FromSoftware Games With The Best Introductions, Ranked

FromSoftware has grown into one of the biggest and most successful video game companies around that fans can’t get enough of. The sheer amount of love players have for this company can’t be stated enough, with their revolutionary video game offerings forcing other AAA studios to realize that hand-holding and easy gameplay isn’t what fans want.

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From the very moment players boot up the best FromSoftware games, they know they’re in for a wild ride. The introductions of these games set the stage for an epic adventure, with some openings being notably better than others.

8

Dark Souls 2

A Fun Opening That Can Be A Bit Too Self-Indulgent For Its Own Good

Released

March 11, 2014

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The lack of Miyazaki’s presence can be felt from the very moment players start Dark Souls 2, with lengthy cinematics interrupting the player’s gameplay numerous times. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and some fans love how over-the-top Dark Souls 2 is at the start.

Hearing a bunch of mysterious old women talk about how players will die and lose their Souls over and over again is the very opposite of subtle. Still, getting past the game’s initial challenges before bearing witness to the beautiful world of Majula is something that fans love.

7

Demon’s Souls

A Simple And Great Opening, Although Some People Feel That The Remake Pales In Comparison To The Original

Systems

Released

November 12, 2020

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Demon’s Souls boasts a simple and compelling opening that introduces players to the world of Boletaria. This world has been consumed by the Old One, and it’s up to the player to explore various stages and take out several challenging bosses in the process.

While the opening does a great job in both the original game and the remake, there are fans who argue that the former did a better job of capturing the game’s tone. Still, these are minor complaints in the grand scheme of things, and fans who love the Demon’s Souls remake won’t mind certain environments being brighter as long as the game itself is a visual improvement across other areas.

6

Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon

Players Land On Rubicon 3 And Initiate The First Mission In No Time

Released

August 25, 2023

ESRB

t

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Armored Core 6 marked a return for the mecha series that was FromSoftware’s most valuable IP before Dark Souls came into the picture. Fires of Rubicon states where the game takes place in the name alone, with players manning a mech that is slated to land on the planet at the very start of the game.

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The game wastes no time in throwing players into the action as they get acquainted with the gameplay mechanics. It’s a bold start to an Armored Core game that fans love, making it clear why old and new fans loved what Fires of Rubicon brings to the table.

5

Dark Souls 3

A Fun Introduction Where Players Deal With Champion Gundyr Before Eventually Making Their Way To Firelink Shrine

Released

March 24, 2016

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Miyazaki’s return helped players enjoy a final chapter in the Dark Souls trilogy that was full of throwbacks and several engaging boss fights. From the moment players step into the world of Lothric, they must fend off several challenging threats before eventually facing off against Iudex Gundyr.

This boss shows the corruption that has taken hold in this kingdom as players take the Coiled Sword and use it to breathe new life into Firelink Shrine. It may not be as iconic an opening as the first game in the series, but Dark Souls 3 still does a great job of capturing the player’s attention and compelling them to find the Lords of Cinder and kill them off one at a time.

4

Elden Ring

An Impactful Narration Sets The Stage For An Epic Story

Released

February 25, 2022

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Elden Ring was a revolutionary title that propelled FromSoftware to new heights of popularity. This open-world masterpiece kicks off on an epic note as players are introduced to the major players in The Lands Between before introducing the Tarnished.

Players feel meek and powerless compared to the powerful figures that were introduced, but it’s not until they make progress that they realize just how strong they are compared to these legends. Once players finish the game, the opening is recontexualized as players are made aware of the tragedies that affected these figures and caused them to descend into madness.

3

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Watching Sekiro’s Arm Be Cut Off Is One Way To Kickstart A Brutal And Combat-Heavy Adventure

Released

March 22, 2019

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the greatest action-adventure games of all time that forsakes the RPG roots of previous FromSoftware titles, forcing players to focus on a solitary gameplay loop. This is established from the very start of the game, which adopts a story-heavy approach compared to other FromSoftware games.

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The tutorial level does a great job of introducing the basics, only for players to face off against the fearsome Genichiro Ashina in a battle they have no hope of winning. The Wolf’s arm is severed not long after as Kuro is captured, making the player’s goals clear as they strive to become stronger in a bid to get their revenge and save the young Lord from Ashina by any means necessary.

2

Bloodborne

The Gothic Horror Of This Game Shines In An Iconic Opening

Systems

Released

March 24, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The tonal shift in Bloodborne as compared to Dark Souls is palpable from the very moment players start the game. The game’s atmospheric world is introduced as players lie on an operating table and are on the verge of being devoured by a Scourge Beast, only to be saved at the last moment.

Players wake up without a weapon in Iosefka’s Clinic and make their way to the exit, only to be greeted by a beast at the end that can kill them off in no time. However, this is intended, since it lets players enter the Hunter’s Dream and pick one of three starting weapons they can use to show this injured Scourge Beast who’s boss.

1

Dark Souls

Nothing Comes Close To The Undead Asylum Opening That Serves As A Masterclass In Video Game Introductions

Released

September 22, 2011

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

There are many reasons why Dark Souls is hailed by many as one of the most legendary video games of all time, with its introduction having a strong impact on players. The Northern Undead Asylum serves as a tutorial area where players struggle to reach a fog gate before encountering the Asylum Demon, who’s too strong and can’t be beaten with their broken sword.

This encourages players to find an escape route, which appears as a small doorway to the left side of the arena. Slowly but surely, the Chosen Undead acquires the equipment they need to survive while learning how enemies operate in this unforgiving world before re-entering the boss arena and being encouraged to land a plunging attack for major damage.

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