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Dark Souls & FromSoftware Games in Order
FromSoftware's Soulsborne games in release order, from Demon's Souls (2009) to Elden Ring (2022). Most are standalone worlds, so you can start almost anywhere.
Dark Souls & FromSoftware Games in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
FromSoftware's "Soulsborne" catalog isn't a single saga. Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring each take place in their own self-contained world with no shared characters or plot. Only Dark Souls, Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III form a loose, connected trilogy, and even there the link is thematic and cyclical rather than a tight episode-by-episode story. That's why release order is the only order that matters here: there is no hidden chronological timeline to untangle across the whole set.
Release order is also the most natural way to feel the studio evolve. You can watch the deliberate, methodical combat of Demon's Souls and Dark Souls give way to the aggressive, dodge-forward rhythm of Bloodborne, the parry-heavy precision of Sekiro, and finally the open world of Elden Ring. Mechanics, quality-of-life and difficulty curves all sharpen as the years pass, so playing chronologically by release date is a satisfying tour even if you skip around.
You do not have to start at the beginning, though. The two friendliest entry points are Elden Ring, whose open world lets you wander off, grind and explore when a boss wall feels too steep, and the original Dark Souls, which remains the cleanest distillation of the formula. Demon's Souls (2009) is the oldest and showing its age, but the 2020 PS5 remake is a gorgeous modern way to experience the game that started it all.
If you only care about the connected story, play Dark Souls, then Dark Souls II, then Dark Souls III in that order. Everything else is a standalone you can drop into whenever you like.
Timeline 2009โ2022
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Dark Souls and FromSoftware Soulsborne games are there?
Counting the core modern Soulsborne titles, there are seven: Demon's Souls (2009), Dark Souls (2011), Dark Souls II (2014), Bloodborne (2015), Dark Souls III (2016), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) and Elden Ring (2022). The Dark Souls sub-series itself has three games.
What order should I play the Dark Souls games in?
Play them in release order: Dark Souls (2011), Dark Souls II (2014), then Dark Souls III (2016). These three form a loose connected trilogy, so playing them in this order gives the best sense of their shared themes and recurring lore.
Do I need to play the games in order?
No. Only Dark Souls 1-3 are loosely connected. Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring are completely standalone worlds, so you can start with almost any of them without missing required story.
Which FromSoftware game should a beginner start with?
Elden Ring is the most newcomer-friendly because its open world lets you explore, level up and avoid tough bosses until you're ready. The original Dark Souls is the next best entry if you prefer a tighter, classic experience.
Is there a remake of Demon's Souls?
Yes. Bluepoint Games built a full ground-up remake of Demon's Souls that launched in 2020 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. It's the easiest modern way to play the title that started the Souls formula.
Are these games connected in one timeline?
Not really. Aside from the loose Dark Souls trilogy, each game is its own self-contained world with no shared characters or canonical timeline. They're unified by studio, director Hidetaka Miyazaki and design philosophy rather than plot.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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