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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Yes. Dark Souls III takes place after Dark Souls II in a continuing world, according to director Hidetaka Miyazaki. The clearest in-game link appears in The Ringed City, where the Dreg Heap includes the ruins of Earthen Peak, a location from Dark Souls II. That confirms shared continuity and an intentional reference—not that Dark Souls III directly resumes Dark Souls II’s characters or plot.
Does Dark Souls 3 take place after Dark Souls 2?
Yes. In a 2015 interview with Famitsu, Miyazaki was asked whether Dark Souls III was set before or after Dark Souls II. He answered that he considered it a story set after II. He also said the world was continuous, while noting that players did not need to know the earlier games to understand III. Read the Famitsu interview.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Dark Souls Trilogy (PS4) | $38.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition - PlayStation 4 | $21.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dark Souls Remastered - PlayStation 4 | $22.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dark Souls Trilogy - PlayStation 4 | $399.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - PlayStation 4 | $21.39 | Buy on Amazon |
This establishes the broad chronology and a shared world. It does not mean the third game is a direct continuation of the second game’s protagonist or unresolved character-level storyline.
What connects the games in The Ringed City?
The strongest concrete connection is in The Ringed City DLC for Dark Souls III. Its Dreg Heap is a landscape of ruins from different places and eras, brought together as the world approaches its end.
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#1 Best Overall
- DARK SOULS REMASTERED - Then, there was fire. Re-experience the genre-defining game that started it all. Return to Lordran in the beautifully remastered game in high definition, 60 fps with single-player or online multiplayer with dedicated servers. Includes the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
- DARK SOULS II: SCHOLAR OF THE FIRST SIN - Prepare to Die again. The second installment of the series includes the base Dark Souls II plus all three DLCs: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King.
- DARK SOULS III: THE FIRE FADES - Now only embers remain… Dark Souls III is the final journey in the series where players can fight through intense combat solo or team up for in co-op or PvP multiplayer. Includes the award-winning game and both DLC chapters: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- ALL ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS - Visit the EP!C corner to download the music of the Dark Souls saga composed by Motoi Sakaraba and Yuka Kitamura. 110 tracks and more than 6 hours to listen and take back any Dark Souls fan to the intense boss fights and the best moments of their deadly journeys.
The route through the Dreg Heap
Miyazaki described the route as beginning among the remains of Lothric, passing through the remains of Earthen Peak from Dark Souls II, and reaching the remains of Firelink Shrine from the first Dark Souls. He said this sequence was intended to express the history accumulated across the series. Read the Famitsu interview about The Ringed City.
Earthen Peak is more than a resemblance noticed by players: Miyazaki explicitly identifies it as part of the Dreg Heap’s intended progression. Its presence makes the connection to Dark Souls II unusually direct, while the surrounding ruins place that game within the larger history of the series.
Rank #2
- The Complete Dark Souls III Experience All on One Disc: Includes the award-winning base game, PLUS both complete DLC expansion chapters: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City.
- Intense Combat Action: Challenging, genre-defining gameplay. Diversified combat action allows players to craft their own unique style.
- Team up for some jolly good cooperation or test your ability in PvP battle: All PvP maps unlocked and accessible. Improved online matchmaking functionality.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, violence
Does that mean Dark Souls 3 continues Dark Souls 2’s plot?
Not in the straightforward, character-by-character sense. The interviews establish that III comes later and that its world shares continuity with II; they do not establish that III follows the same protagonist or directly resolves the second game’s personal storylines. The Dreg Heap is evidence of a world and history carried forward, not a conventional plot handoff.
That distinction matters because Dark Souls conveys much of its story indirectly. Bandai Namco describes lore as being delivered through clues in items and through secondary characters, a style that encourages interpretation. Bandai Namco’s overview of the series’ storytelling offers useful context, but individual theories about how every kingdom, event, or character from II maps onto III should not be treated as confirmed unless supported by specific evidence.
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- Delve into an epic dark fantasy universe stricken by decline and the Curse. Explore its intricate world design - full of hidden passages, dungeons and secrets - and uncover its deeply rooted lore
- Each playthrough surprises you with new challenges and unexpected facets of the game. Don't bet on completing the game only once
- Hundreds of unique combinations of weaponry, armor, magic and crafting options to create your own playstyle and gaming experience
- From your first steps to mastery, build your character while refining your playing skills. Learn to strategize freely and experience the rewarding taste of overcoming daunting foes
- Whatever your motivations are to play online - collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal - you'll find your true home among the nine covenants. Which allegiance will you choose?
Why do the games feel different if they share a world?
Their presentation also reflects different production roles. Miyazaki described himself as a supervisor on Dark Souls II and director of Dark Souls III in the 2015 Famitsu interview. That context can help explain differences in presentation, but it does not contradict his explicit statement that III follows II in a continuous world.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- All 3 DLC Pack Contents: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, Crown of the Ivory King
- Additional NPCs Added For Enhanced Story Experience To Assist Guiding Players Through Level
- Parameter Setting Adjustments for Improved Balance
- Augmented Item Descriptions
- Increase in Maximum Online Players
Rank #4
- DARK SOULS: REMASTERED - Return to Lord ran in the beautifully remastered game in high definition, 60 fps with single-player or online multiplayer with dedicated servers.
- DARK SOULS II - The second installment of the series includes the base Dark Souls II game plus all three DLC: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King.
- DARK SOULS III: THE FIRE FADES - Dark Souls III is the final journey in the series where players can fight through intense combat solo or team up for in co-op or P2P multiplayer.
- EXCLUSIVE STEEL BOOK: Dark Souls Trilogy includes one steel book with iconic Dark Souls art from across the series.
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