Dark Souls Remastered

Dark Souls Remastered is the reworked version of the 2011 action RPG. You play an undead who sets out into the decayed kingdom of Lordran. Castles, ruins, swamps and underground passages form a connected world, where paths only open up through exploration and defeated enemies.

The new edition keeps the original game systems, improves the visuals and includes the Artorias of the Abyss expansion.

Dark Souls Remastered was released on May 25, 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Nintendo Switch version followed worldwide on Oct 19, 2018. In Japan, the Switch version came out as early as Oct 18. On Steam, the PC version is listed with a release date of May 23, 2018.

This is a standalone remake of the first Dark Souls, not Dark Souls II or the console version originally released in 2011.

The new edition was released natively for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. On PC, PS4 and Xbox One, frame rates of up to 60 frames per second are planned. The Switch version runs at 30 frames per second and supports both TV and handheld mode.

On PS5, you can play the PS4 version via backward compatibility. This does not create a separate PS5 release.

Dark Souls relies on precise attacks, dodging, blocking and careful use of stamina. Each weapon has its own movesets, while armor and equipment affect how agile your character is. Defeated enemies leave behind souls, which you use to improve your attributes or buy items.

When you die, you first lose your carried souls at the place of death. You can get them back as long as you don't die again beforehand. That makes choosing between fighting on and retreating an important decision.

Artorias of the Abyss is part of the Remastered version and does not need to be bought separately. The expansion brings new areas, enemies, equipment and a standalone storyline into the world of the original Dark Souls.

It expands the main game and is not a second, separately released remaster.

For the PC version, Steam lists at least an Intel Core i5-2300 or AMD FX-6300, 6 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 6870, and 8 GB of free storage. Recommended are a Core i5-4570 or FX-8350, 8 GB RAM and a GTX 660 or Radeon HD 7870.

The original requirement lists Windows 7 64-bit. However, the Steam client itself has required Windows 10 or newer since 2024.

Lordran consists of many interconnected areas. Shortcuts, elevators and locked gates gradually open up new connections between places you have already visited. Exploration is rewarded with equipment, hidden characters, new paths and hints about the story.

The world explains its past mainly through the design of places, conversations and item descriptions. You don't have to cross it in a fixed order.

Bonfires serve as rest points where you refill your healing items, raise attributes and prepare your progress. However, resting also respawns most regular enemies. Estus Flasks are the most important limited healing resource between two bonfires.

Discovering new shortcuts shortens the path between dangerous fights and a safe resting point.

At the start you choose a character class, which determines equipment and starting stats but does not dictate a fixed playstyle. Strength, dexterity, intelligence and faith open up different weapon and spell options. Shields, bows, pyromancy and heavy armor can also become part of a build.

Over many hours of play, you develop your character with the souls you collect and adapt it to difficult encounters.

Big enemies demand that you watch their movements and recognize safe attack windows. Your own position is often more important than dealing damage quickly. New equipment can help, but it does not replace learning the attack patterns.

The combat system rewards patience and repetition. A failed attempt often gives you the knowledge to prepare a better attempt later.

Dark Souls Remastered supports online co-op and PvP invasions alongside single-player. Other players can help you with difficult areas and bosses, or enter your world as enemies. Different covenants affect how you take part in these encounters.

The Remastered version allows online sessions with up to six players and uses dedicated servers for this.

The remaster improves resolution and visuals over the original. On PC, a higher resolution is supported with up to 60 frames per second. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are also designed for 60 frames per second, while the Switch runs at 30 frames per second.

For Switch, Bandai Namco cites 1080p in TV mode and 720p on the go. The technical implementation therefore depends on the respective platform.

Characters are controlled from a third-person perspective. Attacks, dodge rolls and shield parries are directly tied to movement and stamina. The PC version supports controllers, while the console versions are tailored to their respective input devices.

Players who explore slowly and fight deliberately get far with the basic actions. Precise timing becomes especially important against tough enemies.

On PC, Dark Souls Remastered offers English voice acting as well as German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Korean on-screen text, among others. The Steam version supports twelve languages in total.

The original English voice acting therefore remains even when German text is selected.