FromSoftware timeline

Release order

1. 

   2015

   Bloodborne

   PS4Action RPGSoulslike

   Bloodborne is FromSoftware's aggressive gothic hunter fantasy—Yharnam, trick weapons, rally healing, and cosmic horror beneath the plague. Often called the studio's peak; still PS4-only as of 2026 unless you own backward-compatible hardware.

   Overview

   Rally regains health on immediate counterattack, pushing offense over shield turtling. Trick weapons, gun parries, and dense vertical Yharnam map a different rhythm from Souls blocking—yet the same cryptic lore style.

   In-game setting

   Standalone Yharnam—no Tarnished, no Chosen Undead. Story lane is one self-contained hunt; multiplayer chalice dungeons are optional side content.

   Should you play it?

   Play anytime after you are comfortable with Souls stamina basics—no Elden Ring spoilers. Requires PS4 disc/digital or PS5 backward compatibility; no PC/Xbox port announced. The Old Hunters DLC is optional but widely recommended on /bloodborne.

   Release date

   US March 24, 2015 on PS4 only. Physical disc or PlayStation Store; 60 fps only via unofficial mods on PC—not an official product.

2. 

   2015

   Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

   PS4Xbox OnePCAction RPGSoulslikeMainline

   Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is Drangleic's own dying-flame cycle—power stances, awkward level design debates, and a kingdom that feels adjacent to, not sequential with, Lordran. Prefer Scholar over the 2014 base; trilogy FAQ on /dark-souls.

   Overview

   Introduced power-stance dual-wield, broader bonfire warp networks, and NG+ rules that surprise first-time players. Scholar rebalance patched enemy placements and item locations—treat Scholar as the only version worth buying in 2026.

   In-game setting

   Drangleic kings and the Emerald Herald arc stand alone—no need to recognize Lordran NPCs. Dark Souls III does not require DS2, but completionists usually play both before judging the trilogy.

   Should you play it?

   Optional on the Elden Ring first path; required for trilogy completionists. Lore guides often place DS2 after DS3 thematically even though Release lists it earlier—both orders are defended in community guides.

   Release date

   US April 7, 2015 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam 335300). Includes all DLC from the start in Scholar packaging.

3. 

   2016

   Dark Souls III

   PS4Xbox OnePCAction RPGSoulslikeMainline

   Dark Souls III closes the Lordran arc with faster combat, explicit Dark Souls callbacks, and DLC (Ashes of Ariandel, The Ringed City) that many fans treat as mandatory epilogue. Trilogy capstone before FromSoftware pivoted to open-world Elden Ring.

   Overview

   Weapon arts, faster roll timings, and bosses that reference DS1 arenas and characters make this the trilogy's emotional sequel even when DS2 is deferred. Ringed City literally walks back toward the first flame's endgame imagery.

   In-game setting

   Lothric's fading fire links to DS1 characters and locations. Story tab places this before Drangleic (DS2) in lore order—Release places it after DS2 ship date.

   Should you play it?

   Play after Remastered for maximum payoff. DLC is optional on the Release list but strongly recommended for lore—FAQ on /dark-souls. Skippable if you only want Elden Ring.

   Release date

   US April 12, 2016 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam 374320). Season Pass bundles both DLC chapters.

4. 

   2018

   Dark Souls: Remastered

   PS4Xbox OnePCSwitchAction RPGSoulslikeMainline

   Dark Souls: Remastered is the practical Lordran entry—interconnected levels, bonfire checkpoints, and the First Flame cycle that still defines the genre. Full trilogy pacing, DLC, and lore-order debates live on the dedicated /dark-souls page.

   Overview

   Lordran's vertical map design (Undead Burg ↔ Firelink ↔ Blighttown) and death-run loops became the reference point for every later Soulslike. Remastered adds 60 fps on modern consoles, online QoL, and Artorias of the Abyss bundled—replacing the 2011 original for new buyers.

   In-game setting

   Story beat: undead chosen undead links the First Flame in Lordran. Required before Dark Souls III for full Ringed City payoffs; Dark Souls II sits in a separate cycle—see Story tab and /dark-souls.

   Should you play it?

   Best classic onboarding if Elden Ring feels too open-world. Essential for the Dark Souls trilogy Essentials path. Many newcomers still start with Elden Ring first, then return here for DS1 callbacks in Dark Souls III.

   Release date

   US May 24, 2018 on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch. Steam App ID 570940 is the usual PC buy. Original 2011 PS3/Xbox 360—FAQ only.

5. 

   2019

   Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

   PS4Xbox OnePCAction RPGSoulslike

   Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice abandons RPG leveling for posture, deflection, and vertical shinobi mobility in Sengoku Japan—Wolf, Kuro, and the Divine Dragon in a standalone action story. Different muscle memory from every Souls game.

   Overview

   Posture-break combat replaces stamina blocking as the core loop; resurrection on death changes risk/reward mid-boss. Grappling hook traversal makes arenas three-dimensional—closest FromSoftware got to a character-action game before Elden Ring open fields.

   In-game setting

   Feudal Japan fiction only—Ashina castle, Fountainhead Palace, optional Shura ending. No multiplayer invasion; single-player campaign plus NG+ challenge runs.

   Should you play it?

   Standalone—no Lordran or Lands Between homework. Often recommended after one Souls or Elden Ring so genre expectations are set, then Sekiro rewires them. Frequently cited as the hardest FS title for Souls veterans.

   Release date

   US March 22, 2019 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam 814380). Runs well on current-gen via backward compatibility or PC.

6. 

   2020

   Demon's Souls (Remake)

   PS5PCAction RPGSoulslikeRemake

   Demon's Souls (2020) is Bluepoint's remake of FromSoftware's 2009 PlayStation origin—Boletaria's archdemons, the Nexus hub, and world-tendency systems that taught stamina combat before Dark Souls. Most 2026 guides treat it as optional franchise history, not a prerequisite for Elden Ring.

   Overview

   Establishes the Souls template: bonfire-like Nexus respawns, deliberate pacing, and environmental lore told through item text rather than cutscenes. World Tendency pushes difficulty and enemy placement based on deaths—ideas later refined in Lordran and the Lands Between.

   In-game setting

   Standalone Boletaria cycle with multiple endings—not a prequel to Lordran or the Lands Between. Pairs with no other row on this hub for lore continuity; mech fans may also browse /armored-core.

   Should you play it?

   Play the Remake (PS5/PC) instead of hunting a PS3 disc unless you are a purist. Skip entirely if you only want one FromSoftware game—start with Elden Ring. Completionists tracing studio history should slot this before Dark Souls Remastered on Release order.

   Release date

   US November 12, 2020 on PS5; PC edition followed. Original 2009 (Demon's Souls on PS3) is FAQ-only context—same Boletaria story slot, worse framerate and no modern QoL.

7. 

   2022

   Elden Ring

   PS4PS5Xbox OneXbox SeriesPCAction RPGSoulslikeMainline

   Elden Ring is the open-world Lands Between epic—shardbearer demigods, legacy dungeons, and George R.R. Martin–assisted myth on a scale FromSoftware had never shipped before. Default 2026 start for most newcomers.

   Overview

   Horse traversal, spirit ashes, and non-linear shardbearer order let you walk away from brick walls—accessibility win over classic Souls gating. Legacy dungeons (Stormveil, Raya Lucaria, etc.) preserve the old interconnected level craft inside a continent map.

   In-game setting

   Tarnished restores the Elden Ring; endings branch on which demigods you challenge. Full Lands Between guide, SoTE gates, and marathon tips: /elden-ring.

   Should you play it?

   Buy this first if you want one FromSoftware game. Stands alone without Dark Souls lore. Game of the Year 2022 editions bundle the base game; expansion is separate—do not buy Shadow of the Erdtree until endgame-ready.

   Release date

   US February 25, 2022 on PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series, and PC (Steam 1245620). PS5/Series X recommended for smoother open-field framerate.

8. 

   2023Optional

   Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

   PS4PS5Xbox OneXbox SeriesPCMechOptional

   Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is FromSoftware's 2023 mech return—corporate warfare on planet Rubicon, stagger/ACS combat, and a separate IP from Souls lore. Optional row on this Souls hub; full generation map on /armored-core.

   Overview

   Applies Souls boss readability (telegraphs, stagger breaks) to customizable AC frames and arena missions. Mission select structure echoes classic AC mercenary contracts with modern production values.

   In-game setting

   Rubicon coral catastrophe storyline—standalone Timeline VI. Souls players wanting more FromSoftware: return to Essentials paths above, not AC fiction.

   Should you play it?

   Optional for Souls-only players. Mech fans should start here or on the AC hub—not on this Soulsborne list. No save import from older AC titles.

   Release date

   US August 25, 2023 multiplatform (Steam 1888160). Runs on PS4/Xbox One but PS5/Series/PC ideal for 60 fps.

9. 

   2024

   Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

   PS4PS5Xbox OneXbox SeriesPCAction RPGExpansion

   Shadow of the Erdtree expands into the Realm of Shadow—Miquella's storyline, new legacy dungeons, and difficulty tuned for endgame builds. Expansion, not a standalone game; requires a late-game Elden Ring save.

   Overview

   Shadow Realm map layering, Scadutree blessing progression, and some of the series' longest boss encounters post–base game. Continues Lands Between fiction rather than rebooting mechanics.

   In-game setting

   Treat as Lands Between finale as of 2026—Story tab ends here. Hide expansions filter if you are still in Limgrave onboarding.

   Should you play it?

   Do not buy before beating Mohg and Radahn and interacting with Miquella's cocoon—FAQ lists exact gates. Essential for Elden Ring fiction completionists; skippable if you only wanted the base campaign.

   Release date

   US June 21, 2024 on same platforms as base Elden Ring (Steam DLC 2778580). Requires base game ownership.

10. 

    2025Optional

    Elden Ring Nightreign

    PS4PS5Xbox OneXbox SeriesPCAction RPGOptionalSpin-off

    Elden Ring Nightreign (2025) is a three-player co-op roguelike spin-off—alternative Lands Between runs, not Elden Ring 2 and not required for canon. Sold separately; fully skippable on this hub.

    Overview

    Run-based structure with co-op bosses and roguelike modifiers—different design goal from the main open-world RPG. Uses Elden Ring art direction but not the same campaign map progression.

    In-game setting

    No story prerequisite; no impact on Shadow of the Erdtree continuity. FAQ-only if you skip it entirely.

    Should you play it?

    Only for groups who want repeat co-op sessions after finishing (or alongside) base Elden Ring. Hide optional entries to trim this row from Essentials views.

    Release date

    US May 30, 2025 on PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series, and PC (Steam 2622380). Requires base Elden Ring for some editions—check store page.