The 20 Most STRESSFUL Moments in Souls Games

Laggy Invaders

“Dark Souls” Series (2011-)

Multiplayer in Souls games has always had its own style, and ‘Dark Souls’ PvP ranges from honorable duelists who bow politely… to gremlins hiding behind cliffs waiting to yeet you off with force like they’re auditioning for WWE. But there’s one stressful moment that accompanies an already stressful invasion, internet, and you won’t know whether it’s gonna be a problem until a player invades and the fight starts. The invader’s internet connection becomes the real boss. Some players have such low bandwidth they teleport behind you like budget anime villains. And that’s not even counting lag-switchers. Playing with friends is great… but dealing with rubberbanding backstab ninjas? Less great.

Tomb of The Giants

“Dark Souls” (2011)

Making it through the Catacombs is tough, but trying to clear the Tomb of the Giants without a light source is basically ‘Dark Souls’ saying, “What if we turned the difficulty knob past 10 and straight into ‘drive the controller through your skull’?” Every late-game zone has its gimmick: Duke’s Archives has rotating floors, Lost Izalith makes you stroll across lava like you’re late for work in Mordor, and New Londo forces you to accessorize with exactly one very specific ring.

But Tomb of the Giants? Its gimmick is simple: you can’t see jack. It’s pitch black, perfect for walking off cliffs. Without a Sunlight Maggot or Cast Light, you have to give up your off-hand just to see two feet in front of you, which you’ll need since you basically signed up for a blindfolded skeleton beatdown.

Being Cursed is Expensive

“Dark Souls” (2011)

If you get caught in the giant gas cloud of a Basilisk, you get cursed, and trust me, you want to avoid this with every roll you’ve got in your back pocket. But if you do get cursed? Boom. Instant death. Doesn’t matter if you had full HP or drank ten Estus flasks, congrats, you’re now a stylish stone lawn ornament. The real pain comes after: Curse halves your max HP, turns off kindling and humanity, and basically tells you to enjoy playing in extra hard mode. The only cure is a Purging Stone, which means trekking back from The Depths to one of two NPCs, paying 3,000 or 6,000 souls depending on how long you want your walk of shame to be. Next time, don’t inhale evil gas.

Ashen Idols

“Dark Souls II” (2014)

The ‘Dark Souls II’ DLC, Crown of the Old Iron King comes with one veeeery tough mechanic, Smelter Wedges, the tiny metal toothpicks of justice used to break Ashen Idols. Destroying an Idol gives you a soul fragment, which is nice, but these little statues also constantly heal every Ashen Warrior nearby. So you’re trying to fight these lava-proof jerks while they regenerate HP faster than a shampoo commercial model. Add in Brume Tower’s traps, narrow ledges, and generally upsetting vibes, and things get spicy fast. Worse, Smelter Wedges are limited and have to be scavenged throughout the tower. At the bottom, Ashen Idols even heal the boss. If you don’t destroy both, or you run out of Wedges entirely, the fight becomes a soul-crushing marathon. I hope you like hitting things forever, because it’s not stopping.

The Road Through The Gutter

“Dark Souls II” (2014)

Most ‘Dark Souls II’ players remember The Gutter as “that place where I fell off every five seconds.” It’s a pitch-black maze of platforms where progress basically means climbing up and down like a confused plumber while you frantically light torches just to see three feet in front of you. Then you escape The Gutter and think, “Surely it gets better.” Haha. No. Welcome to Black Gulch, aka Poison World 2: Now With Worms. It’s more linear, but the statues return in greater numbers. Darksuckers and giant worms block your path like bouncers at a nightclub, and before you reach the next bonfire, an NPC invader jumps you because apparently the developers wanted to pay your medical bills. The boss is easy, admittedly, but that doesn’t erase the poison frustration.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

“Elder Ring” (2022)

Yaaaay our first entry from ‘Elden Ring’, we got so far into this list without it, here we go. This is one of those bosses everyone knew about long before actually meeting her. Thanks to the legend of “Let Me Solo Her,” players basically got a public-service announcement: Malenia is coming, prepare your tears. Malenia, Blade of Miquella, sits comfortably in the S-tier of FromSoftware pain dealers, right next to the Orphan of Kos and Sister Friede. Her first phase is tough but doable. Then phase two hits and she becomes Malenia, Goddess of Rot, aka Malenia but with DLC installed. Now she’s throwing out lightning-fast combos, arena-wide explosions, phantom clones, and enough Scarlet Rot to qualify as a biohazard. And the cherry on top? She heals anytime she pokes you, so sometimes your Spirit Ashes help her more than you.

Messmer’s Second Phase

“Elden Ring” (2022)

Elden Ring twice in a row? Boss fights twice in a row? Goddamn, well done Elden Ring. Messmer was (at least for me) the first boss in the ‘Elden Ring’ DLC ‘Shadow of The Erdtree’ that stood out for difficulty. Difficult bosses had been fought, but Messmer stepped things up, and it was the second phase that took things from “hmmm, this is tough”, to “I might never finish this game”. In phase two, Messmer decides being a murderous pyro isn’t spicy enough and upgrades into a giant snake, and acts like it. Everything you learned in phase one? Useless. He slithers in with brand-new moves designed specifically to ruin your muscle memory and your mood. It’s one of those fights where you get so close to victory once, and then spend the next twelve attempts wondering if that first run was just a hallucination.

The Pickaxe

“Dark Souls II” (2014)

The pickaxe in Dark Souls II isn’t just hard to get, it’s basically the game whispering, “You weren’t supposed to find this.” Its requirements are so absurd you’d think FromSoftware lost a bet. You have to lure a wild pig halfway across Drangleic like you’re starring in the world’s angriest petting zoo, guiding it through enemy gauntlets until it reaches the sacred Mushroom Snack Spot™ and digs up the pickaxe. Yes, the pig can do this naturally… but getting it to cooperate is like convincing a toddler to walk a marathon. No wonder this thing is one of the most hidden items in the whole game. Guiding this thing through enemies without it losing focus, getting killed, or killing itself is a stress on par with carrying those goddamn eggs in Monster Hunter.

Promised Consort Radhan

“Elden Ring” (2022)

In the Elden Ring DLC, Radhan makes a brutal return, and if you think he was tough in the base game, you’re done for. Promised Consort Radahn is basically Starscourge Radahn after chugging five energy drinks and deciding therapy is for quitters. Easily one of the most soul-crushing bosses in Soulslike history, he snatches the “Hardest Boss” crown from Malenia comfortably. He’s a demigod-turned-god-turned-nightmare, with both long-range and close-range attacks that feel like they were designed by someone who thinks Dark Souls is easy. You’ll cycle through more builds than a contractor on deadline, and it still won’t feel fair.

Losing a Bloodstain

“Dark Souls” Series (2011-)

Everyone knows the pain of dying in Dark Souls and then making the long, sweaty pilgrimage back to your bloodstain to collect your souls or runes (if you’re playing Elden Ring). The stretch between bonfires is a gauntlet designed by someone who got fired from a funhouse for “going too far.” This trek is stress on top of stress, and if you die again, maybe to a trap, an enemy, or good old Sir Isaac Newton, it feels like watching your entire retirement plan evaporate because you tripped on a pixel. Losing thousands of souls in one go hurts. When the “YOU DIED” screen pops up again, in the exact same spot, it’s an all-too relatable misery every Souls player knows well, hours of life yeeted straight into the void.

Fishing Hamlet & Shark Giants

“Bloodborne” (2015)

Welcome to The Fishing Hamlet, annoying enough on its own, but home to one of the most annoying enemy types in Bloodborne: Shark Giants. Narrow walkways, limited cover, and swarms of aggressive foes force players into annoying spots for swinging swords, leaving almost no room for error. Then there’s the Shark Giants, the hard-hitting enemies whose attacks can one-shot or stagger. Don’t even bother thinking you can duck this section with aggressive healing, because it’s strikingly limited. Let me quote Reddit’s great A_Good_Hunter: “What am I missing here? What can I learn, practice, and git gud at to reliably kill this enemy?” Nothing, Hunter… Nothing.

The Lake of Rot

“Elden Ring” (2022)

The Lake of Rot in Elden Ring is one of the game’s most stressful areas, placing players in unrelenting danger with almost no room to relax. The stress of navigating this area, reaching every corner, solving the puzzles and fighting the bosses is turned up to 11 with scarlet rot infecting you almost instantly, a status effect that steadily drains health and demands constant cures or meticulous preparation. Movement is sluggish and punishing, while lurking enemies and environmental threats heighten the pressure. Every resource must be carefully managed as the inevitable rot builds. Combined with its oppressive atmosphere, unsettling music, and pervasive sense of helplessness, the Lake of Rot turns each step into a tense gamble for life, which is coincidentally the name of my autobiography.

Anor Londo

“Dark Souls” (2011)

Have you tried to move through Anor Londo in Dark Souls? Trust me, if you had you’d never forget it. First off, flying buttresses are infamous for breaking newcomers, and then the section of Anor Londo with the Silver Knight archers has become a true rite of passage, testing whether players can stay calm while being relentlessly shot off narrow ledges into the abyss. Many gave up here entirely. Those who persevered soon faced another wall: Ornstein and Smough, the game’s most brutal boss duo. Without solid dodging skills and careful stamina management, players were doomed to repeat the fight until they adapted. For many, this section was the ultimate test of patience and rage... And stress.

Frigid Outskirts

“Dark Souls II” (2014)

Onto another entire stress-inducing section, we have the Frigid Outskirts. All of the Dark Souls II DLCs are notoriously tough, but none compare to the misery of the Frigid Outskirts in the Crown of the Ivory King. This area features some of the franchise’s worst enemy designs, an exhausting boss gauntlet, and one of FromSoftware’s most punishing boss runs. Much like the Tomb of the Giants, a blinding snowstorm limits visibility, while reindeer enemies charge out of the whiteout to knock you down and deal heavy damage, something Elden Ring players would experience years later at about 10% the annoyance. After minutes of wandering aimlessly, players finally reach a boss fight against two reskinned versions of Aava. The fight is easier than the trek itself, but guess what death means? Repeating that ENTIRE RUN. F***.

The Ritual Path

“Demon’s Souls” (2009)

I mean this with absolutely no hyperbole, I googled The Ritual Path so I could revisit it before writing about it, and in all my days at Mojo I’ve never seen SO MANY Reddit posts about “HOW THE HELL DO I GET THROUGH THIS SECTION?” The Ritual Path in Demon’s Souls is notoriously difficult because it combines oppressive design with brutal enemy placement, placement that requires complete knowledge of the area as walkthroughs will often have you cheesing kills with well placed shots and magic before getting there. The area is shrouded in darkness, making navigation tricky and giving enemies the advantage of surprise. Reaper enemies summon waves of lethal shadow creatures, forcing players to either rush the Reaper or risk being overwhelmed. The narrow pathways leave little room for maneuvering, and a single mistake often results in death. Add in powerful Black Phantom enemies and a deadly fall to the abyss below, and the Ritual Path becomes a test of patience I’m not interested in repeating.

Old Yharnam

“Bloodborne” (2015)

Old Yharnam in Bloodborne is stress on stress on stress. From the moment you enter, you’re greeted by Djura’s gatling gun raining down bullets, forcing you to dash between cover while beasts swarm the streets. This stressful moment would be well and truly enough to get it onto this list, but it goes on. The level’s vertical design makes you feel constantly exposed, with enemies lurking around blind corners. Many foes inflict poison, punishing hasty movement while also forcing you to fight with speed. It's an impossible combo. Old Yharnam teaches you that rushing ahead is deadly, yet lingering too long is equally dangerous. A lot of this list is about stressful areas, but this one has stayed with me personally more than most.

Blighttown

“Dark Souls” (2011)

Even by modern Soulslike standards, no poison swamp compares to the nightmare of Blighttown in the original Dark Souls. It's Lake of Rot on crack. Even the path to get to this infamous sh***y swampland is stressful. Inside Blighttown, players must navigate a ramshackle vertical maze of rickety platforms and awkwardly placed ladders, all while exposed to enemies at every goddamn angle. Hulking ogres hurl cleavers, toxic dart shooters drain your HP, and insects lash out with blood and fire. This area is achievable now with everyone having their methods pinned down, but newcomers will probably quit.

Ringed City

“Dark Souls III” (2016)

Yaaaay, Dark Souls III made it on this list. Oh no, it’s because of The Ringed City. The Ringed City DLC for Dark Souls III stands among the hardest content in the entire trilogy. Traversing its ruined streets is brutal, with Ringed Knights, arguably the series’ toughest standard foes, and don’t forget the relentless Angels. This city requires complete, unfiltered mastery of combat fundamentals. Designed for endgame characters, the enemies here are stronger than anywhere else in DS3. Its bosses, especially Darkeater Midir and Slave Knight Gael, push players to their limits. Is it cheating to include the entirety of a DLC as an entry? Maybe, but I’m gonna.

The Obsidian Greatsword

“Dark Souls” (2011)

Dark Souls is infamous for its grueling challenges, but the Artorias of the Abyss DLC pits players against the legendary boss Black Dragon Kalameet, whose overwhelming health pool and punishing attacks test every part of a player's skills. Beating Kalameet is already a monumental task, but obtaining the Obsidian Greatsword from him is even tougher. The weapon can only be acquired by severing his tail, a near-impossible feat requiring precise timing, rare openings, and immense patience. It’s truly like if I said “you need to defeat Mike Tyson in his prime in a boxing match,” and then I said “I’ll also give you a billion dollars if you can take one of his socks off.”

Gauntlet of Strength: Mortal Journey

“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” (2019)

Truly any of the Gauntlet of Strength challenges could be considered the most stressful sections of any Souls game, but we’re focusing on The Gauntlet of Strength: Mortal Journey challenge because it demands perfection over an exhausting marathon of some of the hardest boss fights available. Players must defeat a gauntlet of Sekiro’s toughest foes back-to-back without checkpoints or healing between battles, aside from limited healing gourds. The sheer endurance required makes even minor mistakes costly, as losing late in the gauntlet means starting all over again. Pressure builds with each victory, as the fear of slipping up grows heavier. Mortal Journey pushes players’ mastery, patience, and nerves to the limit, amplifying stress throughout. It’s easily an hour of your life, and it can disappear with the clink of a sword.