Elden Ring vs Dark Souls III: Which Should You Play First?
Two FromSoftware masterpieces, one shared DNA, and a question that's been debated in every gaming community since 2022: should you play Elden Ring or Dark Souls III first? The answer depends entirely on what you're looking for.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Elden Ring | Dark Souls III |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | 96 | 89 |
| World Design | Open World | Linear / Interconnected |
| Main Story Length | 50-60 hrs | 25-30 hrs (tighter pacing) |
| Completionist | 100-150 hrs | 60-80 hrs |
| Difficulty Entry | More accessible (open world lets you level elsewhere) | Must push through walls — no escape route |
| Boss Quality | Varied (many reused, some legendary) | Consistently excellent (Nameless King, Twin Princes, Soul of Cinder) |
| Build Variety | Massive — 100+ weapons, Ashes of War, Spirit Summons | Strong but narrower — fewer viable builds |
| Multiplayer | Co-op + Invasions | More active PvP scene (arena mode) |
| DLC | Shadow of the Erdtree (massive expansion) | 2 DLCs (Ashes of Ariandel, The Ringed City) |
| Price (2026) | ~$40-50 | ~$15-20 on sale |
Play Elden Ring First If...
You've never touched a FromSoftware game. Elden Ring's open world means you're never truly stuck — if a boss walls you, ride your horse to a different area, level up, find new weapons, and come back stronger. This safety valve doesn't exist in Dark Souls III, where the linear path means you either beat the boss in front of you or you stop progressing. Elden Ring is the most accessible entry point FromSoftware has ever created without sacrificing the core identity of challenging, rewarding combat.
You also get more raw content. The base game offers 50-60 hours of main story with 100+ hours for completionists, plus the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC — widely considered one of the best expansions in gaming history. The world of the Lands Between is vast, varied, and rewards exploration in a way that Dark Souls' linear corridors simply can't.
Play Dark Souls III First If...
You want the purest Souls experience. Dark Souls III's linear progression creates a rhythmic intensity that Elden Ring's open world dilutes by design. Every area in DS3 feels deliberately crafted — enemies are placed with purpose, shortcuts are revelatory, and the boss gauntlet from Pontiff Sulyvahn onward is one of the greatest stretches in action gaming history.
Community consensus consistently rates DS3's boss roster as superior to Elden Ring's. While Elden Ring has standout fights (Malenia, Radahn, Morgott), it also has dozens of repeated bosses and forgettable encounters scattered across its open world. Dark Souls III's boss count is smaller but nearly every fight is memorable and hand-crafted.
There's also a mechanical argument: Elden Ring's combat is built on DS3's foundation. If you play Elden Ring first and then go back to DS3, the older game may feel like a downgrade. Playing DS3 first means Elden Ring feels like a natural evolution — everything you learned still applies, but with more tools and freedom.
Our Recommendation
Start with Elden Ring if you're new to FromSoftware — it's more forgiving and offers the best value per dollar. Play Dark Souls III first if you already know you love challenging games and want the tightest, most focused Souls experience. Either way, buy both — together they cost less than one new AAA release and represent 150+ hours of the best action RPGs ever made.
BUY Elden Ring — A genre-defining masterpiece and the best entry point for newcomers. The sheer volume of content at $40-50 is extraordinary value.
BUY Dark Souls III — The purest expression of the Souls formula with a near-perfect boss roster. At $15-20 on sale, it's one of gaming's greatest bargains.