How the Dark Souls Series Embodies Medievalism

         The Dark Souls series is a fantasy RPG series developed by FromSoftware and created by Hidetaka Miyazaki. The series features 3 installments of the most difficult challenges the person who has played them has had to endure. The series is well renowned among video game consumers and has even adapted its own subgenre of games known as "Soulslikes".

Cover of Dark Souls: Remastered (1)

Aesthetics and Architecture

        The land of Lordran, kingdom of Drangleic, and kingdom of Lothric (The settings of each game in order), are filled to the brim with medieval styled architecture. From the massive castles to run down villages and ruins that the character explores throughout their journey, there are no shortages of medieval styled design found within the land of Dark Souls.

    The ruined state of a lot of the areas found within Dark Souls represents wars, famine, and declining leadership found commonly withing the Middle Ages. The decline in the areas of Dark Souls represented the decline and abandonment found throughout Middle Age empires. The hollows (undead humans) show this with their moans and pain filled actions, due to the negligence from their lords.

Combat and Warfare

    The world of Dark Souls is full of combat where the player must strategically dodge opponents all while finding time to attack for themselves.

The chosen undead (you) facing off against Artorias (boss). (1)

    The weapons of Dark Souls represent the Middle Ages as well. The sword and shield were commonly used through the middle ages, but Dark Souls also features the use of bows, lances, spears, and many other weapons based around the Middle Ages. The armor also represents the look of the knight found within the medieval period.

Religion and Social Structure

        The people found within Dark Souls, like the citizens of the Middle Ages, worshipped Gods and Lords found throughout the lands. There are churches scattered around as well as priests to occupy said churches representing the abundance of religion found throughout medieval Europe. The Lords that are worshipped are known as the Lords of Cinder and they protect the sacred flame. The flame represents the Holy Grail and is the main purpose behind the journey of the chosen undead.

The Soul Of Cinder, the embodiment of the sacred flame. (1) 

        The social hierarchy found within Dark Souls is evident of the inspiration from the Middle ages, rulers, kings, and nobles live in the largest castles and cities all while their kingdoms are surrounded by famished and poor settlements full of farmers and beggars fueling the leaders while they have to live in awful conditions. 

Works Cited

(1) “DARK SOULS.” Bandai Namco Europe, en.bandainamcoent.eu/dark-souls.