Dark Souls
News, coverage and analysis tracking Dark Souls across the outlets.
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Elden Ring and Dark Souls inspired Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 director's approach to the RPG's story –…
Guillaume Broche, creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, discusses how FromSoftware titles like Elden Ring and Dark Souls inspired his RPG's narrative approach. He aims to create a story that encourages players to think and piece together the lore, rather than being explicitly told everything.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Top 10 best video games of 2026 – from 007 First Light to Resident Evil Requiem
This article ranks the top 10 video games released in the first half of 2026, highlighting titles like 007 First Light, Pokémon Pokopia, and Resident Evil Requiem. The list excludes remasters, remakes, yearly sequels, expansions, and early access titles, focusing on original new releases across various platforms including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Dark Scrolls Review – Keep scrollin’, scrollin’, scrollin’
Dark Scrolls is a fantasy arcade game from doinksoft and Devolver Digital that blends shoot 'em up mechanics with 8-bit platforming. While it offers a unique scrolling gameplay style and co-op options, the review notes that its simplicity can lead to it feeling overly familiar quickly. The game is best enjoyed in shorter bursts as a nostalgic nod to classic arcade titles.
The two best years in video game history were both in the 2010s - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that 2011 and 2013 were the best years in video game history, citing a high volume of quality releases and industry-shifting console launches. The article details numerous significant titles from both years, including The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Skyrim, The Last of Us, and Grand Theft Auto 5, alongside the debut of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Dark Souls 2 seamless co-op mod is "close" to being playtest-ready, having morphed into one of its creator's "most complicated and ambitious projects to date"
Modder Yui has announced that their seamless co-op mod for Dark Souls 2 is nearing playtest readiness, describing it as one of their most complex projects. The mod, which will support up to six players, is specifically for the Scholar of the First Sin edition due to engine differences compared to other FromSoftware titles. Alpha testing will be free, though initial support will be prioritized for Patreon backers.
"This is just the start" - Housemarque responds to Saros' slower sales versus Returnal's, and compares itself to one of the most beloved studios around
Housemarque's Mikael Haveri and Ilari Kuittinen addressed the slower initial sales of their latest game, Saros, compared to Returnal. They believe Saros, like Returnal, will gain traction over time and are committed to supporting it with updates. The studio draws parallels to FromSoftware's journey, aiming to educate the market on their niche bullet hell and roguelike action titles and build a dedicated fanbase.
Elden Ring Director Insists FromSoftware Is Free to Make the Games It Wants To, Teases 'Unannounced Titles'
Hidetaka Miyazaki, director at FromSoftware, has reassured fans that the company remains free to create the games it desires without excessive interference, despite recent news regarding shareholder pressure on parent company Kadokawa. Miyazaki's comments suggest that the studio's creative independence is not compromised.
Inspired by Dark Souls, former Destiny lead fought to add super tough enemies to the start of the game
Former Destiny world design lead Niles Sankey revealed that the placement of high-level 'skull health bar knights' in the game's Cosmodrome area was inspired by the challenging enemy encounters in Dark Souls. Sankey had to advocate for these enemies to remain in the game, as some developers considered them bugs due to their high difficulty.
Hidetaka Miyazaki tells fans to look forward to both announced and unannounced titles
In a recent interview, Hidetaka Miyazaki, the acclaimed developer behind titles like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Bloodborne, encouraged fans to anticipate both currently announced and unannounced projects from Kadokawa. This statement has generated excitement and speculation within the gaming community.
Precision-Focused 3D Metroidvania Platformer Blue Fire Is Out on Android
The precision-focused 3D Metroidvania platformer Blue Fire is now available on Android, following its release on PC and consoles. Developer Robi Studios has also launched a quality-of-life update for the mobile version, enhancing its platforming, combat, and challenging Void stages.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Demo Impressions: Combat That Rewards Patience — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Capcom released a demo for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, showcasing its deliberate combat system that emphasizes precise timing for parries, dodges, and counters. The demo, available on PlayStation 5, highlights the game's focus on methodical encounters rather than fast-paced action, with a challenging boss fight teasing the game's potential.
I'm sorry, but I'm here to say that I really do not enjoy parrying stuff in videogames
The author expresses a strong dislike for parrying mechanics in video games, finding them intrusive and unenjoyable, particularly when they appear in genres like turn-based combat. While acknowledging the skill and thoughtfulness parrying requires for some players, the author feels it detracts from their preferred strategic gameplay and wishes for developers to reduce its prevalence.
Yacht Club Games Delivers a Retro Masterpiece – Expert Game Reviews
Mina the Hollower, the latest ambitious title from Yacht Club Games, is a top-down 2D action-adventure with a Game Boy Color aesthetic, drawing inspiration from classic Zelda and Castlevania titles. The game features a unique burrowing mechanic, a deep trinket system, and a smart twist on the Soulslike death mechanic, offering exceptional replayability and value at $19.99.
Mina the Hollower's classic Zelda vibes channel Bloodborne to create one of my new retro-style favorites
Mina the Hollower is a highly praised indie game that blends elements from classic titles like The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls with its own unique mechanics. Developed by Yacht Club Games, it offers extensive player choice in builds and combat, available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck. The game provides a challenging yet rewarding experience with a gothic aesthetic and a vast, interconnected world.
Mina the Hollower Review
Mina the Hollower is a game that blends retro inspirations like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening with modern sensibilities found in Soulslike titles. While it features enjoyable mechanics like burrowing and impressive pixel art from Yacht Club Games, its design is often hampered by a confusing healing system and combat that struggles to balance its disparate influences. The game offers a fun experience but doesn't quite reach the heights of its inspirations.
I couldn't love Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but Phantom Blade Zero is the action RPG I wanted them to be
Despite not being a Soulslike, Phantom Blade Zero shares many visual and environmental similarities with the genre, but differentiates itself with fast-paced, combo-driven combat and more forgiving gameplay. The author found the game's approach to be more accessible and enjoyable than traditional Soulslikes, offering the worldbuilding and storytelling without the punishing difficulty.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion Brings Cyclops And The Thing To The Fight In New DLC
The first paid DLC for MARVEL Cosmic Invasion adds Cyclops and The Thing as playable characters for $3.99 USD, with more heroes and a new game mode planned for a fall release. Developer DotEmu, known for other beat-'em-ups, has released the DLC for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Horns - solo dev game
Horns is a solo-developed RPG that blends classic gameplay mechanics from the late '90s and early 2000s, such as Resident Evil and Morrowind, with modern influences from games like The Witcher and Elden Ring. The game emphasizes narrative and exploration as players uncover mysteries in the realm of Velharion. It is available on Steam.
MMO Hype Train: Is it smart or foolish for upcoming MMOs to embrace hardcore attitudes?
This article discusses the trend of upcoming MMORPGs embracing hardcore design philosophies, questioning whether this approach is wise or foolish. While some games like Embers Adrift and Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen have adopted more challenging mechanics, their success has been limited. The author notes the appeal of difficult games like Dark Souls but questions if there's enough demand for entire MMORPGs to be built around such a premise, especially given the inherent risks in the current market.