Why Dark Souls III is My Favourite FromSoftware Game

FromSoftware has built a reputation for crafting brutal, enigmatic worlds that test your reflexes, and patience. Among all their titles, Dark Souls III holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just a game I played; it’s an experience that left a permanent mark on me as both a gamer and an aspiring game designer. Every boss fight, every cryptic NPC interaction, every desolate landscape whispered stories that stuck with me long after the credits rolled.

The Combat: A Perfectly Balanced Blade

Where Dark Souls was heavy and deliberate and Bloodborne was fast and vicious, Dark Souls III strikes a near perfect middle ground. The combat is fluid, responsive, and dangerous, quick enough to reward aggression, but weighty enough to demand thought. It feels like a culmination of everything FromSoftware learned in the previous titles. Every animation matters. Every dodge, parry, or mistimed swing could be your last.

What stood out to me was how boss design and combat mechanics consistently pushed me to adapt. Fights like the Abyss Watchers, Sister Friede, and Gael weren’t just mechanically challenging, they told stories through their movement, phases, and environments. You don’t just fight Gael. You chase him through time and ruin until the final dust of the world settles. That kind of boss design where mechanics meet lore is something I deeply admire.

Worldbuilding: A Dying Flame with So Much to Say

Lothric is haunting. It's not a world teeming with life, but one collapsing under the weight of forgotten glory. The way the world is stitched together, from Firelink Shrine to Irithyll, to the smoldering remains of Anor Londo, is breathtaking. Every location feels hand crafted with purpose. Ruins aren’t just ruins; they are echoes of the past. Items don’t just give you stat boosts; they give you fragments of a myth you piece together yourself.

As someone passionate about narrative design, I was fascinated by how FromSoftware tells stories without telling them. You learn about the tragic fall of Prince Lothric, the desperation of Aldrich, and the loyalty of the Fire Keepers not through cutscenes, but through exploration, item descriptions, and implication. It’s minimalist storytelling at its finest, and I learned more about subtext and environmental storytelling from this game than any textbook could teach.

The NPCs: Broken Souls and Beautiful Tragedies

The NPCs of Dark Souls III feel like travellers in the same nightmare you’re in, all clinging to their own purposes, delusions, or regrets. Characters like Eygon of Carim, Karla, and Yuria of Londor offer more than just quests; they offer mirrors to your own character’s journey.

I found myself emotionally invested in the likes of Anri and Sirris, characters who, despite being in a crumbling world, hold on to their ideals or fall tragically to them. Each NPC questline made me think deeply about choice, consequence, and interpretation. There’s beauty in how much of their fate depends on you, or your ignorance.

Lore and Themes: The Poetry of Ending

At the heart of Dark Souls III lies a world obsessed with the cycles of fire and dark, of rebirth and decay. It’s a game about endings, noble, futile, or forgotten. Whether you choose to link the flame or let it fade, every path speaks to a different philosophy. What does it mean to cling to tradition, to break the cycle, or to betray fate itself?

As someone who dreams of becoming a narrative designer in Japan, I’m endlessly inspired by the philosophical weight behind the lore. Dark Souls III never preaches. It invites reflection. It respects the player’s intelligence and curiosity, and rewards them with moments of awe, melancholy, and understanding. It taught me that good storytelling isn’t just what’s said, it’s what’s left unsaid.

Why It Means So Much to Me

Playing Dark Souls III wasn’t just fun, it was formative. It deepened my love for worldbuilding, inspired how I think about boss design, and made me appreciate the art of quiet storytelling. It’s the kind of game I return to when I need to remind myself why I want to make games, to move people, to challenge them, and to let them lose themselves in a world that feels real, even if it's falling apart.

Conclusion

If you're someone who loves narrative rich experiences, intricate worldbuilding, and gameplay that forces you to grow, Dark Souls III is more than worth your time. For me, it’s not just my favourite FromSoftware game. It’s a blueprint for the kind of storytelling I hope to create one day.