Standard Edition
StandardReleased 4 October 2011 in North America and 7 October 2011 in Europe.
Xbox 360
PS3
Dark Souls
Dark Souls is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai Games. It is the first game in the Dark Souls series and a spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls.
Role-playing (RPG)Adventure
- Time to beat
- about 49.6 hours
Overview
Dark Souls is a 2011 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Namco Bandai Games. It is the first game in the Dark Souls series and a spiritual successor to FromSoftware's Demon's Souls. Set in the kingdom of Lordran, the game follows the Chosen Undead, who escapes from the Northern Undead Asylum and travels through Lordran to discover the fate of the undead. Gameplay centres on exploration, deliberate combat, character customisation, and online interactions including messages, cooperative play, and invasions.
After its original release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, a Windows port featuring additional content, titled the Prepare to Die Edition, was released in August 2012. That additional content was released separately for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions as the downloadable content pack Artorias of the Abyss in October 2012. A remastered version was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2018.
Dark Souls has been cited as one of the greatest video games ever made. Critics praised the depth of its combat, intricate level design, and use of flavour text, while responses to its high level of difficulty were divided. The original Windows version was less well received, with criticism directed at technical issues. By April 2013, the game had sold 2.37 million copies worldwide. Its success led to two sequels, Dark Souls II (2014) and Dark Souls III (2016).
Official trailer
E3 2011 Official Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games
- Series
- Dark Souls
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Age rating
- ESRB M
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- No
- Online multiplayer
- Yes
- Co op
- Yes
- Age ratings
- CLASS IND
- 14
- GRAC
- 19+
- CERO
- D
- PEGI
- 16
- USK
- 16
- ACB
- MA 15+
- ESRB
- M
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox 360 | North America | 2011-10-04 |
| Xbox 360 | Australia | 2011-10-06 |
| Xbox 360 | Europe / PAL | 2011-10-07 |
| Xbox 360 | South Korea | 2011-10-18 |
Editions
Collector's Edition
Collector'sUS$59.99 at launch
In the box
- Metal tin case with plastic slipcover
- Hardcover art book
In the game
- Mini strategy guide (download)
Given to pre-orders at the standard price. The soundtrack and behind the scenes video announced for it are listed as digital downloads by the same database for the PS3 version.
Limited Edition
Limited or specialIn the box
- Fold-out cardboard box
- Original soundtrack CD
- Hardcover art book
- Making-of DVD (region 2)
In the game
- Full game guide (download)
Day One edition given to all pre-orders in Europe, released 14 October 2011.
Prepare to Die Edition
In the game
- Artorias of the Abyss expansion content
Boxed re-release for Europe and Australasia, 26 October 2012. A North American boxed release was not confirmed.
Subscription history
| Service | Tier | Added | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Games with Gold | Gold | 1 Jun 2014 | 15 Jun 2014 |
Playable today
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Has online features | Yes |
Credits
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games
- Developer
- FromSoftware
- Released
- 2011-10-04
- Age rating
- ESRB M
- Region
- US
- Time to beat
- about 49.6 hours
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