FromSoftware Games Ranked: Every Title Tiered
FromSoftware isn't just Soulsborne anymore, though plenty of people still think it is. This list covers the whole messy, brilliant back catalog: the mech sims, the horror dabbles, the weird VR experiment, and yes, the games that made "you died" a cultural punchline.
We ranked all 17 by how much they're loved, how well they hold up, and how much they actually moved the needle for the studio or the genre. Fan consensus from forums and reviews did most of the heavy lifting here, but we broke ties ourselves where the internet couldn't agree. Argue with us in the comments, that's half the fun.
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SS Tier: The masterpieces
Elden Ring
The open world that made Dark Souls' design philosophy make even more sense. Riding Torrent across the Lands Between, stumbling into a legacy dungeon you weren't ready for, fighting Malenia and losing forty times, this is FromSoftware at the absolute peak of its powers.
About Elden Ring
FromSoftware's 2022 open-world epic made with George R. R. Martin, set across the Lands Between.
- Released
- 2022
- Platforms
- PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, PC
Bloodborne
Faster, bloodier, and more atmospheric than anything else on this list. Yharnam's gothic horror dripping off every cobblestone, the trick weapons, Father Gascoigne breaking you in half an hour into the game, it's the one PlayStation exclusive fans still beg for a PC port of.
About Bloodborne
A 2015 gothic horror action RPG exclusive to PlayStation 4, trading shields for guns and faster, more aggressive combat.
- Released
- 2015
- Platform
- PlayStation 4
Dark Souls
The one that built the template. Lordran's interconnected map is still held up as a masterclass in level design, and Anor Londo's reveal remains one of gaming's great gut-punch moments. Janky in places, sure, but nothing here feels accidental.
About Dark Souls
The 2011 spiritual successor that made FromSoftware a household name, set in the interconnected kingdom of Lordran.
- Released
- 2011
- Platforms
- PS3, Xbox 360, PC
AA Tier: Excellent, no asterisks needed
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
No stamina bar, no build variety, just you, a blade, and a posture meter that teaches you to actually fight instead of roll away. Genichiro and Isshin are some of the best boss fights FromSoftware has ever made, full stop.
About Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
A 2019 action game set in a reimagined Sengoku-era Japan, built around sword combat and a posture-breaking system.
- Released
- 2019
- Platforms
- PS4, Xbox One, PC
Demon's Souls
Where it all started. The hub-and-spoke world structure feels almost quaint next to later entries, but the tension of World Tenebrous and the sheer meanness of its difficulty curve still hold up. The 2020 remake only made it look as good as it always played.
About Demon's Souls
A 2009 action RPG for PlayStation 3 that laid the groundwork for the entire Souls genre. Remade from the ground up for PS5 in 2020.
- Released
- 2009
- Platform
- PlayStation 3 (original)
Dark Souls III
The victory lap. It leans harder into spectacle and faster combat than the original, and some longtime fans miss the slower, more exploratory feel of Lordran, but the boss roster here (Gael, Friede, Nameless King) is stacked.
About Dark Souls III
The 2016 finale to the trilogy, blending faster combat with callbacks to the earlier games' lore and locations.
- Released
- 2016
- Platforms
- PS4, Xbox One, PC
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Proof the mech series could come back after years away and still nail it. Tight mission structure, genuinely satisfying build customization, and a final boss gauntlet that reminded everyone FromSoftware never forgot how to make a hard fight.
About Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
The 2023 revival of FromSoftware's long-running mech franchise after nearly a decade away from the series.
- Released
- 2023
- Platforms
- PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, PC
BB Tier: Really good, with a caveat or two
Dark Souls II
The black sheep, and fans are genuinely split on this one. The hitboxes and agility stat get mocked constantly, but Scholar of the First Sin fixed a lot, and the sheer amount of content and build variety here is still underrated.
About Dark Souls II
The 2014 sequel developed with a different internal team, later overhauled as Scholar of the First Sin.
- Released
- 2014
- Platforms
- PS3, Xbox 360, PC
King's Field
The clunky granddaddy of the whole Souls lineage. Slow, obtuse, first-person dungeon crawling that barely holds your hand, but if you want to see where FromSoftware's DNA actually comes from, it's right here.
About King's Field
A first-person dungeon crawler series from the mid 1990s often cited as the true ancestor of the Souls formula.
- Released
- 1994
- Platform
- PlayStation
Elden Ring Nightreign
A roguelite spin-off that splits opinion hard: some fans love the quicker, co-op focused runs through the Lands Between, others miss the slower exploration that made the original special.
About Elden Ring Nightreign
A co-op focused roguelite spin-off set in the Elden Ring universe, built around shorter, repeatable runs.
- Platforms
- PC, consoles
Armored Core
The 1997 original that started a franchise most Soulsborne fans never even touched. Mech customization this deep was rare on PS1, and it set a template the series would refine for two decades before Rubicon brought it back into the spotlight.
About Armored Core
The original 1997 mech combat game for PlayStation that launched FromSoftware's second long-running franchise.
- Released
- 1997
- Platform
- PlayStation
CC Tier: Fine, flawed, or just for the fans
Metal Wolf Chaos
A giant mech piloted by the American President, fighting to reclaim the White House. It's dumb, it's over the top, and it became a cult classic partly because it was so hard to get outside Japan for years. Fun in short bursts, not exactly deep.
About Metal Wolf Chaos
A 2004 over-the-top mech action game starring the President of the United States fighting a coup. Originally Japan-only, later got a wider re-release.
- Released
- 2004
- Platform
- Xbox
Chromehounds
An ambitious mech game built around large-scale online team battles, back when that was a harder sell technically. It had real ideas about territory control and squad coordination, but the servers are long gone and it's mostly a memory now.
About Chromehounds
A 2006 mech combat game built around large-scale team based online warfare.
- Released
- 2006
- Platform
- Xbox 360
Shadow Tower
King's Field's darker, grimier cousin. Obscure even among FromSoftware diehards, it doubles down on the oppressive dungeon crawling with a corruption mechanic that punishes you for using demonic gear too much.
About Shadow Tower
A dark, obscure first-person dungeon crawler from FromSoftware's PS1 era, closely related to the King's Field games.
- Platform
- PlayStation
Otogi: Myth of Demons
A stylish action game steeped in Japanese folklore that never got the sequel momentum it deserved. Destructible environments and a striking art style made it stand out on original Xbox, but it's largely forgotten outside retro circles now.
About Otogi: Myth of Demons
A 2002 action game drawing on Japanese mythology, known for its destructible environments and striking visuals on original Xbox.
- Released
- 2002
- Platform
- Xbox
DD Tier: Rough going even for the faithful
Déraciné
FromSoftware's quiet, melancholic VR experiment. It's got mood to spare and an interesting premise about a spirit wandering a boarding school, but as a game it's slow and slight, more of a curiosity than something fans return to.
About Déraciné
A 2018 narrative VR adventure game, quiet and melancholic, set in a boarding school visited by an unseen spirit.
- Released
- 2018
- Platform
- PlayStation VR
FF Tier: Best left in the archives
Ninja Blade
A quick-time-event heavy action game that feels like it's chasing a trend rather than FromSoftware's own instincts. It's competent enough mechanically, but it's the one title on this list most fans genuinely forget the studio made.
About Ninja Blade
A 2009 action game built around quick-time events and cinematic set pieces, a departure from FromSoftware's usual style.
- Released
- 2009
- Platform
- Xbox 360
How we ranked them
We weighed critical reception, lasting fan devotion, and genuine influence on gaming over nostalgia alone. A cult favorite with a tiny but loyal audience can rank above a bigger seller if it's better made. We also leaned on how often each game comes up in "best of FromSoftware" discussions versus how often it gets left off the list entirely.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best FromSoftware game according to fans?
Elden Ring and Bloodborne are the two most commonly cited as the studio's best work, with Dark Souls close behind for its influence on the genre.
Is Dark Souls II really the weakest Souls game?
It's the most divisive, not necessarily the weakest. Fans argue over its hitboxes and pacing, but Scholar of the First Sin improved a lot and its content volume is genuinely huge.
Are the Armored Core games connected to Dark Souls?
Not narratively, but they share the same studio's love of punishing difficulty and deep customization. Armored Core VI brought a lot of Soulsborne era polish back to the mech series.
What is FromSoftware's oldest game?
King's Field dates to 1994 and Armored Core to 1997, so they do not both date back to the mid-1990s. King's Field came out in the early 1990s while Armored Core is properly described as mid-1990s.
Is Elden Ring Nightreign a full sequel?
No, it's a spin-off built around co-op roguelite runs through a version of the Lands Between, rather than a direct narrative follow-up to Elden Ring.
More rankings
Image credits
- Elden RingCover: Wikipedia · Source
- BloodborneCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Dark SoulsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Demon's SoulsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Dark Souls IIICover: Wikipedia · Source
- Armored Core VI: Fires of RubiconCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Dark Souls IICover: Wikipedia · Source
- King's FieldCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Elden Ring NightreignCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Armored CoreCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Metal Wolf ChaosCover: Wikipedia · Source
- ChromehoundsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Shadow TowerCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Otogi: Myth of DemonsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- DéracinéCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Ninja BladeCover: Wikipedia · Source