Elden Ring vs Dark Souls: Which From Software Game Should You Play First?

From Software has two flagship franchises that share DNA but play differently. Elden Ring is the open-world evolution. Dark Souls is the focused, interconnected dungeon crawl that started it all. If you're choosing between them (or wondering which to play first), here's an honest comparison.

How does world design compare in Elden Ring vs Dark Souls?

Dark Souls features tight, interconnected level design where every shortcut and hidden path loops back on itself. Elden Ring swaps that for a massive open world with legacy dungeons scattered across horseback-explorable terrain. Dark Souls never wastes your time; Elden Ring trades some filler for sheer scale and freedom.

Dark Souls uses interconnected level design. Every area connects to others through shortcuts, elevators, and hidden paths. The world folds back on itself like a three-dimensional maze. Getting lost is part of the design. Discovering a shortcut that connects two distant areas you explored separately is one of gaming's most satisfying feelings.

Elden Ring is open-world. The Lands Between is massive, with legacy dungeons (which feel like Dark Souls levels) scattered across a horseback-riding overworld. You can go almost anywhere from the start. If a boss is too hard, you ride away and explore somewhere else.

The trade-off: Dark Souls' world is tighter and more carefully curated. Every room was placed deliberately. Elden Ring's world is larger but some open-world areas feel emptier between the handcrafted points of interest. Dark Souls never wastes your time with filler. Elden Ring occasionally does.

How does combat differ between Elden Ring and Dark Souls?

Dark Souls combat is slower, stamina-driven, and rewards deep mastery of a focused moveset. Elden Ring combat is faster and more varied, adding Spirit Ash summons, Ashes of War, jumping attacks, and horseback fighting. Dark Souls gives you fewer tools but deeper mastery; Elden Ring gives you more tools and more creative freedom.

Dark Souls combat is deliberate and weighty. Stamina management is king. Every roll, every attack, every block costs stamina. Combat is slower, more tactical, more punishing for mistakes.

Elden Ring combat is faster and more varied. You have Spirit Ash summons, Ashes of War that change weapon movesets, a dedicated jump button, horseback combat, and more build diversity. More options means more ways to solve any encounter.

The difference: Dark Souls combat is more focused: fewer tools, deeper mastery of each. Elden Ring combat is broader: more tools, more flexibility, more room for creative solutions.

Is Elden Ring or Dark Souls harder?

Dark Souls is harder moment-to-moment because its linear design forces you to overcome each obstacle before progressing. Elden Ring is more forgiving thanks to its open world acting as an implicit difficulty slider, letting you explore and level up before retrying tough fights. However, Elden Ring's hardest optional bosses surpass anything in Dark Souls.

Dark Souls is harder moment-to-moment because the linear design means you must overcome each obstacle to progress. The Bell Gargoyles are in your way and you must beat them.

Elden Ring is easier because you can always go explore, level up, find better gear, and return stronger. The open world is an implicit difficulty slider. But Elden Ring's hardest optional bosses (Malenia, DLC bosses) are harder than anything in Dark Souls.

For new players: Elden Ring is the better starting point because you're never truly stuck. Dark Souls demands you "git gud" at each specific challenge.

Which game has better lore, Elden Ring or Dark Souls?

Both games deliver story through environmental details, item descriptions, and NPC dialogue rather than cutscenes. Dark Souls' lore is more cohesive and concentrated within its smaller world. Elden Ring's lore, co-written by George R.R. Martin, is more sprawling and politically complex but harder to piece together across its massive map.

Both games tell stories through environmental details, item descriptions, and NPC dialogue rather than cutscenes.

Dark Souls' lore is more cohesive and concentrated. The world is smaller so every piece of lore connects to everything else. The story of Lordran is tragic and beautiful once assembled.

Elden Ring's lore is co-written by George R.R. Martin. It's more sprawling, more political, and more complex. The worldbuilding is deeper but harder to piece together because it's spread across a massive map.

Should you play Elden Ring or Dark Souls first?

For most players in 2026, Elden Ring is the better first From Software game. It is more modern, more flexible, and more forgiving of experimentation. Play Dark Souls first if you want the genre's origin, tight level design, and the purest soulslike experience. Both are masterpieces, and you can't go wrong either way.

Play Elden Ring first if: You want the most accessible entry point, you prefer open-world freedom, you like having options when stuck, or you're completely new to From Software games.

Play Dark Souls first if: You want to experience the genre's origin, you prefer tight level design over open worlds, you want the purest expression of the soulslike formula, or you plan to play through the whole From Software catalog.

The honest answer: Elden Ring is the better first game for most people in 2026. It's more modern, more flexible, and more forgiving of experimentation. Dark Souls is the better game for people who specifically want the focused, interconnected level design that defined the genre.

Both are masterpieces. You can't go wrong.

What we make at Choost

Choost Games builds titles that borrow from the soulslike tradition. Granny's Rampage features "learn the pattern, master the timing" boss fights from a top-down bullet heaven perspective, sharing DNA with the punishing combat loops that define From Software's best work.

Granny's Rampage shares soulslike DNA in its "learn the pattern, master the timing" boss fights, just from a top-down bullet heaven perspective.

For more From Software content, the elden ring tips, elden ring best weapons, elden ring nightreign tips, and best soulslike games posts have more.

The shortest version

Here is a quick side-by-side breakdown of what each game offers. Elden Ring is the better pick for newcomers who want open-world freedom and build variety. Dark Souls is the better pick for players craving tight, interconnected level design and a purer challenge.

Both are essential gaming experiences. Start with Elden Ring unless you specifically crave the focused dungeon-crawl structure.