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As a genre-defining developer who has risen to prominence on the back of pioneering Soulslikes,FromSoftwarehas built up one of the most impressive action RPG catalogs in contemporary gaming. With these titles being just as acclaimed for their nuanced storytelling as they are for challenging gameplay, it’s only natural that these elements often come together when attempting to choose the best from a set of aFromSoftwaregame’s multiple endings.
There’s enough narrative depth in each of the conclusions to theSoulslikes of FromSoftwarefor them to stand on their own, but the studio has never been interested in stopping at one route for a story. While they mostly feature a consistent level of production quality, the overall meaning and weight of certain endings have allowed them to rise above the rest.
S-Tier FromSoftware Endings
Finales That Have Defined the Mysterious Tone of Soulslikes
In recent years, FromSoft has developed a reputation for featuring secret endings that reward figuring out an elaborate set of steps required to achieve them. While the complexity involved in these tasks often relegates these conclusions to New Game Plus experiences, their deep narrative significance has allowed some of them to earn iconic status in gaming as a whole.
These often involve subverting the entire premise of a given game’s world, whether that be through esotericallybecoming an infant Great One inBloodborneor bringing a complete end to the Elden Ring’s influence by uniting with Ranni. As culminations of intensive questlines, like those around the Divine Dragon inSekiro, the best Soulslike endings provide unforgettable spectacle and emotional weight which makes the effort around them worth it.
A-Tier FromSoftware Endings
Conclusions That Channel FromSoftware’s Common Themes
In line with the nihilistic tone that the studio has become known for, the more traditionally compelling endings to FromSoft titles tend to come from the player giving into more sinister impulses. These have become highly recognizable in their own right, defining the ambiguity of their worlds in chilling ways that leave unanswered questions for the player to ponder.
Whether it’s seeing many Primordial Serpents suddenly accompanyDarkstalker Kaathe inDark Souls, watching the world ofElden Ringburn away in chaos, or ominously waking back up in Yharnam inBloodborne, these endings set an uncanny mood that encourages further playthroughs and deeper lore investigation.
B-Tier FromSoftware Endings
Satisfactory RPG Finales in Extraordinary Titles
Most of the time, directly following a path outlined by NPCs in a Soulslike title won’t lead the player to the most impactful ending, potentially resulting in an anti-climax. While there is inarguable greater meaning to the dark scenarios of the protagonist succumbing to hate inSekiro’s Shura ending or allowing thesuccess ofElden Ring’s Dung Eaterin reaching his curse-spreading goals, these can all feel like incomplete pictures of a greater narrative on an initial run.
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Endings That Are Likely to Leave the Player Wanting More
It can be a positive for the finale of a game to encourage replayability through strengths like the context it provides, but several of FromSoft’s games feature somewhat lackluster endings which could instead result in player regret. Being left with the open-ended nature of Immortal Severance inSekiroorHonoring Wishes' Gehrman mystery inBloodbornecan feel like more of a punishment for not obtaining certain key items instead of genuine narrative routes, making them pale in comparison to their alternatives.
Convoluted quests and key items certainly don’t help in this regard, either, as it can be incredibly difficult to pursue these endings or know about them at all unless players have spoiled them for themselves already.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
