How to get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin free is worth figuring out before paying full price for the definitive way to experience the trilogy’s most divisive entry. Scholar of the First Sin bundles the base game with all three DLC packs, Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King, alongside enemy rework, matchmaking fixes, and a visual upgrade over the original 2014 release. That complete package costs $29.99 on Steam, and this guide removes that barrier.
Snakzy pays coins for playing mobile games, redeemable for a Steam gift card at no cost. Eneba sells a legitimate Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin key well below the official price for anyone who’d rather buy in today. Both routes end in a permanent, legitimate license.
| Game Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Game price | $29.99 on Steam |
| OpenCritic rating | 87, “Mighty,” top 4% of games, 89% of critics recommend it |
| Steam user reviews | Around 84% positive from over 103,000 reviews |
| Genre | Souls-like action RPG, dark fantasy |
| Developer | FromSoftware |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
Is Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Free?
No, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is a paid game priced at $29.99 on Steam, with no free-to-play version. Existing owners of the original base game can buy a separate upgrade to Scholar of the First Sin, though that upgrade rarely goes on sale the way the full standalone version does. The only legitimate no-cost routes are earning enough through Snakzy to redeem a Steam gift card, or buying a discounted key through Eneba.
What Is Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin?
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is FromSoftware’s definitive re-release of 2014’s Dark Souls 2, launched April 7, 2015, on PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4. Set a few hundred years after the events of the original Dark Souls, you play an Undead of mysterious origin traveling to Drangleic in search of a cure for your curse, only to be pulled into a political struggle over the kingdom’s throne and the choice of whether to link the fire once again.
OpenCritic rates it “Mighty” with an 87 average across 45 critics, placing it in the top 4% of all games reviewed, with 89% of critics recommending it. Steam’s own community has landed more mixed, sitting around 84% positive from over 103,000 reviews, reflecting the genuinely divisive reputation Dark Souls 2 carries within the series. Common criticism centers on enemy density and level cohesion compared to the original Dark Souls, while supporters point to the game’s atmosphere, art direction, and some of the trilogy’s most memorable DLC bosses, including Fume Knight, as reasons it holds up on its own terms. All three DLC packs come bundled in, along with additional NPCs, adjusted item descriptions, and improved online matchmaking over the base 2014 release.
How Much Does Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Cost?
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin costs $29.99 on Steam at its standard listing. Discounts show up regularly and deep, with keyshops listing it as low as $8.75 to $13.90, cuts of 65% to 78% off. If you’d rather not wait for a sale, the Snakzy method below covers the price no matter what it’s currently listed at.
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Platform Availability
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | This guide’s Snakzy method targets this version |
| Xbox 360 / Xbox One | Xbox One runs via backward compatibility on Series X|S |
| PS3 / PS4 | PS4 version playable on PS5 via backward compatibility |
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin launched day one across five platforms in April 2015, spanning both the previous and then-current console generations. There is no Nintendo Switch version. Since Snakzy rewards redeem for a Steam gift card, this guide’s free method targets the PC release specifically.
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin System Requirements
| Spec | Notes |
|---|---|
| Baseline | Runs comfortably on hardware from the mid-2010s onward |
| DirectX support | Offers both DirectX 9 and DirectX 11 rendering modes on PC |
As a decade-old title, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is not demanding by current standards, and its dual DirectX 9/11 support gives extra flexibility for older systems that may struggle with more modern rendering paths.
How Does Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Play?
The core loop follows familiar soulslike structure: stamina-managed combat, checkpoint bonfires, and unforgiving enemies that punish careless engagement. Scholar of the First Sin reworked enemy placement compared to the original 2014 release, a change that drew mixed reactions, some players find the new arrangements a fresher jumping-on point, while veterans of the PC original sometimes find the changes add frustration rather than improve pacing.
Beyond the main campaign, all three DLC packs, Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King, expand the world with some of the trilogy’s most demanding late-game content, including Fume Knight, a boss frequently cited among the series’ best. Online play carries improved matchmaking over the base release, and the visual upgrade brings the game to 1080p with a steadier frame rate on current-gen console versions.
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Top Features
- All three DLC packs included – Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King, bundled with the base game.
- Reworked enemy placement – A meaningfully different experience from the original 2014 release, for better or worse depending on who you ask.
- Fume Knight and other standout DLC bosses – Frequently cited among the trilogy’s most memorable encounters.
- Improved online matchmaking – A genuine upgrade over the base game’s connectivity issues.
- Dual DirectX support on PC – Both DirectX 9 and DirectX 11 rendering modes for broader hardware compatibility.
How To Get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Free With Snakzy
Snakzy is a free rewards app where you earn coins by completing offers and playing partner mobile games, no credit card required. Because Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is $29.99, most users clear it comfortably within a single payout cycle.
Steps:
- Download Snakzy on Android from the Google Play Store; iOS users can access it through the web version, as there is currently no native iOS app.
- Browse available offers inside the app. Offers vary by region and rotate regularly.
- Complete offers to earn coins, tracking your progress toward $29.99 inside the app.
- Redeem coins for a Steam gift card once your balance hits the required threshold.
- Use the gift card to buy Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin on Steam.
Minimum cashout threshold is $35. On average, users earn their first $27.70 payout within 6.5 days, close to fully covering this game’s price on its own. Payout speed and offer availability vary by country, so check current rates inside the app before planning around a specific timeline.
Get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Cheaper On Eneba
Not everyone wants to build up a Snakzy balance before playing. Eneba sells a Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin key well below the official price for anyone who’d rather buy today. The key is a genuine, permanent license, redeemed the same way as a normal purchase. Prices fluctuate, so check the live listing before checkout.
Is It Legal To Get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Free With Snakzy?
Yes. Snakzy pays users in coins for completing offers, those coins convert into a real Steam gift card, and the gift card is used for an official Steam purchase. FromSoftware and Bandai Namco get paid the same as if you had bought the game directly, and the result is a legitimate license tied to your Steam account.
What to avoid: unofficial “free download” sites and cracked installers. These carry real malware risk and no legitimate license, and piracy takes revenue directly from a studio still actively developing new entries in the genre it pioneered. Buying or earning your copy through legitimate means keeps that support going.
Verdict
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin backs up its “definitive edition” status with real numbers: an 87 “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic placing it in the top 4% of all games, even as Steam’s own player base reflects the series’ most genuinely split reception at around 84% positive. It’s a strong pick for newcomers who want the complete package with all DLC included, and for returning fans curious how the reworked version compares to the original.
Getting it for free comes down to time rather than money: download Snakzy, work offers toward the $35 redemption threshold, and redeem for a Steam gift card that comfortably covers the $29.99 price. From there, buying Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin is just a normal Steam checkout.
FAQs
Is Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin free to play?
No, it’s a paid game priced at $29.99 on Steam with no free-to-play version. The method in this guide uses Snakzy to earn a Steam gift card that covers the cost without a direct purchase.
What platforms is Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin on?
PC via Steam, plus Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4, all at launch in April 2015. There is no Nintendo Switch version.
What is the OpenCritic score for Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin?
It holds an 87, rated “Mighty,” placing it in the top 4% of all games reviewed on the platform, with 89% of critics recommending it.
Does Scholar of the First Sin include all the DLC?
Yes. It bundles the base game with all three expansion packs, Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the Ivory King, along with additional NPCs, balance adjustments, and improved matchmaking.
Is it safe to get Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin through Snakzy?
Yes. Snakzy-earned Steam gift cards are redeemed through Steam’s official checkout, making the resulting purchase fully legitimate. Avoid unofficial free download sites instead, since those carry real malware and account-ban risk with no legal license attached.
