Everyone has their "lightning in a bottle" type of game, which captured their hearts in a way unlike any other, even if the majority of people might not share the same sentiment. The unique, perhaps accidental, harmony of various elements and mechanics in Dark Souls III make it exactly that for me - my personal masterpiece which stands above Demon's Souls, DS1, DS2, Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring, even though it doesn't make a whole lot of logical sense. One of the ultimate "comfort games" in my library, with an untold amount of fond memories spawned, both across the main game and its DLCs.

Other SoulsBorne games have certain aspects that are better or more interesting, including titles that came before DS3, and they are certainly not interchangable, but it's one of those cases where the whole package is greater than the sum of its parts. It's the perfect blend of casual and challenging, fresh and familiar, intuitive and obscure, punishing and forgiving, depressing and awe-inspiring, vast and cozy. And I didn't truly appreciate it until about 100 hours in.

I don't think I'll ever relive a similar experience to playing through this game for the first time and witnessing the heyday of its online activity, but I'll forever be grateful for those moments. I'll continue to occasionally aid the kindred souls that still wander this game looking for summon signs, until the inevitable closing of its online servers.

[h3]This game may not be to your liking, but I don't really care.[/h3] Everyone has their "lightning in a bottle" type of game, which captured their hearts in a way unlike any other, even if the majority of people might not share the same sentiment. The unique, perhaps accidental, harmony of various elements and mechanics in Dark Souls III make it exactly that for me - my personal masterpiece which stands above Demon's Souls, DS1, DS2, Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring, even though it doesn't make a whole lot of logical sense. One of the ultimate "comfort games" in my library, with an untold amount of fond memories spawned, both across the main game and its DLCs. Other SoulsBorne games have certain aspects that are better or more interesting, including titles that came before DS3, and they are certainly not interchangable, but it's one of those cases where the whole package is greater than the sum of its parts. It's the perfect blend of casual and challenging, fresh and familiar, intuitive and obscure, punishing and forgiving, depressing and awe-inspiring, vast and cozy. And I didn't truly appreciate it until about 100 hours in. I don't think I'll ever relive a similar experience to playing through this game for the first time and witnessing the heyday of its online activity, but I'll forever be grateful for those moments. I'll continue to occasionally aid the kindred souls that still wander this game looking for summon signs, until the inevitable closing of its online servers.