10 Intense Video Game Thrillers That Will Melt Your Brain

2. Dark Souls

Everyone remembers their first time through a Souls game.

FromSoftware and creator Hidetaka Miyazaki might not be shooting for a more overt narrative, but instead they blend action, exploration and struggle with a longing for purpose that only really pays off at the very end.

I say "pays off", because no matter what you do, the world of Dark Souls will repeat, over and over, forever. Everything in these games is based on an all life-granting Flame, which once it goes out, ushers in an Age of Dark. During this, any wayward ember can light the fire again, restoring the Age of Light.

The twist is that the flame will always go out, and/or always be rekindled. There's no hope for anything other than the struggle to maintain life, and any instances of jolly cooperation with other players along the way.

Of course, the franchise has a reputation for being stupidly hard as a way to really make you value every reward, making all but the most determined individuals give up before they've even hit the halfway mark.

Dark Souls: The Game That's Actually About Living Life To The Fullest!