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Dark Souls

Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing video game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing video game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The series was created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and began with the 2011 game Dark Souls, continuing with Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III. Widely described as a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls, the series is known for its challenging gameplay and has been released in North America, including Canada, across major platforms.

Overview

Dark Souls is a series of action role-playing games set in a dark fantasy world. It was developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment outside Japan. The series was created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and consists of three main entries. It is widely described as a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls.

Gameplay

The games are known for third-person exploration, careful combat, character progression, and online features such as messages, cooperative play, and invasions. Gameplay emphasizes exploration, deliberate combat, character customization, and online interaction.

Release history

The series began with Dark Souls in 2011, followed by Dark Souls II in 2014 and Dark Souls III in 2016. The first game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. A remastered version of the first game was released in 2018 for additional platforms.

Reception and influence

The series became known for its demanding difficulty and had a major influence on action role-playing game design. It also helped popularize the broader label soulslike. The series is widely associated with high difficulty.

Key facts

  • The series began with Dark Souls in 2011, followed by Dark Souls II (2014) and Dark Souls III (2016).
  • The series is a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls.
  • Gameplay emphasizes exploration, deliberate combat, character customization, and online interaction.
  • The series is widely associated with high difficulty and has influenced the term soulslike.
  • A remastered version of the first game was released in 2018 for additional platforms.
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Canadian context

The series has been widely released and sold in North America, including Canada, through major console and PC platforms; Canadian players often encounter it as part of the broader action RPG market.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dark Souls?
Dark Souls is a dark fantasy action role-playing game series developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Who created Dark Souls?
The series was created by Hidetaka Miyazaki.
When was the first Dark Souls released?
The first game, Dark Souls, was released in 2011.
What games are in the main series?
The main series consists of Dark Souls, Dark Souls II, and Dark Souls III.
Is Dark Souls connected to Demon's Souls?
It is widely described as a spiritual successor to Demon's Souls.
Why is Dark Souls famous?
It is especially known for challenging combat, careful exploration, and its influence on later games often called soulslike.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Souls
    Supports: Series overview, creator, developer, publisher, and release timeline.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Souls_(video_game)
    Supports: First game's genre, 2011 release, spiritual successor status, gameplay features, and setting.
  3. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Souls_(Computerspielreihe)
    Supports: Series dates, difficulty reputation, and remastered release.