Is Elden Ring a sequel to the Dark Souls series?
It’s easy for one to confuse Elden Ring with Dark Souls. Both games share similar combat, a gothic setting, and familiar themes. It’s easier still to mistake FromSoftware's newest title as a direct sequel to their beloved Souls series.
However, trailers, screenshots, and released gameplay all seem to indicate that this is not a sequel to Dark Souls. It isn’t a prequel or spin-off either, and the best description for the game would be to call it a "spiritual successor" to Dark Souls.
Elden Ring is a spiritual successor in the sense that it’s a game which is inspired by another title but has little to no connection with its lore or narrative.
This isn’t the first time FromSoftware has used this model. The very first Dark Souls was a spiritual successor to FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Bloodborne, and Demon's Souls are all perfect examples of the model, with similar mechanics but standalone universes.
What has certainly caused further confusion is George R.R. Martin’s statement about his involvement with the game:
It appears Martin simply mispoke and likely meant to say that it was a "spiritual successor." Even Hidetaka Miyazaki has described it as an "evolution" for the Souls formula, building off what FromSoftware has done in the past. Unless the game reveals a secret connection in the future, it is its own closed-off world.
The game marks a return to high-fantasy weapons, magic, and somber gothic settings. The biggest difference, however, is FromSoftware stepping into open-world territory. This is a stark departure from previous titles that have all featured linear gameplay. To traverse the vast terrain, players now get their own trusty steed that can dash and jump.
Combat is as viseral as ever, and
Read more on sportskeeda.com
