I THINK Bloodborne’s very cheap now; it was being given away for free to PSPlus subscribers a couple months ago. Definitely a great game, but crazy challenging as well.

Yeah, as a series some people take it a bit too seriously. If you want something more straightforward and linear, but also more fast-paced, give Bloodborne a try. If you want something slower and more open-ended but potentially easier, try Dark Souls. Avoid playing online (unless you want the full PvP invading death squad experience), consult a guide when you feel like it, and take it at your own pace. Worst thing you can do is listen to the Soulsborne community.

It’s hard to say because people have overhyped Dark Souls to hell and back... and there is a real culture of elitism around it that suppresses discussion of its flaws. The original Dark Souls and Bloodborne are incredible in my opinion, but they definitely have a learning curve, and sometimes they’re unnecessarily obtuse. They’re mostly about soaking in the atmosphere and learning the combat, because the story really takes a back seat and most of the “lore” consists in fan theories pieced together from item descriptions and stray lines of dialogue. Basically, it has the appeal of an action game more than an RPG, albeit a very immersive and exploration-heavy one. I’d say give Dark Souls a try but do so without fear of consulting a guide.

And yeah, From has really abandoned their other series in favor of Soulsborne. Hopefully now that the franchise’s appeal is secured they can revisit their other stuff.