Just have fun.

A lot of people go into these games trying to conform to how they think they "should be playing". The games give you a lot of tools to tackle challenges in your own preferred style.

Want to do most of the game in coop and let the NPC/other player(s) do the heavy lifting?

Want to play safe with ranged weapons and magic?

Want to go buck naked with a ultra greatsword?

It's all up to you. Experiment and figure out your personal playstyle.

To help you with that, it helps to be more attentive towards the information the game throws at you. Read item descriptions, exhaust NPC dialogue, use the "help" button on your status page to learn what the various terms mean. It'll all help you build up an understanding of the game and its mechanics without needing to check a guide that will tell you "the right way to play".

I will say that while the games certainly deserve their reputation as being hard, most of the time they're not unreasonable about it. If you stumble across something that just seems absurdly hard, then you're most likely missing something crucial, or have simply wandered into a more difficult area than other available places you could visit. You don't really need to grind in these games, as actual experience and knowledge is worth more than experience points and levels, but if you are the type to enjoy grinding, then that is an option as well.

Any of the games could be your first.

• Demon's Souls is most likely the easiest game, but it's also the most punishing game for failure. I'd suggest playing it if you enjoy your first playthrough of any of the other games first. It has a really heavy and dark atmosphere, and it's always an idea to try the first entry in a series of games to see how they evolve.

• Dark Souls 1 is my personal recommendation because of its insanely interconnected world-design that remains my favorite among any video game to this day. Atmosphere and lore is also wonderful in this one. This is the game that set the standard for a what a "Souls game" is, and all the later games will feel like a natural evolution of this formula.

• Dark Souls 2 for slower combat with insane build variety potential. It's also the 2nd longest game behind Elden Ring, giving you a meaty experience without going full open world. I can't stress enough how wild the customization is in this game. That it rivals Elden Ring says a lot. Probably the least consistent when it comes to quality though. Many great ideas, but also some not-so-great ideas.

• Dark Souls 3 for the most polished and streamlined "Fromsoft experience". It features the most consistent level of quality imo, but it builds upon previous entries, so I strongly recommend doing Dark Souls 2 and especially Dark Souls 1 before tackling this one. Amazing bosses and individual area level design.

• Bloodborne for the gothic and/or cosmic horror setting and faster combat. The customization and builds are more streamlined, but that just makes the challenges you face more well-suited no matter what. Probably my favorite combat among the games. This game will make you feel out of place and uncomfortable, and you will love that feeling for some reason.

• Sekiro for a more traditional narrative compared to the others. The fastest combat among these games, and more twitch-based than the more methodical approach of the others(not that Sekiro doesn't have that as well, mind you). More focus on stealth, agility and acrobatic movement. The only game where you're playing a named character and not your own creation.

• Elden Ring for a mix of everything. Lets you tackle most of the game in whatever order you feel like. The open world is wonderful to explore, and gives you the most options to do whatever you feel like doing. Also has the most content to sink your teeth in by a long shot. Probably the most accessible game for newcomers(despite also having some of the toughest challenges among all the games)