Unlike most games, the lore of FromSoftware games is rich but pretty vague at the best of times. Most of the lore is up to player interpretation, and the devs aren't shy about non-answers or misdirects for some of the most important questions in the games. That's why gamers love them.
7 Most Ambitious Games By FromSoftware, Ranked
FromSoftware has been the source of some truly groundbreaking games, but these particular examples are arguably the most ambitious.
Yet, players still want answers to some key questions, like what the Age of Dark might look like in the Dark Souls games, or what lies West of Ashina. One day, they may find out, but for now, there are plenty of questions to consider and mull over. This list is ranked by how big and important the unanswered question is.
8 What Was Londor Like?
A Paradise Of Dark
- Featured Game: Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3
In Dark Souls, Darkstalker Kaathe, one of the primordial serpents, wants to bring about the Age of Dark, a time dedicated to human supremacy, but other Dark Souls games indicate that, in canon, that didn't happen, and the Primordial Serpents were never seen again.
However, in Dark Souls 3, there is a far-off place called Londor that seems to be ruled by the Primordial Serpents and is dedicated to ushering in the Age of Dark. Fans have long wondered what this place ruined by dark and humanity, is like, and how it generated incredible characters like Yuria, the most visible denizen of Londor.
7 What Lies To The West Of Ashina?
The Lands Beyond Sekiro's Journey Are Unseen
- Featured Game: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
It's self-evident that Ashina, the setting of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is a rough facsimile of Sengoku era Japan, and no one expected the games to hint of any other locations, but one of Sekiro's best secret endings involves taking a journey West to the supposed birth place of the Divine Dragon.
Fans have long speculated about what this might mean. Is it talking about a FromSoftware version of China, Korea, or maybe even India or beyond? It remains unanswered, and many hope that if a sequel arrives one day, players will finally learn what lies West of Ashina.
6 Who or What Is The Gloam-Eyed Queen?
The Mystery Woman in a World of Gods
- Featured Game: Elden Ring
There are many Gods, Demi-Gods, and Outer Gods in Elden Ring, to the point where it becomes actively difficult to keep track of them. Yet, none has captured the imagination of the fanbase more than the Gloam-Eyed Queen, a figure of death and destruction who seemed to have an instrumental role in the Night of the Black Knives.
These days, most theorists believe that the Gloam-Eyed Queen may be Melina, the helpful finger-maiden who accompanies the player on their travels, but there's not a lot of certainty involved, and if it's true, it brings up a whole slate of new questions about what her motivations could be.
5 What Is Humanity And The Furtive Pygmy?
The Nature Of Darkness and its Birth
- Featured Game: Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls is a franchise that deals in metaphysical concepts just as much as tangible monsters in boss rooms. From the very first opening cutscene of Dark Souls, the Furtive Pygmy and Humanity are two of the most enigmatic concepts in the whole franchise that are crucial to the lore, yet almost entirely unexplored.
It seems that the Pygmy is some precursor of humanity, but also an influencer on the undead curse and the relationship between humanity and the Abyss. It's a knotted, difficult issue, and one of the most vexing parts of Dark Souls cosmology that keeps theorists busy to this day.
4 What Is The Moon Presence's Goal?
Incomprehensible Horror for an Endless Dream
- Featured Game: Bloodborne
Bloodborne is a pretty confusing game at the best of times, considering that it explicitly deals in multiple levels of reality with dreams, reality, and their interface becoming a key part of the story. Yet, behind it all, it seems that the Moon Presence, the true final boss, is the Lovecraftian manipulator behind the hunt, the pale moon, and the curse of the blood.
The 26 Most Powerful Bosses In Bloodborne
Bloodborne, like any of the Soulsborne games, features a strong lineup of incredibly powerful bosses. These are the toughest of the bunch.
How exactly? Well, most players aren't certain. Considering Lovecraftian gods don't tend to be forthcoming about their motivations, the game offers few clues, but that hasn't stopped theorists and fans from trying to figure out just what the Moon Presence was and wanted, and what happened to it after the player seems to take their place as a new Great One.
3 What Does The Age Of Dark Look Like?
A Brave New World Without Fire
- Featured Game: Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3
Dark Souls is a game that is inextricably tied to Eastern philosophy, particularly Buddhism, and the idea that clinging to life is a corruptive act that can have massive consequences. Dark Souls is a world that has been constantly rebooted, each time weaker and more decrepit than before. By Dark Souls 3, the very seams of reality are tearing apart as humanity struggles on to try and rekindle the flame of existence.
Yet, one of the more radical solutions involves finally ending the Age of Fire, a rebooted reality that's full of suffering, and embracing the Age of Dark, a time dominated by humanity and darkness. Yet, the game questions whether that's truly a bad thing, and many wonder what this fundamental shift in Dark Souls cosmology looks like in one of the game's most intriguing endings.
2 Who is Gwyn's Firstborn?
A Prodigal Son, Now Nameless
- Featured Game: Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3
Long before George R. R. Martin arrived in the FromSoftware world and contributed to the story of Elden Ring, familial drama was already present and prominent, particularly in the Dark Souls games that deal with royal families and blood destinies.
10 Bleakest Areas In Dark Souls Games, Ranked
These are some of the bleakest areas to explore in the Dark Souls trilogy.
No mystery is more tantalizing than Gwyn's first-born son, also known as the God of War, whose identity is unknown and barely referred to. Many gamers think that it could be The Nameless King, with others saying Solaire instead. The answer could have profound effects on the overarching story of Dark Souls as a whole, so fans are unlikely to stop speculating any time soon.
1 What Are The Outer Gods?
The Power Players
- Featured Game: Elden Ring
The world of Elden Ring was dominated by The Greater Will, a God that brought about the Divine Order, the glorious golden Erdtree, and the godhood of Marika. However, when the Elden Ring was shattered, that hold on reality became loose, and other Outer Gods like The Formless Mother and the God of Rot actively intrude to make a play for dominance.
Yet, what exactly these Outer Gods are is unclear. Are they really Gods? Are they aliens? How much influence do they have? Why do they care so much about holding sway in The Lands Between? Why do they need champions? What are the limits of their power? The questions are endless and define the outer remit of Elden Ring's entire cosmology.
8 Most Loved FromSoftware Characters, Ranked
FromSoftware truly knows how to craft strangely lovable characters in its twisted worlds, and these are the best of them.