Dark Souls II (2014)

FromSoftware

PC (Microsoft Windows) · PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360

3.79 from 2655 ratings

6281 members have it in their collection · 202 playing now · 1901 backlogged · 1200 wish listed

How long? Main story 57h · with extras 93h · 100% 165h (from 37 logged playthroughs)

Dark Souls II is an action role-playing game set in the kingdom of Drangleic. Players control the Bearer of the Curse, navigating a dark, interconnected world filled with challenging enemies and complex boss encounters. Combat emphasizes precise timing, stamina management, and adaptability, with options for dual-wielding, varied weapon types, and a flexible character progression system. The online servers were shut down on March 31st, 2024.

Release dates

  • Mar 11, 2014 (Full Release) (North_America) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Mar 13, 2014 (Full Release) (Japan) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Mar 14, 2014 (Full Release) (Europe) PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Apr 25, 2014 (Full Release) (Worldwide) PC (Microsoft Windows)

Related

DLC

Editions

Expanded versions

Featured in lists

Top 100 by IzzyBoy · 101 games · 0
all-time favs by Arvyel · 46 games · 0
paigrat by CanioN · 12 games · 0

Rating distribution

5 stars
752
4 stars
959
3 stars
644
2 stars
236
1 star
64

Community All Reviews Statuses

Torgo

Status Torgo Aug 7, 2015

When Dark Souls II was released last year I still remember my bitterness and disappointment. There's about a million things wrong with this game and I could write 20 pages about it, but I feel like it's all been said before. My number one gripe was the overall aesthetic design. Instead of the bizarre surreal monsters of the earlier games, …

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When Dark Souls II was released last year I still remember my bitterness and disappointment. There's about a million things wrong with this game and I could write 20 pages about it, but I feel like it's all been said before. My number one gripe was the overall aesthetic design. Instead of the bizarre surreal monsters of the earlier games, From Software opted for a really boring bog-standard design: pirate level, lord of the rings-style dwarves, lava level, zombies, etc. I was heart broken.

After putting in 30 hours or so, I ended up walking away from it in disgust and frustration. Today I decided to boot it up and have another go, see how it plays after 18 months of contemplation. All I can say is, yes, it still kind of sucks (compared to the earlier titles) but it's playable.. Comparing it to the earlier titles it sucks, but if you try to consider it on its own, I guess it's not all that bad. So I guess I'm going to try and finally beat this game.

I'd like to play Bloodborne someday because apparently From Software redeemed themselves with that title. But I think it's a bit silly to spend $600 PS4 just to play one game on it. I guess I'll wait until either I can get a PS4 at the pawn shop for $50 or perhaps in a couple years they'll be a couple more worthwhile exclusives on the system.

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Sus

Status Sus Jan 1, 2015

Haven't finished this, too hard for me

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peter

Status peter Jun 2, 2014 Completed

Play through number 2 is in the books. Being a magic user kind of makes a couple of fights towards the end trivial. I think I might be done for a little while with this one. I might pop on here and there to get my ass kicked in some PvP.

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peter

Status peter May 28, 2014 Completed

In my second play through, the parts I love, and the parts I hate are really starting to stand out. I'm really starting to love the PvP part of it, even though I suck at it for the most part. They did such a good job with the different covenants (especially the Bell Covenant). You're matched up quick most of …

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In my second play through, the parts I love, and the parts I hate are really starting to stand out. I'm really starting to love the PvP part of it, even though I suck at it for the most part. They did such a good job with the different covenants (especially the Bell Covenant). You're matched up quick most of the time, and the arena type levels are a lot of fun to duel in.

I really don't like some of the end game levels. Specifically, Amana can suck it. Magic users with seemingly infinite range with homing soul magic, and my Soul Arrows can't go far enough that I can use some of the environment to hide and hit them from afar. It feels like one of the most unfair levels in a Souls game I've played, but maybe that's just me whining. It wasn't as bad when I was a Dex build with just a regular bow, but even then I struggled with the stupid magic users.

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peter

Status peter May 19, 2014 Completed

I think a strong Int character might be kind of the way to break this thing. The first time I played through this with a Dex type build, and it doesn't seem like leveling a bow up does nearly as much damage as a solid Soul Spear.

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Jess

Status Jess May 7, 2014

Every time I see someone on my Steam friend's list playing Dark Souls 2, I just want to message them: "Look out behind you!!!" Because then, they have to go to the overlay and see who messaged them, and by then, something probably has come up behind them.

Yes, that's right, your death for my amusement evil laughter.

Andrew …

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Every time I see someone on my Steam friend's list playing Dark Souls 2, I just want to message them: "Look out behind you!!!" Because then, they have to go to the overlay and see who messaged them, and by then, something probably has come up behind them.

Yes, that's right, your death for my amusement evil laughter.

Andrew is playing Dark Souls 2 right now and is completely oblivious to how much restraint I'm currently showing.

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peter

Status peter Apr 27, 2014 Completed

I know it's not going to last, but I'm an hour and a half in on the PC, and I haven't died yet with my cleric.

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peter

Status peter Apr 26, 2014 Completed

Just finished. I haven't written a full ass review since the days of Grouvee being a Joystiq clone. I might have to collect my thoughts for this one. It's definitely a sweet game. I will be playing again on the PC soon I think. Or maybe I should play Shenmue on my "new" Dreamcast.

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peter

Status peter Apr 23, 2014 Completed

I'm pretty close to finishing on PS3 I think. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be starting again on the PC as soon as I'm done.

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peter

Status peter Apr 16, 2014 Completed

This is why I can't play Dark Souls II on a weeknight. I'm up at midnight, and I have to be up for work in about 5 and a half hours.

I did get all the Lord Souls tonight. So I guess you could say it was worth it.

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davidh212

Status davidh212 Apr 12, 2014

Just finished NG+

I feel like it would've been a lot harder for a pure melee build. Like a LOT harder. Got pretty into hexes halfway through.

Much better NG+ than the first game. Some new enemies and some boss fights are a bit different.

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peter

Status peter Apr 9, 2014 Completed

Listening to the Giant Bombcast today makes me wish I'd waited for the PC release of this. They say the load times are almost non-existent, which is probably my biggest complaint about this game on the PS3.

Also, I played this thing for like 7 hours straight on Saturday and it was glorious.

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peter

Status peter Mar 24, 2014 Completed

So maybe I spent too much time playing this instead of working on Grouvee during my week off. I started playing it with a PS4 controller, and that made a world of difference to me (that's what I used on my PC, so it just felt better than the PS3 controller). I did do quite a few things to the …

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So maybe I spent too much time playing this instead of working on Grouvee during my week off. I started playing it with a PS4 controller, and that made a world of difference to me (that's what I used on my PC, so it just felt better than the PS3 controller). I did do quite a few things to the backend of Grouvee that is setting up for a couple of big updates coming up, but nothing cool for you to see yet.

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davidh212

Status davidh212 Mar 23, 2014

Well, I beat it. Luckily you get to keep playing after killing the final boss and it doesn't just immediately kick you to ng+ like DS 1.

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davidh212

Status davidh212 Mar 23, 2014

Putting off finishing the game. Don't want it to end.

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