Elden Ring vs Dark Souls III
The short answer
Play Dark Souls III first if you have played neither. It is shorter, more focused, and teaches the combat properly. Elden Ring is the better game, but it is enormous and it lets you wander into fights you are not ready for, which is much harder to read as a newcomer.
What they have in common
Same studio, same combat language — stamina, rolls, and a world that explains nothing. Both punish impatience and reward learning one enemy at a time.
Pick Elden Ring if you want to explore.
The open world is the whole point: you can leave any fight, go somewhere else, come back stronger. That freedom also means the difficulty curve is yours to manage, and a lot of people bounce off because they walked into the wrong region. Summons and spirit ashes make it far more approachable than its reputation suggests.
Pick Dark Souls III if you want it tight.
Linear by comparison, and much better paced for it — every area leads somewhere, the bosses are the best in the series, and it is finishable in a normal amount of time. If you want the Souls experience without a hundred hours of map, this is the one.
Frequently asked questions
Should I play Elden Ring or Dark Souls III?
Play Dark Souls III first if you have played neither. It is shorter, more focused, and teaches the combat properly. Elden Ring is the better game, but it is enormous and it lets you wander into fights you are not ready for, which is much harder to read as a newcomer.
What do Elden Ring and Dark Souls III have in common?
Same studio, same combat language — stamina, rolls, and a world that explains nothing. Both punish impatience and reward learning one enemy at a time.
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* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
More head-to-heads are on the comparisons page.
