3. Dark Souls
As the first Soulsborne game to really break out into the mainstream market, it was widely advertised as one of the hardest video games you’ll ever play. However, that’s not what made Dark Souls so special.
Right after reaching Firelink Shrine, players were given the freedom to go anywhere they wanted. Their only objective? To ring the two bells.
From there, players could travel up to the Undead Burg and try to ring the bell at the top, or they could venture down to Blighttown, and take their chances with the toxic enemies while trying to ring the bell at the bottom. If they didn’t want to do any of that, they could always visit Darkroot Basin or, if they’re feeling particularly brave, the Catacombs. Unlike the other entries in the Soulsborne series, Dark Souls was the only game to truly give players complete freedom over what they wanted to do.
In addition to that, the level design in the original Dark Souls was second to none. Anyone who’s played the game will always remember that sense of relief and unbridled satisfaction of taking the shortcut elevator back up to Firelink Shrine after spending hours in the toxic wasteland that is Blighttown.
