Summary
When someone is asked what their favoriteFromSoftwaregame is, the answer will no doubt be some Soulslike from the past 15 years. The studio invented the genre and continues to innovate upon it, after all. However, the developer has a long history that stretches pastDemon’s Souls'2009 release.
While many of the games on this “best of” list are household names, there are still a few gems from before the studio’s ascension to greatness that are worth mentioning. To be fair, it is hard for any of them to hold a candle to the greatness that would come later, but they still warrant mention as some of thebest FromSoftware games.
Updated on July 30, 2025, by Mark Sammut:FromSoftware is rightfully hailed as one of the best active developers of the last decade. Each new release feels like an industry-shaking event, a statement that will hopefully extend to the upcomingThe Duskbloods. Until that Switch 2 game becomes a reality, I recommend checking out some of FromSoftware’s greatest older games, and do not skip out on the pre-Demon’s Souls era.
FromSoftware’s penchant for unique multiplayer implementation stretches back to this 2001 title. Players can either control both of the titular characters themselves or they caninvite a friend to control the other. What’s more, there is even an option for two players to use one controller.
The two characters have to work together to solve certain puzzles, adding a layer of asynchronous gameplay to the co-op. The kid-friendly aesthetic is a far cry from the dreary, dying, medieval towns, castles, and dungeons fans are used to seeing from the studio.
The success ofDemon’s SoulsandDark Soulswas, obviously, a great thing for FromSoftware, but it did come with the consequence of pushing the developer away from more experimental franchises. At this point, we will probably never get anotherLost Kingdomsgame, and to be frank, even a compilation containing remasters seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Like so many ofFromSoftware’s earliest projects,Lost Kingdomsand its sequel are both fairly clunky and, at times, frustrating to play, even though they feature a pretty novel card-based combat system. Conversely, like many of the developer’s earliest efforts, both of these games are rich in atmosphere, painting a dark canvas that is not far removed from something likeKing’s Fieldor even the Souls titles.
Unlike the action of Soulslikes,Ninja Bladeis fast and cinematic. Quick-time events are also a large part of the equation. Though a tired mechanic now, 2009 was the era when almost every game had them. The game is set in the modern day and feels more like a character action game than a Soulslike.
Ninja Bladecame out in 2009, the same year asDemon’s Souls. However, this game was exclusive to the Xbox 360 and Windows. As fun asNinja Bladeis, most would agree PlayStation 3 owners got the better FromSoftware game that year.
AlongsideArmored Core, FromSoftware’s earliest success arrived in the form ofKing’s Field, a respected series that can be quite challenging to revisit. If you want to try an entry in this series, I recommend going withKing’s Field 4as it is the most accessible in this day and age; that said, it is still very much a product of its time that can be hard to appreciate without any nostalgic attachment.
Shadow Toweris cut from the same cloth asKing’s Field, delivering an intense first-person dungeon-crawling experience that revolves around slow and deliberate movement. While not comparing favorably to modern releases,Shadow Tower Abysshas the best combat out of all these games, along with a great setting and enemy designs (a positive shared with all these games).
Another IP that has become part of history,Otogi: Myth of DemonsandOtogi 2: Immortal Warriorsare, at least, backward compatible with the Xbox One and Series X/S, so they are readily available to purchase. They have also aged pretty well, all things considered. Sure, they are somewhat clunky and suffer from a not-so-great camera, but they hold up well enough compared to most B-tier hack and slash titles that dropped during the mid-2000s.Otogi 2might not beDevil May Cry, but it isn’tDevil May Cry 2either.
While I’m specifically promoting the sequel, as it improves slightly on its predecessor’s formula, there is not all that much separating the two games, so I would recommend tryingMyth of Demonsas well.Immortal Warriorsfeatures an impressive range of playable characters, who are all fairly unique and, more importantly, have fully realized movesets. The visuals were great for the time, too.
Elden Ringwas such a massive success that FromSoftware’s decision to remain in the universe made complete sense. After releasing a pretty great expansion, the developer announced a project that came a bit out of nowhere:Nightreign. A multiplayer-focused rougelike that is structured around a battle royale, the 2025 release is a very different beast compared to FromSoftware’s traditional releases; consequently, it might not be able to scratch the same itch for players who adore Souls games.
So, what isNightreign? Well, players pick a class and a boss before diving into the Lands Between, where they must survive, collect loot and upgrades, and eventually take on mini-bosses en route to the big bad. Solo plays are possible, butNightreignis very much designed around co-op, and certain bosses can be downright cruel when faced alone.
Nightreignis inherently repetitive, as you will generally be running along the same map, even if each run is technically different due to the use of procedural generation. However, the Nightlord bosses are all fantastic, while theNightfarer classesare unique and fun to master. The gameplay is also designed to move at a far quicker pace thanElden Ring, which can take some getting used to.
When talking about theDark Soulsseries, the second entry is often met with a lot of hate. However, do not let this give a false impression that the game is bad.Dark Souls 2is still an incredible RPG, it just lacks the special sheen that makes the rest of the games pop.
The world does not feel as coherent as the other entries in the series, and the combat is not as refined as it should be for the second entry in the game. The bosses are also not as memorable as in the other titles, and there are arguably too many of them. Mytha, the Baneful Queen, is memorable, but only because of the poison pool players fight her in, which makes the fight way harder if it is not drained beforehand.
Demon’s Soulscame out before FromSoftware had the reputation it has today. As a result, it did not launch up the sales charts, but instead slowly bubbled in popularity as gamers discovered its genius. Compared to what would come later, there are a lot of jank and imbalanced systems at play.
There are also a few frustrating boss battles that act more as puzzles than legitimate duels, such as the Dragon God and the Storm King.Coming out in 2009 on the PS3, the technical hiccups and long load times also drag the experience down a bit.
Bluepoint Games’s 2020 remake for the PS5 is obviously the more refined version. However, some prefer the original art style over the graphical overhaul.
After a decade-long hiatus, theArmored Coreseries came back with a sixth entry. Players did not know whether to expect a return to form of a Soulslike with the titular mechs, or AC for shot. This game is definitely more of the former.
Progression is mission-based andplayers are encouraged to tinker with their ACor to best prepare for the challenge ahead instead of dedicating themselves to one build. Players earn money with each mission to further improve their ride, and missions can be replayed to grind cash.
Few seriesget off to as strong a start asDark Souls.All notable aspects of it are present here. It helps that it builds off a lot of systems established inDemon’s Souls. What it adds is significant, however.
The levels being interconnected as one space as opposed to being separated by a hub immediately makes the environment feel more alive and offers more opportunities for exploration. The difficulty, though brutal, also feels more fine-tuned since it is all in the combat instead of obtuse puzzles.
