Of all the games on this list, I know that saying Demon's Souls is overrated is going to get me the most flack. Since the release of the cult classic Dark Souls, there's been a sort of revisionist history around the first game in the franchise. Just like when every cool thing gets popular there'll be people who claim there were there from the very beginning, but let me tell you this: there's a reason that Demon's Souls didn't become an instant cult classic like its successor - it's just not as good. Although the staples of the series were solidified in the first attempt, it lacks the subtle ambiance and refinement of the later releases. While purists today lament the loss of certain, more hardcore systems featured in the first title, Dark Souls did well to streamline the gameplay and make it slightly more accessible - and overall less unfair - than the first game. It's not bad or anything, and if you're into these games you should check it out because it has that cripplingly difficult sense of challenge and natural feeling of progression that makes this sub-genre a joy to play - it just isn't the great full package that Dark Souls turned out to be.
Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.
