A “Soulsborne” game is a type of action role-playing game that is characterized by its punishing difficulty, its focus on environmental storytelling, and its interconnected level design. The term “Soulsborne” was coined by fans of the games, and it is a portmanteau of the names of two of the most popular Soulsborne games: Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls.
Some of the defining features of Soulsborne games include:
- Punishing difficulty: Soulsborne games are known for their high difficulty level. This means that players will often die repeatedly, and they will need to learn from their mistakes in order to progress.
- Environmental storytelling: Soulsborne games often tell their stories through environmental clues, rather than through traditional cutscenes or dialogue. This means that players need to pay attention to their surroundings in order to piece together the story.
- Interconnected level design: Soulsborne games typically have interconnected level design, which means that players can often find shortcuts that allow them to bypass difficult areas. This also encourages players to explore the world and find hidden secrets.
Some of the most popular Soulsborne games include:
- Demon’s Souls (2009)
- Dark Souls (2011)
- Dark Souls II (2014)
- Bloodborne (2015)
- Dark Souls III (2016)
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019)
- Elden Ring (2022)
Soulsborne games have a dedicated following of fans, and they have been praised for their challenging gameplay, their atmospheric worlds, and their intricate level design. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding gaming experience, then a Soulsborne game is definitely worth checking out.