FromSoftware's Most Formidable 'Soulsborne' Games Ranked

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice tops as the hardest Soulsborne title, averaging a user difficulty score of 4.5.

Demon's Souls secures second place with an average user difficulty score of 4.22. Dark Souls II ranks as the easiest Soulsborne game, scoring 4.07 in user difficulty.

New research identifies Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as the most challenging 'Soulsborne' title from video game developer FromSoftware.

Pioneered by FromSoftware, Soulsborne titles are a challenging subgenre of action RPG, emphasizing tough combat that punishes mistakes while rewarding the player for patience and strategic thinking.

Following the announcement of the new Elden Ring DLC: Shadow of The Erdtree, gaming experts at solitairebliss.com have analyzed the most difficult FromSoftware 'Soulsborne' games based on their user difficulty scores.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice ranks first on the list, with an average user difficulty score of 4.50. Sekiro's difficulty stems from its unique mechanics; unlike other Soulsborne games, Sekiro emphasizes deflecting attacks through precise timing, offers less customization, and relies heavily on mastering the parry system.

Throughout the game, you face enemies 1v1 without the option to level up or summon help, making it a test of pure skill rather than character optimization.

The first Soulsborne game released by FromSoftware, Demon's Souls, places second on the list, with an average user difficulty score of 4.22. The game's cryptic storytelling and challenging combat would become a staple of the games that followed. The game has a 'world tendency system' that acts as a morale meter, fluctuating based on your actions, which can often make the game even more complicated.

What truly sets Demon's Souls apart from other games in the series is the unique death penalty system. Upon dying, you return in a weakened "soul form" with half health. This constant risk-reward adds a layer of tension, making every victory feel hard-earned.

The cult classic Dark Souls ranks third, with an average user difficulty score of 4.20. Dark Souls inherits the unforgiving spirit of Demon's Souls, with combat remaining challenging throughout, and any death carrying the burden of losing your collected souls.

Having to retrieve lost souls after death adds a layer of risk and reward, and if the player dies again before reaching their 'bloodstain,' it means losing those souls permanently. Mastering the areas and enemy placement in Dark Souls becomes the crucial skill needed to progress through the game.

Bloodborne ranks fourth, with an average user difficulty score of 4.19. The game throws you into a steampunk-esque gothic horror nightmare where aggressive play is rewarded but with the bonus of health regeneration through offensive maneuvers.

Despite the health regeneration, Bloodborne still maintains an unforgiving death penalty, which means retrieving lost currency (blood echoes) from your death point. The reliance on mastering the game's fast-paced combat and navigating its wildly unpredictable environment is what makes the game so difficult.

Dark Souls III ranks fifth on the list, with an average user difficulty score of 4.18.

The game's difficulty stems from its refined combat system, with aggressive enemies that demand fast reflexes and mastery of weapon combos to overcome.

The relentless pace of the game that pushes players to hone their skills, coupled with its testing boss battles, makes Dark Souls III a formidable challenge.

The multi-award-winning RPG adventure Elden Ring ranks sixth on the list, with an average user difficulty score of 4.10. Elden Ring's vast open world allows the player to choose their path and is a departure from the linear design of the other games on this list, allowing the player much more freedom to level up at their own pace.

Despite this open-world design, the game manages to retain the Soulsborne difficulty due to its brutal combat and unforgiving boss encounters.

Rounding off the list in seventh is Dark Souls II, with an average user difficulty score of 4.07. The enemy placement is one of the main reasons the game can feel overwhelming at times, with groups of enemies forcing you to manage your stamina strategically.

The combat also has a different rhythm compared to other Soulsborne titles, requiring precise inputs for dodging and attacking.