10 Darkest Dark Souls Locations That Will Crush Your Soul

Summary

Dark Souls games feature tragic locations; Undead Settlement is exploited, Anor Londo is an illusion, Lost Bastille is tortuous.
In Dark Souls, Gutter is hopeless, Eleum Loyce is icy, Smouldering Lake shows demon downfall.
New Londo Ruins, Kiln of the First Flame, Filianore’s Rest depict despair, cycle end, desolation in the trilogy.

It’s well-known that the Dark Souls series is characterized by a very grim and somber mood. These games portray a perpetual cycle of powerful civilizations arising and crumbling, leaving their inhabitants as cursed, immortal undead beings. Many of the bosses you encounter were once noble leaders or deities, fallen from grace due to eternal desolation.

As a dedicated admirer, I can’t help but marvel at FromSoftware’s unique narrative style that has ignited countless debates among fans and critics. Yet, it’s their exceptional skill in environmental storytelling that truly sets them apart. Here lies a catalog of ten profoundly somber and heartrending locales within the Dark Souls trilogy.

Or, if you prefer a more casual tone:

Hey there! I gotta say, FromSoftware’s mysterious storytelling has got folks talking – fans and critics alike. But it’s their knack for environmental storytelling that really steals the show. Here are ten of the darkest, saddest spots in the Dark Souls series you wouldn’t want to miss.

10. Undead Settlement (Dark Souls 3)

A Pitiless Faith

Boss: Curse-Rotted Greatwood

In Dark Souls 3, The Undead Settlement stands out as one of the earlier locations, offering a stark contrast to the grandeur of the High Wall of Lothric. This humble settlement is unfortunately overrun with the undead, who are relentlessly exploited, tormented, and sacrificed by the dominating Cathedral Evangelists that roam the region.

In this destroyed town, numerous sacrificial fires and instruments of torment give a chilling depiction of life within the Undead Settlement. Even the optional boss reinforces this image; the Curse-Rotted Greatwood, once a mighty tree, is now swollen with the curses and despair of the townsfolk, transforming into a monstrous titan that crushes all in its path.

9. Anor Londo (Dark Souls 1)

Night and Day

Bosses: Ornstein and Smough, Dark Sun Gwyndolin

Upon entering Anor Londo for the first time in Dark Souls, players are unlikely to find it dreary. Instead, they’ll be greeted by the radiant, sunlit castles and towers that make Anor Londo a breathtaking architectural marvel. For many fans, this city may have left an impression of grandeur, seeming like an untouched paradise, perhaps the last pristine region on the map.

It’s clear that Anor Londo, which many have come to know, hides more than what meets the surface. Killing the benevolent deity Gwynevere unveils the truth: the radiant beauty of Anor Londo is a facade, a magical mirage created by the hidden god Gwyndolin. The real Anor Londo has been plunged into despair, darkness, and ruin for quite some time. This idea is further emphasized in Dark Souls 3, where it appears again, completely decayed and inhabited by a grotesque, deity-devouring creature called Aldritch.

8. The Lost Bastille (Dark Souls 2)

Endless Torment

Bosses: The Ruin Sentinels

The colossal and intimidating structure known as The Lost Bastille is a destination that adventurers must traverse during their mission to seize the soul of the doomed wanderer, the Lost Sinner. Similar to other undead entities, the Lost Sinner has been confined perpetually within this sprawling fortress, and as players battle through it, they’ll witness firsthand the harsh conditions endured by the inmates of the Lost Bastille.

Throughout the fortress, you’ll encounter mummified, enraged undead trapped within large jars, barely able to stir. Once they manage to break free, these creatures explode on touch with the player, showcasing the grim reality of how Drangleic coped with the persistent Undead Curse – a chilling depiction known as the Lost Bastille.

7. The Gutter (Dark Souls 2)

The Forgotten Dark

Boss: N/A

In a chilling resemblance to the original game, The Gutter is an underground slum, eerily reminiscent and dishearteningly familiar. Nestled under the primary hub of Majula, this grimy city survives by scavenging the discards and waste thrown from the residents above.

The gritty, despondent character of the Alleyway is underscored by its primary defense mechanism: armies of miniature statues that hurl toxic darts at anyone within their field of vision. These cunning defenses turn traversing the Alleyway into a genuine test of resilience, and impart in players a hint of the despair that its residents may experience perpetually.

6. Frozen Eleum Loyce (Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Ivory King)

An Icy Waste

Bosses: Ava, the King’s Pet, Burnt Ivory King

In the game Dark Souls 2: Crown of the Ivory King, adventurers are led to the chilling, frozen metropolis of Eleum Loyce. This city is trapped within a layer of frost and endures perpetual gusty winds. Regrettably, it’s deserted of friendly denizens, with numerous adversaries patrolling its icy thoroughfares now petrified in ice.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but ponder over the chilling tale of those who persevere through the frosty hardships, eventually uncovering the truth behind the kingdom’s icy plight. The ruler of Eleum Loyce, affectionately known as the Ivory King, willingly gave himself up to the harsh forces of chaos, transforming into the terrifying Burnt Ivory King in a selfless act to safeguard his cherished daughter Alsanna and the remnant of the Abyss she originated from.

5. Smouldering Lake (Dark Souls 3)

The Death of Demons

Boss: Old Demon King

In Dark Souls 3, I find myself exploring a world that’s nearing its final breaths, a grim testament to the decaying cycle that’s been unfolding across this trilogy. Places like the Smouldering Lake, once a fierce remnant of Ash Lake in the original Dark Souls, now lie desolate and dying. This barren wasteland serves as a stark reminder of what’s become of the series’ demonic entities, with the Old Demon King reduced to a pathetic husk, hiding among piles of charred demon corpses. In his desperation, he even attempts to snuff out his own flame in a futile attempt to vanquish me.

In the decaying halls of the once grand Lost Izalith, now a mere echo of its former splendor, clinging precariously to the edge of the Smoldering Lake, one can witness the remnants of a demonic race. These small demonic priests persist in following ancient traditions. Amidst the perilous presence of the Carthus Sandworm and the watchful eye of the massive ballista guarding the area, players can bear witness to the tragic end of the original Dark Souls world.

4. New Londo Ruins (Dark Souls 1)

Sinking Into Despair

Boss: The Four Kings

In the heart of every Dark Souls game, there’s an unrelenting, soul-crushing entity known as the Abyss that leaves me trembling in fear. Nowhere is its power more palpable than in the New Londo Ruins, a city submerged beneath the earth and teeming with ghostly inhabitants and the undead who’ve surrendered completely to the Abyss’s corrupting grasp.

In the New Londo Ruins, an encounter underscores the hopelessness that pervades this area. The Four Kings’ soul seekers must initially confront the Crestfallen Knight, one of the initial friendly NPCs encountered in Lordran. His state of hollowing serves as a melancholy and tragic portrayal of the inevitable fate shared by all undead, including the player character.

“One particular encounter in the New Londo Ruins highlights the desolation this locale inspires. Players aiming to claim the Four Kings’ soul will first face off against the Crestfallen Knight, one of the early friendly NPCs they meet upon arriving in Lordran. His hollowing state serves as a grim and poignant reminder of the ultimate destiny for all undead, including their own character.”)

3. Kiln of the First Flame (Dark Souls 3)

The End Of The Cycle

Boss: Soul of Cinder

The final scene in Dark Souls 3 unfolds at the same location where it all started: the Kiln of the First Flame, where Gwyn initially kindled the fire and where the original Dark Souls hero ultimately ended his suffering. In Dark Souls 3, the Kiln symbolizes the emotional and physical toll of the endless cycles of the Age of Fire. As the cycle persists beyond its limits, castles and cities merge into one another, hinting at their eventual collapse.

The shattered realm is delved deeper into in the DLC known as the Ringed City, where players are compelled to scuttle and battle through the crumbling remnants of what was once reality, on a mission to reach the Ringed City and the Dark Soul hidden within. This decaying relic of past civilizations serves as a powerful symbol of the desolate state that the world in the Dark Souls series has reached.

2. Blighttown (Dark Souls 1)

The Pits

Boss: Chaos Witch Quelaag

In the game Dark Souls, Blighttown stands out as the most infamous location, and justifiably so. This unstable townscape filled with precarious ledges, crumbling walkways, and deceptive jumps presents a challenging maze to navigate even without the constant menace of vicious mutants lurking in the shadows, ready to attack with their toxic substances. The pit’s bottom offers scant solace, as it is a poisonous marsh, providing players with minimal respite from the treacheries of Blighttown.

In this game, dialogue and descriptions portray Blighttown as an exceptionally uninviting and grim locale, even by the game’s already dark standards. Buried deep under the city’s sewers, it stands as the lowest point in a civilization that has plunged into darkness for a long time.

1. Filianore’s Rest (Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City)

A Desolate End

Boss: Slave Knight Gael

In the final DLC of Dark Souls 3, known as The Ringed City, appears to be a radiant utopia upon first sight, seemingly untouched compared to the world beyond its borders that groans and shudders in distress. However, this initial impression is partly misleading, as the lower levels are swarming with aggressive fly-men, and monstrous knights roam the streets. It isn’t until players reach Filianore’s Rest that they fully comprehend the extent of the desolation.

Awakening the mysterious character Filianore takes the player into what appears to be a distant future. In this last domain, everything has been transformed into an expansive field of ash that goes on for miles. The only other known life form, potentially the only one in existence, is Slave Knight Gael, who indiscriminately kills anyone he encounters in his desperate quest for the Dark Soul. The climactic ending of Dark Souls 3, and thus the entire trilogy, portrays two combatants battling amidst the ashes of all that once existed, striving for the possibility of creating a better world to emerge.

2025-03-13 17:36