The Dark Souls trilogy has a reputation for being difficult, and overcoming its challenges are part of the allure for the dedicated FromSoftware fans, but it may seem like an insurmountable task to those who find themselves to apparently be hopelessly awful at the game. The giant red letters that read "YOU DIED" repeatedly popping up can be disheartening, and each game in the series does its best to explain as little as possible to the player. However, Dark Souls obtuse story and characters have a lot to offer, as do the atmospheric worldbuilding and satisfying gameplay mechanics, even for those that can't seem to get a great grasp on the combat.
The first step to overcoming this hurdle is to accept that everyone was bad at Dark Souls at one point. There are players that can beat each game with a level one character dressed in a loincloth, killing every boss with the equivalent of a soup ladle, and even they probably found themselves on the wrong end of the bonfire the first time they played a Soulslike. The games aren't designed to make newcomers suffer, but rather to get newcomers to learn. Aside from a few outliers, there's always a lesson in death, and deaths are rarely "cheap." Dark Souls doesn't have a map or quest log - it doesn't even have a pause button. It makes players find the controls in messages on the ground, and Dark Souls' cryptic NPCs practically speak in riddles, so there's little chance it's going to explain all the combat mechanics in fine detail. The only way to figure out a Dark Souls game is to play deliberately, pay close attention, and learn from past mistakes.
It's also important to remember there are plenty of tools at the player's disposal. There are hundreds of items in each game, and both weapons and armor can be upgraded. It may seem like putting on the heaviest armor and wielding the biggest weapon is a sound strategy (and it can be), but players will have much more success - and a lot more fun - if they find weapons and armor that interest them, learn how to use them effectively, and spend time upgrading them. Dark Souls shouldn't be scary to new players, because each game is a glorified game of trial and error in its early stages, where players figure out their preferred armor weight, what kinds of weapons feel natural, and which spells might be the most useful (Pyromancy and sorceries can also make life easier). It always helps to look up build suggestions, but it's most important to find what works, and if that means buying 500 arrows to kite every enemy into single combat, so be it. What works is what works.
If You're Bad At Dark Souls, Use Co-op And Take It Slow
One of the greatest benefits to the Dark Souls series cultivating such a dedicated player base is that there are almost always people playing, and many are more than willing to lend a helping hand. The multiplayer functionality is a bit confusing at first, but Dark Souls co-op is always fun, with the added bonus of making many encounters easier. The limitations of the multiplayer have a weird way of making the games less stressful as well. There's no voice chat with random teammates, so gesture animations, spinning in circles, and waving weapons frantically have all combined into a hilariously bizarre mode of communication. There are a few Dark Souls covenants to join specifically for co-op, though finding a dedicated partner is likely the the most helpful. It's possible to play the games almost entirely in co-op, but it basically requires every area to be completed twice, since both players must advance through the game.
When co-op is sparse (or for those that are determined to conquer Dark Souls alone), some of the best advice is to play methodically. Separating groups of enemies is an effective strategy for surviving encounters with more Estus. Each Dark Souls game is large, sprawling, and absolutely packed with enemies. Holding up a shield and walking cautiously is a viable strategy for those using a shield, since surviving to the next fight is all that matters. It can take a long time to beat Dark Souls games, and diligently farming souls to level up or searching for upgrade materials isn't a bad use of that time. Patiently exploring will lead to hidden items and shortcuts that are immensely helpful. Dark Souls can certainly be difficult, but a patient willingness to learn is key, and help can usually be found along the way.