Bloodborne

Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware left the medieval fantasy of the Souls series behind and moved to the gothic city of Yharnam, plagued by a cursed disease that turns its inhabitants into hideous beasts. Instead of a shield and slow blocking, the player is given only a weapon with a transforming form and a firearm to interrupt attacks, which reoriented the entire combat system toward aggression, since the player is rewarded for attacking rather than retreating, thanks to the Rally mechanic that lets lost health be regained through a swift counterattack.

The transforming weapons are the true heart of the gameplay: each has two forms that can be switched mid-combo, so a quick blade morphs mid-animation into a heavy edge with greater reach, letting the player build their own rhythm to fit the situation. The firearm doesn't chip away at health but serves as a precisely timed stagger that opens the way for a devastating melee follow-up, turning every fight into a matter of nerve and timing rather than patient waiting behind a shield. Level design full of shortcuts and interconnected locations is a FromSoftware trademark, but the faster pace and darker atmosphere make Yharnam, with its chapels, alleys, and cathedrals, one of the best-designed environments the studio has ever created. Optional procedurally assembled dungeons then offered dozens more hours for the most persistent players.

The atmosphere draws on both Lovecraftian and Victorian gothic horror, and the world gradually shifts from a hunt for werewolves to cosmic horror filled with strange beings, underscored by the player's growing understanding of Yharnam's hidden side. Critics called the game one of the highlights of the generation, and despite its difficulty it earned an army of devoted fans, further expanded by the demanding The Old Hunters expansion. The lasting absence of a remaster and its status as a Sony exclusive have only heightened the game's cult status and the nostalgic longing for an official return to Yharnam.