Bloodborne at 10: Why 2025 is the Perfect Time to Start Over!

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While nothing official has risen to mark the occasion, the tenth anniversary of Bloodborne has arrived. First released in North America on March 24, 2015, Bloodborne quickly gained acclaim as one of the best games FromSoftware had ever made. Even 10 years later, with Elden Ring eclipsing its sales and other FromSoftware titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice winning awards, Bloodborne is still noted as some players’ favorite Souls game, and there are plenty of reasons why this is the case.

In its day, Bloodborne was already notable for being a major shake-up compared to FromSoftware’s spree of fantasy Souls titles, proving that the action-RPG subgenre it pioneered can work in vastly different settings with a wide array of mechanics. The gothic Victorian streets of Yharnam have their own unique appeal that has been aspired to, but never surpassed, by other Soulslikes, and Bloodborne‘s faster-paced combat remains thrilling and surprisingly accessible. Despite reaching ten years of age while staying exclusive to the PlayStation 4, Bloodborne‘s strengths shine through even now, and they’re worth revisiting in the current year.

The Only Way To Experience Bloodborne Is To Play It As-Is

Ironically, one of the best reasons to start a new Bloodborne save file in 2025 is because of its lack of official prospects. Sony, PlayStation, and FromSoftware have not announced any new releases, follow-ups, or major tie-in products for Bloodborne’s tenth anniversary, and even went as far as taking down a couple of well-known Bloodborne fan projects in its lead-up. With PS4 emulation still being improved upon and too intensive for most PC owners, PS4 and PS5 remain the two places to consistently play the original Bloodborne release, but that does at least mean it’s widely accessible.

Ten Years In, Bloodborne’s Community Remains Healthy And Supportive

Because of that, the tight-knit Bloodborne fandom can remain in solidarity, and can continue supporting each other’s efforts to enjoy this one-of-a-kind game. A yearly “Return To Yharnam” event is hosted by Bloodborne fans from March 24 to April 7, and it is meant to rejuvenate online play by encouraging New Game co-op and messages around Lamps. It’s meant to encourage new players to jump on, as well as give veterans a chance to recapture the feeling of playing through the game the first time around. With how important a sense of community is to FromSoftware’s Soulslikes, it’s a great way to experience this aspect of the game so late in its life, as well as hook up with online gathering places for fans.

Bloodborne Is A Soulslike Trail-Blazer

A game like Bloodborne wouldn’t be worth returning to if it didn’t stand out, and fortunately, it still does. Bloodborne’s commitment to a rare gothic aesthetic and high-speed action has inspired several notable imitators, like Thymesia and Lies of P, but Bloodborne remains consistently viewed as the complete package. Deftly weaving Bloodborne’s gothic, Victorian, and horror motifs together would have made for a memorable setting even without a Lovecraftian twist partway through, and even without Rally healing and gun parries, Bloodborne’s mobility would still have become a touchstone that lightweight builds as recent as Elden Ring Nightreign’s Duchess are calling back to.

Bloodborne’s Tail-End Is Uniquely Compelling

Though Lies of P and its Overture DLC have successfully escaped Bloodborne‘s shadow in some fans’ eyes, the old master still has unique advantages that its star pupils haven’t grasped. Not only is Bloodborne’s balance of themes and gameplay still altogether distinct, it has a better inherent endgame experience than most of its peers. New Game+ cycles are present as expected, but Bloodborne also boasts the Chalice Dungeons as a strong motivation for invested players to keep delving deeper. Although that aspect won’t be for everyone, it’s another reason why Bloodborne is worth replaying after a decade.

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2025-03-16 14:05