Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is generally well reviewed, but the clearest score in the available evidence is specifically the PS4 critic aggregate: Metacritic lists an 87 Metascore from 42 critic reviews. Steam’s separate user-review snapshot is also positive. These figures describe different audiences and platforms, so they should not be treated as one universal rating.
What is the review score for Scholar of the First Sin?
Metacritic’s PS4 page lists an 87 Metascore based on 42 critic reviews. This is a critic aggregate for the PS4 edition, not a score for every platform or a measure of every player’s experience. The page dates to 2015; check its displayed value if you need the current listing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - PlayStation 4 | $21.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - Xbox One | $29.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin - PlayStation 3 | $29.61 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (PS4) | $22.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dark Souls 2 Scholar Of The First Sin | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Steam’s listing showed 83% positive from 34,840 English-language user reviews in a snapshot retrieved in 2026. That is storefront user feedback for the PC listing, not a critic score. Steam’s percentage and review count can change as people post reviews.
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What is included in the Scholar of the First Sin edition?
Bandai Namco’s series listing describes Scholar of the First Sin as including the base game and all three Crown expansions:
#1 Best Overall
- 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
- Crown of the Sunken King
- Crown of the Old Iron King
- Crown of the Ivory King
That content bundle is a key point for anyone comparing editions or looking for the complete adventure. The official Steam listing identifies FromSoftware as developer and Bandai Namco Entertainment and FromSoftware as publishers; it gives the PC release date as April 1, 2015.
What reviewers praised
Review excerpts point to the edition’s expanded content and the challenge of its encounters. A Digital Spy excerpt reproduced on Metacritic said it was “absolutely worth a first look as a newcomer to the series,” citing enemy placements, challenge, visuals, and bonus content. That is one critic’s assessment, not a guarantee that every player will prefer this edition.
Rank #2
- 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
A 2015 Game Informer excerpt likewise framed the game as appealing to both newcomers seeking a newer-hardware entry point and returning players who had already explored the original’s New Game Plus content. Those are reviewer opinions about likely audiences, rather than a consensus about who should play it.
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Is Scholar of the First Sin different from Dark Souls II?
It is an edition of Dark Souls II that includes the base game and the three Crown expansions, according to Bandai Namco. The available official FAQ listing raises the PS3-versus-PS4 comparison, but does not provide enough detail here to verify specific differences in performance, visuals, enemy placement, or other platform features. Do not assume those details are identical across versions—or infer them from the review scores above.
Rank #3
- 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
When choosing a copy, confirm the platform and edition shown on the store page. The review figures cited here do not establish that technical performance or review reception is the same on PS3, PS4, PC, or other platforms.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- The undead curse continues to spread across the kingdom of Drangleic in the ultimate Dark Souls II experience
- Features the game's 3 DLC chapters: Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King
- Also includes an array of brand new content, including an expanded story featuring additional in-game events
Sources
- Steam: DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin
- Bandai Namco Entertainment: Dark Souls II
- Metacritic: Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
- FromSoftware: FAQ
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