abyss, and carve thy legend in ash. The fire is thine to seize — should thou endure.

Amazing dark atmosphere, great combat system, a lot to explore

8/10 for my first dark souls game. elden ring really set me up for greatness for this game so I didn't have much of a problem. Very solid game nontheless

This game makes you learn how stupid and bad you are. However, these feelings make you want to play more, which you end up defeating every boss and go for the Journey 2.

I really enjoyed playing this game. I would definitely recommend this game to anybody, who would hear my gradiose commendation about DS3.

Good Game, but sometimes it is insanely hard due to balance being thrown out of the window. Did pure sorcerer playthrough, it was extremely easy on some bosses and unbearable on others(Crystal sages, Aldrich, Dude with dog in dlc, etc) and runbacks through whole map is insane tbh

The best of the Dark Souls series. The score is one of the best of any game. The world is dark and brutal yet beautiful. The bosses are the best.

Dark Souls 3 takes the good parts from 1 and 2 and leaves a lot of the bad behind.

The Best Souls Game in the entire series in my humble but correct opinion!

I broke up with my 5 years girlfriend to marry the fire keeper, I gave her my most valuable ring, Im sure she loves me as much as I love her, whoever plays it are not allowed to marry her respect plox

ah yes barp sneals 3,.,, i put everyone i knowed onto this game after i experienceded it for the first time because whe n i playeded this i was usper duper scared and so terry fied. but i kept getting back an dback up and i got super duper enjoyment out of this game.

this is a great conclusion to the legens dairy trilogy. great bosses and areas and i think it concluded very nicely in the base game ending and dlc ending. thas all i gotta says

Achievement Completion: 100%

To put it shortly: This game is amazing. The final game of the trilogy really went out with a bang. The areas, the enemies, the bosses, the difficulty, the NPCs, it all comes together into the real gem this game turned out to be. When I first got into this game it was so hard to put this game down and just play it one time. Following the NPC questlines, gathering all the fashion, all the weapons, etc., it was just so much fun experimenting with many different builds and finding the right playstyle I simply couldn't get enough. The real cherry on top is the OST. You get a banger game AND a banger OST? Sold from the very start.

Protect the Firekeeper at all costs.

쉽고 재밌어요. 엘든링 해봤으면 모든 보스가 다 쉽기 때문에 할 거 없으면 재밌게 즐길 수 있어요.

This is where the character building takes place

Wanted to jump down the stairs face first but overall top 5 game made IMO

Pinnacle of the Dark Souls trilogy. Music, gameplay, story - all a masterpiece.

This is the first game I've ever played.

My chicken gave birth instead of laying and egg because it played DARK SOULS III (3 for americas)

This game is fantastic go out and buy it with your pappi's credit card if you can steal it :).

smoother combat than ds1 but level design not as good, still a 10/10 tho

a little late to the game, still on my first playthru, despite the brutality of the areas and foot soldiers this game is still beautiful. great boss designs, beautiful scenery, and just all out a solid game 9.5/10

Do I like getting beaten to a pulp? No
Does this feeling of overcoming great obstacles through sheer perseverance and purposeful decission making slaps hard? HELL F**CKN YESS

This game made me suffer the pain of a thousand red hot barbed iron rods being shoved in and out of my arse 100 times per second and I actually enjoyed it

agony/10

Dark Souls 3 is pretty much peak FromSoft. Of all the souls games including Elden Ring this is the game with the highest concentration of great, well designed bosses. There are a good variety of weapon options and they all work well and even a pure fist build can work to a certain degree. The game is fairly linear with some branching paths so there is not a tremendous amount of stuff to explore, but there is enough that it doesn't feel boring. Definitely worth playing, but the game does go on sale pretty often so I would wait until then before purchasing it.

Fun game but needs to be harder, I could still kill the bosses.

Bought this game when it was on sale along with DS1 almost a year ago. I had previously beaten Elden ring (my first souls game) and DS1 before playing this game.

Once i started, i wasn’t immediately into it since i had just finished DS1, and was pretty burnt out with this genre.
Last week, i decided to give it another try. Best decision ever. This game is amazing; great visuals, fun combat, and amazing lore. The combat can definitely be annoying and tedious at first, but once you get the hang of it you really start to enjoy its combat.

The bosses are great and present a challenge which you can overcome with practice (currently on Pontiff).

Would definitely recommend to people who want to play more medieval like games or harder games.

Probably the greatest FromSoft game. Amazing story, beautiful environments, fun bosses, responsive controls...what more could you want?

An absolutely phenomenal game that challenges your wits and perseverance.

It may not be for everyone, but this game is the most forgiving of the series and your friends can play from any level. They could have beaten the game 100+ times and can still struggle helping you in your first run through.

Try it if you wish or ignore it, but this game is one of the best RPG's ever made and it shows

One of the greatest, Most definitive Experience of Dark souls, i have ever played, i have achieved most
achievements. Def recommend the Ringed City Dlc, Don't care to much about the ashes of ariandel dlc though. Definitely Recommend DS3!

old but good... still about 40 hours of game play and i'm looking forward to completing.