FromSoftware has transformed from a fledgling studio known most for lesser-known hardcore titles and mech games into a huge player in the industry, with the modest success of Demon's Souls and the unprecedented popularity of Dark Souls launching the company to the stratosphere. It's easy to see why the major focus of this studio has been on the Soulsborne series ever since.
Each and every game in this series features an amazing combat system that is a joy to play around with, allowing players to grasp each and every aspect with ease. However, it's mastery that takes a while, and some Soulsborne games are simply better at helping players enjoy the feel of combat as compared to other titles.
7 Dark Souls 2
Many people consider Dark Souls 2 to be the black sheep of the series, which is a shame. The game certainly has some good things going for it and can really enamor players with its world at times... but the lack of Miyazaki's direction is painfully clear in this game, with the title trying to be as difficult as possible instead of understanding what made the original Dark Souls such a masterpiece.
It doesn't help that combat doesn't really feel like a step-up in any way, with the new labeling of stats and their functionality actually feeling poor in the eyes of many. The idea of investing points into stats for i-frames is a horrible idea that many players still can't stand to this day.
6 Demon's Souls
The first attempt to create a Soulsborne game from FromSoftware had some rough edges, but the core of the series' combat is still plain to see in the eyes of many. There are times when Demon's Souls feels a bit too slow and archaic in the eyes of some... but it can't be helped, given how dated this title is.
While the remake of this game did a great job of upgrading the visuals of the title, the lack of any meaningful tweaks to the core combat system really hurt this experience somewhat. However, this is a small issue in what is otherwise a solid combat system that fans of the Soulsborne games will be pretty familiar with, at this point.
5 Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls 3 was a game many people were anticipating with bated breath, especially since Miyazaki was returning to close off the series in resounding fashion. While the game has its missteps, there's no denying that the final chapter of Dark Souls is an excellent way to close off an amazing trilogy that has etched its name in the annals of gaming history.
However, one cardinal sin that Dark Souls 3 does is not giving a satisfactory feel to many of its weapons, which is a huge issue given that this game came right after Bloodborne! The sheer quantity of weapons is meaningless if they aren't as good as a player's starting weapon, leading to most people forsaking experimentation in favor of being more efficient — and boring — in combat.
4 Dark Souls
The original Dark Souls is a testament to how brilliant the level design and world-building of this series really is. To this day, a playthrough of Dark Souls will wow players for its amazing sense of exploration and how it draws so many people into its amazing world.
The combat is smooth, simple, and incredibly satisfying. Weapons are all distinct and feel effective in their own way, meaning that it's mostly up to the player to decide which piece of equipment they want to use in the long haul.
3 Elden Ring
Elden Ring is one of FromSoftware's most successful video games to date, with this game bringing back the studio's amazing level design while seamlessly incorporating an open world that is so vast yet impressive that players can't help but be in awe of just how vast the scope of this game really is.
Of course, it helped that Elden Ring modernized its combat system and integrated a ton of new moves to make things way more engaging than ever before. On top of that, the game also has the best integration of Weapon Arts and magic in a Soulsborne game to date, showing just how much FromSoftware has learned from its previous ventures.
2 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Unlike the immense variety of weapons that was a hallmark of the combat system in previous Souls games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice lets players only use one weapon. Sure, there are many prosthetics for the player to mess around with... but the core of the combat depends on the player's skill with a katana and how well they can wield it in combat.
The art of deflection will become second nature for players as they go through the game and figure out the movesets of enemies. Successfully deflecting multiple attacks before unleashing a fatal counterattack makes for a great time, and the integration of stealth mechanics is also a breath of fresh air for a combat system that could've become a bit too stale after a point.
1 Bloodborne
To this day, the fast-paced action of Bloodborne still leads to many people feeling that this is the best-feeling combat system in any Soulsborne game to date. The weapons in this game are limited, but almost each one of them features a unique moveset that feels so amazing that every player is bound to have their own favorites.
The sidearms are another great addition, and shooting an enemy to stagger them right when they're about to launch a powerful attack will never not be the coolest thing ever. Trading hits, rallying back some health, sneaking in a quick heal, and engaging in a deadly dance against the many enemies of the game makes it clear why so many people consider Bloodborne to be their favorite Soulsborne game.