5. Demon's Souls (The OG That Started It All)

Let's pay respect where it's due. Demon's Souls (whether you played the PS3 original or the PS5 remake) laid the very foundation upon which this entire series was built. It introduced the core mechanics: the weighty combat, the cycle of death and learning, the cryptic lore, the huge boss battles, and that oh-so-satisfying feeling of overcoming impossible odds.

What I Liked:

The atmosphere and level design is awesome. Boletarian Palace is iconic, and areas like the Tower of Latria are dripping with dread. The game was innovative introducing groundbreaking concepts like World Tendency, which dynamically changed the game world based on your actions and successes (or failures). Super cool, if a bit obtuse

Why It's Ranked Last:

Compared to its successors, the movement and combat feel stiffer and less refined. Rolling isn't quite as smooth, and certain mechanics feel dated. The remake fixed this, but I'm talking about the original here. The Nexus hub linking separate Archstones feels less organic and interconnected than the world design seen in Dark Souls. It just had a disjointed feel to it.

Demon's Souls is phenomenal, especially the remake which looks gorgeous, but it feels like a prototype. Its ideas were polished and expanded upon in later entries, placing it firmly, but respectfully, at the bottom of this list.

4. Dark Souls 2 (The Controversial Middle Child)

Ah, Dark Souls 2. No game in the series divides fans quite like this one. Overseen by a different director for much of its development (though Miyazaki supervised), it took some different design approaches, some brilliant, some less so. It's a massive game with tons of content, especially if you include the DLCs, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

What I Liked:

Power Stancing (dual-wielding with unique move sets), broader magic viability, and tons of unique weapons made for arguably the best build variety and PvP scene in the series for a long time. One word: Majula. Easily one of the best hub worlds in gaming. That music and that view are pure melancholy beauty. The "Crown" DLC trilogy (Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King) features some of the best level design and boss fights (Fume Knight, Sir Alonne, Ivory King) in the entire series.

Why It's Ranked Lower:

The world design of Drangleic feels less interconnected and thoughtfully laid out than Lordran (DS1) or Lothric (DS3). That infamous elevator ride from Earthen Peak to the Iron Keep still baffles me. Sometimes, the difficulty felt artificial, relying on throwing hordes of enemies (gank squads) at you rather than intricate placement. The path to the Blue Smelter Demon, drove me bonkers. The boss quality was somewhat lacking. While some are great (Looking Glass Knight, Velstadt), many main game bosses felt less inspired or memorable compared to other titles. Lots of "dudes in armor" fights.

Dark Souls 2 is a fantastic game with incredible depth, but its inconsistencies in world design and encounter philosophy hold it back from the top spots.

3. Dark Souls (The Legend That Changed Everything)

This is the game that took the Demon's Souls formula and truly brought it into the limelight, cementing FromSoftware as masters of the genre. Dark Souls isn't just a game; it's a phenomenon series. Its influence is still felt heavily across the industry today.

What I Liked:

Lordran is arguably one of the most brilliantly interconnected game worlds ever created. Discovering shortcuts that loop back to Firelink Shrine after hours in the depths is pure genius. That "aha!" moment is unmatched. The game is simply deep and endlessly fascinating. Piecing together the story of Gwyn, the Witch of Izalith, and Gravelord Nito through item descriptions and environmental clues is incredibly rewarding. The lands of Anor Londo, the fight against Ornstein and Smough being a true skill check, Sif guarding Artorias' grave, the tension of Blighttown (performance issues aside), the list of iconic moments is staggering.

Why It's Not Higher:

While the first half is near-perfect, areas like Lost Izalith and the Demon Ruins feel rushed and less polished. Four-directional rolling when locked-on feels restrictive compared to later titles. Combat, while deliberate and weighty, lacks the fluidity of DS3 or Elden Ring. Limited warping early on could make backtracking tedious for some (though others love it for reinforcing world knowledge). And finally, The Bed of Chaos might be the lamest "boss" in the entire series, period.

Dark Souls is legendary. Its impact is undeniable, and its world design remains a benchmark. It's only surpassed by games that managed to refine its formula even further.

3. Elden Ring (The Open World Revolution)

Coming in at number three is the colossal achievement that is Elden Ring. FromSoftware took their signature style and blew it up into a breathtaking open world, capturing the imagination of more fans that any previous title and became a cultural touchstone.

What I Liked:

Basically everything about The Lands Between. It's a vast, gorgeous, and dangerous open world filled with secrets, optional dungeons, and stunning vistas. The sense of emergent discovery is incredible. The freedom & Flexibility are unmatched. Tackle regions and bosses in almost any order. The sheer number of weapons, spells, Ashes of War, and Spirit Ashes allows for unprecedented build crafting. Torrent, the spirit steed, makes traversal feel great. The epic scale of the game and bosses like the inital fight with Margit, the Fell Omen, to the majestic battles against Starscourge Radahn or the brutal challenge of Malenia, Blade of Miquella, the boss encounters are spectacular cinematic events. Stormveil Castle is an incredible blend of classic level design within the open world. While still challenging, options like Spirit Ashes summoning and the ability to explore elsewhere when stuck make it more approachable for newcomers than previous titles.

Why It's Not Higher:

While the world is amazing, some dungeons and bosses feel reused or less inspired, contributing to a feeling of repetition for some players deep into the game. While areas like Stormveil, Leyndell, and Volcano Manor are fantastic, some players missed the density of intricately designed levels found consistently throughout Dark Souls or Dark Souls 3. The open world sometimes spaces out these tighter experiences.

Elden Ring is a monumental achievement, successfully translating the Souls formula to an open world. It offers hundreds of hours of incredible adventure and easily could be in the top 2 of this list, it was an extremely hard decision for me.

2. Dark Souls 3 (The Polished Pinnacle of Souls)

Just missing the top spot is the game that felt like the ultimate refinement of the classic Dark Souls formula: Dark Souls 3. It learned lessons from all its predecessors, blending the intricate level design callbacks of Dark Souls with faster, smoother combat inspired by Bloodborne, all wrapped in a gorgeous, gothic package.

What I Liked:

It has fast, fluid, and incredibly satisfying combat. Weapon Arts add a fantastic new layer to combat, making weapon choice even more meaningful. Dodging feels responsive, and aggression is often rewarded. The game has arguably one of the best rosters of bosses in the Dark Souls trilogy. Dancer of the Boreal Valley, Pontiff Sulyvahn, Abyss Watchers, Nameless King, Soul of Cinder and that's before the DLCs! Speaking of the DLC Ashes of Ariandel and especially The Ringed City are phenomenal expansions, offering some of the series' most challenging and memorable areas and bosses. Lothric is a beautiful, dying world. Areas like Irithyll of the Boreal Valley are breathtakingly gorgeous yet menacing. The enemy design is top-notch. While perhaps slightly more linear than Dark Souls 1, the level design is consistently excellent, filled with clever shortcuts, secrets, and environmental storytelling. It strikes a near-perfect balance between guided progression and exploration. Finally, it beautifully ties together threads from Dark Souls 1, providing a poignant and epic conclusion to the trilogy's core themes.

Why It's Not #1:

As incredible as DS3 is, it doesn't quite have the unique, transformative identity of our number one pick. It's the perfect Dark Souls game, but Bloodborne dared to be something thrillingly different.

Dark Souls 3 represents the peak of FromSoftware's classic Dark Souls design. Its razor-sharp combat, unforgettable boss encounters, and consistently brilliant design make it an absolute masterpiece, only narrowly edged out by the sheer boldness and unique flavor of Yharnam.

1. Bloodborne (The Aggressive, Gothic Masterpiece)

A hunter must hunt. And Bloodborne hunted its way straight to the top of our list. Stepping away from the dark fantasy of Souls, Bloodborne plunged players into the plague-ridden, Lovecraftian nightmare city of Yharnam, and in doing so, created arguably FromSoftware's most stylish, atmospheric, and mechanically distinct title.

What I Liked:

The aggressive combat & regain system is peak. Shields are (mostly) out, replaced by firearms for parrying and an emphasis on dodging. The brilliant Regain system rewards players for striking back immediately after taking damage, fundamentally changing the flow of combat to be faster and more aggressive. It's exhilarating. Oh, the trick weapons! Saw Cleavers that flip open, Threaded Canes that become whips, massive swords combining with mallets. These transforming weapons are ingenious, offering deep movesets and incredible style. Yharnam is a character in itself. The blend of Victorian Gothic horror with cosmic, Lovecraftian dread is unlike anything else. The enemy design, from the lycanthropic beasts to the eldritch Kin, is phenomenal and terrifying. Central Yharnam, the Forbidden Woods, Cainhurst Castle the interconnected, labyrinthine streets and nightmare realms are masterfully crafted, oozing dread and secrets. My favorite boss fights of all time. Father Gascoigne is one of the best early-game skill checks ever designed. Ludwig the Accursed/Holy Blade, Lady Maria, Orphan of Kos (especially in The Old Hunters DLC) are all-time greats, challenging, and often tragic encounters. Every element from the combat, the world, the lore, the music all work in perfect, terrifying harmony to create a singular vision.

Why It's #1:

Bloodborne took the Souls foundation and forged its own unforgettable identity. It's not just Dark Souls with a different skin; its mechanics actively shape a unique, high-octane playstyle. While all these games are masterpieces that I explored every nook and cranny of, Bloodborne's unique blend of atmosphere, breakneck combat, and unique weaponry creates an experience that feels utterly singular and perfectly executed. It's a chilling, thrilling hunt from beginning to end. Fear the Old Blood.

So there you have it – my official ranking of the Souls games. What do you think of Bloodborne taking the crown? Did I nail it, or has the madness taken over my brain? Let us know your own rankings in the comments below.