Rock Paper Shotgun Dark Souls III Feed

enWed, 13 Mar 2024 13:53:30 +0000Dark Souls 3 overhaul mod inspired by Demon Souls gets demo release datehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-overhaul-mod-inspired-by-demon-souls-gets-demo-release-dateEd ThornWed, 13 Mar 2024 13:53:30 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-overhaul-mod-inspired-by-demon-souls-gets-demo-release-dateDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareMultiplayer CompetitiveRPGSingle PlayerModsMultiplayer CooperativeAction AdventureThird person

After almost four years in development, Dark Souls 3 mod Archthrones is set to release a demo on March 15th. If you were unaware of said mod, it's a Patron-funded expansion that puts Dark Souls 3 on an alternate storyline in a way akin to Demon Souls, with a hub area home to five gateways that'll transport you to five worlds. If there was ever a reason to return to Dark Souls 3, this is probably it.

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Dark Souls 3’s servers are offline againhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3s-servers-are-offline-againCJ WheelerThu, 22 Sep 2022 09:18:31 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3s-servers-are-offline-againStory RichDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsFantasyAction Adventure

I hope Dark Souls 3 rested at a bonfire recently, because its servers are down once again. FromSoftware confirmed that PvP multiplayer for the Steam version of the game had gone offline in a tweet, and said they’d provide an update once details were available to share. When I published this post, no explanation was forthcoming about what the cause of the downtime might be.

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Sony and Tencent buy almost a third of FromSoftware’s stock in joint dealhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sony-and-tencent-buy-almost-a-third-of-fromsoftwares-stock-in-joint-dealCJ WheelerWed, 31 Aug 2022 15:42:13 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sony-and-tencent-buy-almost-a-third-of-fromsoftwares-stock-in-joint-dealSonyDark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinDark Souls IIIStory RichFromSoftwarethe consolidation of the games industryTencentBloodborneRPGDark SoulsFantasySekiro: Shadows Die TwiceSony Interactive EntertainmentElden RingAction AdventureJRPG

Sony Interactive Entertainment and Chinese conglomerate Tencent have bought a combined 30% of stock in Elden Ring and Souls series developers FromSoftware, parent company Kadokawa Corporation have announced today. The transaction leaves Sony with a 14% stake in FromSoft, and Tencent acquiring 16% of the company’s shares. Kadokawa remain the largest shareholders, holding almost a 70% stake in FromSoft.

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Dark Souls 3’s PC servers are back online after seven months of downtimehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3s-pc-servers-are-back-online-after-seven-months-of-downtimeCJ WheelerThu, 25 Aug 2022 10:01:53 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3s-pc-servers-are-back-online-after-seven-months-of-downtimeDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGFantasyAction Adventure

Elden Ring devs FromSoftware have restored the PC multiplayer servers for Dark Souls 3, the studio has announced today. Servers were disabled for all Dark Souls games in January following the discovery of a security vulnerability that could affect anyone playing Dark Souls 3 online. Today’s restoration marks the first step in getting multiplayer back on track for the series on PC.

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Elden Ring should be safe from the security exploit which took Dark Souls PvP offlinehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/elden-ring-should-be-safe-from-the-security-exploit-which-took-dark-souls-pvp-offlineAlice O'ConnorThu, 10 Feb 2022 14:50:16 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/elden-ring-should-be-safe-from-the-security-exploit-which-took-dark-souls-pvp-offlineDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls IIElden RingAction Adventuresecurity

The serious security hole affecting PvP in the whole Dark Souls series on PC should not be a problem with Elden Ring, Bandai Namco have announced. In January, they took all Dark Souls PvP servers offline following the publicisation of an remote code execution exploit which let wrong'uns run commands on other players' computers. Some feared this hole might be present in Elden Ring too. Bamco now say that Elden Ring is fine, but those Dark Souls servers won't come back down until after FromSoftware's new game launches.

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All Dark Souls PvP servers are offline after security threat is discoveredhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/all-dark-souls-pvp-servers-are-offline-after-security-threat-is-discoveredEd ThornMon, 24 Jan 2022 16:53:38 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/all-dark-souls-pvp-servers-are-offline-after-security-threat-is-discoveredDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionDark Souls IIDark Souls: Remastered

As if Dark Souls wasn't dangerous enough already, Bandai Namco have temporarily taken every Dark Souls PC server offline following the discovery of a Dark Souls 3 security vulnerability that could harm anyone playing in online mode. A malevolent string of code threatens the many kingdoms of ash, so to speak.

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The Dark Souls 3 mod adding Sekiro weapons looks amazinghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-dark-souls-3-mod-adding-sekiro-weapons-looks-amazingAlice O'ConnorMon, 08 Mar 2021 13:41:23 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-dark-souls-3-mod-adding-sekiro-weapons-looks-amazingSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceDark Souls IIIMods

The stabbing worlds of Dark Souls 3 and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice come together in Blades Of Ashina, a DS3 mod which adds a number of Sekiro-inspired weapons. Mods swapping in weapon from other games are common, but these are full additions: they have unique moves, adding complex setups and combos with the speed and variety of Sekiro. Looks dead fancy. Come check out these sweet clips of upcoming murders with Owl's sword.

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The 9 best magic spells in PC gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-9-best-magic-spells-in-pc-gamesBrendan CaldwellFri, 31 Jul 2020 08:00:27 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-9-best-magic-spells-in-pc-gamesShooterFeatureStory RichDark Souls IIIBlockbusterDishonoredGwent: The Witcher Card GameIndieRPGDivinity: Original Sin 2PlatformerThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimNoitaDragon's Dogma: Dark ArisenOne Off The ListAction AdventureMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorStrategy

Hubbish bubbish, rhymes are rubbish, eye of newt and blah blah blah. Gosh, magic is a chore. If only we had a catalyst to... Oh, hello reader, what are you doing here? Well, as it happens, yes, you can help me out. Just stand over here while I scratch these runes around you. I’m trying to summon the 9 best magic spells in PC games, you see. Stand still, please. You won’t feel a thing.

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Hundreds of people are competing to finish Dark Souls without being hithttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/hundreds-of-people-are-competing-to-finish-dark-souls-without-being-hitNiall O'DonoghueWed, 22 Jul 2020 16:30:18 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/hundreds-of-people-are-competing-to-finish-dark-souls-without-being-hitFeatureDark Souls IIIBlockbusterDark SoulsDark Souls IITwitchInterview

Beating the final boss of a Dark Souls game can be an overwhelming experience. You reflect on your journey, the countless hours and failed attempts that led you to this moment, and a wave of emotion rolls over you.

The Twitch channel of Eric “McRaptor” Harper was host to a litany of these moments during the recent “Souls-4-Souls” (SFS) charity tournament that ran in late April. When you think of competitive gaming tournaments, Dark Souls probably doesn’t spring to mind. However, SFS featured 25 challenge runners racing through Soulsborne games as quickly as possible whilst trying to take zero hits. Thousands tuned in to watch.

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Mow down bosses with a boomstick in this Dark Souls 3 modhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/mow-down-bosses-with-a-boomstick-in-this-dark-souls-3-modNatalie ClaytonTue, 07 Jul 2020 20:33:26 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/mow-down-bosses-with-a-boomstick-in-this-dark-souls-3-modDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentModdingFromSoftwareRPGModsAction Adventure

What was your last build in Dark Souls 3? I'm partial to axes myself, though I've had a lot of success in moving to whopping huge greatswords as of late. For my next run, though, I think I'm gonna try something new - blapping my way through Lothric with a sawn-off, filling every undead goon on the walls with buckshot thanks to this ridiculous new mod created by Asasasasasbc.

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The most satisfying architecture in PC gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-most-satisfying-architecture-in-pc-gamesBrendan CaldwellFri, 06 Mar 2020 10:00:41 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-most-satisfying-architecture-in-pc-gamesInfraPuzzleStealthBioShockElite DangerousShooterStory RichDark Souls IIIOuter WildsIndieOne Off The ListFeatureWhat Remains of Edith FinchAssassin's Creed OriginsRPGDishonored 2HorrorControlAction AdventureSimulationResident Evil 7: Biohazard

If it's not baroque, don't fix it. Little architecture joke for you there, just to kick off a dry topic with a giggle. You see, appreciating architecture is for people in beige cardigans. Folks who subscribe to magazines printed on paper so thick you can still calculate the tree’s age. You know the type I mean. Spectacled couples with non-Ikea coffee tables. Thirty-year-olds. People like you! Here are 11 examples of very satisfying architecture in PC games.

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The 8 most shocking uses of electricity in gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-8-most-shocking-uses-of-electricity-in-gamesBrendan CaldwellFri, 07 Feb 2020 09:00:04 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-8-most-shocking-uses-of-electricity-in-gamesShooterFeatureOxygen Not IncludedDark Souls IIIHitmanStory RichRPGSimulationStar Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi OutcastDead Rising 4OverwatchYakuza 0Ace Combat 7: Skies UnknownOne Off The ListAction Adventure

Imagine a world without electricity. Horrible. What would we use to blend our smoothies? How would we know when uncle Derek hits the metal bit again in the Sunday game of Operation? Electricity has roughly one dozen uses, and yet it is in the realm of videogames when we see its most fantastical and offensive capabilities brought screaming to life. To celebrate the important role of sassy electrons in your otherwise mundane life of neutrons and - ugh - protons, here are the 8 most shocking uses of electricity in games.

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Modder Superior - Dark Souls Trilogy Remixedhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/modder-superior-dark-souls-trilogy-remixedDominic TarasonMon, 03 Feb 2020 17:00:02 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/modder-superior-dark-souls-trilogy-remixedFeatureDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareModder SuperiorRPGModsDark Souls IIAction AdventureDark Souls: Remastered

Dark Souls modders are forged in the flames of adversity. While mostly limited to technical improvements (such as Durante's fixes for the wonky original PC port) and small texture packs, the past few years have brought about a whole new genre of Souls mods for all three games. While limited in what can be added to the trilogy (though breakthroughs are being made on that front, too), it turns out that by creatively rearranging what's already there, you can get what feels almost like a new game. Today, we take a peek at a bundle of B-Side adventures across the entire series.

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The 8 coldest monsters in PC gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-8-coldest-monsters-in-pc-gamesBrendan CaldwellFri, 10 Jan 2020 09:00:45 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-8-coldest-monsters-in-pc-gamesShooterFeatureHer StoryDark Souls IIIMonster Hunter: WorldThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntAlien: IsolationIndieRPGHorrorThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimBioShockOne Off The ListSubnautica: Below ZeroAction AdventureSekiro: Shadows Die Twice

I have spent the winter holidays making a list, checking it twice, trying to find who is naughty on ice. But unlike the popular red-clad demon of the north, my list is reserved for terrors, demons and critters larger than 4 feet tall. I’m talking about cold monsters. They’re very chic this week. You see, while Nic has been battering majestic species of endangered giganto-moose in our Monster Hunter World: Iceborne review, I have been working hard to catalogue the frostiest freaks this side of video gaming. Here you go, the 8 coldest monsters in PC games.

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Podcast: What games did we change our minds about?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/podcast-76-games-wot-made-us-change-our-mindsRPSThu, 28 Mar 2019 18:00:46 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/podcast-76-games-wot-made-us-change-our-mindsFeaturePodcastDark Souls IIISpelunkyGetting Over ItStory RichVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2The RPS Electronic Wireless showYakuza KiwamiSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceThe Curse of Monkey Island

I heard you don’t like our podcast, the Electronic Wireless Show. But have you listened to 76 hours of it yet? Honestly, mate, it opens up after that. The 76-hour mark, that’s when it “clicks”. But I understand if you don’t have the time. Just skip ahead to this week’s episode, in which we’re talking about games about which we changed our minds. Listen in for the platformers we prematurely pooh-poohed and the Souls games that “sucked” before they were super.

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Have You Played... Dark Souls III?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/have-you-played-dark-souls-iiiDave IrwinFri, 15 Mar 2019 07:30:49 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/have-you-played-dark-souls-iiiFeatureStory RichDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareHave You PlayedPuzzle

It was inevitable that this would feature in a Have You Played article. Dark Souls III heralded the end of the wildly popular trilogy of punishing games, and it was the culmination of everything From Software learned over the Souls years. But of course, you probably knew that. You probably don't know, however, that according to the deep and secret lore of Dark Souls 3, one of the giant crab enemies is called Carol.

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Charity speedrunning marathon Awesome Games Done Quick 2019 starts todayhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/charity-speedrunning-marathon-awesome-games-done-quick-2019-starts-todayJay CastelloSun, 06 Jan 2019 11:03:12 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/charity-speedrunning-marathon-awesome-games-done-quick-2019-starts-todayDark Souls IIICharityCelesteHollow KnightSemblanceAwesome Games Done QuickGames Done QuickPortal

I hope you didn’t have anything planned this week, because speedrunning extravaganza Awesome Games Done Quick starts today at 4:30pm GMT.

If you’ve never tuned in before, AGDQ is a weeklong, 24/7 marathon of games, all played as fast as possible, while streaming on Twitch and raising a whole shedload of cash for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. What’s not to like?

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A guide to loving Berserk, the manga inspiration for the Souls gameshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-guide-to-loving-berserk-the-manga-inspiration-for-the-souls-gamesGiada ZavariseThu, 03 Jan 2019 17:00:01 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-guide-to-loving-berserk-the-manga-inspiration-for-the-souls-gamesFeatureBerserk and the Band of the HawkBlockbusterDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareBloodborneDark SoulsDark Souls IIKoei TecmoOmega ForceA Panel Shaped ScreenAction Adventure

You might have heard of Berserk already. A few people have pointed out the similarities between Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Souls series and the manga Berserk. Perhaps you’ve even gotten curious, toyed with the idea of getting into it, but without a clear idea of where to start. Or perhaps you got the impression that Berserk is not for you.

You may have heard Berserk is filled with violence, sexual assault, gore, grim characters and questionable content. And for the most part, you would be right. But at its core, Berserk is about love.

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Steam Charts: Aquatic Craniate Editionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-november-2John WalkerMon, 05 Nov 2018 16:00:30 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-november-2FeatureDark Souls IIIRacingThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntAssassin's Creed OdysseyRustDivinity: Original Sin 2Call of CthulhuPUBG: BattlegroundsDivinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive EditionFootball Manager 2019Grand Theft Auto VSteamThe Forest

There are weeks when the Steam Charts surprise us! There are weeks when interesting new and old games reappear, pushing out the dreary regulars! And then mostly there are weeks like this one, where it's so depressingly bland that it starts raining outside the moment you glance at it. Not good rain, just bland drizzle.

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The 100 best-selling games on Steam in 2018 so farhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/biggest-games-on-steam-2018Alec MeerFri, 06 Jul 2018 14:42:07 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/biggest-games-on-steam-2018NorthgardSurviving MarsHouse FlipperPlanet CoasterFinal Fantasy XIIMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarPath of ExileTotal War: Warhammer IIBorderlands 2SteamFar Cry 5Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: WildlandsFinal Fantasy XVTeam Fortress 2SmiteHuman: Fall FlatWar ThunderWarhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - MartyrNieR: AutomataA Total War Saga: Thrones of BritanniaSimulationSid Meier's Civilization VRustDeep Rock GalacticThe Elder Scrolls OnlineSlay the SpireFootball Manager 2018Payday 2WarframeNi No Kuni II: Revenant KingdomFactorioGrand Theft Auto VElite DangerousPaladinsDota 2StellarisSales figuresCall of Duty: WWIIDying LightNioh: Complete EditionRocket LeagueAssassin's Creed OriginsRimWorldTom Clancy's Rainbow Six SiegeBlack Desert OnlineSubnauticaCities: SkylinesJust Cause 3Arma 3statsHunt: ShowdownRaftFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm RebornTom Clancy's The DivisionSword Art Online: Fatal BulletSniper Elite 4Rise of the Tomb RaiderFrostpunkSquadDark Souls IIIThe Sims 3theHunter: Call of the WildEuropa Universalis IVGarry's ModJurassic World EvolutionThe ForestHearts of Iron IVDragon Ball FighterZEuro Truck Simulator 2Shadowverse CCGCrusader Kings IIBattleTechPUBG: BattlegroundsFallout 4Watch Dogs 2Counter-Strike: Global OffensiveXCOM 2Total War: WarhammerDark Souls: RemasteredDon't Starve TogetherCupheadFor HonorH1Z1Divinity: Original Sin 2NBA 2k18Kingdom Come: DeliveranceConan ExilesEcoDarkest DungeonArk: Survival EvolvedThey Are BillionsThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimDead by DaylightStardew ValleyThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntAge of Empires 2: Definitive EditionTerrariaThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VRWarhammer: Vermintide 2Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

We've just passed the half-way point of 2018, so Ian Gatekeeper and all his fabulously wealthy chums over at Valve have revealed which hundred games have sold best on Steam over the past six months. It's a list dominated by pre-2018 names, to be frank, a great many of which you'll be expected, but there are a few surprises in there.

2018 releases Jurassic World Evolution, Far Cry 5 Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Warhammer: Vermintide II are wearing some spectacular money-hats, for example, while the relatively lesser-known likes of Raft, Eco and Deep Rock Galactic have made themselves heard above the din of triple-A marketing budgets.

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Steam Charts: Stale Of The Century Editionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-july-2John WalkerMon, 02 Jul 2018 11:00:52 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-july-2FeatureCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntFinal Fantasy XVHorrorDivinity: Original Sin 2The ForestPUBG: BattlegroundsGrand Theft Auto VSteamJurassic World Evolution

I have reached a conclusion. Everything that's bad is the fault of Steam sales. Two weeks ago these charts had reached a place of being a fertile ground of interesting new games and discounted classics. Today, they're back to being mostly a miserably predictable list of games that even the undiscovered tribes of Papua New Guinea have on their Steam accounts.

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Up-res the sun! Dark Souls: Remastered prepares to livehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-remastered-release-dateAlec MeerThu, 11 Jan 2018 14:24:38 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-remastered-release-dateDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionAction AdventureDark Souls: Remastered

Whatever Dark Souls maestros From Software have planned for their next game proper is an only slightly-teased mystery, but here's some fine news to make our own souls ache less during that wait. Dark Souls, the original and greatest in the series (Bloodborne excepted) and also one of the best PC games ever, sez us, is getting a remastered edition.

Update: confirmed for PC on May 25 via Steam, with 60FPS 4K support. Hurrah!

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Steam Charts: Feedback Editionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-january-2018John WalkerMon, 08 Jan 2018 14:31:17 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-january-2018FeatureCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntAssassin's Creed OriginsArk: Survival EvolvedThey Are BillionsDivinity: Original Sin 2PUBG: BattlegroundsHuman: Fall FlatAction AdventureGrand Theft Auto VSteam

As the feedback loop of Steam successes reaches an ear-shattering scream, this week we see last year's best sellers dominating the New Year's first week. So I refuse to live in the past. Let's look forward. Let's imagine what we might want from these behemothic developers.

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2017 Steam Award winners include PUBG, Cuphead & Witcherhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-steam-games-2017Alec MeerThu, 04 Jan 2018 13:47:55 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-steam-games-2017The Witcher: Enhanced EditionCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveThe Walking Dead: A New FrontierBroforceWolfenstein II: The New ColossusBayonettaWarframeHotline Miami 2: Wrong NumberFactorioMount & Blade: WarbandRise of the Tomb RaiderGoat SimulatorCupheadLife is Strange Before the StormDark Souls IIIDota 2Middle-earth: Shadow of WarAbzuRed Faction GuerrillaIndieDivinity: Original Sin 2Path of ExileTotal War: Warhammer IISteamSaints Row 4Outlast 2To the MoonDoki Doki Literature ClubBlockbusterCall of Duty: WWIIHollow KnightThe Steam AwardsRocket LeagueAssassin's Creed OriginsThe Stanley ParableDishonored 2Titan Quest Anniversary EditionTeam Fortress 2I Am BreadGothic II: Gold EditionStardew ValleyCities: SkylinesThe Evil Within 2Garry's ModJust Cause 3NieR: AutomataSonic ManiaTransistorThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntCrypt of the NecroDancerSouth Park: The Fractured but WholeAlien: IsolationUndertaleCrusader Kings IIRustPUBG: BattlegroundsSenua's Saga: Hellblade IIAntichamberResident Evil 7: BiohazardPony IslandSlime RancherSid Meier's Civilization 6

We've already seen which games sold best on Steam last year, but a perhaps more meaningful insight into movin' and a-shakin' in PC-land is the games that people feel warmest and snuggliest about. To that end, Valve have announced the winners of the 2017 Steam Awards, a fully community-voted affair which names the most-loved games across categories including best post-launch support, most player agency, exceeding pre-release expectations and most head-messing-with. Vintage cartoon-themed reflex-tester Cuphead leads the charge with two gongs, but ol' Plunkbat and The Witcher series also do rather well - as do a host of other games from 2017's great and good.

Full winners and runners-up below, with links to our previous coverage of each game if you're so-minded. Plus: I reveal which game I'd have gone for in each category.

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These are the top 100 Steam games of 2017https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/biggest-steam-games-2017Alec MeerTue, 02 Jan 2018 19:00:01 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/biggest-steam-games-2017Rising Storm 2: VietnamNorthgard7 Days To DieWarhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IIIPlanet CoasterChartsMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarPath of ExileTotal War: Warhammer IIBorderlands 2SteamTom Clancy's Ghost Recon: WildlandsTeam Fortress 2SmiteWar ThunderNieR: AutomataSid Meier's Civilization VRustKilling Floor 2The Elder Scrolls OnlineSenua's Saga: Hellblade IISid Meier's Civilization 6Football Manager 2018Payday 2WarframeThe Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel UnlimitedFactorioGrand Theft Auto VElite DangerousPaladinsDota 2Tekken 7AstroneerStellarisCall of Duty: Black Ops 2FeatureCall of Duty: WWIIDying LightRocket LeagueAssassin's Creed OriginsDishonored 2RimWorldTom Clancy's Rainbow Six SiegeBlack Desert OnlineSubnauticaCities: SkylinesJust Cause 3The Binding of Isaac: RebirthDragon Ball Xenoverse 2Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm RebornTom Clancy's The DivisionWolfenstein II: The New ColossusSniper Elite 4Rise of the Tomb RaiderOxygen Not IncludedDark Souls IIIThe Sims 3Tales of BerseriatheHunter: Call of the WildMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorFriday the 13th: The GameEuropa Universalis IVFootball Manager 2017HitmanHollow KnightPreyEndless Space 2Garry's ModThe ForestHearts of Iron IVEuro Truck Simulator 2Shadowverse CCGSouth Park: The Fractured but WholeFarming Simulator 17Crusader Kings IIPUBG: BattlegroundsFallout 4Resident Evil 7: BiohazardWatch Dogs 2Counter-Strike: Global OffensiveXCOM 2Total War: WarhammerDon't Starve TogetherCupheadFor HonorNBA 2K17H1Z1Divinity: Original Sin 2NBA 2k18Conan ExilesDarkest DungeonDoomArk: Survival EvolvedThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimGrim DawnDead by DaylightStardew ValleyThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntAge of Empires 2: Definitive EditionTerrariaWallpaper EngineLeft 4 Dead 2Arma 3

Another year over, a new one just begun, which means, impossibly, even more games. But what about last year? Which were the games that most people were buying and, more importantly, playing? As is now something of a tradition, Valve have let slip a big ol' breakdown of the most successful titles released on Steam over the past twelve months.

Below is the full, hundred-strong roster, complete with links to our coverage if you want to find out more about any of the games, or simply to marvel at how much seemed to happen in the space of 52 short weeks.

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New From Software game - Bloodborne 2 , Dark Souls 4 or Shadow Tower?https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/new-from-software-game-2018Alec MeerFri, 08 Dec 2017 10:02:21 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/new-from-software-game-2018Dark Souls IIIFromSoftwareBloodborneRPGDark SoulsAction Adventure

A bone, a ratchet, a bloody rope, parchment - these are the clues in this short teaser-trailer for the next project from Dark Souls studio From Software. What do they mean? Oh, probably a metaphor for death and the afterlife - it usually is. In terms of what game could it be, well, knee-jerk reactions leaned towards Bloodborne 2 (for my money it's From's finest, but, o tragedy, the first game remains a PS4 exclusive), but that might be simply because of the aforementioned bloody rope. BB is generally a more gory sort of horror than DS, y'see.

Some, however, are looking deeper into From's past, theorising that the 'Shadows Die Twice' text after the footage could imply a return to Shadow Tower, From's 1998 PS One game which laid some of the groundwork for Souls.

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Steam Charts: Death Under Tunnel Bridgehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sept-2017-steam-chartsJohn WalkerMon, 18 Sep 2017 10:23:10 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sept-2017-steam-chartsXCOM 2: War of the ChosenFeatureCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIDishonored: Death of the OutsiderThe Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimDivinity: Original Sin 2PUBG: BattlegroundsGrand Theft Auto VSteamNieR: Automata

This week we finally learn who the killer is, but will the answer provide more questions than solutions? Read on for this week's hair-raising installment of... The Steam Charts.

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Steam Charts: Nantucket Editionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-july-2017John WalkerMon, 03 Jul 2017 11:09:29 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-july-2017FeatureCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIBlockbusterPlunkbatThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntDishonored 2PUBG: BattlegroundsSteamFallout 4Grand Theft Auto VMiddle-earth: Shadow of MordorH1Z1: King of the KillNieR: Automata

As we learnt last week, the Steam Summer Sale feels like the sort of thing that should enliven the charts. Nothing can enliven the charts...

Apart from me!

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Steam Charts: come on call chatbackhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/biggest-steam-games-mayAlec MeerTue, 16 May 2017 10:48:37 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/biggest-steam-games-mayShooterFeatureCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIDead CellsChartsDoomPreyPUBG: BattlegroundsStellarisStellaris: UtopiaGrand Theft Auto VSteamH1Z1: King of the Kill

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In their haste to make "soulslikes", devs have forgotten what makes Dark Souls unique - its level designhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/in-their-haste-to-make-soulslikes-devs-have-forgotten-what-makes-dark-souls-unique-its-level-designBrendan CaldwellMon, 24 Apr 2017 20:00:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/in-their-haste-to-make-soulslikes-devs-have-forgotten-what-makes-dark-souls-unique-its-level-designBound By FlameFeatureDark Souls IIIHyper Light DrifterFromSoftwareSalt and SanctuaryBloodborneHidetaka MiyazakiDark SoulsDevil DaggersRPGKentucky Route ZeroTitan SoulsMy Summer CarDark Souls IIRain WorldLords of the Fallen

I finally completed Dark Souls III [official site] last week, a world that I have been dipping in and out of between bouts of listlessness since its release in April last year. It didn’t grip me like the first revered Dark Souls, but it still made me sad to know it was all over. Where could I go now for my Souls fix? The answer, it turns out, is loads of places. The games industry is quietly reverberating with the series’ influence. From small games boasting “souls-like” combat, to bigger games doing weird things with death and player messages. Meanwhile, our PlayStation brethren got Nioh, which took the “pocket full o’ souls” idea and simply renamed them “Amrita”. There is a popular complaint that everything in the industry is now being compared to Dark Souls, and it's easy to forget that games embraced difficulty and strangeness long before the Bed of Chaos made you weep with frustration. Nevertheless, the mechanics and the tone of Miyazaki’s magnum opus is leaking into games everywhere.

That there's an influx of Soulsian disciples out there isn’t a problem to me. My problem is that they are learning all the wrong lessons. At least, they are neglecting the most important one. But first let’s look at what sly tricks are being lifted from the series, and who is lifting them.

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Steam charts: no funny businesshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-steam-games-aprilAlec MeerTue, 11 Apr 2017 11:00:21 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-steam-games-aprilCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIBlockbusterChartsArk: Survival EvolvedDishonored 2PUBG: BattlegroundsStellarisStellaris: UtopiaEuropa Universalis IV: Mandate of HeavenEuropa Universalis IVH1Z1: King of the KillNieR: Automata

He was a boy. She was a girl. Can I make it anymore obvious? He wrote the weekly Steam charts. She read them.

What more can I say?

Other than that these are the ten Steam games with the most accumulated sales over the past week, obv. See ya later, boy.

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Dark Souls 3 now concluded in The Ringed Cityhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-the-ringed-city-dlc-releasedAlice O'ConnorTue, 28 Mar 2017 09:59:59 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-the-ringed-city-dlc-releasedDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareAction AdventureDLC

Dark Souls has now concluded. Dark Souls 3 [official site] today launched its second expansion, The Ringed City. Barring a secret change of heart from the developers, this is the final expansion for the final Dark Souls game. The Ringed City delves into a lost city at the crumpled edges of the world to find... ah, you don't want me to tell you.

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Dark Souls 3 prepares for the end in Ringed City trailerhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ringed-city-dlc-launch-trailerAlice O'ConnorFri, 24 Mar 2017 15:16:06 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ringed-city-dlc-launch-trailerDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareAction AdventureDLC

This is nearly the end, one of my few friends, nearly the end. Tuesday will bring the launch of The Ringed City, the final DLC for Dark Souls 3 [official site], the final Dark Souls game. I can forgive publishers Bandai Namco for slinging out The Ringed City's launch trailer four days early because heck, what a run it's been. In a series about the endless ends of the worlds, this last one's sure to be a biggun. Spoilers follow, obvs.

A new patch is out today too, paving the way to The Ringed City.

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Don't watch this Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City trailerhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-the-ringed-city-gameplay-trailerAlice O'ConnorThu, 09 Feb 2017 10:50:16 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-the-ringed-city-gameplay-trailerDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentBlockbusterFromSoftwareAction AdventureDLC

Bandai Namco have released a new trailer for the final Dark Souls 3 [official site] DLC, The Ringed City, and I don't think you should watch it. It combines a load of gameplay clips showing locations, enemies, bosses, and other things that would surely be a lot more fun to discover yourself in-game. This is the end, my friend. The very last bit of Dark Souls as far as we know. Why flick a few pages ahead? I'll post it, for people who refuse to know better, but I suggest you instead brew a cup of tea. Don't click "Read the rest of this entry »". Off you go. Bye now. Ta ta.

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Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City DLC ends series in Marchhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-the-ringed-city-release-dateAlice O'ConnorMon, 23 Jan 2017 15:31:51 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-the-ringed-city-release-dateDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareBlockbusterDLC

The Dark Souls saga will conclude with the second and final Dark Souls 3 [official site] DLC expansion, The Ringed City, on March 28th. That's the release date Bandai Namco announced today. The Ringed City venture into a lost city at the end of the world, through a mish-mash of merged lands, with new enemies, new bosses, and at least one ↑ fancy egg. Here, have a peek at what awaits in this first trailer for The Ringed City:

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Steam Top 100 reveals 2016's money-making Steamershttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-top-100-chart-2016Alice O'ConnorWed, 04 Jan 2017 13:39:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-top-100-chart-2016ShooterTom Clancy's The DivisionCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntChartsDota 2Rocket LeagueXCOM 2Fallout 4Total War: WarhammerGrand Theft Auto VSteamNo Man's Sky

Valve capped off 2016 by revealing the year's 100 highest-grossing games on Steam, which is a pretty interesting list. If you've been following Alec's prolonged breakdown over the weekly charts you'll not be shocked by revelations that Grand Theft Auto V and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are near the top, but you might not expect them to be joined by the likes of No Man's Sky or the free-to-play Dota 2.

When I asked Alec if he fancied writing up this chart too, he began hissing "The Venga Bus is coming the Venga Bus IS coming the Venga Bus is coming to take me away ho-ho hee-hee ha-haaa" so you get me and my GIFs instead.

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Why Dark Souls 3's Aldrich is 2016's best bosshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/why-dark-souls-3s-aldrich-is-2016s-best-bossEdwin Evans-ThirlwellTue, 20 Dec 2016 21:00:02 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/why-dark-souls-3s-aldrich-is-2016s-best-bossFeatureDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareHidetaka MiyazakiAction Adventure

Warning! There are plentiful spoilers ahead for all Dark Souls games.]

You'll meet his acolytes first – giggling ogresses in matted, sagging corsets, their belts jingling with torture implements, and red-cloaked porters who shoulder cages full of chopped-up bone and flesh. Deep in Undead Settlement – an area you'll reach, in a portentous reversal of a key moment from the original Dark Souls, when two gargoyles carry you down the cliff from Lothric Castle – you'll find rooms hung with carcasses, neatly bundled up in sackcloth for transportation.

Beyond that there's the Road of Sacrifices, with its mutant carrion birds and its lone madwoman in rags armed with a butcher's cleaver, a road that takes you via the Crucifixion Woods to the grounds of a befouled cathedral. And then there are his rings, obtained from the colossal fusions of wolf and spider which haunt that cathedral – magical artefacts that impart a little of the master's terrible hunger to the wearer. Aldrich, Saint of the Deep. Aldrich the man-eater.

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The RPG Scrollbars: The Scrolls Of Honour 2016https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rpg-scrollbars-the-scrolls-of-honour-2016Richard CobbettMon, 12 Dec 2016 13:00:33 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rpg-scrollbars-the-scrolls-of-honour-2016Deus Ex: Mankind DividedFeatureDark Souls IIIBaldur's Gate: Siege of DragonspearThe RPG ScrollbarsThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntWe Are The Dwarves!RPGTyrannyFallout 4The Elder Scrolls OnlineSteve Jackson's Sorcery!

As mentioned last week, it's been one of those years. Lots of the biggest RPGs that we were expecting decided to spend a few more months in bed, or simply skip 2016. Can't blame them! It'll mean an awesome 2017, even if looking back there's only been a few big names to pick from. Still, tradition is tradition! This week, another year marks another set of the RPG genre's most fiercely fought-over fictional awards.

(Disclaimer: Actual fighting may also be fictional, all awards are based on the incredibly scientific principle of Wot I Think, awards cannot be exchanged for money, goods or services unless they too are entirely fictional. Please write all questions or complaints onto the back of a Myst CD using a Sharpie, break it into four pieces and bury them in interesting points around the globe for future treasure hunters to encounter, reforge, and then gag "Oh, god, Myst..." Or indeed, not. Completely your choice!)

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Steam’s Autumn sale has begun - here's some pickshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-autumn-sale-2016-best-picksBrendan CaldwellWed, 23 Nov 2016 20:31:40 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-autumn-sale-2016-best-picksTom Clancy's The DivisionXCOM 2BattleriteThe Witcher 3: Blood and WineFar Cry PrimalStory RichDark Souls IIIStellarisBlockbusterDoomFar Cry 4Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six SiegeStardew ValleyCities: SkylinesJust Cause 3Deus Ex: Mankind DividedThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntInsideAlien: IsolationDishonoredInvisible Inc.Sid Meier's Civilization 6

Aside from starting a new tradition of unusually-named Steam Awards, Valve have also pulled out their worn and adored bargain bucket and have begun to fill it with games you’ll enthusiastically buy and probably never play. Yes, it's their Autumn Sale. In the streets, the apocalyptic jockeying for TVs and blenders has started. The moon has turned blood red. And I looked and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Black Friday, and sales followed with him.

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Steam Charts: Now That's What I Call PC Gaminghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-novAlec MeerTue, 01 Nov 2016 11:50:31 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-novCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIChartsSimulationFarming Simulator 17Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2My Summer CarGrand Theft Auto VSteamSid Meier's Civilization 6Football Manager 2017

An altogether healthier chart than we've had over the last few weeks, even if the usual ghosts continue to haunt it. That was a spooky halloween reference. It's probably still Halloween in Tazmania or something. Even if it's not, there's definitely a hungover guy in a vomit-smeared David S. Pumpkins costume shambling down a street somewhere.

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Wot I Think: Dark Souls 3 - Ashes Of Ariandelhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ashes-of-ariandel-pc-reviewRobert ZakFri, 28 Oct 2016 16:00:49 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ashes-of-ariandel-pc-reviewFeatureDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareReviewsRPGWot I Think

Ashes of Arandiel is the first of two DLCs for Dark Souls III [official site], making it quite possibly the penultimate Souls adventure. We sent intrepid Robert Zak into the cold wastes of the Painted World of Ariandel to see how well it lives up to the mighty legacy of the series, and he returned a short time later stricken with frostbite. And wolfbites. Here's wot he thinks.

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Best Dark Souls 3 Modshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-dark-souls-3-modsJoe DonnellyWed, 19 Oct 2016 20:00:56 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-dark-souls-3-modsFeatureDark Souls IIIbest modsFromSoftwareRPGModsAction Adventure

Unless you've been hiding under a rock lizard for the past several months, you'll know the wonderfully twisted and challenging action role-player Dark Souls returned to our PC telly boxes earlier this year. With series director Hidetaka Miyazaki reinstated at the (knight) helm, the third installment isn't necessarily the best but is probably the most realised, and like its forerunners - and console cousins Demon's Souls and Bloodborne - it'll swallow you whole if you don't know how to handle it. And even when/if you do it rarely shows mercy.

Out next week, Ashes of the Ariandel marks Dark Souls 3 [official site]'s first of two proposed DLCs before the series is laid to rest, which seems like a good time to explore the mods which might, just might, make reading the words YOU DIED over and over and over again that little bit easier to stomach. If not, they should at least help you have fun doing so. Git gud or die trying.

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Dark Souls III: Ashes Of Ariandel Shows Arena Actionhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ashes-of-ariendel-pvp-trailerAlice O'ConnorFri, 14 Oct 2016 12:27:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ashes-of-ariendel-pvp-trailerAction AdventureDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareDLC

We've already had a peek at the singleplayer side of the first Dark Souls III [official site] DLC, which launches later this month, but what about the PvP? Along with a new hunk of singleplayer story, Ashes of Ariandel will add a bit to multiplayer too. Here, have a peek in this new trailer, which includes some serious-looking 3v3 arena action:

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Spoiler-y Dark Souls 3: Ashes Of Ariandel Gameplay Vidhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-ashes-of-ariandel-gameplay-trailerAlice O'ConnorWed, 21 Sep 2016 17:04:59 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-ashes-of-ariandel-gameplay-trailerAction AdventureDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareDLC

Dark Souls III [official site] will be the end of Dark Souls, as far as director Hidetaka Miyazaki is concerned, but we've still got two DLC story add-ons to come before it wraps up. The first of these will be Ashes of Ariandel, which is due on October 25th, and... do you want to know more about it or enjoy a surprise? If you fancy going in fresh, probably don't watch the new trailer released today. Its four minutes of gameplay show not much, really, until they show exciting spoiler-ish things that honestly I'd rather have seen fresh while playing. Be warned. For the bold, onwards:

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Steam Game Charts: Gut Feelinghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-bestsellers-augustAlec MeerWed, 31 Aug 2016 10:38:24 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-bestsellers-augustShooterDeus Ex: Mankind DividedCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntChartsAttack on TitanDead by DaylightGrand Theft Auto VSteamNo Man's Sky

I am ill today. It's my guts, you see. My Goddamned guts. Despite my imminent death by a thousand craps, I am duty-bound to bring you the regular round-up of what sold best on Steam last week. Think of me, won't you, as you wonder how many humans who don't yet own Counter-Strike: Global Offensive there can possibly be in the world, and lament the total absence this week of anything we might traditionally deem to be 'indie.'

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Dark Souls III: Ashes Of Ariandel DLC Coming In Octoberhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ashes-of-ariandel-dlcAlice O'ConnorWed, 24 Aug 2016 15:01:34 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-ashes-of-ariandel-dlcDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareAction AdventureDLC

We've known that two big story add-ons were coming to Dark Souls III [official site] and now the first is officially announced. Ashes of Ariandel will send the Ashen One to a new land to do the usual stuff: fight new monsters, duff up new bosses, jab at new lore, put on new hats, and learn a few new magic tricks. It'll launch on October 25th and, until then, here's a trailer introducing Ariandel:

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Dark Souls III Modder Fills Entire World With Crabshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-modder-fills-entire-world-with-crabsBrendan CaldwellThu, 21 Jul 2016 22:00:04 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-modder-fills-entire-world-with-crabsDark Souls IIIRPGcrabsMod

For years hardcore Souls bros have been faced with a problem. How do you make Dark Souls even more difficult, unsettling and frightening than normal? Some have resorted to 'one bro' runs, playing through the games in their pants, others to killing all the bosses as fast as humanly possible. But for one YouTuber, the answer was much simpler. Just add crabs. Lots of crabs.

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Salt & Sanctuary: A 2D Dark Souls That Doesn't Feel Enough Like Dark Soulshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/salt-and-sanctuary-reviewAlec MeerTue, 31 May 2016 16:00:50 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/salt-and-sanctuary-reviewFeatureDark Souls IIISalt and SanctuaryRPGDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionSka Studios

Everything I love about Dark Souls is everything that makes me want to scream in Salt and Sanctuary [official site].

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Stabbo! Dark Souls III Patch Tweaks Balancehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-patch-1-07Alice O'ConnorFri, 20 May 2016 20:41:35 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-patch-1-07Dark Souls IIIBlockbusterFromSoftware

Hallo there! Planning a spot of Dark Souls III [official site] this weekend, are we? Here, things might have changed a bit since your last go. From Software pulled a patch on Monday to fix hitches and freezes it caused, then re-released it on Wednesday, then today brought a brand new patch. This new one is mostly a balance patch, but does also improve matching for players in the Blue Sentinel and Blade of the Darkmoon covenants - good news if you want to scrap this weekend?

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2D Dark Souls: Salt And Sanctuary Arrives On PChttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/salt-and-sanctuary-pc-releaseAlice O'ConnorTue, 17 May 2016 20:10:10 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/salt-and-sanctuary-pc-releaseDark Souls IIISalt and SanctuaryIndieSoulslikeSka Studios

I realise that Dark Souls comparisons are now overused to the point of near-meaninglessness but Salt and Sanctuary [official site] is, like, really Dark Souls-y. It's a hand-drawn 2D side-on platformer, sure, but does so many Souls-y things from all its parrying and rolling down to needing to go reclaim your souls salt after you die. From what I've heard, it sounds great? Following its debut on PlayStation 4 in March, Salt and Sanctuary is now available on PC. Great!

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Some Reviews Of A Few Games I've Never Playedhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/some-reviews-of-a-few-games-ive-never-playedJohn WalkerTue, 17 May 2016 18:00:24 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/some-reviews-of-a-few-games-ive-never-playedFeatureDark Souls IIICall of Duty: Black Ops IIIRise of the Tomb RaiderSupporters onlyAction Adventure

One of the larger issues with being a games critic is having to devote time to sitting down and actually playing the games before you write about them. Finding the space in a busy work day of accepting bribes and secret meetings to decide industry biases is a nightmare, and anyway, you pretty much know what you think of a game from the box cover/Steam store page, right? Right. So let's stop pretending and get on with the sorts of straight-to-the-point honest reviews we're all really after.

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Dark Souls III Anti-Hack Patch Pulled To Fix Freezinghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-anticheat-patch-freezingAlice O'ConnorMon, 16 May 2016 15:13:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-anticheat-patch-freezingDark Souls IIIBlockbusterFromSoftware

A Dark Souls III [official site] patch released on Friday, intended to combat online hackers, has been pulled as it was also making framerates stutter. That wasn't intended, obviously. Wasn't another devious twist from those scamps at From Software. The stuttering wasn't tapping out a rhythm to reveal a secret boss, which players needed to repeat by bashing the Firelink Shrine bonfire with a broken straight sword. Nah, it was simply a bug. So From Software have pulled the patch, and plan to release a new anti-hacker update once this is sorted.

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Steam Charts: Demons And Soulshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-top-ten-mayAlec MeerMon, 16 May 2016 09:45:45 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-top-ten-mayCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIChartsDoomFinal Fantasy X-2Sid Meier's Civilization VStellarisTotal War: WarhammerStrategy

I say top ten, but there are actually only seven different games in the past week's Steam charts, once pre-orders and deluxe editions are filtered out. It seems like a lifetime ago that Stardew Valley and Factorio were doing a little indie rampage around the charts, as Steam's best-sellers have now very much reverted to big-brand type. Also: pre-ordering sure doesn't seem to be going away any time soon, no matter how unwise it might seem.

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The Final Fire: A Guide To Dark Souls III's Endingshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-final-fire-a-guide-to-dark-souls-iiis-endingsSteven MessnerFri, 13 May 2016 18:00:43 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-final-fire-a-guide-to-dark-souls-iiis-endingsFeatureDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPG

Dark Souls has always been an incredibly obtuse series, and Dark Souls III [official site] is living up to that tradition beautifully. With a cast of characters who intersect your journey and a backpack full of indecipherable items, only the most observant players will be able to put together Dark Souls 3's subtle clues to unlock the more interesting endings.

That's where I come in. Armed with spoilerific knowledge, I'm going to cast back the mist and lay bare all of the ways your unkindled self can find some kind of resolution in the transitory lands of Lothric. Deciphering what each of these endings mean is going to be up to you, I'm just the one who will show you the way.

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Dark Souls III's Poise Is Working As Intendedhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-poise-not-buggedAlice O'ConnorThu, 12 May 2016 13:40:29 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-poise-not-buggedDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareBlockbuster

"Dark Souls isn't about difficulty, y'know?" they say, backing you into a corner. "It's about mysteries and secrets, about observation and deduction." You consider smashing your bottle over the bar and driving it into their guts but ach, you've still a few sips left. "Do you know about... poise?" Ah what the hell, you need another anyway.

The poise statistic in Dark Souls III [official site] has been a mystery. Is it meant to, like in the first two, stop enemy hits making your soul man flinch? Why doesn't it? And how come folks can re-enable the old way by hacking settings? Is it bugged? Bandai Namco now say nah, it's meant to be this way.

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Steam Top 10: The Stars Your Destinationhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-bestsellers-mayAlec MeerTue, 10 May 2016 09:21:50 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-bestsellers-mayCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIChartsArk: Survival EvolvedBattlebornStellarisTotal War: WarhammerGrand Theft Auto VSteam

Well, more accurately it's The Souls Your Destination, but Dark Souls III being a chart-topper is old news now. This week's Steam shaker-upper is Paradox's intergalactic grand strategy title Stellaris - but one of PC gaming's oldest men takes up residence in the top ten too.

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5 Reasons Battlefield 1 Will Be Better Than Dark Souls 3https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/5-reasons-battlefield-1-will-be-better-than-dark-souls-3John WalkerMon, 09 May 2016 18:00:55 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/5-reasons-battlefield-1-will-be-better-than-dark-souls-3FeatureDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareBattlefield 1DICEAction Adventure

With this weekend's announcement of Battlefield 1 dominating the newsosphere, it put us to considering whether this could be the game to finally topple Dark Souls 3 from the top of things people will click on if we write a headline like that. It's okay, people don't read this bit - they start at 1) below.

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Facing Our Demons: RPS Discuss Dark Souls, Difficulty And Deathhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-difficulty-newcomerRPSFri, 06 May 2016 18:00:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-difficulty-newcomerFeatureDark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionRPS-o-chat

Dark Souls III is a favourite here at RPS, but it hasn't lit a fire in the hearts of the entire team. Recently, Alec jumped into the game, having observed the series from afar for some time, and shared his thoughts. He, Pip and Adam gathered to discuss the appeal of the series, and talked about its divergence from traditional RPG systems, the intimidation factor and the complicated nature of its much-debated difficulty.

Adam: Dark Souls III is probably going to be in my top three games of the year, despite the thousands of good games coming out this year. I’m continually surprised to see it selling quite as well as it does though, because so many people that I recommend the series to treat those recommendations as a form of sadism.

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Blindspots: A Novice Plays Dark Souls IIIhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-noviceAlec MeerWed, 04 May 2016 19:00:47 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-noviceFeatureDark Souls III

Blindspots is a new, irregular series in which I play games, series or genres that I have, for one reason or another, never spent significant time with. Sometimes that's because of simple omission, other times it's because I've deliberately avoided them - convinced that I wouldn't enjoy them or that they were poor quality. My intent is to play each for long enough that, at the very least, I understand their appeal in order that I no longer dismiss them out of hand, but ideally I'll reach the point where I break through the wall of ignorance or fear and love them as my own.

We begin with the Souls games, specifically the recent Dark Souls III. I have resolutely steered clear of this series because I have been certain that they would be too 'difficult' for me. Because I am a pathetic little babyman.

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Ridealong: The Underground Fight Clubs Of Dark Souls IIIhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ridealong-the-underground-fight-clubs-of-dark-souls-iiiBrendan CaldwellWed, 04 May 2016 18:00:13 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ridealong-the-underground-fight-clubs-of-dark-souls-iiiFeatureDark Souls IIIRidealongFromSoftwareRPG

When Dingle arrives at the circular ruins outside the old church, the first thing he sees is a man in a crown, holding a flaming torch - it is the man he must kill. But the crowned man shows no fear, he simply waves and beckons him over. Dingle is curious. He approaches with caution and looks into the grassy arena below, where he sees two dark spirits - red phantoms like himself - taking swings at each other. The man in the crown begins silently dropping glowing stones everywhere, one by one. There are two more red phantoms squatting on the stone ledge nearby, quietly watching the duel below.

Dingle (full name: Dingle Dongle) looks at the fight, then at the man he is supposed to kill, then at the spectators. Then he does something that more and more dark spirits in Lothric are doing. He puts his weapon away, he sits down and he waits his turn.

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Dark Souls Is A Metaphor For These Things ONLYhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-as-a-metaphorPhilippa WarrTue, 03 May 2016 15:40:30 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-as-a-metaphorDark Souls IIIBlockbusterFromSoftwareDark SoulsDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionDark Souls II

If I have learned anything from reading other people's opinions about Dark Souls it's that Dark Souls is probably a metaphor for something. But what? WHAT? There are so many conflicting opinions out there.

Well, that's where your pal, Pip (that is me), can help. I have come up with a definitive list of ways to interpret Dark Souls correctly:

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Steam Charts: Orcs, Orks and Urukshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-mayAlec MeerTue, 03 May 2016 10:00:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-mayBattlefleet Gothic: ArmadaCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveBlockbusterDark Souls IIIChartsRocket LeagueArk: Survival EvolvedFactorioTotal War: WarhammerGrand Theft Auto VMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

"These charts are supposed to be weekly, Meer." "I know, but I keep having to go away for unhappy reasons." "Oh OK, but you'd damn well better tell me what were the top ten best-stelling Steam games last week, or I'm going to spraypaint pictures of bottoms onto your house." "Alright, alright, here you go."

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Dark Souls III Boss Guide - Lore, Loot & Strategieshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-boss-guideMichael JohnsonWed, 27 Apr 2016 20:00:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-boss-guideFeatureDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionGuides

To many, Dark Souls III [official site] can be summarised as a boss stamping on a human face forever. We're here to help. This is a guide to killing all of the bosses in Dark Souls 3 but it's not simply a how-to-murder manual. It also takes a look at some of the sumptuous design and the patchwork lore surrounding many of the bosses, explaining who they are, what they leave behind when they perish, and why it's necessary to steal all of their souls. As such it's absolutely riddled with spoilers, as well as strategies and a sprinkling of silliness.

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Endgame: Why Dark Souls III Is A Fitting Finalehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-trilogy-endingRobert ZakMon, 25 Apr 2016 18:00:39 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-trilogy-endingFeatureDark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPGDark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition

Dark Souls III [official site] is a superb entry in From Software's series, and in both design and lore it feels like a fitting finale. Is it time to move on?

One day, many years from now, when I have a family that I hang out with by way of a VR headset while in real life we all fester in our isolated cubicles, I envision my future kid coming up to me in our shared virtual space and asking “Daddy, what was Dark Souls like?” At this point, I’d look wistfully out the virtual window at the setting sun (an illusion concealing the fact that in the real world the sun had set for the last time many years ago), and I’d say:

“Dark Souls, my child, wasn’t like all the other games. It didn’t play nice. It didn’t hold your hand, or make you feel loved or important, but it was, in many ways, the purest game series of all. It ended in 2016."

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Dark Souls Multiplayer Snuffed Out, Now Rekindledhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-multiplayer-offlineAdam SmithWed, 20 Apr 2016 10:10:32 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-multiplayer-offlineDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPGDark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition

The day that Dark Souls III [official site] arrived on Steam, the multiplayer functionality for Dark Souls I mysteriously died. No messages, no invasions, no human helpers, no ghosts, no bloodstains. Your world was no longer a vibrant place, riddled through with the lives (and deaths) of others. People spoke of deliberate closure, to cause a migration to the new game, while others thought servers had been moved from one to the other for less sinister reasons but with the same end-result.

Last night, the servers came back online, leading to much praising of the sun. But what actually caused the lights to go out in Lordran?

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How To Look Lovely In Lothric: A Dark Souls III Armour & Fashion Guidehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-armour-fashion-guideMichael JohnsonTue, 19 Apr 2016 18:00:17 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-armour-fashion-guideFeatureDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsGuides

We play Souls games for numerous reasons – the uncompromising challenge that feeds beautifully into themes of the series, the wonderful boss design and the world building that sees a gigantic Gothic labyrinth created for us to explore and die in. But we also play them because they allow us to look fabulous. Dark Souls 3 [official site] sees returning favourite armour sets with texture overhauls and new classics making their debut, while changes to the upgrade system means you’re freer than ever to swap between sets and pieces.

This guide will take you on a tour of some of the weird and wonderful armour sets to be found in Dark Souls III, with advice on where to find them. Whether you want to be the mad invader dressed like a Mushroom, or the terrifying samurai who took down a host with signature style, above all you want to leave other players asking - Who was that? And who do I have to kill to look like them?

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Dark Souls III Patch 1.03.1 Buffs Greatswordshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-patch-1-03-1Alice O'ConnorMon, 18 Apr 2016 16:02:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-patch-1-03-1Dark Souls IIIBlockbusterFromSoftware

A Dark Souls III [official site] patch launched today, and it probably doesn't do what you were hoping for. I don't what exactly your hopes and dreams for DS3 are, but I suspect they're a little loftier than a few balance tweaks and bug fixes. But if your Souls just updated and you're wondering what's going on, hey, it's this collection of things.

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Dark Souls' Uncompromising Design Leaves No Space For An Easy Modehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-easy-mode-2Adam SmithThu, 14 Apr 2016 18:00:13 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-easy-mode-2FeatureDark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionThe Witness

Dark Souls [official site] isn't for everyone in the same way that a bowl of piping hot broth isn't for everyone. Let it cool for a while, add some seasoning, and people might happily tuck in and enjoy, but if you expect them to eat it exactly as you would – whether that's by chugging it down in a few swift gulps or taking tiny sips long after it's gone cold – a fair few folks would rather have a nice sandwich instead. Nothing wrong with that. Nobody should have to drink soup through a straw.

Or should they? Given the cries of 'git gud' that greet many complaints about the difficulty – or inaccessibility – of Dark Souls, it's tempting to see those who love the series as precisely the sort of people who would chase you away from the bowl if you brought a spoon to the soup kitchen. “NO SPOONS” they'd shriek “YOU WON'T APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DON'T GET IT ALL DOWN YOUR CHIN AND THE FRONT OF YOUR JUMPER BEFORE YOU MANAGE TO SWALLOW A MOUTHFUL”

I wholly agree with these kitchen monsters.

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Dark Souls 3 Bug Makes Bonfires The Deadliest Threathttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-bonfire-crash-fixAlice O'ConnorTue, 12 Apr 2016 14:57:53 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-bonfire-crash-fixDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareBlockbuster

Dark Souls III [official site] launched last night and is, you'll probably not be surprised to learn, a mite wonky for some players. Problems reported include controllers not working, lower performance than expected, and the game crashing at bonfires. It's not clear how widespread these problems are, and publishers Bandai Namco haven't addressed them specifically yet, but for now players have figured out workarounds for some. Or, you know, it might be fine and dandy for you. Life is full of surprises.

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Praise The Sun! Dark Souls III Out Todayhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/when-does-dark-souls-3-unlockAlice O'ConnorMon, 11 Apr 2016 16:57:52 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/when-does-dark-souls-3-unlockDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareBlockbuster

Today's the day for Dark Souls III [official site]! This is a good day. Maybe you've read Wot Adam Thinks (spoiler-free!), maybe you've devoured every available scrap of Dark Souls III information, maybe you've tried to avoid as much as possible, or maybe you're thinking now might be a fun time to check out that 'Dark Souls' everyone is always going on about (I suppose you could also not care about it, not be able to afford it, or actively dislike it, which are also fine). I know technically it comes out on the 12th, but that's in Japan - half the world can play today.

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The RPG Scrollbars: Hollow Pursuitshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-difficultyRichard CobbettMon, 11 Apr 2016 12:00:28 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-difficultyFeatureDark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinDark Souls IIIThe RPG ScrollbarsFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionDark Souls II

Ever had one of those games that you just long to get into, but can't? There haven't been many I've wanted to get into more than the Dark Souls series. To sink into the world I see people talking about on my Twitter feed. To have that sense of discovery in ash and ember. For that crumbling world to feel like something more than just a succession of traps and gauntlets. I want to like Dark Souls. I really hope Dark Souls 3 is the clicking point. But... so far, (whispers) I've never managed to like Dark Souls.

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Why I Think Dark Souls II Is Better Than The Originalhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-ii-best-gameMichael JohnsonFri, 08 Apr 2016 18:00:08 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-ii-best-gameFeatureDark Souls II: Scholar of the First SinDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls II

It'll take a great deal of analysis to figure out how exactly Dark Souls III [official site] fits into the wider mythology of the series in terms of its tremendous, cryptic lore, and it might take even longer for critical opinion to decide where it ranks in the pantheon of Souls games. But we can all agree on one thing, right? Dark Souls is superior to its first sequel in almost every way.

Not Michael Johnson. Here, he argues that Dark Souls II changes and improves on the formula set by its predecessor and that it has the greatest expansions in all of gaming.

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Steam Charts: Death, Divisions and DLChttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-aprilAlec MeerTue, 05 Apr 2016 09:34:42 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-charts-aprilTom Clancy's The DivisionCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveDark Souls IIIChartsSteamFactorioFallout 4Action AdventureGrand Theft Auto VStardew Valley

I wasn't around to cover the previous week's Steam Top 10 as per usual, so you'll have to wildly imagine the shape of it yourself. I can take an educated guess if you like: I'm pretty sure Soldner was a shock number one, with Limbo of the Lost and Aliens: Colonial Marines hot on its heels. Strange that they're completely gone from the latest chart, below, but that's the fickle nature of the millennial digital consumer for you, innit?

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Wot I Think: Dark Souls IIIhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-review-pcAdam SmithMon, 04 Apr 2016 07:01:41 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-review-pcFeatureDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareReviewsRPG

Dark Souls III [official site] is almost here so if you haven't done so already, prepare to die. In this spoiler-free review, I'll explain how From Software's latest borrows almost as much from trilogy predecessor Demon's Souls as from the previous two games, and why I might be ready to say goodbye to the series, even though I've loved almost every minute of my time in Lothric.

In the moments when I’m feeling generous toward Dark Souls III, I’m tempted to say it takes the best of series-opener (and only non-PC entry) Demon’s Souls and mixes it with the best of Dark Souls I. That’s an argument I reckon I could stitch together.

There have been plenty of those moments, scattered across the tens of hours I’ve already spent with From Software’s latest, but there have been plenty of drawn out moments when I’ve felt as if both I and the series are going through the motions to an extent. To explain why that is, I need to talk about the aspects of the Souls games that I love.

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Early Impressions: Dark Souls IIIhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-pc-impressionsAdam SmithTue, 29 Mar 2016 16:00:34 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-pc-impressionsFeatureNamco BandaiDark Souls IIIFromSoftwareRPGDark SoulsDark Souls IIAction AdventurePreviews

Dark Souls III [official site] is already out in Japan but the rest of the world has to wait until April 12th. I received review code late last week and have spent a few hours kindling bonfires and carving my way through the early stages of the game. I've also, as you might imagine, died quite a lot.

Our full review will be closer to the international release but I wanted to share some thoughts about the opening areas, the PC version and the overall quality of what I've seen so far. No spoilers regarding bosses or locations.

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Early Death: Dark Souls III's Launch Trailerhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-launch-trailerAlice O'ConnorWed, 23 Mar 2016 19:07:56 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-launch-trailerDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareBlockbuster

Dark Souls III [official site] is out now-ish! In Japan. Sorry. But hey, we can still benefit from the release of the Japanese launch trailer, which uses English for voiceovers and its other languages, of music and ultraviolence, are universal anyway. It's pretty, and has me commencing my scripted descent into extended illness for the game's western release on April 12th. Observe, but be wary of minor spoilers and revelations:

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Dark Souls 3 Trailer Combines '80s Pop With Murderhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-true-colors-trailerJoe DonnellyThu, 25 Feb 2016 11:37:07 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-true-colors-trailerAction AdventureDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftware

Dark Souls 3 [official site] will be with us in less than seven weeks, and the footage we've seen so far has been pretty blooming terrifying. The latest trailer, backed by a hauntingly dysfunctional rendition of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors, offers another glimpse at life in the Lothric Kingdom. If, like me, you have "You Died" etched into the small section of your brain you've set aside specifically for From Software games, perhaps Lauper's Time After Time would've been a more suitable soundtrack to append all the inevitable death. Either way, it looks darn good.

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Dark Souls 3's Intro Cinematic Sends In The Lordshttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-intro-cinematicAlice O'ConnorMon, 08 Feb 2016 17:56:31 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-intro-cinematicIndieDark Souls IIIFromSoftware

We have to wait another two whole months until Dark Souls III [official site] arrives but hey, we can experience the opening minutes right this very day! The opening cinematic, that is. In blocky YouTubevision. It's a trailer. A trailer of the intro cinematic. You may wonder "Who are these monsters?" and "How do I murder them?" and "How many times will they murder me?" and "Who is this narrator anyway?" and "But really, is that an octopus made of sludge?"

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The RPG Scrollbars: The RPGs Of 2016https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rpg-2016-previewRichard CobbettMon, 04 Jan 2016 13:00:12 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rpg-2016-previewFeatureThe RPG ScrollbarsDark Souls IIIUnderworld AscendantTorment: Tides of NumeneraThe Witcher 3: Blood and WineSouth Park: The Fractured but WholeRPGWarcraft III: Reign of ChaosCamelot UnchainedGrimoire: Heralds of the Winged ExemplarDivinity: Original Sin 2Mass Effect AndromedaShroud of the Avatar: Forsaken VirtuesThe TechnomancerSteve Jackson's Sorcery!Final Fantasy IX

The holidays are now over, and it's time to get back to what matters - saving a million accident-prone fantasy realms from their own past mistakes, evil gods on the rampage, and all that pesky loot that they clearly don't have anything better to do with than stick it in barrels at the bottom of dungeons. This is why so many of them have no choice but to have bandit-driven economies. Shameful. Someone should Do Something There.

Here's some of the most exciting RPGs due in 2016. I suspect a couple may not actually make it to final release this year, but never mind - 'tis the season to be generous. In no particular order, then, some of the ones I'm looking forward to...

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Dark Souls III System Requirements Confirmedhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-system-requirementsJoe DonnellySat, 19 Dec 2015 18:00:54 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-system-requirementsDark Souls IIIBlockbusterFromSoftware

You've seen the latest in-game footage of Dark Souls III [official site], right? Or maybe you're saving yourself until its release? I won't ruin anything, then, except tell you what I'm sure you'd already guessed: it looks stunning. In an attempt to find out how to run Dark Souls III in the most stellar of settings, I tracked down Gwynevere, the Princess of Sunlight from the original Dark Souls. Given she deals with sunlight, I naturally assumed she'd be an expert on what I'd need to optomise Dark Souls III's visuals when it arrives in April. It turned out I was right.

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Prepare Yourself For Dark Souls III In-Game Footagehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-in-game-footageAdam SmithFri, 04 Dec 2015 16:04:47 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-iii-in-game-footageDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareRPGDark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition

If I hadn't already played Dark Souls III [official site] (and what a wonderful experience that was), I'd probably be avoiding any screenshots or videos. A self-imposed media black-out. Because I am a small part of the media, however, that'd involve knocking myself unconscious and staying that way until April 2016. I'll understand if you want to skip the four minutes of in-game footage below though. I'll understand if you want to be surprised by the new horrors on show.

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Prepare To Wait: Dark Souls III Coming In April 2016https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/when-does-dark-souls-3-come-outAlice O'ConnorThu, 17 Sep 2015 09:21:52 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/when-does-dark-souls-3-come-outNamco BandaiRPGDark Souls IIIFromSoftware

That headline's not me playing coy and trying to entice you into reading more of my drivel to find out a specific release date for Dark Souls III [official site]: "April 2016" is the release window publishers Bandai Namco announced in the wee small hours of the morning. I wish I could tell you a specific date so you could book the cat into the cattery, the kids into the nursery, and the nun into the nunnery, then skive off work, but no, you'll need to wait a bit longer to hear that.

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Dark Souls 3's New Combat Is Faster And More Fearsomehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-preview-gamescomAdam SmithTue, 11 Aug 2015 14:00:41 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-preview-gamescomFeatureDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareGamescom 2015RPGDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionGamescom 2022hands onPreviews

Dark Souls 3 [official site] is in the shadow of a giant. The giant probably has a wound for a face, not a single leg to stand on and spends his days dragging his torso around the ruins of a throne room. After one slightly uneven sequel, the Souls series has returned to the guidance of creator Hidetaka Miyazaki. Rather than replicating what worked so well four years ago, however, From Software are tweaking their design. The architecture of the world is immediately recognisable but combat is changing.

After half an hour with the game, I'm half-way convinced it might be able to step out of the shadow of its predecessors and find a new sun to praise.

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Here's Your First Look At Dark Souls 3 Gameplayhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-gameplay-trailerEmily GeraTue, 04 Aug 2015 15:35:19 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-gameplay-trailerAction AdventureGamescom 2015Dark Souls IIIFromSoftware

Like those guys who stand by the highway and tease uncoming traffic with such visual delights onlookers have nary seen before, Microsoft has unbuttoned its overcoat to reveal the first gameplay video for Dark Souls 3 [official site]. It's a tough visual metaphor to keep up so I'll leave it at that.

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Dark Souls 3 Announced, Miyazaki Directinghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-announced-miyazaki-directingJem AlexanderMon, 15 Jun 2015 18:28:49 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-announced-miyazaki-directingE3 2015Dark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareHidetaka MiyazakiDark Souls: Prepare To Die EditionHorrorDark Souls II

The leaked information about Dark Souls III [official site] is looking more legit now. The game was officially announced during Microsoft's E3 press conference today and, while some of the more granular specifics are yet to be announced, one thing has been confirmed. Legendary director Hidetaka Miyazaki is back in the driving seat for this one when it launches in early 2016. I guess that's actually two things.

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Rumour: Dark Souls 3 Coming In 2016, PC Release Hazyhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-leaked-details-pc-releaseEmily GeraSun, 07 Jun 2015 09:00:10 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dark-souls-3-leaked-details-pc-releaseDark Souls IIIBandai Namco EntertainmentFromSoftwareLeaksRPGrumoursDark Souls II

Dark Souls 3 is apparently well underway in the workpits of From Software, according to leaked materials bearded NerdBro YouTube news channel The Know have seen. Screenshots, concept art and gameplay info are detailed in a new video from the crew, but it's all vague enough that the fate of the PC version is thrown into confusion by one little word.

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