Elden Ring vs Dark Souls 3: Which Should You Buy in 2025?
FromSoftware has dominated the action RPG genre for over a decade, but two titles stand out as pinnacles of their craft: Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring. If you’re on a budget and can only afford one, which should you choose? Let’s break it down.
The Basics
Dark Souls 3
- Released: 2016
- Price Range: $19.99-$59.99 (with DLC)
- Playtime: 30-80 hours
- Structure: Linear with branching paths
Elden Ring
- Released: 2022
- Price Range: $39.99-$59.99
- Playtime: 60-150+ hours
- Structure: Open-world exploration
Gameplay & Combat
Both games share FromSoftware’s signature combat system: methodical, punishing, and deeply rewarding. However, they deliver vastly different experiences.
Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 offers tighter, more focused combat encounters. Every area is carefully crafted to challenge specific skills. The linear structure means you’ll face a curated difficulty curve that teaches you mechanics progressively.
Strengths:
- Faster-paced combat than previous Souls games
- Incredible boss design (Sister Friede, Nameless King, Gael)
- Refined mechanics from years of iteration
- PvP is more balanced and active
Weaknesses:
- Less build variety
- Fewer quality-of-life features
- Limited exploration freedom
Elden Ring
Elden Ring revolutionizes the formula with open-world design. You can explore in any direction, tackle challenges when you feel ready, and discover secrets organically.
Strengths:
- Massive build variety (200+ weapons, 100+ spells)
- Freedom to approach challenges your way
- Stunning world design
- Improved summoning system
- Boss variety is unmatched
Weaknesses:
- Open-world can feel overwhelming
- Some repeated bosses/enemies
- Difficulty spikes can feel unfair if you wander into high-level areas
Difficulty & Accessibility
Winner: Elden Ring
While both games are challenging, Elden Ring offers more tools for players to overcome obstacles:
- Spirit Ashes summons for solo players
- Ability to overlevel by exploring
- More forgiving checkpoint (Site of Grace) placement
- Option to skip difficult areas and return later
Dark Souls 3 forces you through specific paths, meaning you can’t avoid difficult bosses. This can be frustrating but also incredibly satisfying when you succeed.
World Design & Exploration
Winner: Elden Ring
This isn’t even close. Elden Ring’s open world is breathtaking, filled with secrets, hidden dungeons, and emergent storytelling. The sense of discovery is unparalleled.
Dark Souls 3’s world is more compact but brilliantly interconnected. The level design is tighter, with clever shortcuts and environmental storytelling. However, it can’t match Elden Ring’s scope.
Content & Replayability
Winner: Elden Ring
Elden Ring offers:
- 150+ unique bosses
- 6 major endings
- Massive build variety encouraging multiple playthroughs
- 60-150 hours for completionists
Dark Souls 3 offers:
- 25 bosses (with DLC)
- Multiple endings
- 30-80 hours total
- Active PvP community
If you value content per dollar, Elden Ring wins decisively.
Graphics & Performance
Winner: Elden Ring (barely)
Elden Ring looks stunning with modern lighting, particle effects, and vast vistas. However, it launched with performance issues on PC that have mostly been patched.
Dark Souls 3 still looks great and runs buttery smooth on even modest hardware. If you have an older PC, Dark Souls 3 might be the safer choice.
Story & Lore
Winner: Tie
Both games feature FromSoftware’s signature cryptic storytelling. Dark Souls 3 concludes the Dark Souls trilogy with epic callbacks and lore revelations. Elden Ring, co-written with George R.R. Martin, offers a fresh mythos with its own depth.
Your preference depends on whether you want to experience the conclusion of the Souls saga or dive into something entirely new.
Community & Multiplayer
Winner: Elden Ring
Elden Ring’s player base is massive and active. You’ll find:
- Easy co-op summons
- Active PvP (though less balanced than DS3)
- Ongoing community events
- Regular discussions and content creation
Dark Souls 3 still has dedicated players, especially in PvP, but the community is smaller.
Price & Value
Winner: Depends on sales
Dark Souls 3 (with DLC) can be found for $20-30 during sales. Elden Ring rarely drops below $40 but offers more content per dollar.
Budget Recommendation: Wait for a sale on Elden Ring. If Dark Souls 3 Complete Edition goes on sale for under $20, that’s also incredible value.
Final Verdict
Choose Elden Ring if you want:
- Maximum content and exploration
- Modern quality-of-life features
- More accessibility options
- Massive build variety
- The latest FromSoftware experience
Choose Dark Souls 3 if you want:
- Tighter, more focused experience
- Better boss-to-boss pacing
- Lower hardware requirements
- Stronger PvP community
- Nostalgia for classic Souls gameplay
Our Recommendation
For Most Players: Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the more modern, accessible, and content-rich experience. It offers better value for money and is easier to recommend to both newcomers and veterans.
For Purists: Dark Souls 3
If you love classic Souls design and want a more curated, challenging experience, Dark Souls 3 remains a masterpiece.
Best Budget Strategy: Get Elden Ring now at full price if you can afford it. Wait for Dark Souls 3 Complete Edition on sale for $15-20, then play it afterward.
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