10 Video Games With GENIUS Tutorials

5. Dark Souls

Arguably this is one of my favourite tutorial areas ever put into a video game. I feel from a game design standpoint it creates a perfect balance between teaching the player what to do, and then acting as a final exam of that knowledge, preparing everyone for what’s to come.

In terms of the layout, offering up weak enemies complete with big chunky prompts on what to do ensures players can learn the basics in isolated - and therefore safe - sections. Then it completely inverts expectations with the sudden arrival of the Asylum Demon.

Now, if you’re a tough cookie you can deck this giant mound with just your hilt, which adds another layer of challenge, but if not then you can duck out of the demons way and proceed with the tutorial until you get a decent blade.

It’s amazing that in a game that doesn’t hold your hand, we got such a robust and memorable opening level.

Love it.