FromSoftware’sSoulsborneseries is renowned for its deep lore,tough boss fights, and passionate player base. While not linked by story or setting, the Soulsborne series is connected by common mechanics and gameplay. From challenging boss battles, public messages, bloodstains showing how a player died, or specific items for co-op play,Soulsbornehas fully spawned a genre unto itself (Soulslikes). The community around these games has only grown with each release, with eager fans ready to test their skills against the game and other players.
PvP has long been an integral part of theSoulsbornegames. From in-game invasions inDark Soulsto the combat arenas inElden Ring, FromSoftware’s games never feel fully like single-player experiences. While the PvP in the older titles has certainly fallen off over the years, new releases ensure the community has stayed fresh and eager for more.
After the cult success ofDemon’s Souls, Fromsoftware released the groundbreakingDark Souls. This challenging dark fantasy RPG defined theSoulslike genreand kick-started one of the most critically acclaimed video game franchises in history. Many of the mechanics found inDark Soulsare taken directly from its predecessor but refined and improved in every way.
Dark Soulsbrought an even bigger emphasis on PvP, with various ways players can interact. In the game, players can join a covenant.Each covenant is uniqueand offers different rewards and multiplayer options. While some covenants emphasize co-op, others are more about PvP, such as the Blade of the Dark Moon or Forest Hunter covenants. Joining these factions will allow the player to be invaded, partake in invasions, or be summoned to help another player. WhileDark Soulsdefined PvP for the series, the technology would not allow smooth gameplay. Lagging was common while in combat, with internet connectivity being inferior by modern standards. As the game grew older, the community around PvP diminished.
For many,Bloodborneis the definitiveSoulsbornegame, with its fast gameplay, dark atmosphere, and immersive lore. It blends thechallenge ofDark Soulswith the cosmic horror of HP Lovecraft. While it has certain connections withDark Soulsin terms of gameplay and mechanics, it is very much its own beast.
PvP works in much the same way as the otherSoulsbornegames, with the player able to join several covenants that offer different rewards and multiplayer options. Players can also purchase the Sinister Resonant Bell from the Insight Messengers in the Hunter’s Dream. With this bell, players can attempt to invade another player. However, it is possible to be invaded at this time or be summoned to help with an invasion. While PvP is a fun experience inBloodborne, its mechanics are simplistic. The style of gameplay is not as compatible with PvP in the same wayDark Soulsis. In addition, it is a much more optional mechanic, whereas inDark Souls,PvP is a more integral part of the game.
The seminalDemon’s Soulsintroduced the gaming public to Hidetaka Miyazaki’s vision of challenging video games. This groundbreaking release blended adark fantasy aestheticwith relentless gameplay, creating a cult classic that would set the standard for the series to come.
In 2020,Demon’s Soulsreceived a full remake from the ground up, allowing a whole new generation to discover where theSoulsseries started. The remake brought modern graphics, smoother gameplay, and a return to PvP. While the community in the game has never grown to the same level asDark SoulsorElden Ring,Demon’s SoulsRemakecontinues to offer the same fun gameplay as previous titles. However, finding matches in the game can be tough due to the smaller player base and disconnected regions, which offer fewer areas where players gather.
WhileDark Souls 2is often considered the worst game in the series, it still retains a die-hard fan base of devoted gamers.Dark Souls 2was the first game in the series not directly controlled bySoulsbornevisionary Hidetaka Miyazaki. However, while there are manyflaws in the game,Dark Souls 2continued to push the series forward, introducing several mechanics that would continue in the series.
Dark Souls 2may be the least popular entry in the series, but for many, the PvP is the best. While the game suffers from many issues the first entry had, especially if a player’s internet is less-than-stable, the PvP is well-balanced. Different build types are more viable, creating more variety for players. A high stamina cost for rolling made spam rolling dangerous, and backstabbing was improved overall. Unfortunately, finding a match for PvP is extremely hard due to the game’s lower popularity. While new players are discoveringDark Souls 2, PvP around the game has fallen significantly.
The last entry in theDark Soulsseries took the franchise to new heights. The popularity of the game brought a whole new audience to the series, who fell in love withthe high level of challenge, deep lore, and expert world-building. Along with its two DLC releases,Dark Souls 3built on the previous games and became the perfect send-off for one of gaming’s standout franchises.
Improvements in technology and internet access made the PvP inDark Souls 3a lot better. Fighting other players had never been so smooth. While some of the balance fromDark Souls 2was lost, as the movement became faster and certain weapons became the meta,DS3wasthe highest qualityPvP the series had yet seen. Series staples — such as covenants, invasions, and summoning — all returned, and favorite fight club spots emerged, most notably outside Pontiff Sullivan’s boss room. Today, PvP has slowed down in the game. Invasions are still common occurrences in a playthrough, but the thriving community has largely moved on toElden Ring.
Elden Ringis the latest release by FromSoftware that fits into theSoulsborneseries. It is both a love letter to past titles and a huge step forward in quality and gameplay.Elden Ringbrought back many game mechanics fromDark Soulsthat made the seriesunique and loved, from public messages being left in the world, bloodstains showing how players died, to PvP invasions and summons.
WhileElden Ringcan suffer frommeta builds or overused weapons, the quality of the gameplay has never been better. Players can interact a lot more smoothly with less worry about lag. With so many different options for character builds,Elden Ringoffers a wide range of styles for players to use. Eventually, the developers would introduce combat arenas into the game, where groups of players could team up with each other and fight to the last man. As the most popular game in theSoulsborneseries, the number of active players in PvP is high. With the upcoming DLC, this number is likely to increase even further.Elden Ringhas taken everything that worked throughout the series and improved upon it, making it by far their best PvP experience (so far).
