Soulsborne games are renowned for their vast and intricate worlds, featuring awe-inspiring environments and architectural designs that captivate players. However, within these masterfully crafted settings, every dedicated follower of FromSoftware’s titles will attest that there exists at least one particularly frustrating area in each game, especially during subsequent playthroughs.
As someone who has traversed the landscapes of all Soulsborne games multiple times—armed with painkillers for the journey—I’ve compiled a ranked list of the ten most vexing regions across the series.
10 Dreg Heap
Between Angels and Despair
|
Game |
Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City |
|
Recommended Level |
100 |
Dark Souls 3 serves as a remarkable epic conclusion to the trilogy. The game, especially bolstered by its DLC content, is nothing short of extraordinary, though it does have its frustrating pitfalls. The Dreg Heap stands out as a particularly tedious experience. With angels raining lethal lasers from above and a plethora of ambushes, basic navigation becomes a chore.
What truly irks players is reaching the remnants of Earthen Peak, where the landscape is inundated with poison, transforming the journey to the boss into a relentless struggle. One might find it almost impossible to advance without experiencing continual onslaughts.
While the Dreg Heap initially presents a unique challenge that encourages exploration and strategy to defeat the angels, subsequent trips reveal it as a taxing ordeal.
9 Consecrated Snowfield
An Unnecessary Zone
|
Game |
Ring of Fire |
|
Recommended Level |
110 |
Many Elden Ring enthusiasts argue that the game does not resort to artificial padding—except when considering the existence of the Consecrated Snowfield. This area is often criticized for its obscured visibility, replication of enemies, and scant engaging activities, leading to a sense of unnecessary detour in this otherwise captivating game.
Although it serves a significant role by connecting to Miquella’s Haligtree, the area feels more like a transition rather than an enriching experience. Its lack of excitement is especially noticeable for an endgame section of one of the finest RPGs, giving the impression that it could have been hastily added.
8 Black Gulch
The Less Inspired Poison Area
|
Game |
Dark Souls 2 |
|
Recommended Level |
60 |
Dark Souls 2 is frequently criticized for containing some of FromSoftware’s most lackluster zones, with Black Gulch often at the top of the list. The area suffers from poor visibility, frustratingly unavoidable poison traps, and a convoluted layout that leaves many players feeling lost.
Despite being relatively short, Black Gulch feels like an ordeal, and outside of encountering Lucatiel of Mirrah and appreciating its dark aesthetic, it is often relegated to the category of forgotten zones.
7 Farron Keep
A Challenge of Patience
|
Game |
Dark Souls 3 |
|
Recommended Level |
35 |
Continuing the theme of toxic areas that test players’ patience, Farron Keep stands out within Dark Souls 3 as one of the most challenging zones. It’s densely packed with poison, and navigating through it can be an arduous task as one must explore extensively to progress to the boss.
The difficulty spikes significantly due to limited mobility, as poison severely restricts running and dodging, forcing players into a more methodical playstyle that considerably slows down the experience.
While I generally prefer a more exploratory approach, the constraints imposed by Farron Keep can be frustrating and hinder the enjoyment of the game.
6 Lost Izalith
An Unfinished Corridor
|
Game |
Dark Souls |
|
Recommended Level |
70 |
The perception that Dark Souls’ second half suffers from rushed development is glaringly apparent in Lost Izalith. Stretching out into a monotonous corridor filled with irrelevant enemies and an excessive amount of lava, it feels disconnected from the otherwise stellar level design that precedes it.
This area not only lacks interesting encounters but also features some of the least engaging elements of the entire game, including an overly frustrating boss encounter. Consequently, Lost Izalith stands as a significant disappointment within an otherwise outstanding title.
5 Valley of Defilement
The Original Infamous Swamp
|
Game |
Demon’s Souls |
|
Recommended Level |
50 |
FromSoftware’s penchant for designing swampy regions is well-documented, and it all started with Valley of Defilement in Demon’s Souls. It might just be the most exasperating poison-infested area the developer has crafted, illustrating how they gradually refined these environments in later games.
While a handful of rings and spells can mitigate the suffering, traversing this mire is overwhelmingly burdensome. In truth, no swamp remains memorable within Soulsborne, but Valley of Defilement takes the title for the most notorious of this unfortunate category.
4 Forbidden Woods
Speedrun Test
|
Game |
Bloodborne |
|
Recommended Level |
40 |
Bloodborne is widely celebrated for its polished level design, with the exception of Forbidden Woods. This expansive area diverges from the game’s usual aesthetic quality, laden with frustrating enemies and a design that leads to frequent disorientation.
Being chased by monstrous serpents while struggling to navigate can quickly become taxing, with players often feeling lost in a maze. With its cumbersome enemy encounters and the drawn-out distances needed to reach shortcuts, Forbidden Woods marks the only blemish in an otherwise seamless world.
3 Shrine of Amana
Beautifully Frustrating
|
Game |
Dark Souls 2 |
|
Recommended Level |
100 |
During my initial playthrough of Dark Souls 2, I utilized a build centered around bows, which made my first visit to Shrine of Amana surprisingly pleasant. It was only in later attempts—when I opted for melee weapons—that the widespread criticism of this area began to resonate.
Falling through invisible edges while dodging relentless magical attacks was deeply frustrating. The area’s beauty is overshadowed by its artificial difficulty, making it a nightmare for players without ranged options. Although visually stunning, the Shrine of Amana is a region where difficulty often outweighs enjoyment.
2 Tomb of the Giants
A New Low
|
Game |
Dark Souls |
|
Recommended Level |
60 |
Much like Lost Izalith, Tomb of the Giants exemplifies a noticeable decline in quality as Dark Souls progresses. Initially engaging due to its atmospheric shift, players soon realize the area is sparse and lacks substance.
With a limited variety of foes and a confusing layout, the run-back to the boss is notoriously perilous, resulting in an experience that, while interesting at first glance, is ultimately disappointing.
1 Frigid Outskirts
Unbearable Suffering
|
Game |
Dark Souls 2 |
|
Recommended Level |
120 |
As I previously stated, my affection for Dark Souls 2 is evident, and I often regard it as superior to Dark Souls 3. Nonetheless, few experiences evoke as much disdain as the Frigid Outskirts.
This area has made me question my loyalty to FromSoftware. Its lengthy and blinding blizzards, poorly designed enemy encounters, and vast disorientation have rendered it entirely tedious. In all my gaming experiences, Frigid Outskirts is a place I’ve endured just once.
While there are numerous flaws throughout Dark Souls 2, I’ve typically adopted a positive outlook. That said, Frigid Outskirts stands alone as the most frustratingly designed and aggravating location in the entirety of Soulsborne games.
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