Dark Souls II

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 32

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An epic adventure from start to finish that is more accessible, challenging, and rewarding than its predecessor.

Play It

Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 32

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 32

An epic adventure from start to finish that is more accessible, challenging, and rewarding than its predecessor.

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Critic Reviews for Dark Souls II

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

32

Reviews

Average Score

100

Ranges

9.8/10

Daniel Tack (Game Informer

An epic adventure from start to finish packed with wondrous environments, imaginative and terrifying foes, and the continual adrenaline-apprehension rush of passing through each fog gate. These aspects make this title a must-play.

April 24, 2014 |

Full Review

More accessible, challenging, and rewarding than its predecessor, this is the Dark Souls sequel PC gamers deserve.

April 24, 2014 |

Full Review

91/100

Cory Banks (PC Gamer)

10/10

Jason Bowden (God is a Geek)

If you had issues with Dark Souls II on console then Dark Souls II PC will not fix them. If you were hoping that this would be the gorgeous next-gen Souls experience we were shown in that first video then, well, it isn’t. But if you were holding out to find out just how the PC version of Dark Souls II performs then know, with full confidence, that it is far and away the superior version, and that’s without the need to download any sort of fan-made patch. The cycle of death and success has never felt this good.

April 25, 2014 |

Full Review

Daniel Tack (Game Informer

9.8/10 - (Read Review)

Cory Banks (PC Gamer)

91/100 - (Read Review)

More accessible, challenging, and rewarding than its predecessor, this is the Dark Souls sequel PC gamers deserve.

Jason Bowden (God is a Geek)

10/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 32 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (32 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Attack of the Fanboy	Bill Hess	4 / 5 stars	04-24-2014	Dark Souls 2 is From Software’s “something for everyone” version of the popular role playing series. Prepare to Die, a little less.	Read review
CGMagazine	Alexander Leach	9 / 10	04-29-2014	PC users have received their Dark Souls II experience entirely intact, and then a bit.	Read review
Cubed3	SirLink	9 / 10	05-20-2014	Ultimately, Dark Souls II adds a lot of new features to the formula, but can’t quite manage to match the brilliance of the original Dark Souls. What it does provide, though, is still a challenging and highly entertaining journey through the desolate world of Drangleic, one that is most definitely worth experiencing for fans of the genre. With this likely being the last game in the series to also appear on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it’s certainly exciting to think about the future of the franchise and what From Software could achieve on newer hardware, along with all the lessons learned from this game.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Eric Layman	9 / 10	05-06-2014	There can never be another Dark Souls. From Software’s Magnum opus required years of King’s Field and dry run in Demon’s Souls before visions of Dark Souls were made a reality. A sequel owes an allegiance to its ascendant, and it’s doubly-hard trying to improve upon a game many feel was born perfect. Dark Souls II, as its blessing and its curse, is not another Dark Souls. It is, however, more Dark Souls	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Nick H.	4.5 / 5 stars	04-29-2014	Dark Souls 2 offers glimpses of hope and illumination, but they always feel just out of reach. Scratching just below the surface to take on the challenges Dark Souls 2 has for you is where this game’s appeal lies. The game will not be for everyone, but for those willing to tackle this game, it is a rewarding experience.	Read review
DualShockers	Dana Abercrombie	9.5 / 10	03-11-2014	Overall Dark Souls II is one of the best games I have ever played. I have never before laughed at my own stupidity, cried out with frustration and jumped because of random beastly creatures hidden in the dark of the night.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Andrea Porta	8.7 / 10	04-26-2014	From Software this time has almost ticked it off, and the PC community can breathe a half sigh of relief. Dark Souls 2 will certainly not win awards for graphic quality, especially in the eyes of personal computer players, but the most advanced effects, high frame rate and higher resolutions embellish the Drangleic lands in a sensitive way.	Read review
Game Informer	Daniel Tack	9.8 / 10	04-24-2014	An epic adventure from start to finish packed with wondrous environments, imaginative and terrifying foes, and the continual adrenaline-apprehension rush of passing through each fog gate. These aspects make this title a must-play.	Read review
Game Rant	Ryan Blanchard	4.5 / 5 stars	03-21-2014	While the difficulty may serve to push some gamers away, Dark Souls 2 manages to be both the most accessible title in the series and a formidable challenge for returning veterans and is without a doubt an experience that should not be missed despite the allure of next-generation consoles.	Read review
GameGrin	Joe Pring	9.5 / 10	03-25-2014	There are no doubts that critics and gamers alike are going to have preferences on which Souls title is the superior experience, and if an edge had to be given to one over the other, then Dark Souls would take this guy’s vote. But calling Dark Souls II only marginally inferior to its predecessor is hardly an insult. This is still a true gem of entertainment in its own right.	Read review
Gameplanet	Chris Brown	9.5 / 10	05-02-2014	This time around, From Software has nailed the PC version of its beloved franchise, leaving absolutely no doubt as to which platform gives players the best experience.	Read review
GameSkinny	Krystophermander	10 / 10	03-12-2014	A sequel that is everything a hardcore fan can ask for… and more.	Read review
GameZone	Andrew Clouther	9 / 10	03-25-2014	Dark Souls 2 isn’t a beat it and leave it sort of game. There’s so much you can do, and I love that. . . . The game is still budding, and I’m really looking forward to the crazy crap people come up with.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Jeff Kintner	9 / 10	05-12-2014	Dark Souls II lives up to the series’ reputation for being unrelentingly difficult- but it’s worth digging in your heels and spending a lot of time with it. The PC port is just as good, if not better than it’s console counterpart, but you’re going to want to use a gamepad. Using a keyboard is possible, and there’s even a few mods out there to make it more functional and ergonomic, but it’s still clunky and unintuitive compared to using a controller.	Read review
GamingTrend	Victor Grunn	90 / 100	04-24-2014	Dark Souls 2 for the PC is a far cleaner port attempt than the first Dark Souls port. The death of Games for Windows Live continues to mean good things for PC gaming, the potential to tweak up the graphics for the technically capable is still on offer, and the whole experience is far more gamer-friendly right from the get-go.	Read review
God is a Geek	James Bowden	10 / 10	04-25-2014	If you had issues with Dark Souls II on console then Dark Souls II PC will not fix them. If you were hoping that this would be the gorgeous next-gen Souls experience we were shown in that first video then, well, it isn’t. But if you were holding out to find out just how the PC version of Dark Souls II performs then know, with full confidence, that it is far and away the superior version, and that’s without the need to download any sort of fan-made patch. The cycle of death and success has never felt this good.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Adam Beck	4.5 / 5 stars	04-24-2014	If you decided to wait for the PC version of Dark Souls II before jumping in, you’ve made the right decision. It’s not leaps and bounds better than its console counterpart, but the graphical enhancements aid the immersion.	Read review
IGN Italy	Unknown	9.3 / 10	04-25-2014	A truly unique experience, but it’s not for everybody. You have to be aware of the words you’re gonna read more than any others on your screen: “You’re Dead”.	Read review
Kill Screen	Chris Breault	83 / 100	03-18-2014	T]here’s still something powerful about DS2’s dogged preservation of old forms	Read review
Kotaku	Chris Person	Recommended	03-11-2014	A stellar, challenging experience that borrows from its predecessors while making significant and complicated design changes.	Read review
Merlin’in Kazanı	Ceyda Doğan	90 / 100	07-21-2014	Dark Souls II is a very difficult game more than the first one. PC controls still have the same problem: they’re complicated. The story and the maps are much more beautiful, graphics seem better than one consoles. If you are a fan of the Dark Souls series, you’ll definitely love this one.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	Roger Hargreaves	9 / 10	05-01-2014	A carefully considered sequel that avoids upsetting existing fans and offers an olive branch to newcomers – but although the PC version is the best it’s by a slimmer margin than many would’ve hoped.	Read review
MMORPG.com	Pete Schwab	8 / 10	04-24-2014	This is a kind of experience that is not necessarily designed to appeal to a broad swath of people, but its pitch perfect execution and strict adherence to its draconian design principles earn it a place in the pantheon of great games.	Read review
New Game Network	Tim Reid	78 / 100	05-18-2014	Another big, deep, engrossing action RPG in the Souls series that is more polished but ultimately weaker due to a fractured world, lack of direction, uneven difficulty and uninspired boss fights.	Read review
NoobFeed	Daav Valentaten	72 / 100	03-11-2014	With its foul intentions clear, Dark Souls 2 is a behemoth either way. It’s the best worst game ever created. Designed to be flawed, unforgivable beyond redemption and yet it’s robust enough to withstand any criticism.	Read review
PC Gamer	Cory Banks	91 / 100	04-24-2014	More accessible, challenging, and rewarding than its predecessor, this is the Dark Souls sequel PC gamers deserve.	Read review
PC Invasion	Peter Parrish	9 / 10	04-24-2014	In many ways Dark Souls 2 is the technical and functional superior of the first game, but it does lack some of the semi-intangible magic of the original like its superlative interconnected world. Nonetheless, an impressive and essential sequel.	Read review
PCGamesN	Fraser Brown	9 / 10	05-02-2014	The journey through Drangleic needs to be experienced. It’s a marriage of phenomenal world design and impressively tight mechanics. And then it probably needs to be experienced all over again through New Game +. It’s undoubtedly bloody hard work, but that just makes every sliver of success precious. Hurrah for Dark Souls II.	Read review
PCMag	Timothy Torres	4 / 5 stars	06-25-2014	Despite the finicky hit boxes and a few other flaws worth patching, Dark Souls II is an excellent port of a modern action-RPG classic. Dark Souls fans shouldn’t hesitate to enjoy all the suffering in high resolution at 60FPS.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Adam Smith	Recommended	04-30-2014	For those willing to invest time into the New Game +, into the covenants and the raiding of other players’ worlds, there’s far more to uncover than I’ll probably ever see. As I said at the beginning, Dark Souls II is a very good game. These have been some of the reasons why as well as some of the reasons why I don’t think it’s quite as great a game as I’d hoped it would be.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Mike LeChevallier	3.5 / 5 stars	03-18-2014	The game is as across-the-board demanding as its predecessors, functioning on an ever more grandiose scale, dishing out excruciating beatdowns like Thin Mints at a Girl Scouts cookies sale.	Read review
SpazioGames	Pregianza	9 / 10	03-12-2014	Dark Souls 2 is exactly what fans of the series created by From crave with ardor, a title where the high difficulty blends perfectly with an incredibly deep and multifaceted game structure, content-making incredible and able to galvanize and test like no other action rpg can do.	Read review
TechnoBuffalo	TechnoBuffalo Team	3.25 / 5 stars	03-20-2014	If Dark Souls II can’t even bother to let me experiment, practice, and enjoy at my own leisure, why should I bother with it?	Read review
The Digital Fix	Edd Harwood	9 / 10	04-02-2014	By very slightly opening up the experience, Dark Souls II has risked unravelling this success, particularly for the hardcore fanbase. But in actuality the minor changes do not hugely alter the overall gameplay. It is still wonderfully mysterious and horrendously punishing, all backed up by a unique battle and skill system that is so gloriously balanced it feels like a real talent to master.	Read review
The Game Fanatics	William Harmon	8 / 10	04-09-2014	Buy it. Play it. Get good at it. Then go and buy Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls. Playing through Dark Souls 2 is easier than the others, but will prepare players for some truly great games. All while being a thoroughly fun experience on its own.	Read review
The Jimquisition	Jim Sterling	Recommended	05-22-2018	Video Review	Read review
Twinfinite	Mike Eaton	5 / 5 stars	04-29-2014	Dark Souls II is an absolute feast of a game, and it will be a long, long time before I’m sated by it.	Read review
We Got This Covered	Chaz Neeler	4.5 / 5 stars	03-11-2014	Dark Souls II is absolutely devious and won’t hesitate to punish you for your mistakes, but the feeling of accomplishment that comes from making progress is unmatched by anything else on the market. It’s not a game that will cater to every player’s wants, but if you’re the type who enjoys a challenge, this is absolutely a must play.	Read review
ZTGD	Jae Lee	8.5 / 10	05-06-2014	It’s a testament to the series brand as a whole to make an otherwise solid title feel disappointing, but I’ve come to expect more and I hope they find the right path through the dark in the next sequel.	Read review

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About Dark Souls II

Game Description / Storyline:

The unique old-school action rpg experience captivated imaginations of gamers worldwide with incredible challenge and intense emotional reward. Dark Souls II brings the franchise’s renowned difficulty & gripping gameplay innovations to both single and multiplayer experiences. Immerse yourself into mind-bending environments filled with new twisted monsters and deadly bosses that could only come from the imagination of from software. A wide range of threats will prey on human senses & phobias – auditory hallucinations, vertigo, acrophobia, etc.

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