Whether it’s because of their difficulty, narrative, bosses, settings, soundtracks, or level designs, theSoulsborne titleshave become a staple of modern video games.
In addition,FromSoftware’s works are also popular thanks to their unique online gameplay, through which you can invade other players' worlds as an enemy or, more importantly, as an ally.
10 Best Souls-likes For Beginners
Luckily, not every game in the genre is brutally difficult, and there are some that can get you integrated with it a bit more smoothly.
Therefore, co-op inSouls,Bloodborne, andElden Ringhas been key to the success of each game. However, some entries have done it better than others, with elements like accessibility, fun, and relevance being the major factors definingour ranked list of every Soulsborne co-op experience.
6Bloodborne
The Eternal Waiting Room
Bloodborne
Bloodborneis often regarded as one of the best FromSoftware games of all time, having some of thefinest lore, worldbuilding, and gameplay of all the series.But that doesn’t include its multiplayer.
10 Most Annoying Boss Runs In Soulsborne Games
Sometimes, the boss battle isn’t the thing we dread most
With inexplicably long waiting times,the central problem of the game’s co-op was directly being able to play. Bloodborne’s online function was cleaner and better elaborated than previous iterations, but hours could pass until you finally found a friend or any user to play with.
Plus, by changing the original summoning signs for bells,the simple act of acknowledging another player’s presence was harder and less intuitive, emphasizing its lack of accessibility and forcing users to prefer to play Bloodborne by themselves.
5Demon’s Souls
Flawed, But Promising
Demon’s Souls
Demon’s Soulslaid the foundations of the philosophy that FromSoftware would follow with each new release after 2009, offering an innovative system that created many amazing online moments.
Despite this,the overall functionality of the game was rough and obscure, with wide margins for improvement.
Between having to die to be summoned, balancing problems, and actually getting invited by a friend and not a stranger because of its lack of explicit in-game matchmaking, the multiplayer had its struggles.
Of course, other installments later capitalized on the fundamentals Demon’s Souls formed, and even its remake of 2020 had a more polished approach, butthe flawed basics still tainted the otherwise great experience.
4Dark Souls
A Huge Step Forward
Dark Souls
Dark Soulstook its predecessor’s exoskeleton and upgraded it in every aspect. From itsamazing tutorialto its smoother mechanics, the game was an integral step forward, and that includes its co-op features.
With the introduction ofCovenants, the multiplayer gained huge depth both in narrative and gameplay, creating memorable and natural interactions that would exponentially popularize the franchise.
Also, it implemented a password function for exclusive summoning and included special rewards for playing online, establishingan exceptional systemthat, even with its flaws, is still held in high regard.
3Elden Ring
Experienced Refinement
Elden Ring
As the most recent title on the list,Elden Ring’s multiplayer system is the most curated one. With over 10 years of knowledge of online gaming, FromSoftware already knows its dos and don’ts, so the co-op experience is excellent.
Certainly, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its deficiencies. Being restricted to certain areas, only having up to four players, or not being able to ride your horse are unfortunate issues, butit is still the refined cooperative adventure that every Souls fan has wanted since Demon’s Souls.
Besides, part of its level and enemy designs are made with multiplayer in mind, which makes co-op play a more suitable alternative than ever, especially givenhow hard the bosses can be.
2Dark Souls 3
Ending The Trilogy in Style
Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3is the culmination of the series' quest for absolute refinement, and not even co-op could escape FromSoftware’s determination to developthe ultimate Souls experience.
Dark Souls 3: 10 Best Boss Weapons, Ranked
Here are the best boss weapons you should be looking to craft in Dark Souls 3.
With the practice of the first entries, the lessons learned afterBloodborne, and the game’s overall utmost quality, it’s practically impossible to hold anything against its multiplayer, asit’s remarkable on every analyzable front.
If you think about Covenants, connectivity, accessibility, and the overall fun factor, you will conclude that Dark Souls 3 is thebest co-op experienceof Soulsborne games. Unless you are a true, cultured Souls fan like me.
1Dark Souls 2
Co-op Slave, Co-op King
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
Unlike every other game on the list,Dark Souls 2relied on its multiplayer to be likable to an immense number of players who, otherwise, couldn’t have tolerated the experience.
The crowded areas, the multiple dual bosses, and even specific sections of its DLC weredesigned with a focus on cooperative gameplay.More than ever,FromSoftware wanted people to experience the game with friends and designed everything around this—maybetoo much, but still.
With the enhanced importance of Covenants, servers that hardly let players down, almost perfect connectivity, and a community that embraced its online mode as the main reason to tolerate the game’s flaws,Dark Souls 2became dependent on its co-op,but it also dominated it as a whole.
