If you’ve spent any time in Soulsborne fan circles, you’ve definitely heard the hot takes about Dark Souls 2. It’s often labeled the black sheep of the franchise, written off for its wonky hitboxes, divisive level design, and lack of direct input from Hidetaka Miyazaki. But if you’ve found yourself scrolling through Steam’s most played action RPGs lately, or seeing clips of DS2 PvP popping up on your TikTok feed, you’ve probably asked: are people still playing Dark Souls 2 more than 10 years after its original release? The short answer is yes, and its dedicated fanbase is far more active than you might expect. Even with newer FromSoftware hits like Elden Ring and Armored Core 6 dominating the action RPG space, DS2 has held onto a loyal following that keeps the game feeling fresh, relevant, and fun to jump into at any time.
Are People Still Playing Dark Souls 2? A Look at Current Player Counts
Let’s cut straight to the hard data first. As of recent 2024 Steam stats, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin pulls in an average of 11,000 to 15,000 concurrent players every single day, with weekend peaks hitting as high as 22,000. To put that in perspective, that’s higher than the daily player counts of dozens of newer AAA action RPGs, including several titles released in the last two years. Dark Souls 2 maintains a higher daily active player count than 70% of action RPGs released after 2020, which is almost unheard of for a game that first launched in 2014. Console player counts are also steady, especially on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, where backward compatibility lets the game run at 60 FPS with faster load times than ever before. You won’t be waiting 20 minutes for a co-op summon or PvP invasion, either. In popular areas like Heide’s Tower of Flame or Iron Keep, you can usually find a summon sign or get invaded within 60 to 90 seconds, even during off-peak hours. The game also sees regular spikes in player count whenever FromSoftware announces a new title, as fans go back to replay older entries to tide themselves over until the next release.
What Keeps the Dark Souls 2 Community Active Year After Year
So why do people keep coming back to Dark Souls 2 when there are so many newer, more polished Soulsborne games available? A big part of it is that DS2 has a lot of unique features that no other entry in the franchise offers, even 10 years later. Power stancing, the mechanic that lets you dual-wield two different weapons of the same type for unique movesets, is still exclusive to Dark Souls 2 across the entire Soulsborne franchise, and it’s a huge draw for players who love experimenting with weird, overpowered builds. The game also has far more build diversity than other entries, with dozens of viable weapons, spells, and stat combinations that work for both PvE and PvP. The community itself also puts in a ton of work to keep the game fun for everyone, with regular events, mod updates, and tournaments that give players new reasons to log on every month. Some of the most popular community activities right now include:
Unlike a lot of other online game communities, the Dark Souls 2 fanbase is famously welcoming to new players, even if they’re still learning the ropes. You won’t get flamed for asking a basic question, and most players are happy to go out of their way to help you beat a tough boss or find a hidden item.
Should You Play Dark Souls 2 in 2024? Pros and Cons for New Players
If you’ve never played Dark Souls 2 before, you might be wondering if it’s worth picking up now, especially if you’ve only played newer FromSoftware games like Elden Ring. There are definitely some pros and cons to consider before you buy. Let’s start with the good stuff first. First, the game is extremely affordable: Scholar of the First Sin, the definitive edition that includes all three DLC packs, regularly goes on sale for less than $10 on Steam and console storefronts. That’s dozens of hours of content for less than the cost of a fast food meal. The Scholar of the First Sin edition is the only version you should buy, as it fixes most of the original launch bugs and balances enemy spawns for a smoother experience. It also runs perfectly on almost any modern PC or console, with no performance issues, even on low-end hardware. The story is also mostly standalone, so you don’t need to have played the first Dark Souls to understand what’s going on. You don't need to play the first Dark Souls to understand or enjoy Dark Souls 2, as its story is mostly standalone with only loose references to the first game. That said, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind. The level design is a lot more divisive than other Souls games, with some areas like Frigid Outskirts or Blighttown 2.0 feeling deliberately frustrating for no good reason. The hitboxes are also a little janky compared to later FromSoftware games, so you might take damage from attacks that look like they missed you, especially in the first few hours. If you’re used to the fast, fluid combat of Elden Ring, DS2’s slower, more deliberate combat might feel clunky at first, too.
Tips for Jumping Into Dark Souls 2 for the First Time (or Returning After Years Away)
If you’ve decided to give Dark Souls 2 a shot, there are a few simple tips that will make your experience far less frustrating, whether you’re a total newbie or a returning player who hasn’t touched the game in 10 years. First, for new players: don’t skip the tutorial. A lot of players rush through the opening area and miss the explanation of adaptability, one of the most important stats in the game. Prioritize putting points into adaptability for your first 10 levels, as it increases your i-frames when rolling and makes the game feel far less punishing. If you’re stuck on a boss, don’t be afraid to use a summon. You can find player summon signs right outside most boss fog gates, and most players are happy to help you beat the fight for a few extra souls. If you’re still struggling, try putting down your own summon sign: helping another player beat the boss will give you practice with the fight’s mechanics, plus extra souls you can use to level up. For returning players, try a modded playthrough if you want to shake things up. The Dark Souls 2 Randomizer mod is one of the most popular, but there are also mods that rebalance all weapons and enemies, add new story content, or even let you play the game in co-op with friends through the entire campaign. If you’re into PvP, try joining one of the community tournament servers: most have custom rules that prevent meta spamming, so you can have fun experimenting with weird builds without running into the same overpowered setup every match.
So, if you’ve been wondering are people still playing Dark Souls 2, the answer is a resounding yes. Its unique mechanics, endlessly replayable build system, and welcoming community make it a game that stands the test of time, even when stacked against newer, flashier action RPGs. You don’t have to be a diehard Soulsborne fan to enjoy it, either. If you’re looking for a challenging, rewarding game that you can sink dozens of hours into without getting bored, Dark Souls 2 is more than worth the price of admission. You might even end up joining the camp that thinks it’s the most underrated entry in the entire franchise.