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Dark Souls vs Elden Ring

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Dark Souls
Dark SoulsEmbark on a perilous journey through the dark and decaying kingdom of Lordran.
Elden Ring
Elden RingAn open-world soulslike action RPG from FromSoftware and George R. R. Martin.
Overview
Description

Dark Souls is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Set in a dark, medieval fantasy world, players control the Chosen Undead, navigating hostile environments filled with dangerous enemies, formidable bosses, and deep lore. Renowned for its punishing difficulty and intricate level design, the game requires careful management of combat, stamina, and resources. Players can experience the world through single-player exploration or utilize unique multiplayer components to leave messages, summon allies, or invade other worlds.

Elden Ring is a challenging open-world action RPG that brings FromSoftware’s punishing combat into a vast, explorable land conceived with George R. R. Martin. It rewards curiosity and mastery with deep build variety and cryptic, atmospheric storytelling.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)

Around $59.99; Shadow of the Erdtree expansion sold separately.

Category
Action RPG
Hack & Slash
Best for
Hardcore gamers seeking deep challenges
Action RPG fans who enjoy a challenge
Specifications
General
msrp
$39.99
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release date
2011-09-22
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Specifications
developer
FromSoftware
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publisher
Bandai Namco Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games, Bandai
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age rating
PEGI 16, ESRB M
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multiplayer
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
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critic score
91/100
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platforms
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PC, PlayStation, Xbox
deployment
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Game
open source
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No
api available
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No
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Deep and rewarding combat mechanics
  • Masterclass in intricate, interconnected level design
  • Rich, haunting atmospheric world and lore
  • Innovative asynchronous multiplayer features
  • Massive, rewarding open world
  • Incredible boss design
  • Huge build freedom
  • High replay value
Cons
  • Extremely punishing difficulty can frustrate some players
  • Cryptic progression systems require careful attention or outside guides
  • Steep learning curve for newcomers to the action RPG genre
  • Very difficult, steep learning curve
  • Little hand-holding
  • Performance issues at launch on some platforms
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
3
User rating
Not enough data
4.0 (2)

What reviewers say

Dark Souls Reviews

No reviews yet.

Elden Ring Reviews

4.0 (2)
Verified User

Love it

Sunk way too many hours into Elden Ring. Massive, rewarding open world. No real complaints. Would recommend.

Verified User

Fun with caveats

Picked up Elden Ring recently. Upside: high replay value. Downside: very difficult, steep learning curve.

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More alternatives & similar tools

Alternatives to Dark Souls

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Dark Souls II
Dark Souls II

A brutal adventure through the cursed kingdom of Drangleic.

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Darklands
Darklands

A gritty medieval RPG where alchemy, faith, and sword clash in the Black Forest

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Elden Ring
Elden Ring

An open-world soulslike action RPG from FromSoftware and George R. R. Martin.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Epic Fantasy Open World Adventure

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Alternatives to Elden Ring

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A vast open-world action RPG with a acclaimed story and monster hunting.

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Epic Fantasy Open World Adventure

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Elden Ring offers a larger, open‑world experience at a higher price, while Dark Souls provides classic FromSoftware challenge with multiplayer at a lower cost.

Key differences

  • •Price: Elden Ring ~ $59.99 vs Dark Souls $39.99.
  • •Multiplayer: Dark Souls includes cooperative/invasion features; Elden Ring has no listed multiplayer.
  • •World design: Elden Ring features open‑world exploration; Dark Souls uses tightly‑interconnected level design.
  • •Content volume: Elden Ring boasts massive open world and high replay value; Dark Souls offers strong but smaller scope.
  • •Performance: Elden Ring had launch performance issues; Dark Souls has no reported issues.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Dark Souls costs $39.99, clearly cheaper than Elden Ring’s approximate $59.99 price.

Dark Souls

Platform availability

Both list PC, PlayStation, and Xbox; no contradictory data to differentiate.

Tie

Multiplayer / co‑op

Dark Souls explicitly supports cooperative and invasive multiplayer; Elden Ring has no multiplayer info.

Dark Souls

Content & replayability

Elden Ring’s massive open world and hidden dungeons give higher replay value than Dark Souls.

Elden Ring

Difficulty & accessibility

Both are described as very difficult with steep learning curves.

Tie

Graphics & performance

Elden Ring reported launch performance issues; Dark Souls has no performance concerns noted.

Dark Souls

Gameplay & fun factor

Both provide deep combat and rewarding exploration; strengths differ but are comparable.

Tie

Choose Dark Souls if…

Buyers seeking classic FromSoftware challenge, multiplayer features, and a lower upfront cost.

Choose Elden Ring if…

Players who prioritize open‑world exploration, extensive build freedom, and higher replay value and can afford a higher price.

Common questions

Which game is cheaper?

Dark Souls costs $39.99; Elden Ring is around $59.99.

Do either games support multiplayer?

Dark Souls includes cooperative and invasive multiplayer; Elden Ring has no multiplayer information provided.

Which offers a larger world to explore?

Elden Ring features an open‑world with hidden dungeons, offering a larger exploration space than Dark Souls.