Catherine HuSummary: This guide compares Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring across key features and explores their connections, helping you choose the right game.
Dark Souls 3 vs Elden Ring – two masterpieces from FromSoftware that have defined the action RPG genre for years. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the Souls series or just stepping into the haunting beauty of the Lands Between, it can be tough to decide which game offers the better experience.
This guide explores everything from which game to choose and how they compare in gameplay and world design, to intriguing fan theories like whether Elden Ring and Dark Souls could exist in the same universe.
We’ll also examine how the Nightreign DLC trailer subtly references Dark Souls 3, and show you how to enhance both games with free mods.
Read on for a deep dive into two of the most challenging and rewarding games in modern gaming.
Table of Contents
- Which Game to Choose?
- Is Dark Souls 3 Better than Elden Ring?
- Could Elden Ring And Dark Souls Exist In The Same World?
- Elden Ring Nightreign’s Reveal Trailer References Dark Souls 3
- How to Get Free Mods for Both Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring?
- Conclusion
Which Game to Choose?
When comparing Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring as role-playing games, each offers unique strengths across various aspects:
1. Open World
Elden Ring introduces a vast, open-world environment, allowing players to explore diverse landscapes and discover hidden secrets at their own pace. In contrast, Dark Souls 3 features a more linear, interconnected world, focusing on tight level design and atmospheric storytelling.
2. Multiplayer
Both games support multiplayer elements, including co-op and PvP. Dark Souls 3 is known for its structured PvP arenas and fight clubs, offering balanced dueling experiences. Elden Ring expands on this with seamless co-op integration and larger-scale invasions, though some players find its PvP less balanced due to the open-world design.
3. Combat
Dark Souls 3 offers refined, fast-paced combat with precise controls, appealing to those who enjoy challenging encounters. Elden Ring builds upon this foundation, introducing new mechanics like mounted combat and a broader range of weapons and spells, providing more flexibility in playstyles.
4. Experience
Elden Ring provides a more expansive and flexible RPG experience, allowing for varied playstyles and exploration paths. Dark Souls 3 offers a more focused narrative and progression, appealing to those who prefer structured gameplay.
5. Bosses
Dark Souls 3 features some of FromSoftware’s most memorable boss fights, known for their design and difficulty. Elden Ring offers a larger quantity of bosses, with a mix of unique and repeated encounters, providing a broader range of challenges.
6. Duel
PvP dueling is a strong aspect of Dark Souls 3, with dedicated arenas and a competitive community. Elden Ring also supports PvP but integrates it more seamlessly into the open world, offering spontaneous dueling opportunities.
7. Complete Package
Elden Ring stands out for its comprehensive package, combining open-world exploration, deep lore, and varied gameplay mechanics. Dark Souls 3 excels in delivering a cohesive and polished experience within its more confined scope.
8. Originality
Elden Ring introduces new elements to the Souls formula, such as an open world and mounted combat, marking a significant evolution in FromSoftware’s design. Dark Souls 3 refines and perfects the established mechanics of its predecessors, offering a classic Souls experience.
If you value expansive exploration and diverse gameplay, Elden Ring may be the more enjoyable RPG for you. However, if you prefer a tightly woven narrative and structured progression, Dark Souls 3 might be your ideal choice.
Let’s address a commonly discussed topic: Is Dark Souls 3 better than Elden Ring?
Is Dark Souls 3 Better than Elden Ring?
While Elden Ring is widely praised, it does have some flaws. Many players on Reddit note that, compared to Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring features slower combat, repetitive bosses, and less memorable NPCs than those in the classic FromSoftware trilogy. Some also miss the intense PvP duels that were a highlight in previous games. Despite these criticisms, Elden Ring remains an epic title that elevates the soulslike formula, bringing fresh elements without losing the core essence. In fact, some players even consider Elden Ring close to a “Dark Souls 4” due to its familiar atmosphere and challenging endgame.
So, which should you choose? If you’re new to the series or worried about difficulty, Elden Ring is a great start. Its open-world design offers non-linear gameplay, stunning environments, and plenty of surprises, making it an epic adventure for all playstyles. However, if you crave a pure hardcore experience with fast-paced combat, deeper lore, and challenging bosses, Dark Souls 3 is the classic choice. For those who enjoy careful, thorough exploration and faster combat, Dark Souls 3 delivers exactly that.
Now that we’ve compared the games, let’s dive into a fan-favorite theory: could Elden Ring and Dark Souls exist in the same universe?
Could Elden Ring And Dark Souls Exist In The Same World?
FromSoftware fans know the lore often connects in surprising ways. Dark Souls 3 revealed multiple timelines and worlds colliding due to the Linking of the Flame, which might explain how Elden Ring and Dark Souls could exist in the same universe.
Junya Ishizaki, director of Elden Ring: Nightreign, hinted in an interview that Nightreign takes place in a parallel world, possibly linked to the Dark Souls series. This idea fits with the concept of Painted Worlds from Dark Souls, like Ariandel and Ariamis, which are alternate realities within the lore.
While some connections might be for nostalgia, the presence of characters like The Nameless King in Nightreign suggests deeper ties. Plus, the many Erdtrees in Elden Ring hint that the Greater Will’s reach spans multiple worlds, leaving room for these games to share a universe in some form.
Building on the idea of a shared universe, the reveal trailer for Elden Ring: Nightreign drops some major hints and callbacks to Dark Souls 3.
Elden Ring Nightreign’s Reveal Trailer References Dark Souls 3
FromSoftware revealed Elden Ring: Nightreign with a trailer at The Game Awards, and while seamless co-op excited many fans, the real highlight was the return of The Nameless King. Dark Souls 3 fans went wild, as this notoriously hidden and challenging boss reappeared exactly as he was, wielding the same swordspear and accompanied by his Storm Drake. The Nameless King, known as Gwyn’s exiled firstborn who allied with dragons, is being used to draw attention and nostalgia to the new game.
But he’s not the only familiar face. The trailer also features a character resembling the Fire Keeper from Dark Souls 3, or possibly another Fire Keeper, identifiable by her masked eyes and cloak. This figure might serve as a guide, much like in DS3, enlisting the player—who may not be the Tarnished—to prevent tragedy.
Interestingly, the trailer includes nods to Dark Souls 2, the only title not directed by Miyazaki. A spider-like figure could reference Freja, a DS2 boss, while a massive door at the end closely resembles the one guarding the Throne of Want in DS2. This hints at connections between Nightreign, Elden Ring, and the broader Souls series—even linking the often isolated DS2.
If you’re looking to enhance your gameplay even further, here’s how to get free mods for both Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring.
How to Get Free Mods for Both Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring?
To enhance your single-player experience in Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring, try using Xmod. This app lets you access cheats, trainers, and mods to customize and boost your gameplay.
Here’s how to use Xmod:
1.Download the Xmod app.
2.Search for Dark Souls 3 or Elden Ring.
3.Launch the game directly from the app.
4.Activate the mods or trainers you want and enjoy a personalized gaming experience.
With Xmod, you can transform the games into a more personalized and enjoyable single-player adventure.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring both bring something awesome to the table, whether you’re into fast combat or huge open worlds. Plus, with cool mods from Xmod, you can tweak and level up your gameplay in both games. It’s all about what vibe you’re feeling!
