Look Out For Shortcuts
Dark Souls III has great combat, but the exploration aspect of the game is its real draw. The level design is pretty dense, and there’s a lot of verticality in the game, so make sure you explore every nook and cranny of every new area you enter. If you find yourself approaching what looks suspiciously like a boss arena and you don’t have quick path back to the nearest bonfire, turn back and look around some more. From Software may be evil, but they’ll usually give you an elevator or some other shortcut that loops you back to the previous bonfire pretty quickly.
Also be on the look out for illusory walls, barrels, and crates that may be hiding one of Dark Souls III’s many secret paths. Simply swing your sword at a suspicious wall or roll into it to see if it’s fake. Your exploratory efforts just might lead you to a really good hidden weapon or, better yet, an optional area with tons more to see.
