Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel

 PC
Dark Souls III: Ashes of Ariandel Image
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 188 Ratings

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  • Summary: Journey to the snowy world of Ariandel and encounter new areas, bosses, enemies, weapons, armor set, magic spells and more. Will you accept the challenge and embrace the darkness once more?

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Dark Souls III - Darkness Has Spread

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Game Revolution
    Nov 2, 2016
    80
    This full-fledged expansion is no less than amazing and has delivered on many occasions through it’s addictingly raw gameplay.
  2. USgamer
    Oct 27, 2016
    80
    From Software once again serves up a solid piece of DLC with Ashes of Ariandel, even if it is a tad short. It's full of beautiful vistas and interesting levels, and the boss fight at the end is a good challenge for high-level players. But those looking for something new and innovative are apt to be disappointed, as this is all familiar territory for the series. Still, From Software's execution is strong in this first piece of Dark Souls 3 DLC.
  3. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 27, 2016
    78
    New World Order prepares the ground for the last two episodes of Batman: The Telltale Series, by telling us a different story of the Dark Knight where the Wayne family is not as we always thought.
  4. GameSpot
    Oct 27, 2016
    70
    While Ashes of Ariandel is ultimately a safe addition to Dark Souls III, it's convincingly satisfying; the risk of death at any moment is as likely as finding a new piece of practical gear or the discovery of an unexplored path. Just don't expect any areas as memorable as those in the main game or revelatory moments that substantially expands the lore.
  5. Gamer.no
    Nov 9, 2016
    70
    Ashes of Ariandel attempts to tackle too many things at once, and loses focus. There are few negatives about the expansion in itself, it just doesn't have enough content. FROM had the potential to make a great expansion to the series, but put its efforts into developing the wrong aspect of the game.
  6. IBTimes UK
    Nov 3, 2016
    70
    The bare-bones PvP arena offers a fleeting blast of adrenaline and the painted world's gorgeous wintry landscapes are enchantingly brutal, yet as a whole, Dark Souls 3's first expansion colours within deeply worn lines and falls short of FromSoftware's illustrious history of unforgettable, industry-leading DLC.
  7. GameCritics
    Nov 22, 2016
    50
    Dark Souls 3 was a wonderful coda for the series, revisiting the best parts of Soulsborne while skillfully buffing over the pieces that didn’t work. Still, the Souls tricks and tropes that have become hallmarks are no longer groundbreaking, and there isn’t much left for Souls proper to achieve. As such, the run-of-the-mill quality of the experience offered here just doesn’t cut it anymore. While I still hold some hope that the second (and final) piece of DLC will be more substantial, Ashes of Ariandel illustrates exactly why Souls needs to end for the foreseeable future.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 19
  3. Negative: 2 out of 19
  1. Smilingcookie
    Oct 30, 2016
    10
    Real score 9,5/10. Great expansion. It took me 4-5 hours to fully complete the single player collecting all items and defeating all enemiesReal score 9,5/10. Great expansion. It took me 4-5 hours to fully complete the single player collecting all items and defeating all enemies with a level 193 character on NG++. After that I'm left with the PVP arena and 2 bossfights that are a lot of fun in co-op. The new weapons are brilliant and original. The game has great atmosphere, top notch level design and interesting, challenging new enemies. I can full heartedly recommend this DLC. It's not long, but the content is great!… Expand
  2. ManHoof
    Jul 29, 2023
    8
    Good DLC with an interesting little world. The downside is that it is too small.
  4. ImSchroeder
    Oct 25, 2016
    8
    As a big fan of dark souls I was pretty annoyed by the rating of the positive reviews that dark souls 3 had. It is a good game but its hard toAs a big fan of dark souls I was pretty annoyed by the rating of the positive reviews that dark souls 3 had. It is a good game but its hard to explain how the third chapter(despite a few good moments) had no soul and just seem like a big fan service without much purpose, without originality.
    The problem with this DLC it is one and only: It is too short. Once you accept that it should be a bigger experience believe me, it is far more original and exciting than the base game. I can only imagine how much better( at least for me) the main game would be if every area of the game had the kind of sense of exploration and ambience this DLC delivered.
    As a pvp addicted I was very disappointed with the weapons on base game: you had 14 straight swords, for example, and almost the same move set/skill for every single one: "Of course I'm gonna use the one with ridiculous damage and life regen!"
    A lot were just impossible to play with, like daggers (Brigand twindaggers, yes I'll spam parry you after the first attack for sure) and almost all katanas. But I can assure you of this: each single weapon of this DLC its original and unique. Something that should have been done to every weapon on base game and probably wasn't done because of how hard would be game balancing (let's get this right, this is not an excuse for not doing it so ok?Just work it out FROM).
    The pvp arena, if you play a lot of pvp like me, works pretty well and there's not much to be said.
    I just wish I could give this a ten, it got so many good things going for it, things that I was missing from the base game but, for now, I stand in hope that the next DLC will deliver a bigger experience with the same care for level design and originality I see here.    … Expand
  5. Gamer-critic
    Oct 30, 2016
    7
    So, this is the worst DLC ever made by From Soft and only for the greatest boss of all souls series games (and cool new weapons), this DLC isSo, this is the worst DLC ever made by From Soft and only for the greatest boss of all souls series games (and cool new weapons), this DLC is having 7/10 from me . That's almost all, that a usual player should know. If you are the ultra nerd with 2k hours in three first games, I have something special to tell you...

    This DLC is super easy, and you should buy it only for the Arena and a bunch of amazing new unbalanced weapons.
    Looking forward to the next DLC, I hope it will be better.    … Expand
  6. PappyBakesCakes
    Jan 17, 2018
    7
    This DLC suffers from some of the chaotic environmental story telling found in the original game. The scenario portrayed here is stillThis DLC suffers from some of the chaotic environmental story telling found in the original game. The scenario portrayed here is still interesting but it quite shallow and the length to complete the DLC shows. The bosses, armor and weapons are interesting and the environment beautiful but I would not invest in this if you are new to the series an have yet to beat the main game. This DLC does have a tie in to the one that follows so if you want the whole experience this is recommended but be prepared to have this not live up to your hopes and dreams.… Expand
  7. Deckz
    Nov 25, 2016
    6
    It looked promising, but after 2 hours, i was done. i found the final boss room, i had done everything else, and i was just sad, i was soIt looked promising, but after 2 hours, i was done. i found the final boss room, i had done everything else, and i was just sad, i was so exited to turn this game back on, but after all the things i got in the new dlc, i just thought: well, im never going to use this stuff now, because the game is over agin... 2 hours on a dlc this long after launch, is a **** joke… Expand
  8. Sunykamey
    Feb 11, 2018
    2
    In terms of map and enemy design aswell as balance this is the worst FromSoftware game content ever created.
    PS - I originally had it at a 5    In terms of map and enemy design aswell as balance this is the worst FromSoftware game content ever created.
    PS - I originally had it at a 5 but due to the stupidly unbalanced millwood knights in the tower this gets a 2.    … Expand

See all 19 User Reviews

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#82 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

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