Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America

PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4Premium

Health Score

GOOD

Watch Gameplay

About This Game

A dark medieval fantasy action RPG where players explore the ruined kingdom of Drangleic, fighting monsters and bosses with swords, spells and shields. Combat is deliberately punishing: dying drains part of your maximum health until you use a restorative item or help another player. The complete edition bundles the base game with all three expansion campaigns.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

2/5

Creativity

3/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

0/5

Social Risk

3/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Negatives

•Combat is graphic for a fantasy game, with depictions of blood and gore alongside dark, oppressive environments
•The difficulty is intentionally brutal, and repeated deaths steadily reduce the character's maximum health, which can be intensely frustrating
•Online play connects players with strangers for both cooperative summoning and player-versus-player invasions
•Dark fantasy horror imagery, including undead enemies and grim boss designs, runs throughout the game
•Some character designs include partial nudity, and dialogue contains mild profanity

Positives

•Rewards patience, persistence and strategic planning, as players must learn enemy patterns and adapt after each defeat
•Deep character customization lets players shape appearance, stats, weapons and armor to suit their own playstyle
•Cooperative play lets players summon one another for help against bosses, encouraging teamwork toward a shared goal
•A single purchase includes the full game and all three expansion campaigns, with no further buying required
•An active modding community offers extra ways for older players to tinker with visuals and interfaces