Quick Verdict: Dark Souls Remastered is the better starting point if you want the genre-defining original at 60fps with the series’ most celebrated level design. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is the better pick if you want more bundled DLC content at a lower price, even though it remains the trilogy’s most divisive entry. Dark Souls Remastered costs $39.99 on Steam, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin costs $29.99, and both already have their own “how to get it free” guide linked below.
Dark Souls Remastered and Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin are both FromSoftware re-releases of trilogy entries, but they land at very different points in the series’ reputation. One is the original that created the soulslike genre. The other is the entry fans still argue about most. This guide breaks down exactly where each one stands.
Dark Souls Remastered vs Dark Souls 2 at a Glance
| Category | Dark Souls Remastered | Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin |
| Release Date | May 23, 2018 (remaster of the 2011 original) | April 7, 2015 (re-release of the 2014 original) |
| Price on Steam | $39.99 | $29.99 |
| Developer | FromSoftware (original), QLOC (PC remaster) | FromSoftware |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Critic Score | 84 on Metacritic | 87 on OpenCritic, “Mighty,” top 4 percent of games reviewed |
| Steam Reviews | 91 percent positive, “Very Positive” (47,000+ reviews) | Around 84 percent positive (103,000+ reviews) |
| DLC Included | Artorias of the Abyss | All three Crown DLC packs: Sunken King, Old Iron King, Ivory King |
| Best For | Players who want the genre-defining original at 60fps | Players who want the most content-complete, if divisive, entry in the trilogy |
Story and Setting
Dark Souls Remastered casts you as the cursed undead in the decaying kingdom of Lordran, witnessing the apocalyptic end of the current age. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is set centuries later in Drangleic, where an Undead of mysterious origin gets pulled into a political struggle over the kingdom’s throne. Edge: Dark Souls Remastered, for the tighter, more mythic narrative most fans point to as the series’ high point.
World and Level Design
Dark Souls Remastered’s interconnected level design in Lordran is widely considered one of the tightest in the genre, with shortcuts and vertical layouts that loop back on themselves. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin reworked enemy placement over the original 2014 release, but its more hub-based world layout remains the most common criticism leveled against it compared to the original. Edge: Dark Souls Remastered, for level design many still consider the series’ best.
Combat and Difficulty
Both games share the series’ core soulslike combat: stamina management, checkpoint bonfires, and enemies that punish careless engagement. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is known for higher enemy density and reworked encounters that make individual areas feel more aggressive. Edge: Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, for players who want more enemies and a steeper test of patience per area.
DLC Content
Dark Souls Remastered bundles in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC, a single substantial area with one of the series’ most demanding boss fights. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin bundles in all three Crown DLC packs, including the fight against Fume Knight, frequently cited among the trilogy’s best encounters. Edge: Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, for significantly more bundled DLC content.
Critical and Community Reception
Dark Souls Remastered holds an 84 on Metacritic and a 91 percent positive Steam rating from over 47,000 reviews. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin holds an 87 “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic, placing it in the top 4 percent of all reviewed games, though its Steam community reception sits closer to 84 percent positive, reflecting the entry’s genuinely split reputation among longtime fans. Edge: Dark Souls Remastered, for more consistent praise across both critics and its own player base.
Price and Value
Dark Souls Remastered costs $39.99 on Steam. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin costs $29.99 while bundling in three full DLC packs instead of one. Edge: Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, for the lower price and more DLC content per dollar.
Which One Should You Play First?
- Want to experience the series in release order, starting with the game that created the genre: start with Dark Souls Remastered.
- Want the most bundled DLC content and don’t mind the trilogy’s most divisive entry: start with Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin.
- Want the tightest, most celebrated level design in the franchise: start with Dark Souls Remastered.
- Working with a smaller budget and want a complete package with every expansion included: start with Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin.
Overall Verdict
Dark Souls Remastered remains the safer, more universally praised starting point, backed by the series’ most celebrated world design and consistent scores from both critics and players. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin costs less and bundles in far more DLC content, but its reworked encounters and more divisive level design make it a game fans still argue about. If you want the definitive genre-starting experience, begin with Dark Souls Remastered. If you want more content for less money and don’t mind a rougher critical consensus, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is worth picking up next.
Get Both For Less
Both games already have their own dedicated guide on this site covering legitimate ways to get them below full Steam price. Read How To Get Dark Souls: Remastered Free and How To Get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Free for the full breakdown of both routes.
FAQ
Which is better, Dark Souls Remastered or Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin?
Dark Souls Remastered is the better pick for the series’ most celebrated level design and more consistent critical praise. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is the better pick for more bundled DLC content at a lower price. Neither is objectively better, they appeal to different priorities.
Which Dark Souls game has more DLC content?
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin has more, bundling in all three Crown DLC packs. Dark Souls Remastered includes only the single Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
Is Dark Souls 2 harder than Dark Souls Remastered?
It can feel that way in places. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is known for higher enemy density and reworked encounters, though both games share the same core soulslike difficulty built around stamina management and punishing mistakes.
Which is cheaper, Dark Souls Remastered or Dark Souls 2?
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is cheaper at $29.99 compared to Dark Souls Remastered’s $39.99.
What’s the critic score difference between the two games?
Dark Souls Remastered holds an 84 on Metacritic. Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin holds an 87 “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic, though its Steam user score is softer at around 84 percent positive.
