Following the record success of 2022’sElden Ring,FromSoftware Inc.has finally received the global recognition appropriate for the developer’s efforts. Based in Japan,FromSoftwarehas been experimenting with the concept of role-playing games since itsKing’s Fieldseries in the 90s. After a multitude of RPG releases over the years,Elden Ringhas catapulted its developer out of previously niche territory into the mainstream of gaming by selling over 20 million units. While adventuring through the dark fantasy of The Lands Between has become a prolific concept in modern gaming, FromSoft built up to that world through multiple classic entries in the “Soulsborne” genre the studio pioneered.
Spawning from the troubled development of thePS3 exclusiveDemon’s Souls, genre pioneer Hidetaka Miyazaki took over the project and molded it into the blueprint for modern FromSoftware titles all the way back in 2009. While the world of Boletaria was rather rough around the edges at the time, the unique spirit that would carry through the rest of the studio’s games was already defined through the slow combat and monstrous foes inhabiting a dark, storied atmosphere. FromSoft would take its releases in several different directions until finding universal acclaim in 2022, the best of which have served to define the Soulsborne genre as a whole.
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Dark Souls
In the initial follow-up toDemon’s Souls, Miyazaki finally got to build his own vision from the ground up inDark Souls. Introducing the land of Lordran and the story of its undead, this 2011 action RPG was quick to earn cult classic status despiteDark Souls' infamous difficulty. With its list of innovative concepts that were brought to the table, famously intimidating boss encounters, and a beautiful yet hazardous world, the originalDark Soulswould set the tone for years to come and earn its status as one of the best video games of all time for many.
The gameplay ofDark Soulswas seen as an evolution compared toDemon’s Soulsin practically every way, feeling less clunky while still maintaining a sense of unnerving weight that gave importance to each decision. Thelore ofDark Souls, while subtly presented, is still nothing short of a mythological epic that would be expanded upon with direct sequels in the years that followed. The controversial reception thatDark Souls 2received afterward, along withDark Souls 3’s focus on callbacks to the first game, would go on to ratifyDark Souls’ status for many as the peak of the entire genre it played a huge part in establishing.
Bloodborne
A 2015 PS4 exclusive,Bloodbornewas the result of FromSoft seizing an opportunity from Sony to create a bold new IP. While this outlandish, Victorian-era experiment of an action RPG title had every reason to turn out mediocre or even straight-up fail, FromSoft would end up releasing what many also consider to be one of the best video games of all time. While it may seem hyperbolic following the status of the originalDark Souls,the world of Yharnamis widely considered to be one of the most well-realized settings conceived in a modern release.
Blending the traditional Gothic horror like the ideas of werewolves and vampires with an unknowable eldritch terror lurking beneath the surface,Bloodbornecarved out its own identity in a massive way. By matching its intense environments with the most fast-paced and aggressive combat the developer had ever crafted, the Sony-funded exclusive paints a vivid picture of a brutal world that has fallen into violent depravity. With it having remained extremely influential to the broader gaming industry while standing alone as a single release from nearly a decade ago, fans are still clamoring for aBloodbornePC portto this day for a reason.
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Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Of all the modern FromSoftware titles,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis the strangest by a wide margin. Representing the developer’s bravery and willingness to follow its own heart,Sekirois a complete departure from the traditional Soulsborne genre while maintaining many core aspects of the gameplay. Ditching the custom character creation and class-building that has defined the genre sinceDemon’s Souls,Sekirofocuses on a specific protagonistas he progresses through a fully-voiced narrative. Considering the Soulsborne trend at the time was to not even feature facial animations for talking characters, the high fidelity of the story presentation inSekirowas a massive step outside the box for FromSoft.
Furthermore,Sekiroserved as an innovator through its groundbreaking combat. FromSoftware shocked many fans when it discarded the methodical swordplay of its previous titles in favor ofSekiro’s highly advanced katana battling mechanics. Leaving behind the Poise calculations lumbering parry windows of the past,Sekirointroduced the concept of breaking the opponent’s Posture and allowing the player to parry with calculated strikes and deflections of their own. Between its fleshed-out characters and nail-bitingly focused combat experience, this adventure through the Sengoku period of Japan proves to be the most intimate title in FromSoft’s library.
Elden Ring
Nothing short of mandatory when it comes to being included in the discussion regarding FromSoftware’s most influential works, Elden Ringhas managed to redefine the status of fantasy RPGs within the mainstream for years to come in just over a year since its February 2022 release. While much of the core content on offer in The Lands Between has been available within FromSoft’s prior releases, the conditions aroundElden Ring’s releasewere the perfect storm that was needed for the public to finally click with the formula that began all the way back inDemon’s Souls.
Through integrating the flavor of lore and world-building found in the Souls titles with the aggressive nature ofBloodborne, FromSoft managed to unite many core concepts of its signature style into what many would consider a magnum opus.The undeniable popularity ofElden Ringallows it to hold a valuable place in the community even for those who prefer its predecessors, as it has also proven to be the perfect starting point for new players of the genre. With the highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC having been in development for a while now,Elden Ringis showing no signs of slowing down.
Elden Ringis available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.
