Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. CD-Action
    Oct 22, 2014
    60
    It looks like Crown of the Sunken Kings was developed by interns, as it misses many elements that made Dark Souls II an exceptional game. [10/2014, p.66]
  2. Jul 22, 2014
    60
    A competent but unsurprising slice of downloadable content that features a solid challenge and plenty of content, but too little in the way of new ideas.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 210 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 37 out of 210
  1. Jul 22, 2014
    4
    Conclusion first: would not recommend unless cheap or fan/supporter

    Finished DLC solo (no coop) in NG4+ in about 4 hours including dieing a
    Conclusion first: would not recommend unless cheap or fan/supporter

    Finished DLC solo (no coop) in NG4+ in about 4 hours including dieing a few times and finding secrets + killing all mobs on the way. (and admittedly wasting a few lifegems due to sparse and hidden bonfires) . I would say the length was okay if the whole thing was more memorable but it's simply not.

    Most of the enemies feel like you killed them before somewhere else in the game.

    Enemy type SPOILERS ahead:

    3 New Bosses:

    1 of which is a nashandra clone with a somewhat different moveset casting typical hexes which you have probably seen at this point

    another one being simply 3 "red phantom NPCs" at the same time (they arent red but have the same behavior)

    and the dragon which i guess is actually the only real new boss and who is a good challenge due to his lack of blind spots and his tendency to fly even when in melee (can you please stop running away dragon? just attack me its fine >_>)

    new weapons are mostly! not gamebreaking good (which is a PLUS!) in fact they are mostly! low average except for their movesets (and a shield which has some potential but there are other options for shield) There is also 1 weapon that stands out but to early to say. 2 new spells are mishmash copies of existing spells and the other one is kinda troll but not really useful outside of that.

    The areas look bland for the most part except for the initial overview (with the DS2 typical you can go everywhere u can see) and the graphics are underwhelming overall in the new areas (a LOT of cement hallways and repeating structures with nothing to them) Come on FROM you guys have shown you can do better! An "sunken" King and you interpret it as Bunker :(

    All of the new trash mobs are uninspired (a new number of dead NPC using various weapons like the undead at the start of the game... and a few guys who look like red phantoms and act like them with the only special thing about them being that they fat roll.. LOL NPCs using fat roll)

    The fight that stood out to me the most was a special red phantom with ridiculous amounts of hp and a never ending stamina bar of pure pyromancy spam.
    Full Review »
  2. Jul 23, 2014
    10
    4 hours atmosphere in Dark Souls is far more than 30 hours of kitsch in Divinity:Origin of Sin. 10/10 again. DLC is harder than the original4 hours atmosphere in Dark Souls is far more than 30 hours of kitsch in Divinity:Origin of Sin. 10/10 again. DLC is harder than the original game. Best DLC since Artorias of the Abyss. Full Review »
  3. Jul 23, 2014
    9
    This is how DLC should be done. In some ways its even beeter than the rest of the game! Unpredictable enemies with variety of tactics.This is how DLC should be done. In some ways its even beeter than the rest of the game! Unpredictable enemies with variety of tactics. Interactive environments and brilliant level design where everything is interconnected like the first Dark Souls and also, 4 to 10 hours of gameplay with 2 very challenging bosses. For 9€ it is well worth it and I bet you will be visiting the new areas quite often for farming, adding even further playtime. Full Review »