Quick Answer: Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin runs on very light hardware, needing just a GTX 465 or Radeon HD 6870 and 4GB of RAM at minimum, or a GTX 750 / Radeon HD 7850 with 8GB of RAM for the recommended tier. It’s an easy fit for almost any PC built in the last twelve years, including budget and older laptops.
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is the definitive re-release of Dark Souls II, bundling in all three DLC expansions alongside reworked enemy placement and visual upgrades. Since it’s built on an older engine, its PC requirements are some of the lightest in the entire Souls-like lineup. Here’s exactly what you need to run it, what the numbers mean in practice, and who this version is actually built for.
Here are the Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin System Requirements (Minimum)
- CPU: Intel Core i3 2100 3.1GHz / AMD A8 3870 3.6GHz
- RAM: 4 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465 / ATI Radeon HD 6870 (DirectX 11)
- Dedicated Video RAM: 1 GB
- Pixel Shader: 5.0
- Vertex Shader: 5.0
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit / Windows 8.1 64-bit
- Free Disk Space: 23 GB
- Sound Card: Required
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Recommended Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2600 3.4GHz / AMD FX 8150 3.6GHz or better
- RAM: 8 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 or better / ATI Radeon HD 7850 or better (DirectX 11)
- Dedicated Video RAM: 1 GB
- Pixel Shader: 5.0
- Vertex Shader: 5.0
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit / Windows 8.1 64-bit
- Free Disk Space: 23 GB
- Sound Card: Required
Minimum vs Recommended At a Glance
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
| CPU | Intel i3 2100 / AMD A8 3870 | Intel i7 2600 / AMD FX 8150 or better |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| GPU | GTX 465 or Radeon HD 6870 | GTX 750 or Radeon HD 7850 |
| VRAM | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| OS | Windows 7/8.1 (64-bit) | Windows 7/8.1 (64-bit) |
| Storage | 23 GB | 23 GB |
Can My PC Run Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?
If your PC has a GTX 465 or better with at least 4GB of RAM, you meet the minimum bar comfortably. This is one of the least demanding games across our entire System Requirements catalog, since the underlying engine dates back to 2014. Almost any PC or laptop built within the last decade, even without a dedicated gaming GPU, has a realistic shot at hitting the recommended tier.
Who Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin Is For
Scholar of the First Sin is built for players who want the complete Dark Souls II experience in one package, all three DLC expansions included, reworked enemy and item placement, and improved lighting over the original 2014 release. It suits both newcomers deciding between the two versions and returning players who only experienced the original vanilla release, since most of the community considers Scholar the more polished, complete way to play. Its lighter combat pacing compared to Elden Ring or Dark Souls 3 also makes it a reasonable entry point for players easing into the series.
It’s a less appealing pick for purists who prefer the original enemy placement and pacing of vanilla Dark Souls II, since Scholar’s changes, denser enemy encounters, more red phantom invaders, and shifted item locations, are genuinely divisive within the community. Players expecting a drastically different game from the original Dark Souls should also know that reception has always been more mixed than the rest of the series, with some longtime fans considering it the weakest mainline entry.
Get Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin For Less
If your setup clears these specs, our guide on how to get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin free covers a legitimate way to pick it up without paying full price.
More PC System Requirements Guides
Start with our central guide: Valheim System Requirements. Within our Souls-likes & Hardcore Action-RPG cluster:
- Elden Ring Nightreign System Requirements (cluster hub)
- Dark Souls: Remastered System Requirements
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice System Requirements
- Lunacid System Requirements
- Hollow Knight System Requirements
- SWORN System Requirements
- Dragon’s Dogma 2 System Requirements
- Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition System Requirements
- Lies of P System Requirements
This closes out our full 10-game Souls-likes & Hardcore Action-RPG cluster.
FAQ
What are the system requirements for Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin?
Minimum requirements are an Intel i3 2100 or AMD A8 3870, 4GB of RAM, a GTX 465 or Radeon HD 6870, and 23GB of storage. Recommended specs bump that to an i7 2600 or FX 8150 with 8GB of RAM and a GTX 750 or Radeon HD 7850.
Is Scholar of the First Sin more demanding than Dark Souls: Remastered?
Storage needs are higher for Scholar at 23GB versus 8GB for the original remaster, but CPU and GPU requirements are broadly similar and both games run on very modest hardware.
Should I play Scholar of the First Sin or the original Dark Souls II?
Most of the community recommends Scholar of the First Sin, since it includes all DLC content and offers a more complete package, though some longtime fans prefer the original’s less crowded enemy placement.
Can Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin run on a laptop?
Yes. Its minimum requirements are low enough that most laptops from the last twelve years, including many without dedicated graphics, can run it.
Does Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin include the DLC?
Yes, all three expansions, Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King, are included in Scholar of the First Sin from the start.
