Dark Souls III cover art

Dark Souls III

by FromSoftware · published by Bandai Namco Entertainment

Released March 24, 2016 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Dark Souls III Launch Trailer thumbnail

About Dark Souls III

Dark Souls III is an action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Released in March 2016, it is the fourth entry in the Souls series and the final instalment in the Dark Souls trilogy. Set in the decaying kingdom of Lothric, players take on the role of the "Ashen One," an undead warrior tasked with rekindling the First Flame to prevent the world from falling into darkness. The game features challenging combat, intricate level design, and a deep, lore-rich narrative.

Set in the Kingdom of Lothric, a bell has rung to signal that the First Flame, responsible for maintaining the Age of Fire, is dying out. As has happened many times before, the coming of the Age of Dark produces the undead: cursed beings that rise after death. The Age of Fire can be prolonged by linking the fire, a ritual in which great lords and heroes sacrifice their souls to rekindle the First Flame. However, Prince Lothric, the chosen linker for this age, abandoned his duty and decided to watch the flame die from afar. The bell is the last hope for the Age of Fire, resurrecting previous Lords of Cinder (heroes who linked the flame in past ages) to attempt to link the fire again; however, all but one Lord shirk their duty. Meanwhile, Sulyvahn, a sorcerer from the Painted World of Ariandel, wrongfully proclaims himself Pontiff and seizes power over Irithyll of the Boreal Valley and the returning Anor Londo cathedral from Dark Souls as a tyrant. The Ashen One, an Undead who failed to become a Lord of Cinder and thus called an Unkindled, rises and must link the fire by returning Prince Lothric and the defiant Lords of Cinder to their thrones in Firelink Shrine. The Lords include the Abyss Watchers, a legion of warriors sworn by the Old Wolf's Blood which linked their souls into one to protect the land from the Abyss and ultimately locked in an endless battle between each other; Yhorm the Giant, who sacrificed his life for a nation conquered by his ancestor; and Aldrich, who became a Lord of Cinder despite his ravenous appetite for both men and gods. Lothric was raised to link the First Flame but neglected his duties and chose to watch the fire fade instead. Once the Ashen One succeeds in returning Lothric and the Lords of Cinder to their thrones, they travel to the ruins of the Kiln of the First Flame. There, they encounter the Soul of Cinder, an amalgamation of all the former Lords of Cinder. Upon defeat, the player can attempt to link the fire or access three other optional endings unlocked by the player's in-game decisions. These include summoning the Fire Keeper to extinguish the flame and begin an age of Dark or killing her in a sudden change of heart. A fourth ending consists of the Ashen One taking the flame for their own, becoming the Lord of Hollows.

Release dates by platform

PCApril 12, 2016 · Out now
PlayStation 4April 12, 2016 · Out now
Xbox OneApril 12, 2016 · Out now

Reviews & players

Critic score8626 reviews
Steam reviewsVery Positive94% of 442K positive
Player score871975 ratings on IGDB
Playing now8,248on Steam at last update

PC system requirements

Official specs from Steam

Full specs

Minimum

OS *Windows 7 SP1 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit Windows 10 64bit
ProcessorIntel Core i3-2100 / AMD® FX-6300
Memory4 GB RAM
GraphicsNVIDIA® GeForce GTX 750 Ti / ATI Radeon HD 7950
DirectXVersion 11
NetworkBroadband Internet connection

Recommended

OS *Windows 7 SP1 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit Windows 10 64bit
ProcessorIntel Core i7-3770 / AMD® FX-8350
Memory8 GB RAM
GraphicsNVIDIA® GeForce GTX 970 / ATI Radeon R9 series
DirectXVersion 11
NetworkBroadband Internet connection

Dark Souls III FAQ

When did Dark Souls III come out?

Dark Souls III was released on March 24, 2016 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Is Dark Souls III on PlayStation 5?

No. Dark Souls III has not been announced for PlayStation 5. It is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Is Dark Souls III on Xbox Series X|S?

No. Dark Souls III has not been announced for Xbox Series X|S. It is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Is Dark Souls III on Nintendo Switch 2?

No. Dark Souls III has not been announced for Nintendo Switch 2. It is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Who is making Dark Souls III?

Dark Souls III is developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

Is Dark Souls III multiplayer?

Yes. Dark Souls III supports single player, multiplayer, and co-operative.

How much does Dark Souls III cost?

Dark Souls III costs $59.99 on Steam. Prices checked October 9, 2026.

Is Dark Souls III good?

Steam players rate it "Very Positive" — 94% of 441,500 reviews are positive. Critics average 86/100.

What are the minimum PC requirements for Dark Souls III?

The minimum GPU is NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 750 Ti / ATI Radeon HD 7950. See the full minimum and recommended specs on our Dark Souls III system requirements page.

Dark Souls series

5 games in release order

Full timeline
  1. Dark Souls2011
  2. Dark Souls: Artorias of the Abyss Edition2012
  3. Dark Souls II2014
  4. Dark Souls III2016
  5. Dark Souls: Remastered2018

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