As the genre-defining developer brought to prominence by the groundbreaking Soulslikes, FromSoftware has built one of the most impressive catalogs of action RPGs in gaming today. With these titles recognized as much for their subtle storytelling as they are for their challenging gameplay, it's only natural that these elements often come together when you're trying to pick the best of FromSoftware's many endings.
There's enough narrative depth in each of FromSoftware's Soulslikes to stand alone, but the studio has never been interested in stopping at one path for the story. While they mostly feature a consistent level of production quality, the overall meaning and weight of certain endings allowed them to rise above the rest.
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S-Tier From Software Endings
The finale that defined the mysterious tone of soulslikes
- Early Childhood (Bloody)
- Usurpation of Fire (Dark Souls 3)
- Return (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- Age of the Stars (Elden Ring)
In recent years, FromSoft has built a reputation for secret endings that reward devising an elaborate set of steps needed to reach them. While the complexity of these quests often relegates these conclusions to New Game Plus experiences, their deep narrative significance has allowed some of them to gain iconic status in gaming as a whole.
These often involve subverting the entire premise of the game's world, either by esoterically becoming an infant Great in Bloody or completely ending the Elden Ring's influence by merging with the Ranni. As a culmination of intense questlines such as those surrounding the Divine Dragon in An axethe best Soulslike endings provide an unforgettable spectacle and emotional weight that makes the effort around them worthwhile.
A-Tier From Software Endings
Conclusions that share common themes with FromSoftware
- Lord of the Furious Flame (Elden Ring)
- dark lord (Dark souls)
- Yharnam Sunrise (Bloody)
- good ending (Soul of Demons)
- Leave the throne (Dark Souls 2)
- Fire End/Unlit End (Dark Souls 3)
In keeping with the nihilistic tone the studio has become known for, traditionally the more impactful endings of FromSoft's titles tend to come from the player giving more sinister impulses. These have become very recognizable in their own right, defining the ambiguity of their worlds in chilling ways that leave players with unanswered questions to ponder.
Be it many primal serpents are seen suddenly accompanying the Darkstalker Kaathe Dark soulswatch the world Elden Ring burn in the chaos or wake ominously in Yharnam Bloodythese endings create a strange mood that encourages further play and deeper exploration of the lore.
B-Tier From Software Endings
- Shura (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- Order Age (Elden Ring)
- Cleaning (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- Blessing of Despair (Elden Ring)
- bad ending (Soul of Demons)
- Proceed to the throne (Dark Souls 2)
- Link the Fire (Dark souls)
Directly following the path indicated by an NPC in a Soulslike title will most often not lead the player to the most impressive ending, which can result in an anti-climax. Although the dark scenarios of the hated protagonist are undeniably more important An axe's Shura ends or enables success Elden RingWhile achieving their curse-spreading goals, these can all feel like incomplete snapshots of a larger story when first launched.
C-Tier From Software Endings
Endings that are likely to leave the player wanting more
- Immortal Severity (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- wish honor (Bloody)
- Age of the Duskborn (Elden Ring)
- Age of fracture (Elden Ring)
- To connect the first flame (Dark Souls 3)
It can be positive for a game's finale to encourage replayability through strengths such as the context it provides, but several FromSoft games have rather lackluster endings that could lead to player regret instead. Staying open ended Immortal Severance in An axe or Gehrman's mystery Honoring a wish v Bloody can seem more like a punishment for not getting certain key items instead of actual narrative paths, making them pale in comparison to their alternatives.
Convoluted quests and key items certainly don't help in this regard either, as these endings can be incredibly difficult to follow or even know about unless players have already spoiled them themselves.