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.

World design

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.

Combat

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.

Difficulty

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.

Story and lore

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.

Which to play first

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

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

Elden Ring: Open world, more accessible, more build variety, implicit difficulty slider through exploration. Better first game for newcomers.

Dark Souls: Interconnected levels, tighter design, more focused combat, purer challenge. Better for players who want the original formula.

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