Pick my 1st Soulsborne: Demon’s Souls (PS5) or Bloodborne (PS4 on PS5)

[ngower]

I'll preface that I played like two hours of Bloodborne way back when but I am largely starting from scratch. I've played action RPGs with similar, albeit less brutal, combat (GoW; MH:W, etc). I have reservations about the frustrating parts of the games but I feel like I need to really give it a go.

If you're in my shoes what do you start with?

 

[Theswweet]

Start with the OG, Demon's Souls.

 

[Tbm24]

Demons Souls is a more structured experience IMO that for me, makes it a more enjoyable game to play than Bloodborne was. I also prefer the setting if I'm honest.

 

[fontguy]

Which setting do you like more?

 

[Zukuu]

Demon's Souls -> Bloodborne is the way better experience than the other way around.

Bloodborne is faster paced and Demon's Souls level structure is easier to get into.

 

[Failburger]

Playing Bloodborne first bat make Demons Souls way too easy in comparison.


But Bloodborne is easily the better game.

 

[PaulLFC]

Do you have PS+?

If so, Bloodborne is "free" as part of the PS Plus Collection, so I'd say try that first and see if you like it.

 

[exodus]

Demon's Souls is far more archaic, frustrating, and punishing.

Go with BB if you can put up with the technical issues. Dark Souls 1 or 3 on PS5 otherwise maybe?

 

[Deleted member 79058]

Wait for a price drop on Demon's Souls and play Bloodborne for now. It's the better game (based on my experience with Demon's Souls on PS3) and it's not a remake that costs US$70.

 

[Zealuu]

I'd rate BB as the better game, but still suggest you start with Demon's Souls. If you enjoy Demon's Souls you may be more forgiving towards the (still bad) performance of Bloodborne. Oh to play BB at a stable 60fps

 

[LegalEagleMike]

If you play bloodborne first you will end up coasting thru demons souls. Might as well embrace the shiny remake since it started the formula.

 

[Deleted member 3017]

It doesn't really matter. They're both great. Dark Souls Remastered would also be a perfectly fine place to start.

 

[Pascal]

I say go for Demon's Souls then Bloodborne.

 

[Killthee]

Demons souls is slower and I'd say harder to get into after playing a faster paced game like BB.

 

[sn00zer]

I always say dark Souls remastered as it does a much better job than any other Souls game of showing you the ropes.

 

[Rosebud]

You can get Bloodborne for "free" at PS+, so...

 

[Acquiesc3]

Demon's Souls 1-1 is really where everyone needs to point anyone interested in souls. And I've been saying this even before the ps5 remake.

It's a masterpiece in game design and really sets up what to expect for the rest of the series.

 

[SoulsHunt]

Demon's Souls then Bloodborne.

 

[AuthenticM]

yeah go with Demon's Souls. Not only is it easier, it's shorter.

 

[Stat]

Sorry to piggyback on OP, but in terms of difficulty. Where do people rank the below from hardest to easiest? ?

• Sekiro
• Dark Souls 3
• Bloodborne
• Demon's Souls

Optional? Hollow Knight. I am struggling like crazy in hollow knight and not sure I want to play two very difficult games in a row?

 

[NightShift]

Just do what ever one interests you more. There's no wrong choice.

Personally I tried to get into Dark Souls 1 & 2 but couldn't get into them at all. It wasn't until Bloodborne where I understood how these games work and I'm convinced it was simply because my love for the setting gave me the motivation I needed.

 

[WebSwingKing]

After 60 fps on demons ps5 bloodborne may be rough. I love bloodborne, probably even more than demons souls but damn it runs pretty badly. I'm other words id probably go bloodborne first.

 

[Nimby]

Play them in release order:

Demon's Remake, Dark Souls Remastered, DSII Scholar of the First Sin, Bloodborne, Dark Souls III

 

[DarkLegion]

I hated all souls games but then Bloodborne made em click for me and it's my favorite game. Gonna recommend that first!

 

[MavFan619]

Both but you have a PS5 and want to see what a beautiful game that's also a stone cold classic, still both but Demon's first.

 

[raketenrolf]

Hi with Demons Souls and wait a bit if they announce a remaster or a 60fps patch for BB.

 

[Brazil]

Play Bloodborne first because you'll suffer if you try going back to sub-30 fps after Demon's Souls.

 

[Ruisu]

Bloodborne is still the best souls game by far, begin with that.

 

[Edge]

Demons Souls. It's where it all started and where the original concept, to a certain degree, works the absolute best and just poures his Magic everywhere once you're in it.

In many elements and designs Bloodborne actually feels like an evolution of the original Demons Souls and actually has more in common with that instead of the Dark Souls titles.

 

[xeroborn55]

Dark Souls Remastered was the first one i beat. Really showed me whats special about the series.

I would give them both an hour or two and see which one grabs you more.

Bloodborne is easily my favorite game ever made. Besides the performance its a staggering achievement.

 

[Deleted member 49319]

Bloodborne.
It will be hard to go back to Bloodborne's 30 fps experience after Demon's Souls.
It's also much cheaper.

 

[daveo42]

Bloodborne is the easier game for a person new to the games as it focuses a bit more on movement and aggression, allowing you to get in and out of any situation fairly fast and make up for some hits by getting some health back in the process.

It's not easy by any stretch, but I found it more easy to get into and get better at than I ever had with the Souls games in general.

 

[DorkLord54]

Demon's Souls. Even with the changes, it's still the OG Souls game, and it has a performance mode so you can run it at 60+ fps instead of ~35 w/ Bloodborne.

 

[KomandaHeck]

If you've just forked out for a PS5, play Demon's Souls. You won't die going back to sub-30fps in Bloodborne and it's the better game.

 

[d1amonddogs]

I just started my first with Demon's Souls on ps5 last night. I was expecting to be put off by the difficulty (i've only tried a small bit of Dark Souls II before this & didn't like it) - but man, I love it so far. Just beat the Tower Knight. Moving on to Bloodborne right after this.

 

[The Lord of Cereal]

Demon's Souls. Bloodborne is over rated and runs like absolute hell. I'm sure there's a good game in there somewhere, but it ain't available for us. Meanwhile Demon's Souls (going off the PS3 original I played through earlier this year via emulation at 4k60) is probably the most fun and beginner friendly Souls game. Not to mention it will be a graphical showcase game on your new PS5

 

[Oreiller]

Demon's Souls has a better difficulty curve but Bloodborne is cheaper. Bloodborne also has better exploration and lore if that's what you're after.

 

[CHC]

Demon's Souls baby

Never been a better time to start from the start!

 

[Beth Cyra]

Sorry to piggyback on OP, but in terms of difficulty. Where do people rank the below from hardest to easiest? ?

• Sekiro
• Dark Souls 3
• Bloodborne
• Demon's Souls

Optional? Hollow Knight. I am struggling like crazy in hollow knight and not sure I want to play two very difficult games in a row?

Click to shrink...

DS3 Ringed City > Bloodborne > DS3 > DeS for NG.

DeS's jump in NG+ always seems harsher then 3/BB though.

Skipped Sekiro so not sure on it.

Also voted BB, better game and the art is gorgeous. However going back to 30 FPS for these games sucks, so save DeS for second.

 

[Karlinel]

Bloodborne has the better art, atmosphere and gameplay.
DeS Remake has fluidity, eye candy and easier to follow level progression, plus build variety and ez mode.
For my money, BB is the best, but DeS is a better entry.

 

[MegaSackman]

Go Demon's and wait for a Bloodborne remaster... it has to happen, right?

 

[Laurentius]

I would start with Demon's Souls, because there's a good chance either a Bloodborne Remaster or at least a 60FPS Bloodborne PS5 patch are coming before too long.

 

[KernelC]

Demon's Souls, you can actually make it easier.

Bloodborne's performance is rough and absolutely undeniably brutally difficult. However, Bloodborne is the better game

 

[Animismus]

Bloodborne. Get a cheaper Demon souls later

 

[Wander_]

dark souls remastered.

 

[Acquiescence]

Play Demon's Souls now, play Bloodborne later when it gets the remastered treatment for PS5.

 

[TripleBee]

There's no way there won't be a Bloodborne rerelease/update this gen. So Demon's souls first - wait on Bloodborne.

 

[PK_Wonder]

I'm a "save the best for last" kind of guy when it comes to franchises that aren't direct sequels like this.

With that said, I don't know the answer to that yet because I'm largely going into both blind myself.

 

[CaptainBojangles]

If you want to play it all, my personal recommendation for play order would be:

Demon's Souls PS3 -> Demon's Souls 2020 -> Dark Souls-> Dark Souls II -> Dark Souls III -> Bloodborne -> Sekiro

Bloodborne and Demon's Souls are very different games and I liked Demon's Souls a lot having played every other game before it, but I don't think Bloodborne -> Demon's Souls would be a great transition if you haven't played at least Dark Souls.

 

[ArchStanton]

I'd actually play Bloodborne first. The 60fps on Demon's Souls will spoil you.

Even though Bloodborne is the more complex and aggressive game, it'll feel jankier in comparison to Demon's Souls PS5 because of that frame rate.