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Dark Souls vs Elden Ring

Is Elden Ring better than Dark Souls?

The verdict
Elden Ring wins.

Elden Ring wins: Dark Souls has the tighter interconnected world, but Elden Ring took FromSoftware's formula and made it bigger, freer and more accessible.

Verdict as of · Cite this verdict

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Head-to-head

Dark Souls
category
Elden Ring
A brilliant, interconnected world full of shortcuts.
World design
A vast open world with surprising secrets.
Linear in places; you must beat certain bosses.
Freedom
Go anywhere and come back stronger.
Ornstein and Smough and Artorias are classics.
Bosses
A huge roster, with some all-timers like Malenia.
Created the soulslike genre.
Influence
Brought it to a massive new audience.
Brutal for newcomers.
Accessibility
Spirit summons and exploration ease the difficulty.

Dark Souls

  • Masterful interconnected world
  • Created the soulslike genre
  • Tighter, more focused design

Elden Ring

winner
  • Freedom to explore and adapt
  • Huge variety of builds and bosses
  • More approachable for newcomers

Why Elden Ring wins

Elden Ring's open world lets you explore around a hard boss instead of hitting a wall, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. Dark Souls invented the modern template, but Elden Ring is the more complete experience.

Frequently asked

Is Elden Ring better than Dark Souls?

Elden Ring. Elden Ring's open world lets you explore around a hard boss instead of hitting a wall, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. Dark Souls invented the modern template, but Elden Ring is the more complete experience.

Should I pick Dark Souls or Elden Ring?

Elden Ring. Elden Ring's open world lets you explore around a hard boss instead of hitting a wall, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. Dark Souls invented the modern template, but Elden Ring is the more complete experience.

Is Dark Souls better than Elden Ring?

Elden Ring comes out ahead overall. Elden Ring's open world lets you explore around a hard boss instead of hitting a wall, and it won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. Dark Souls invented the modern template, but Elden Ring is the more complete experience. That said, Dark Souls still has real strengths — see the pros lists above.

What's the difference between Dark Souls and Elden Ring?

Elden Ring wins: Dark Souls has the tighter interconnected world, but Elden Ring took FromSoftware's formula and made it bigger, freer and more accessible.

Cite this verdict

disordat. (2026, November 4). Is Elden Ring better than Dark Souls? [Dark Souls vs Elden Ring verdict]. https://disordat.org/vs/dark-souls-vs-elden-ring

Verdict as of November 4, 2026 · Markdown version

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