# Is Elden Ring better than Dark Souls? **Verdict (Dark Souls vs Elden Ring), as of November 4, 2026: 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. ## 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. ## Head-to-head | Category | Dark Souls | Elden Ring | Edge | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | World design | A brilliant, interconnected world full of shortcuts. | A vast open world with surprising secrets. | Dark Souls | | Freedom | Linear in places; you must beat certain bosses. | Go anywhere and come back stronger. | Elden Ring | | Bosses | Ornstein and Smough and Artorias are classics. | A huge roster, with some all-timers like Malenia. | Elden Ring | | Influence | Created the soulslike genre. | Brought it to a massive new audience. | Dark Souls | | Accessibility | Brutal for newcomers. | Spirit summons and exploration ease the difficulty. | Elden Ring | ## The case for Dark Souls - Masterful interconnected world - Created the soulslike genre - Tighter, more focused design ## The case for Elden Ring - Freedom to explore and adapt - Huge variety of builds and bosses - More approachable for newcomers ## FAQ ### 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 β€” 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. --- - Canonical URL: https://disordat.org/vs/dark-souls-vs-elden-ring - Verdict as of: 2026-11-04 - Debate hub: [Fandoms](https://disordat.org/debates/fandoms) - Cite (APA): 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 - Cite (MLA): β€œIs Elden Ring better than Dark Souls?” disordat, 4 Nov. 2026, disordat.org/vs/dark-souls-vs-elden-ring. - Agree or disagree? Vote at https://disordat.org/vs/dark-souls-vs-elden-ring Published by disordat (https://disordat.org): honest, dated verdicts on "X vs Y" debates. No ads, no sign-up.