Dark Souls III

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4553 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,853 out of 4553
  2. Mixed: 281 out of 4553
  3. Negative: 419 out of 4553
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  1. edrodenas
    Apr 25, 2016
    9
    Phenomenal game! Challenging, fun and with good graphics. The only bad part of the game is that it crushes from time to time in my hands. This game is fun and rewarding!
  2. MarcioCavalcant
    Apr 19, 2016
    9
    Although there has been a lot of bugs being reported, I fortunately only got stuck in one (stupid console promps turning up out of nowhere). But the game is greatn nonetheless! This game is another well crafted RPG with very well designed foes, great music and climate!
    Hope they fix soon enough what should have been fixed before the release (it seems there will always be some collateral    Although there has been a lot of bugs being reported, I fortunately only got stuck in one (stupid console promps turning up out of nowhere). But the game is greatn nonetheless! This game is another well crafted RPG with very well designed foes, great music and climate!
    Hope they fix soon enough what should have been fixed before the release (it seems there will always be some collateral damage to pc players when the games are also sold for consoles).    … Expand
  3. Bjoernen
    Apr 19, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Playing the game on a high end PC on Steam. Experienced no technical issues besides a few frame drops when entering Road of Sacrifices (an area in the game).

    Contains minor spoilers.

    I have completed the game 3 times now. As a Pyromancer, a Herald and a Thief. Currently doing a fourth playthrough as a Cleric to get the various endings.

    Dark Souls 3 is easily the best of the 3 games. Dark Souls 3 mixes the polished gameplay from Dark Souls 2 with the exciting and atmosphere rich world and level and boss design from Dark Souls 1 (a step up from Dark Souls 2 frankly very bland scenery). This time around we are an Unkindled. An undead awoken from his/her grave by the Bells of Awakening (from DS1) with a mission to find the Lords of Cinder - former lords who each obtained power enough to link the first flame, so the Age of Fire could continue. However the lords despaired of their fate, and fled their duty. It is our job to bring them back - by force if nescessecary. Or perhaps take another, darker, path.

    Dark Souls 3 masters the souls formula, whom we have seen in games such as its predesecors and its PS4 exclusive spin-off - Bloodborne. The game has clearly learned from Bloodborne this time around, by creating challenges that are intimidating and - at first glance - impossible to beat. However the game perfectly reward the observant player, and hit the nail on the head with the challenging but rewarding gameplay that the fanbase of the series has come to love.    … Expand
  4. dreadcannibal
    Apr 15, 2016
    9
    The combat is smooth, the atmosphere is incredible and the game is hard but fair.
    I haven't played any souls game before this one and I never understood why people adore the game as they do.

    Now I understand.

    I recommend this game to any gamer who is not the common CoD fan and wants to experience an amazing journey.

    This game requires patience but it's worth it.
  5. moonlight_shado
    Sep 18, 2016
    6
    Extremely enjoyable experience, great continuation to the series, great lore and threads tied together nicely. Must have for the fans .
  6. Musa3486
    May 14, 2016
    10
    Best game in the souls series. My top 5 game of all time.............................................................................................................
  7. Jdankens
    May 16, 2016
    10
    Beautiful game, people get very caught up in details. The craft put into this game puts other developers to shame.

    Probably best OST in a game ever also.
  8. Kamzor
    May 19, 2016
    10
    I didn't played Demon Souls / Dark Souls 1-2 / Bloodborne but I wanted to give a try to From Software and their games. I found myself really surprised because I really love this game. I got a bit bored by almost all recent games but I can't stop playing this one. In my opinion, it's one of the best game ever. Great job!
  9. Soujirop
    Aug 31, 2021
    9
    So when I was younger I tried DK1 and 2, and couldn't pass through stage 3 or so. It was way too frustrating for me. Now as an adult I tried DK3 and man, I'm so happy I've grown enough to give it chance! The amazin atmosphere, the superbly designed levels with their endless secrets, the most epic boss fights of any game I've played before, the infinite variety of builds, the non stopSo when I was younger I tried DK1 and 2, and couldn't pass through stage 3 or so. It was way too frustrating for me. Now as an adult I tried DK3 and man, I'm so happy I've grown enough to give it chance! The amazin atmosphere, the superbly designed levels with their endless secrets, the most epic boss fights of any game I've played before, the infinite variety of builds, the non stop tension of being at the verge of death like a survival horror, the joy while beating a level (or finding a campfire), the coop and pvp! Everything is just great.
    The game can be frustrating to new players, but mostly because they will approach the game with past games mindset that dying is somehow a sign that you are a clumsy player. No. If you haven't been living under a rock you should know that in this game you will die like a hundred times no matter how good of a gamer you think you are. So expect that!
    Now I will give it a 9 out of 10 because graphics could be better, sometimes gameplay can be a little clunky or glitchy and get you killed (which is not fun if this is like the 10th time you are trying to kill a boss), and personaly, I felt some areas near the end of the game were too long and so they felt tedious, considering they were no longer a novelty since you had already seen similar things in previous levels. Also the endings were a bit lackluster, even though it should be expected since the game never really elaborates too much on the story elements, but still after such a nightmare, a longer and more developed ending would have been fun.
    Btw tip to new players, keep those vit and vigor stats high or you'll be sorry..........
    That's all, I'm going to start the remastered now... Hype!    … Expand
  10. ZaPaAl
    Jan 2, 2017
    8
    Great atmosphere and visuals. Can be very punishing, so it could have been be very frustrating without my personal Quicksave / Quickload routines and without cheats for bosses. I am not up for trying the same thing 20 and more times till I get it right or luck out, or I have studied up enough on guides. Played with heavy caster focus, which added some extra difficulty for a while. PlayedGreat atmosphere and visuals. Can be very punishing, so it could have been be very frustrating without my personal Quicksave / Quickload routines and without cheats for bosses. I am not up for trying the same thing 20 and more times till I get it right or luck out, or I have studied up enough on guides. Played with heavy caster focus, which added some extra difficulty for a while. Played with an XBox Controller. Probably the better way to play this.

    Story is actually quite thin and too hard to find, although the world and it's story do have quite a background, if you search long enough.
    Many interesting items to find, but with hard to understand upgrade paths.
    I tried to see almost everything and get every item on first run which took me about 100 hours. This is really nothing for casuals.

    Generally, it was quite a rememberable tour, just (or actually exactly) like it's predecessors, but I think it's enough with this total soul darkness franchise. Could do with a more positive soul direction for a change.    … Expand
  11. woNd3R
    May 10, 2016
    8
    Unfortunately Dark Souls 3 has lost its freshness.
    In particular this game is way too easy, is very short and enemies are easily predictable.
    If you don't play online there is no sense of a new game + . This is the fourth chapter and there is nothing really that adds replay value (item hunt for example , new weapons). The rpg elements of the game could have been better on the 4th    Unfortunately Dark Souls 3 has lost its freshness.
    In particular this game is way too easy, is very short and enemies are easily predictable.
    If you don't play online there is no sense of a new game + . This is the fourth chapter and there is nothing really that adds replay value (item hunt for example , new weapons).
    The rpg elements of the game could have been better on the 4th installment. I like getting new things as i progress but at the end i finished the game with the same weapon i started it. Armor sets are kinda useless and are only usefull for the looks.
    Story is always the same thing, the Undead hero that will become the lord of Cinders etc etc, nothing new. Also the environment is way too similar to the previous souls chapters, seems to me very copy pasted.
    I think the biggest problem is that it doesn't add anything new at all. Only proper dual wielding weapons , the rest has been seen before.

    All in all it's a good game and that means 8/10 but we are very far away from a 10/10    … Expand
  12. kyriores
    May 13, 2016
    7
    Feels a bit rushed and uninspired, but it's nevertheless an enjoyable experience. It is basically Dark Souls 2 minus the amazing level design and the interesting bosses. A lot of boss fights were ruined in this game, so that leaves us with maybe 4-5 fights that are actually well-designed and enjoyable.
  13. Gamer-critic
    Oct 30, 2016
    9
    So, basically, this game is amazing, it has awesome lore, deeper than ever, cool-designed bosses, tons of weapons, spells, armor sets, items and etc. Locations are beautiful and well designed too. But...
    This game will not amaze you as it was with previous games, there is no so much cool game play moments (mind, that combat system and game play itself is still great) that will blow your    So, basically, this game is amazing, it has awesome lore, deeper than ever, cool-designed bosses, tons of weapons, spells, armor sets, items and etc. Locations are beautiful and well designed too. But...
    This game will not amaze you as it was with previous games, there is no so much cool game play moments (mind, that combat system and game play itself is still great) that will blow your mind, as it was with previous games. Coop became better, glad From Soft took password system as in Bloodborne, PvP is almost the best of the whole game series. But after 10 hours of play through, you will admit, that Miyazaki, no matter how cool he is, tired from souls games, you can see it almost in every aspect of the game. As for me, I thank Hidetaka-san for exiting of Souls games development, he knows, when he should stop.    … Expand
  14. Windolicker
    Apr 21, 2020
    10
    A true masterpiece, bolstered by the magical method of storytelling through the environment and items.
  15. camptownrangers
    May 11, 2016
    10
    I didn't even think it was possible for a Souls game to be any better than Bloodborne, but here I am. From the beginning it only ever gets better, with some of the series' most climactic and amazing bosses.
  16. Monochr0m3
    May 12, 2016
    10
    The definitive Souls experience, this game is almost a perfect example of a Dark Souls game done right.
    Pros:
    - Immersive atmosphere - Amazing art direction - Best soundtrack in Souls series - Unique enemy design - Combat fluidity Cons: - Combat balancing, especially in PVP (straight swords everywhere) - Poise not working at all - A bit short compared to other Souls game (hope    The definitive Souls experience, this game is almost a perfect example of a Dark Souls game done right.
    Pros:
    - Immersive atmosphere
    - Amazing art direction
    - Best soundtrack in Souls series
    - Unique enemy design
    - Combat fluidity

    Cons:
    - Combat balancing, especially in PVP (straight swords everywhere)
    - Poise not working at all
    - A bit short compared to other Souls game (hope the DLC make up for it)
    - Teleporting between bonfires unlocked early on, reducing sense of immersion between levels
    - No hard mode/power stancing
    - More linear compared to Dark Souls 1    … Expand
  17. golforoosh
    Mar 12, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Actully my brother plays this game and i m playing because of him. I play sekiro and i love the combat but dark souls is boring, slow , washed out envirenment and the worse is boss design. In the game there is a boss like a tree that you hv to smash its bolls ,it grabs me several times and i dont know how to evoid it it just grabs from nowhere without any signs. Another boss was kind a dog that you hv to go under it when you is under its belly you cant see ur self and gets hit from somwhere that i do not recognize it .if i was i tottaly desagree with the 8.9 point of rewivs for me sekiro feels Like a real fight but dark souls is hide and seek. Sorry for english .
    first i gave it 4 but now im totally changed my mind this game is far byond ****    … Expand
  18. Vzhik
    Dec 10, 2018
    7
    Первый дарк который я играл кое-как. Все на месте, ига нормальная, но как-то "обычно".
  19. Smilingcookie
    May 31, 2016
    9
    This game is really, really good and lives up to my expectations. Played it for 158 hours and just finished all achievements (3 playtroughs). I tried just about everything in there. It's great fun, with a lot of mystery and the typical humor.

    Like in it's predecessors the combat is very tense and tactical. It's paced up a little though and that's a good thing. When I start up Dark Souls    This game is really, really good and lives up to my expectations. Played it for 158 hours and just finished all achievements (3 playtroughs). I tried just about everything in there. It's great fun, with a lot of mystery and the typical humor.

    Like in it's predecessors the combat is very tense and tactical. It's paced up a little though and that's a good thing. When I start up Dark Souls II now, it feels unnaturally slow. Gameplay wise DS III improves the formula a lot. Visuals are very good and the art design is downright fantastic as always.

    Multiplayer is great, both cooperatively (praise the sun!) and player versus player.

    I like the environments a little bit less than in Dark Souls and Dark Souls II. The equipment, lore and gameplay however have improved much and make up for the environments. The game and it's bossfights (with a few notable exceptions) feel a little easier than earlier titles (which is not necessarily bad). The fight with the Nameless King is an amazing addition to the series and brilliant for multiplayer cooperation.

    Just like the other two, this is designed to be played with a 360 or XOne controller and the use of one is almost indispensable. All in all I'd rate it a 9,2/10.    … Expand
  20. Micalica
    May 28, 2016
    9
    Short: If you played and enjoyed Dark Souls 1, this is the game for you. Buy it right now. Worth full price.

    Long: Dark Souls 3 takes its own path and runs full-speed ahead with it. You either keep pace or stumble, fall, and meet it at the finish line. Its sheer attention to detail and mastery of scenery will make you stare at a single room or entire area for several minutes    Short: If you played and enjoyed Dark Souls 1, this is the game for you. Buy it right now. Worth full price.

    Long:

    Dark Souls 3 takes its own path and runs full-speed ahead with it. You either keep pace or stumble, fall, and meet it at the finish line.

    Its sheer attention to detail and mastery of scenery will make you stare at a single room or entire area for several minutes straight. That stray bit of wood, loose tiles cascading into a hole in a wall, rubble forming an eye-grab, alerting the player to the next path they take. Some areas genuinely took my breath away, while others fell flat. Those that stand out are true, outstanding works of art. Incredible.

    Weapons are interesting. Access to soul-weaponry pretty early compared to Dark Souls 2, and without the considerable resources required in Dark Souls 1; a nice sweet spot. However, the upgrade materials are seemingly miles away, and if a player misses an item(s) at a certain point, it's an arduous trek to pick it up later. Their balancing is weird. For instance, the Broadsword does nearly the same damage as a greatsword, and attacks far faster. Multiplayer needs work but is functional and easily understood. But, the weapons feel like they have real weight to them this time. Not a flimsy piece of metal that dents upon hitting stone once, but a real tool for the character to put to work; for myself, the Axes were the most satisfying. The weapon arts are cool but too far and redundant to really make a huge mark on gameplay.

    Leveling is great too. It's less of a chore than in Dark Souls 2, and it feels less punishing than Dark Souls 1, due to the results gained by leveling up, where as in the latter it took considerable leveling to get the desired effect. Or, it felt less profound. There are areas you can farm for souls and it isn't slave labor like in Dark Souls 1, but is (as with the aforementioned areas) not so easy as Dark Souls 2.

    The Bosses are similar to Dark Souls 1 in their lack of diversity, creativity, yet the outstanding performances of a select few in comparison. Recycled bosses return to the Dark Souls series, much to my dismay. They're obvious, poorly executed, and disappointing. The "I'm you, but stronger" meme is very relevant to this point. Multiple enemy bosses return, to nobody's pleasure. Very lame. Gimmick bosses make a very unfortunate reappearance in Dark Souls 3 as well, but, at least they're kind of cool. They're not impossible to figure out, and in retrospect, are interesting ideas. Not too glaring, not great. However, certain bosses are amazing and memorable, and incredibly satisfying to the player. Perhaps the so-so bosses exist only as a comparison, in order to put the great bosses on an even higher pedestal. If so, it's a phenomenal strategy, From.

    The story has multiple sidequests and characters much like the prior games, each interesting and complex to carry out. Its actual main story aligns very similarly to Dark Souls 1 in lore, and Dark Souls 2 execution. Bonfire girl for level ups and guidance, but she has an agenda, and very little information is given to you outside of item descriptions etc.

    The drawbacks of the game:

    Enemy variety. A hollow humanoid with a sword/axe/spear, a smaller humanoid that attacks from stealth/areas unseen with quick movements. A hollow that attacks from a distance with fire. A hollow that attacks with great power, but has a small health pool. A powerful armored hollow that is really cool but a bastard to kill early on. These are the types of enemies that occur most often in the game. In Dark Souls 1 (and 2) each area has unique, defining enemy types. Some repeat but for the most part they're consistent with themselves. In Dark Souls 3 they've been smeared across the whole game, with far more rampant recycling. (including bosses)

    Enemy placement is by far the most annoying part of the game. The first four hours of gameplay are interesting, exciting, and definitely engaging. However, you begin to notice a terrible pattern emerging. Hallway? Enemies next to the doorway. Item? Enemies above or next to it. Lever? Enemies above or waiting to vault over something. Necessary path ahead? Enemy blocking it. Large open space? Many enemies at range and a few melee. Dark area? Enemies above, behind, nearby. Ambushes seem to be the only tactic that FromSoft implemented in enemy placement in Dark Souls 3. No real interesting or varied concepts, just "Let's have them get attacked from all sides again." Very predictable.

    Armor is very lackluster. Poise is "working as intended" which FromSoft appears to believe as its complete non-existence. Wearing all but the Havel Set will make you staggered from a regular enemy hit, whereas in the previous Souls games, armor actually had its purpose in reducing damage and preventing staggering. Upgrading is a waste of materials and souls, seeing as there's no point.

    -

    Despite those, the game is great.    … Expand
  21. LordNord
    May 17, 2016
    10
    Awesome game! Little bit easy but the game has a very good dark atmosphere. Good maps and the creatures all are very intresting and good ones. This year the best game in pc so far. I love it.
  22. CheteKun
    May 14, 2016
    10
    This is my first coment and it is especially for this game, i love it and i recomend it. This is my first darks souls and i would like have played the others before.
  23. Nacho_Sanchez
    May 16, 2016
    10
    This game is totally what you expect from a souls series. I´ve played the game twice now and it doesnt stop improving. The multiplayer has been fixed and now you can invade or help other players, eventhough there are some covenants which doesnt work at all such as the blue sentinels. Soul memory has been adjust so you can play with a friend without worrying about it. Bosses are theThis game is totally what you expect from a souls series. I´ve played the game twice now and it doesnt stop improving. The multiplayer has been fixed and now you can invade or help other players, eventhough there are some covenants which doesnt work at all such as the blue sentinels. Soul memory has been adjust so you can play with a friend without worrying about it. Bosses are the abosolute best of the game all of the promise to phases some more difficult than other but none of them are similiar in any possible way. There are constants cameos to the souls series as you can obtain any armour from the series. The bloodborne touch has refreshed the series and knew mechanics have been introduce making possible you crazy builds, heavy builds still remain. I´ve had lots of fun playing this game but I dont recommend any quitters or casual playing this game as it is challenging and may cause 1 or 2 rages.

    Praise the sun my fellow sun bros    … Expand
  24. Chilissy
    Apr 26, 2016
    8
    Dark Souls 3 is amazing because of the difficulty level. Almost all of new games are pretty easy to play, DS3 makes player to think, to combine, to experience the "mind" of enemies. Really challenging game. 8/10
  25. D4vidz
    May 30, 2016
    8
    Interesting game, but very unpolished and the whole Souls series is very overrated. These games are less about skill and more about error and trial until you memorize your opponents' patterns and beat them up easily after that.
  26. andrewtheunbeli
    May 9, 2016
    8
    Will we ever see a Dark Soul game which is proper optimized for PC? Great game, but poor optimization drag it low. The story is interesting and gameplay is hard and fun.
  27. Namelesshonor
    May 13, 2016
    10
    The best of the series so far! Amazing world, improvements to the combat. All weapons have a neat weapon skill. The magic is a blast (pyro, sorceries, or faith) and the PvP is just intense!

    Love it. Amazing, and job well done FromSoftware.
  28. setuis
    May 30, 2016
    9
    I only ever comment on a games flaws...

    1. the farming of silver knights and skeltons for two trophies or to get to spells is the worst idea ever espcially concerning low drop rate. 2. the game doesn't teach how to rispote or counter moves the game can be done with just rolling from attacks (they should slow down an enemy at start to teach this so that pvp etc is better., they should    I only ever comment on a games flaws...

    1. the farming of silver knights and skeltons for two trophies or to get to spells is the worst idea ever espcially concerning low drop rate.

    2. the game doesn't teach how to rispote or counter moves the game can be done with just rolling from attacks (they should slow down an enemy at start to teach this so that pvp etc is better., they should also teach stealth better so thief is better..)

    3. The PVP option the enemies in a players world should always attack both players not require a seed of giant tree.

    The lack of master key like dark souls 1 and the general connection of worlds still makes this seem subpar to the classic dark souls 1.    … Expand
  29. Hahakomori
    Jul 29, 2016
    9
    From Software never disappoints.They created another fantastic game,with a unique atmosphere and a great combat mechanic.It's almost good as Dark Souls I
  30. logicalfox
    Sep 24, 2016
    8
    It's a good game in graphics and combat style also is a tribute for dark souls 1 but it dont catch me at all beacause need something else the game became repetittive and you need farm for progress in the game. The armour wepons and habilities are awesome the bosses are a little bit easier than dark souls 1.
    The music it's good, I play with a xbox 360 controller beacause in keyboard it's a    It's a good game in graphics and combat style also is a tribute for dark souls 1 but it dont catch me at all beacause need something else the game became repetittive and you need farm for progress in the game. The armour wepons and habilities are awesome the bosses are a little bit easier than dark souls 1.
    The music it's good, I play with a xbox 360 controller beacause in keyboard it's a piece of **** to play it.
    About NPC's only Sigward of Catherine catch me the another one didn´t impresive me.
    A good game but isn't a epic game    … Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PC Game of 2016
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 54 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. Easy Allies
    Dec 1, 2016
    90
    Despite an inconsistent frame rate once again hindering the console versions, Dark Souls III is still an undeniable success. Before playing, we felt ready to say goodbye to the series, looking forward to whatever From Software gave us next. Yet after finishing, it's hard not wanting more. Few companies can craft a world so completely enthralling. Whether you've played every entry, started with Bloodborne, or are brand new, this is a game you should absolutely make time for.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Jun 29, 2016
    85
    Everything about Dark Souls III is great, but it fails to push the series forward. Bloodborne and both previous Souls squash it in terms of ambition. DkS3 is like a compilation album by your favorite band – you enjoy listening to it because you love these songs despite having heard them so many times before, but there’s no room for even a tiniest surprise. [06/2016, p.34]
  3. Riot Pixels
    Jun 6, 2016
    82
    It seems that From Software has finally realized that bad game design decisions were a poor addition to an already uncompromising game, and fixed them, while keeping the same level of ruthlessness.
    Read full review
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