At first glance, it may seem like Dark Souls has no player choice to speak of in its trilogy of games. Praised for its unforgiving difficulty, intense boss fights, and astounding beauty, Dark Souls has crafted its game genre into an allegorical masterpiece of story and lore. The player's role in this lore can occasionally change the course of the game's world, as player choice is revealed to be much more present than it may appear. In fact, player choice is so prevalent in these games, that the fate of the Dark Souls world is often left up to the player's decisions as influenced by their actions throughout the story.
In each of the games in the Dark Souls trilogy, there are hidden options over the course of the main story to unlock different endings. These endings can be split up into two main categories: Link the Flame, or End the Flame. In Dark Souls 1 and 2, the canon ending is to Link the Fire, otherwise the games' successors would never have taken place.
The canonical ending to Dark Souls 3 remains unconfirmed, as it is the presumed final installment of the Dark Souls main series. When players choose to Link the Flame, their character sacrifices themselves as a vessel to continue the Age of Fire and keep light in the world. Should a player choose to End the Flame, their character will instead extinguish the light of the First Flame and usher in an era of Darkness. While these choices can be more apparent than others, the endings are not the only player choice in the game.
Dark Souls Choice - Saving Solaire of Astora
Some of the most important choices in Dark Souls reside within NPC quests. Throughout the world, most of the beings that players will encounter come in the form of enemies and bosses. However, in journeying throughout the chaotic wasteland, players may encounter some friendly faces. One of these friendly beings is Solaire of Astora, one of the most well-known characters in the Dark Souls lore and franchise. His jolly tone, noble nature, and brightly colored armor are just a few of his memorable qualities. Like most friendly NPCs in Dark Souls, Solaire comes with his own questline, which can be completed if the player character accomplishes certain tasks. Hidden within this questline is a series of player choices that can dictate Solaire's survival, or lead to a fate worse than death.
In order to save Solaire, the player character must join the Daughter of Chaos covenant and give Quelagg's Sister 30 Humanity to open the door to the bridge of the Demon Ruins from Lost Izalith. After gaining access to this area, players must defeat all nine Sunlight Maggots in order to protect Solaire as he journeys across. Dark Soul 1's Bed of Chaos boss must also be defeated, otherwise Solaire will not survive his trek through the Demon Ruins.
While Solaire will be distraught about this event, and become rather downtrodden at not yet finding his own sun, he will survive. Furthermore, Solaire will be available as a friendly summon when the Chosen Undead faces the final boss of Dark Souls: Lord Gwyn. Upon defeating Gwyn, the Chosen Undead will be able to Link the Flame, and Solaire will finally witness the rising of a new sun. This small victory is the least that players can do for this noble knight.
Dark Souls Choice - Saving Greirat
Friends are rare in the Dark Souls universe, and among these friends are even fewer that will not betray the player character once their goals have been reached. Greirat is one such character. Initially encountered in a cell on the High Wall of Lothric, Greirat has been locked away as a thief and will likely be killed if the player does not choose to help him. With an endearing, nervous tone and a helpful nature, Greirat of the Undead Settlement makes for a lovely companion back at the Firelink Shrine. His questline supplies players with vital items (including Embers) throughout the main story of Dark Souls 3. By saving this little thief, Greirat can ease the loneliness Dark Souls' Unkindled may feel as they battle their way through Lothric.
Greirat's imprisonment at the High Wall of Lothric is not the only time where his life hangs in the balance. Throughout the story of Dark Souls 3, Greirat will occasionally ask his savior for permission to go scavenge throughout the various cities and towns the player has cleared (or is currently exploring). While this seems dangerous, Greirat tends to be able to take care of himself with the exception of two locations: Irithyll Dungeons and Lothric Castle.
Player choice plays a heavy role in Greirat's survival throughout his adventures in Irithyll Dungeons. Firstly, the Unkindled must ensure Unbreakable Patches' survival and his possession of Siegward of Catarina's armor. After sending Greirat away, the player must then inform Patches of his departure, prompting the traitorous worm to pursue with the intention of defending Greirat. Following the perilous adventure to Irithyll, Greirat will ask the Unkindled to allow him to explore Lothric Castle. Players must deny him this to ensure his survival, as no condition will allow Greirat to make it out of the castle alive.
Dark Souls Choice - Giving The Fire Keeper the Eyes
Perhaps the most important decision of Dark Souls 3 is one that players may not encounter without knowledge of its existence, and that is deciding whether to give the Eyes of a Fire Keeper to the Fire Keeper at Firelink Shrine. While many Unkindled may only choose to return to the hub when level-ups are needed, or to return the ashes of Lords of Cinders, exploring Firelink will reveal many hidden mysteries. In the Untended Graves of Firelink Shrine, the Unkindled will discover the Eyes of a Fire Keeper item. It is not inherently apparent that players should consider searching for the hidden Fire Keeper Eyes item, nor is it clear who they should give them to. A lack of quest markers or a method of keeping track of quests is something that increases the difficulty of Dark Souls, and serves as a reward system for the most thorough of players.
Giving the Fire Keeper the Eyes of a Fire Keeper will result in players unlocking the two additional endings to Dark Souls 3's vanilla campaign. By offering this item, the Fire Keeper will offer to "remove fire from the world", but urges the Unkindled to continue their task in hunting down the Lords of Cinder and returning them to their thrones. Upon defeating Dark Souls 3's final boss, the Fire Keeper's summon sign will appear beside the last bonfire of the game. Summoning her at the Kiln of the First Flame will allow players to access the End the Flame ending and usher in an era of Darkness. The most evil of Unkindled, however, may also pursue a darker path, and stab the Fire Keeper in the back to take the First Flame for themselves.
While the lore and story of Dark Souls can sometimes be convoluted, and often leaves more questions than answers, players looking to prevent some hardship in their playthroughs should carefully think about their decisions. While there are few opportunities to secure happy endings for certain characters or quests, it can be reassuring to hold some sway over a world that is filled with so much pain, darkness, and misery. Whether Unkindled or Undead choose to make the Dark Souls world a bit brighter, extinguish the Flame, save their companions, or doom them, FromSoftware manages to put player choice in the center of everything.