DARK SOULS™ II
Give it 10 hours
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (46%); after 20h it's 1 in 12 (8%).
- Fully opens up by hour 20.
- 39% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “Last Giant”: only 72% of starters get there.
- 94% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 47,103 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 296 reviews: 50.2h for positive, 23.2h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (94.4% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Last Giant Defeat the Last Giant Most players quit here 72% −28
- Looking Glass Knight Defeat Looking Glass Knight 47% −25
- King's Ring Acquire the King's Ring 45% −2
- Ancient Dragon Acquire Ashen Mist Heart 43% −2
- The Heir See the ending 39% −4
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (38)
story milestone ending side
- Self Recollection Reclaim flesh and set out as an Undead 100%
- This is Dark Souls Die for the first time 98%
- Last Giant Defeat the Last Giant 72%
- Covenant of the Meek Discover the covenant of the meek 68%
- Sinner's Bonfire Light the primal bonfire in Sinner's Rise 59%
- Change of Clothes Give Rosabeth of Melfia something to wear 54%
- Clangorous Covenant Discover the clangorous covenant 53%
- Iron Keep Bonfire Light the primal bonfire in the Iron Keep 51%
- Gnawing Covenant Discover the covenant of rodents 50%
- Brightstone Bonfire Light the primal bonfire in Brightstone Cove Tseldora 50%
- Gulch Bonfire Light the primal bonfire in the Black Gulch 49%
- Supreme Weapon Reinforce a weapon to its limit 48%
- Looking Glass Knight Defeat Looking Glass Knight 47%
- Protector Covenant Discover the covenant of the protectors 45%
- King's Ring Acquire the King's Ring 45%
- Ancient Dragon Acquire Ashen Mist Heart 43%
- Brilliant Covenant Discover a most brilliant covenant 42%
- Covenant of the Fittest Discover the covenant of the fittest 42%
- Reflections on Disembodiment Inherit equipment from the head of Vengarl 40%
- The Heir See the ending 39%
- Sanguinary Covenant Discover the covenant of the bloodthirsty 32%
- Abysmal Covenant Discover the abysmal covenant 30%
- Vendrick Defeat Vendrick 27%
- Holder of the Fort Inherit Captain Drummond's equipment 25%
- Garrulous Miser Inherit Laddersmith Gilligan's equipment 25%
- Covenant of Ancients Discover an ancient covenant 23%
- Selfless Giver Max-out devotion to covenant 23%
- Gathering of Exiles Increase the population of Majula 21%
- Curious Map Light all flames on the map in Majula 19%
- Smith for Life Inherit Steady Hand McDuff's equipment 15%
- Lucatiel Inherit equipment from Lucatiel of Mirrah 14%
- Gesture Maestro Learn all gestures 14%
- Moonlight Greatsword Inherit Benhart of Jugo's equipment 9.5%
- Master of Hexes Learn all hexes 5.9%
- Master of Sorcery Learn all sorceries 4.9%
- Master of Pyromancy Learn all pyromancies 4.8%
- Master of Miracles Learn all miracles 4.6%
- The Dark Soul Earn all achievements 4.1%