How Souls Games Save You 

Someone once said this "after you beat a souls game, try creating a new character and go killing some bosses again, you will realize that it wasn't your character that got stronger, you did".

You know what makes me happy about these games? When I defeat a boss after hours of trying and I read the messages on the floor saying “I did it” or “good job” it makes me feel like I am part of a group that struggled together and made it through.

You don't lose when you die, you lose when you give up, dark souls taught me persistence.

you know, the fact that i tear up at the phrase "don't you dare go hollow" really shows how much of a impact this game had on me.

I don’t know why but hearing this story and hearing that community say “don’t you dare go hollow” brought me to tears. I’m not going through anything hard in particular but hearing the power behind those words just feels so powerful, thank you so much for this video

I know it sounds silly, but when i went to upgrade my weapons once again after 80 hours of ingame time and Master Hewg greeted me with: "I knew you'd be back" instead of assuming i'd died, i got a little emotional. It felt like someone actually believed in me after i have proven myself

Back in 2020, i was diagnosed with Leukemia. For those who haven't witnessed the treatment process, it's brutal. Everything hurts, you get pumped with poison until the disease is gone, and then they double back. Friends and family came and went, but at the end of every day, all i had was DS3 and my thoughts. I remember when i finally beat Aldrich, and i audibly celebrated. When the battle music fades, you become so conscious of the hospitals silence. It was in that moment i realized that this battle was my own, the disgusting sludge that was the beast, was my disease. Gwnn succumbed to the mass, but i would not. With my confidence and Artorias' trusty blade, i went and kicked the Dancer's ass too. I am now 2 years in remission 🧡 Beautiful video!

I just love how this game is set in such a depressing atmosphere of hopelessness, and yet the community is one of the most supportive and lively ones around

One ds2 quote (it was my first souls game) got me by surprise and still hits to this day: "My blade may break, my arrows fall wide, but my will shall never be broken". Truly inspiring.

I knew that "And Don't you dare go hollow" was coming, but It still hit me like an emotional truck. Loved this one.

The quote that hit me the most from the Souls serie was from Karla the witch in DS3. ''Oh, are you lost on your journey. No matter. today's lost are conquerors tomorrow. It only demonstrate the making of a champion.'' That quote made it's way back to me on the edge of suicide. Saved my life. Made me a better man.

I've been telling myself "don't you dare go hollow" for years now, I didn't know it was so widespread... I feel like a part of something bigger, thank you dark souls

"These games provide a provocation. They insist that they can't be bested and they dare you to try and prove them wrong." This sentence is kind of hilarious because it's pretty much the same feeling leading to people complaining about how Pokémon rivals today are too nice and how they want a smug rival who rubs his ego in your face again. Dark Souls is the Gary Oak of video games.

Ok but there's one interesting thing about the souls games that helped my anxiety that wasn't quite touched upon but I think is worth discussion. Dark Souls requires and fosters a healthy relationship with failure. The subtitle of the first game "prepare to die" is not a warning or a challenge, its damn good advice. You will fail at some points, thats unavoidable, but it's not always a bad thing, when you die and drop souls you're encouraged to go back there to collect them, to try again, sometimes when you struggle with a boss, it's good to have runs where you don't nessasarily aim to win but instead to learn their patterns and experiment. Failure can be devastating when you lose all your souls but you can't just load a previous save, you have to move on. And something I've taken surprisingly to heart, us that sometimes failure is unavoidable, that sometimes it will hurt, but we always need to keep moving, and most importantl of all sometimes failure is the first step to success Also I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about Taz the Tasmanian Devil sounds surprisingly a lot like the real world animal

"don't you dare go hollow" is one of the greatest lines to come from a video game

one thing i really like about soulsborne games is the messaging system. it reminds me that we're in this unforgiving world together and after beating a boss and reading a little "i did it!" message i just take a step back to appreciate everyone who came before and who will come after me. that mentality bleeds into real life and it genuinely does wonders

There’s a reason why generally I’d say 80% of the fanbase is extremely friendly and helpful, it’s a certain type of person tht enjoys these games

Years ago when I got my chance to play and beat Dark Souls for the first time I had a profound realisation about the concept of hollowing in that game. The reason your character never goes full hollow in that game is because YOU as a player never gave up. So in essence all the players who ever played Dark Souls and eventually gave up actually became hollow. My personal head canon is that every player that quit Dark Souls is represented in the game by one of the countless hollow undead you encounter in it. Only by overcoming the challenges and beating the game can you escape that fate.

"Don't you dare go hollow" has always felt like a warning for real life. With depression, you feel hollow. The correlation almost feels intentional.

Nobody in MY LIFE made me as proud of myself as the Nameless King. The feeling of conquering that mountain after 150+(i stopped counting) deaths was like nothing I've ever felt. Thank you Miyazaki for your works, for as much as you are hated by scurbs you are loved by those who beat the games.

Demons' Souls Stockpile Thomas had a line that stuck with me. "You have a heart of gold. Don't let them take it from you." It's my favorite version of the motivation the souls games put in you. I believe whatever souls game you play first you'll appreciate the quotes from most.

The SoulsBorne games, or the from soft games, are an amazing example of how a game doesn't need to rub its message in your face and actively explain it. The message is absorbed by the player in the experience, while overcoming the challenge. Great video as always

“don’t you dare go hollow” I remember saying this to myself while escaping the worst job in my life and succeeding it. I've finished DS1 at that time. And while having a mild ptsd and having anxiety of looking for a new job I played and finished whole DS2.

"dont you dare go hollow" is the most wholesome quote that is applicable to so much and normal people would probably get something out of it but it can always make a souls player crack a smile

“Don’t you dare go hollow” got me through the hardest part of my life so far, I’m so thankful for these games and the community we’ve built.

Another huge contributing factor is, at least in my mind, the very particular way Souls games handle multiplayer and how that's weaved into the narrative. In all Souls games, while the world as a whole is lonely you are yourself never truly alone. It's your journey and it's your victories but there are always others, fleeting ghosts from other worlds, passing by on their own journeys. Souls games are a surprisingly communal experience. Even when you're not actively summoning other people into your world the landscape is filled with notes from your fellow Chosen Undead, guiding you and cheering you on. The asynchronous multiplayer features of Souls games build a sense of shared suffering, a sense that the world may be dark but together we can carve our way towards the light, that there are always others who are on the same journey as you. Even the lore reinforces this, you are not the only Chosen Undead, not the only Bearer of the Curse, not the only Ashen One. You are but one of many and are given the tools to help your fellow travelers succeed. It's not by accident that the item used to enable online features is "Humanity". Because that is what's at the core of being human, to care for each other. To help those in need, to pass down knowledge, to survive *together*. Depression often results in loneliness and often times that loneliness is precisely what's keeping you from healing. You have no one to lean on, no one who can help you. Souls games can remind you that there are other people out there, that they want to help you, that this world does not need to be braved alone. Don't you dare give up, don't you dare go hollow. We've got your back if you need us, you can do this.

I showed this to my mother who has Multiple Sclerosis and despite the fact she doesn’t play any video games it seemed to truly lift her spirits. I explained to her the meaning of “don’t you dare go hollow” and she seemed to really resonate with the concept. I’m usually not so open when it comes to sharing these sort of things but I just wanted you to know all your hard work has had a profound effect on both me and my mother. Thank you Daryl

I’m a 19 year old kid that struggled with depression for the last 5 years. I was a loner, I denied party invites, hangouts, a few relationships and even friendships all because my mental health was absolutely at its all time low. And sure, I’ll admit that I’m not fully healed. But souls games have saved me. I was close to quitting on my first play through of Elden Ring because of the difficulty the game put into their bosses and even minions. But it taught me that it’s easy to give up. But those that keep on trying. Those that give it their all and push forward. Those people are the ones that truly live. I was so lost in my own head that I honestly believed I was meant to be alone. I didn’t feel like a leader nor a follower. I felt like I was just there. But fighting these bosses multiple times and constantly stressing made me realize that I had a fire in me. A passion for wanting to keep on trying until I get better. It showed me that I was more than just a hollow. This world is cruel, there’s no denying it. But the fact that it allows you to constantly lose until you win is just so amazing to me. There’s beauty in the struggle. It’s a gift to be able to try again. Realizing this, truly made me a happier and more grateful person. I’ve gained the ability to feel. To cry. To be sad. To be happy. A quote that also opened my eyes was, “Every man has two lives, and the second starts when he realizes he has just one” - Confucius. I’ll always be grateful to souls games for saving me.

This fanbase is incredibly supportive. They remind me of the type of people that won’t criticize an overweight person for going to the gym, but instead feel proud of them for going.

14:43 "There is no luck" The Ultra Greatsword I got from that Black Knight on my first playthrough begs to differ on this specific point.

I just beat Dark Souls for the first time and I literally cried tears of joy. Because I realized I was so happy because of my own actions, not because of drugs, not because someone else was propping me up, but because I actually did something. And I know it's just a game, but it really does put things into perspective. You can accomplish anything if you just keep trying, never give up, never go hollow.

Hello,,,so,,, I'll get vulnerable with ya,,,,,I'm a recovering alcoholic and addict,,,, shortly after my wife left me and took my daughter I stumbled upon Dark souls. Here we are years later and I'm still sober and crushing life. Dark souls in my time of need gave me something to focus my mind on and yes,,,,, when I finally beat Dark souls 3 I felt as though I can apply this same type of focus to everything else I struggle with!! Thank you so much for this video and letting me know I'm not alone! Peace out

I don't know why, but the last part with "don't you dare go hollow" is exactly what i needed to hear right now. Never could i imagine that i needed someone to tell me those words. I feel relieved and that i am not alone to struggle. Thank you

I have recently learned that I will be permanently injured and in moderate pain for the rest of my life. It's been really hard to cope. I can't do many of the things I enjoy anymore. This video really helped me with my mindset. It won't be easy, far from it, but I have to keep going. I'll do my best not to go hollow.

Honestly, I was feeling super depressed lately and kept doubting music and couldn’t even be in public with breaking down, but after watching this video, I actually feel a lot better. Dark souls was never a game that I thought I would like but your videos always have something about them that make me feel relaxed and feel like I can do anything

When i was homeless during covid lockdowns i had dark souls on my switch and after work every night id play that game. It helped me keep going and made me feel like even though life was hard at the time i can get through it. I have found my career as both a handyman and a chef. I live in a house (renting better than having one). And im happy. Thank you Miyazaki for your masterpieces.

I teared up a few times while watching this. Like many other, the Souls games have had a profound impact on my life and my worldview. Don't you dare go hollow friends.

For me, I didn't get these games until I started watching a streamer so challenge runs off dark souls 3, I love the atmosphere and the music, and having grown a lot since trying dark souls 1 I have it a try. The feeling of being able to see my growth with each boss as I got better, and having a sense of agency at a time in my life where I had almost no agency, it helped me get through a lot, and so these games will always have a special place with me. As always this was an awesome video and I look forward to what's next.

"Souls games save souls," literally made me tear up. Beautiful. I think this goes beyond just the difficulty, though. It's not just overcoming a hard boss that is part of the confidence building, but learning how to even play the game and figure out the story. The game gives you nothing for free, you have to earn everything, and you have to spend a decent amount of time being confused and just carrying on anyway. I think that translates to real life quite well, as it's often confusing, full of uncertainty, and we usually don't know what the best answers are but we HAVE to carry on regardless. I think a lot of mental health issues today stem from how comfortable most of us in the western world are in terms of our basic needs being met. Mere survival isn't really a struggle anymore. Yeah, we have to go to work and grind, but pretty much everyone knows where their next meal is coming from and only 0.2 percent of the US population is homeless. We've got it pretty fucking good. Dark Souls helps mental health for the same reasons that hitting the gym hard, or choosing to take a walk in sub zero temperatures, or taking a cold shower, or writing a novel, or fasting, or building a bookshelf from scratch, etc. does. Humans are DESIGNED TO STRUGGLE. We NEED to be exposed to healthy levels of stress that we are capable of pushing through and overcoming. Being comfortable is literally killing us. It's making us fat and it's making us fucking depressed. As someone who has struggled with depression my entire adult life, my best advice is always just go do something difficult. Run a marathon, climb a fucking mountain, hit the gym really hard every single weekend, go build something, go practice talking to women, and yes even beat a difficult video game. You need to forcefully assert your agency upon the world, you need to punch the fucking universe in the fucking face as hard as you goddamn can to say, "I'm here, I exist."

This video made me cry. Thank you for putting words to a feeling I didn't know how to explain anytime someone asked me why I liked Souls games. It really made me think about how every time I went into a Souls game it was to escape reality but when I came out it was to confront reality.

I won't lie. My first ever playthrough of DS1, when Laurentius said "don't you dare go hollow", I cried. Because it perfectly encapsulated how I was feeling at the time. I was in a really bad depression, and it truly felt like I was hollow. Emotionless, just kind of existing. But those words not only pushed me to win, and beat the game, they forever changed my life. I still struggle with depression, but now I have a tattoo of those words on my arm, as a constant reminder that no matter what mountain lies ahead of me, I can always overcome it.

Sekiro really helped me because of the themes mixed with sekiros character just resonated with me. In Sekiro, the more sekiro dies, the people he has made connections with start getting sick with an illness called dragon rot. It is really deadly and they start coughing up blood. I like this concept because it makes me think that if I do end up dying like sekiro, I’ll just give people dragon rot. AKA people that I made connections with will be affected negatively if I follow through. And the saying “do what must be done” is said a few times through the game and it’s a good saying with a lot of drive, because it means to do what must be done to accomplish your goals and you need to keep going to do that. Sekiro will always be one of my favorite games for the many themes it presents, how much I can relate to sekiro himself, and the amazing story and world of the game.

Well.. Have been dealing with a debilitating illness for 6 years which is getting progressively worse, guess I'll give Elden Ring a try. Hope it helps me better deal with my mental health. Thanks for such a quality video, Daryl!

With these games, there’s a question asked by them that I think no other game does and think it’s not “Can you beat the boss?” It’s “Will you beat the boss?” It’s a question of perseverance. The game awaits you, until you are ready

My marriage ended a bit before Elden Ring released. And it's been a real mental struggle to not obsess over the depressing thoughts. I tried a bunch of games but nothing could really distract me. But Elden Ring is the first time in awhile where something can just take my focus and mental energy so much that I forget all the stresses of the world. Being immersive and difficult really sucks me in. Other games (which I enjoy) don't always do that. They're something about the Fromsoft formula that takes the entirety of my focus and I can't ever just play it on autopilot. And having a deep story but little in cutscenes and exposition means I'm not getting distracted watching something and thinking about my life. Elden Ring just gives me a few hours a day to get lost in another world where my problems are physical monsters I can defeat as opposed to mental ones in real life. And there's a real sense of accomplishment and growth with these. I'm so glad Fromsoft makes the games they do. It's been such a help in my life and especially now.

This is actually my favorite "Psych of Play" so far. And that's saying A LOT. Well done, sir.

When I saw you start streaming Dark Souls I knew we were gonna get one hell of a video, but damn. Having recently completed a couple of these kinds of brutal games, I definitely understand what makes them so appealing. You really feel an unrivalled sense of pride and satisfaction with your accomplishments. I'm really glad with Eldin Ring, it seems like they've made the games even a bit more approachable to people, because despite their unapologetic nature, I feel that a lot of people could benefit from trying them out. Hell, if my friend hadn't helped me through Dark Souls 3 in multiplayer and explained how it worked to me, I probably wouldn't have given FromSoft games another chance.

as a psyc major, i love the involvement of self efficacy and self esteem in this video! great job

I’m currently in a depression stump that is slowly killing me and playing elden ring and listening to the lore has honestly kept me going for the last couple weeks. I just want to go home and get stronger on my character and not focusing on my issues. And being able to overcome something even just a boss after so many attempts has brought some measure of joy back into my life. I’m not a good gamer by any stretch so I’m especially bad at these games which makes beating bosses all the more rewarding and is honestly helping me more then my pills have thus far let’s hope it keeps getting better even little by little

As someone who is struggling mentally, I can't say I've experienced this phenomenon with gaming. However, as a musician, I've experienced that same feeling while writing music. The feeling of accomplishment and discovering that I'm capable of more than I thought is an amazing experience, and it's kept me going with writing music, no matter how frustrated I get.

Ive literally never played dark souls. My partner does though. The dialogue is so so raw and often makes me go into thought spirals. Hearing "Don't you dare go hollow" while he played genuinely made me stop and ponder what its truly means. Even if i have never played the games, i think i can testify that its effects, specifically from that iconic line, are very widespread.

Learning to speed run sekiro and really feeling that sense of mastery once I stopped dying and again once I stopped getting hit is one of the biggest confidence boosts I’ve ever received from anything. I still remember my first no hit sword saint and just crying to myself afterwards because I had truly mastered something and that meant I could master whatever I wanted to

I'm currently doing a masters degree in psychology and my hope even before finding this channel today was that I'll be able to look into this sort of thing for my dissertation. I believe for some video games cam be used as viable treatment for many disorders. Most studies at the moment focus on visuospatial capacity benefits of gaming but I sincerely hope that by looking more at specific content and structure of games such as dark souls benefits in other areas can be found.

I'm actually in the middle of the hardest breakup after the hardest decision I've ever made in my entire life and without Elden Ring I honestly don't think I could handle it. Don't you dare go hollow.

I used to have crippling writer's block, for years, that drove me to alcoholism. The reason was toxic perfectionism, the kind that makes you terrified to even try. I got over it due to various processes but Dark Souls 3 definitely helped: I realised soon after I started playing it that it's OK to write shitty drafts, as OK as it is to die in a Souls game. You just get up and try again...and you grow. That ability to try again, however many times it takes, revealed how perseverance is probably the most important driver of growth, and thus success, in almost any endeavour. If you think about it like this: the games are infinitely stacked in your favour. The bosses have to win every time - you just have to win once. Just like if you can truly solve a problem of life: now it's dead, and you're alive, because you are in a sense immortal as long as you persevere.

I discovered this video just now, on a night when I am honestly struggling. This year has been the hardest year in my life for a multitude of reasons…but it was also the year I discovered souls games. They gave me an escape, and tonight watching this video gave me the same feeling it does to play these games. For everyone else going through a hard time rn, know you are not alone

I knew i had a different relationship with fromsoftware games than with other games, but didnt know why. I think i got my answers through this video. I was depressed after i split up with my friends....but playing dark souls probably cured my depression. I usually dont comment in youtube videos, but i had to express my feelings....

I recently came to the realization that playing through Elden Ring and then BloodBorne is what got me out of my state of depression. I was never able to figure out why, but it did get me out of a really low place. FromSoft games will always hold a special place in my heart

It’s comforting to know that the hours I spent getting mauled by bosses and resisting yelling at the TV are worth something

This is the 4th time I've watched this video and it makes me cry evey time... I found out why. Not only is this an extremely well made video with lots of learning studies etc, it also is about 20 minutes of uplifting stories, constant statements that inspire hope. Thank you so much for this video.

For some reason, the phrase “don’t you dare go hollow” almost brings me to tears whenever it’s used. Also, just hearing the idea of “whenever that dark cloud came, I just imagined I was fighting a really tough bloodborne boss” really stuck with me. I think applying the same kind of determination I used to fight someone like Malenia will help me. It’s not an insurmountable mental challenge, it’s just a tough boss. With enough work and effort to improve, I can beat that guy with time. Thanks for this dude :)

Near the end "...that you are not alone in your struggle" I think the phantoms in Souls games and especially in the more vast open world of EldRing are so important to that feeling. Being stuck in a dark cave with moaning ghouls with elongated arms and a hundred hands seems daunting. And then you see another players phantom swinging away or running or even just standing there thinking like you are. It always makes me feel better, they're still pushing on, and that makes me want to get through the endeavor even more. And rating messages like "I did it!" "Behold, Victory" is such a unique experience to the souls games, shared celebration of overcoming an obstacle.

15:00 "These games provide a provocation. They insist that they can't be bested and they dare you to try and prove them wrong." 16:35 "By climbing out of the pit that FromSoftware games throw you in, you're provided with first hand evidence that you can in fact overcome those demons. And you can do it on your own merit."

My journey was somewhat tangential to this, but still had a big positive impact on my life. I grew up with (I thought) this monstrous, out of control temper that would explode at the slightest provocation... in my mid 20s at university I was given my diagnosis of being on the spectrum. One of my biggest takeaways from that was that my "monstrous, out of control temper" was just my brain not being wired to handle frustration properly. This was something that really led to me look back and be able to re-contextualize myself, to look at myself in a kinder light. But now I had this thing, this problem with frustration, staring me in the face... and this happened at the time where I was trying to get into Dark Souls, I had tried a couple of times but bounced off, the pay-offs just weren't worth the negatives. But, with the help of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate things finally started to click. And I was finding as I played Dark Souls, and then in the future other titles of the series... I *HAD* to learn how to handle and manage my frustration. I had to learn coping strategies. I had to learn to recognize when it was getting to a point that I just needed to put the controller down and walk away for a while. My diagnosis showed me I wasn't a monster. But Dark Souls showed me that once I knew what the problem was, I could overcome it. I honestly believe I would not have the level of control over my frustration that I do now where it not for the Souls games. And it is something that has indirectly done a lot of good for my mental health. Thank you Dark Souls.

Bloodborne was the battle of a lifetime for me. When I continually failed at Father Gascoigne, I was so low that if I had bought a physical copy of the game, I would have returned it. I'd never sunk to such depths of depression playing a game before, simultaneously knowing that thousands of git gud bros online wouldn't have my back. Then I watched some lore videos and talked to my friends who were also playing it, and decided I wanted to see the things that the game was hiding from me. I went back, eventually beat Gascoigne, and *much* later the whole game. I can't say getting to see what Bloodborne had to offer completely justified throwing me into a pit of anguish every few hours, but I can say that I did get through it. I just had to search for positive voices to encourage me and find the murderous will to keep going.

This is the way. I think certain survival horror games also do this. Resident Evil being the series most notiable. You start off often alone, no real way to fight back, and by the end, you've learned to overcome the hardship. Gotta love it.

Dark souls 2 was my first souls game, and I still to this day remember how the it broke me and forced me to REALLY think about what I wanted to with my life considering my inevitable mortality and to put it simply how irrelevant my life & death will be. There's a lot of people preaching about how living in the present moment is the key to happiness BUT being forced to come to that realization from suffering in a video game, REALLY REALLY hits you in a whole other level.

I studied psychology back in college and was very familiar with self-efficacy but it was eye-opening when you said whether I attribute my success to my skill or external factors such as luck. I often attribute my failure to my skill inadequacy, but almost never attribute my success to my own skill mastery, especially in test. Most of the time, I thought that the test was asking easy questions, I was 'lucky' to remember a certain passage from the book, the teacher has particular way of grading test and as long as I follow their 'rule', I will pass the test, etc. Ever since I was a kid, I was already a bright student, but my parents often told me not to be arrogant or let the good grade get into my head, although at that point, I don't remember I was very arrogant about my grade. 'Be humble' was the message they want to teach me, but growing up, all I absorbed was 'my success isn't due to my skill, do not be too proud of myself'. Maybe that was why my self-efficacy is kinda feeble. I attribute my failure to my internal locus of control, but I attribute my success to my external locus of control (I understand there are certainly both internal and external explanations for failure and success, but I want to point out the stark black and white thinking in my head). I need to reflect this a bit more. Life sure is difficult when you cannot even believe in yourself. Edit for grammar

As a bipolar person I’ve often felt life is on “hard mode” for me. I’ve been attracted to difficult games more and more as an adult because they feel like “practice” for the real world. Thanks for articulating my experience so thoughtfully.

cool bits: 7:00 - "you suddenly felt relief that you could do what you once feared you couldn't." - self-efficacy 9:50 - Attributions (kinda like reasons why something didn't go as planned) 10:50 - how they're situational 12:30 - confidently attributing what we've done to our own skill being required to create self-efficacy through mastery experience

4 minutes in and I'm already crying. Dark Souls helped me get through a really tough period in my life when I had no one to turn to. This video in the first 4 minutes alone reminded why I play this series of games. Thank you. Side note. Similar to the Bloodborne guy who said he would see the issues as a boss, I did something similar. Whenever shit would get hard I always knew if I "went hollow" I would be leaving my family in such a traumatic situation. I know that I needed to stay strong for them and Dark Souls helped me find that strength.

One year has passed and is still my favourite video on the internet. Still means a lot to me

i think one of my favorite things is how you feel isolated, but still together with people. like when someone appraises your message and you get a little health back, or in dark souls 1 when someone else reaches a bell you can hear it in your world, messages on the ground, blood stains, the phantoms running by, all of it, you're never alone. even in real life. new game + being like "youve conquered your fears, now annihilate them"

Personally, I think the souls game have really helped me understand that failure is simply part and parcel of life. It is another part of life experiences that we can and should learn from.

Haven't finished the video, just at the six minute mark. I love the Souls series, I feel like they've helped me learn to persevere. But the one, single moment that stood out to me most of all was in Bloodbourne. I remember the battle against Ludwig so well. He was a crazed beast, a monster screeching, howling and full of wrath attacking everything and anything near him. But halfway through, it changed. The sword slipped from his back and fell before him and he saw it, his guiding light. And he rose with the sword held in his hands as the music changed and swelled and rose. All I could think looking at it was that it was truly majestic. Watching this great man pull himself away from the monster and stand upright once again.

My best friend introduced me to Dark Souls and Demon Souls way back when no one knew who Dark Souls was. He went hollow a few years ago, and I miss him every day. He was my Solaire, and he got me through so much of my life that otherwise would have been overwhelming. I try to live up to him, and I hope he's proud of me.

Where it really hit me in Dark Souls was when I got to that cozy bonfire in Blighttown, I looked at my character and I thought, hey my character looks really strong and cool now but he has been through a lot. And then it kinda hit me, wait, it’s actually me who became stronger, I’ve been through a lot, but I’m still here, stronger than ever. Then the game gave the term “Never give up” so much more power. Just hearing “never give up” bears no meaning, but this game showed you that you eventually overcame things and bosses that you thought were “Impossible to beat, impossible to face, impossible to land a hit on”, but you persevered. That makes you wonder how really “impossible” any challenge is, if you give it your best, learn from your mistakes, become better with every attempt, is it really impossible?

"So keep fighting that fight, be safe friend, and don't you dare go hollow". Thank you for another amazing video Daryl. In this morning i wasn't feeling very weel, after watch this the things changed. Thanks, one more time.

When I was in high school, I played Dark Souls 2. And it saved me from the depression I felt, losing my mother and brother. After high school, Dark Souls 3 helped drag me out of another bit of depression, having tried for so long to hold onto someone who just left like I meant nothing to them. Elden Ring is doing similar things for me today, though I don't feel nearly as bad as I did back then. I think this is the perfect explanation as to why though. The feeling of finally besting a boss that just an hour or two ago was one shotting you makes you feel like you can do it. whatever it is. you can do it.

Playing the Dark souls series, Sekiro and Bloodborne has changed me forever. Accomplishing those games is something I am so proud of. Challenging yourself can be a good thing, that's what these games have taught me and also to never give up. At the end of all the anger, pain and frustration the reward awaits.

My 1st experience with a soulsborne game was ds1. It was a good few years ago and I got it for free with xbox live gold, I was only around 12 or 13. I remember being able to defeat asylum demon and Taurus demon, but got stuck straight after at the rats under the bridge, quiting there and then after hours of trying. I then went back to it years later (around 15 or 16) whilst in one of my lowest points and the time I managed to get past them damned 3 rats, I felt self fulfilment that I had never experienced before, I still remember getting to undead berg non poisoned, and the careful sprint, searching for that bonfire, and the dread of hearing the clangs of metal, with the sudden release of the glowing fire and Andre. At that moment, I felt like I had overcome something in my past that I never thought I could, and giving me the determination to better myself. Fast forward to today, where yet again I've reached another low and picking up elden ring, hearing many people complain about this one big boss, and how it took them hours to complete, so I decided to do side bosses, beating that boss 1st try was one feeling i'll never feel again. I've never been too good at from soft games (beat ds1 and ds3 many times but quit sekiro and ds2), always dying multiple times to what are seen as easy bosses, so the feeling of beating this massive hurdle within my 1st try, I can't explain it. Thank you all so much, this community is one of the greatest out there, from the respect in a duel to the kindness with messages on the floor (as well as the jump off the cliff people). You all have brought happiness to so many people, helping them in their time of need, and encouraging us with the message of someone beating a shardbearer and I wish u all the best in your future endeavours And remember Dont you dare go hollow

This is just beautiful. The power of souls games is real. I'm not going through the best time of my life but playing Elden Ring has truly helped me.

First Miyazaki helped us gamers cope with loneliness and social rejection with his difficult games and now he is pushing us to go get a life and a partner through his - "No Maidens?" jibe in Elden Ring. Well played Miyazaki-Sensei, well played.

I won't know why, but the phrase "don't you dare go hollow" never fails to bring a surge of emotion to my chest.

I first started playing the Souls series during the start of the pandemic when we were all locked inside. During this time due to the lack of social interaction I fell into a depression and completely lost all energy and became a husk of my self. One day I saw my friend on my ps4 playing Dark Souls Remastered and saying how good it was. I saw it was on sale so I purchased it. At the start I hated it. I didn't like the constant dying and losing all of my progress. But as I forced myself through Undead Burg and got to blighttown through the depths everything just clicked and I fell in love with it. From then on I finally felt like I had a purpose as I had something to put my mind to. The moment I realised it was helping me for the better was after I had finally beaten Ornstein and Smough after four and a half hours. Once I had beaten this boss it taught me that no matter how hard or dark things can get, I must always get back up and try again and again until I escape the pit I am in. However, Also like Dark Souls I knew that there will be another challenge waiting for me that will be harder and tougher than the previous one, but as I knew the feeling I would get from beating said challenge I would keep trying and keep trying until I succeeded. I kept this up for 60 hours until I finally defeated Gwyn and linked the first flame. Dark Souls will stick with me for life and so will the most important and impactful quote of all time. "Don't you dare go Hollow" Laurentius of the Great Swamp.

The "End of Fire" ending in Dark Souls 3 -- at least for me -- was what made me realize how much these games were a boost to my own sense of self-awareness, if not self-efficacy, when the firekeeper quietly says "the first flame quickly fades, darkness will shortly settle, but one day tiny flames will dance across the darkness." It was the game talking about its own narrative, and it was also Miyazaki's way of doing a little sidelong wink at the audience that he wanted to take a break from Souls games (at least at that time). But it was also, for me, almost like the game was coddling me and telling me that everything would be alright if I just kept persevering. I discovered the series during a time of pretty bad depression (after abandoning the first game a couple years prior because I didn't find the gameplay enjoyable and was getting too easily frustrated). Playing through the first two games, then Demon's Souls on PS3, then Bloodborne, and then Dark Souls 3 only to land on that ending, I wept for a good while without really even knowing why. These games have been so formative for me and I'm eternally grateful.

I've always been of the mind that videogames, and the challenges they provide, especially the higher challenge ones, give us a sense of being able to overcome challenges in life as well. It's really cool to see a video specifically about this. It makes me wonder, in fact, if the purposeful decrease in challenge most games tend towards may in fact be a detriment to those who play them constantly. It's a genuine concern I have.

I discovered Souls when I was struggling with alcoholism and I always thought it was instrumental in saving me, made me tear up knowing so many people thought the same

I feel like a lot of achievements can be played off as “luck”, when in reality they’re just tuned to your unique skills that you’ve gained over (insert time here). I beat Kalameet first try, and laughed it off as “just a Monster Hunter boss”. In reality, Kalameet is often regarded as a challenge inside the Dark Souls community - I just had the advantage of fighting similar bosses in the Monster Hunter series for 100s of hours. Likewise, I don’t celebrate when I get out of a bad week, because I’ve felt worse before. In reality, I’m using the same skills on a daily basis that I once used to claw myself out of depression. Even staying afloat requires upward force. You’re doing great. Don’t you dare go hollow.

I find it wild I've had "If I can beat Orenstein & Smough, I can handle anything! Harness your Internal Locus of control" written on my mirror for over a year now. It really is true how empowering these games are.

I didn't expect this video to bring tears to my eyes. I've been dealing with depression and anxiety for too long. I love the souls games, and it's amazing to hear how they helped so many people who feel similar to how I do. I've never commented on a YT video until now. This video I went to watch for the purpose of entertainment ended up motivating and inspiring me not give up when I've come close so many times. I never gave up on a difficult souls boss, so I won't give up on life. Thank you for this awesome video

It gives you the sensation of "i will do better this time and beat this thing" and when you have done it, you will have that tangible example of being succeed. It's a such a great reward to have that feeling. It changed my mentality also my sleep patterns. Besides this, all the people i have encountered in this game have somewhat different plance in my heart. Like when i summoned someone or got summoned, i felt like helping my own brother or when i got invaded, the invader was the most geniuely hated man in my life in that point. Maybe i exaggerated some of these things but these series always have a different place in my heart

i think that the entire dark vibe of these games is what drew me to them originally. it was almost like an indirect way to face my inner demons or at least how i picture them. beating them to a pulp with a massive club felt so effin good and i feel like it helped prepare me to face my problems in real life instead of shoving them down like i've done for so long. this video put to words how i literally feel playing these games. failure isn't the end.

I love the little talk about Tasmanian Devils at the start. They were my favorite animal as a kid and they still have a special place in my heart.

Laurentius of the Great Swamp really did help us all, eh? My favorite npc from Dark Souls 1. To me, his best lines are: "A pyromancer's flame is a part of his own body. The flame develops right along with his skill. … When I gave you that flame, I gave you a part of myself. Please take good care of it." and everyone's favorite: "Good bye then. Be safe, friend. Don't you dare go Hollow."

I've never cried so much reading a comment section or even commented on a video. This video is beyond what words can explain. Daryl, your ability to articulate with such creativity, and your storytelling abilities is something that I aspire to attain in this lifetime. There are several videos of yours that has made me think or emotional, but this one made me cry. That in conjunction with reading everyones stories and how souls-like games has influenced them made me feel apart of a community of people who are going through similar struggles. This was an amazing video, and I wish you all the best.

I've been interested in Souls games for a while, and this makes me appreciate it more. Amazing video! :)

As someone with a generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety, who was doing greater than I ever had been doing pre-covid, (went ALONE to a VIP Babymetal concert in a different city.. huge win for my confidence I didn't think I could do) then all group therapies ended and I was left very alone and without any social practice due to it becoming practically a taboo - I can absolutely say that Elden Ring got me out of a pit that being left alone with my issues had created. (Which I would only describe as the "lowest I've been" as it got me so frustrated that I felt years of progress went wrong and I regressed yet again, with feeling like my time is running out... it's actually my 39th birthday today, 28th of November. 1 year to 40... oh God :D When will I change from liking young people things to liking.. crossword puzzles, I have no idea.) I actually had such a loss of confidence at that time I had a fear of failure on many things. It even reached to silly things like "will I be able to even beat games?" (or go to the store without screwing up) and it created some sort of a "paralysis" of not actually daring to do things. Doing barely anything due to the fear of another failure or setback. I slowly started to challenge myself again from my own initiative and then figured I might as well tackle the first "souls" game in form of Elden Ring. A game which seemed to also give me a relaxing sensation of freedom with it's open world. I was never at a hard "wall" I had to get by, but I found many walls I could try to get by... and surprisingly, I really wanted to get by em. The whole journey lasted me a long time, but I think I beat every optional boss, including Malenia and the whole game and ... it was nothing short of amazing. I found tons of confidence, tons of "Oh wow, I actually did it" moments that woke me up from the very misguided things depression and anxiety were telling me; Making me suspect I'm "good for nothing" and worse than everyone. (I hate how depression manages to convince you of that... It is the worst enemy I have ever had and it is hard to fight when it is coming from your own brain... Hard to imagine for anyone who hasn't had it.. and I hope it for no one.) Before Elden Ring, I didn't "get" the attraction to those games either, I admit. I was ... quite a fool and often said "I don't understand what would be enjoyable about being frustrated"... But after stumbling into Bloodhound Knight Darriwil after getting some confidence in the starting areas and beating one giant, I kept on trying. I was surprised that instead of being demotivated by the challenge, I found myself thinking "Well, that was my mistake, not game bs... I can do better." Then I noticed I DID do a bit better.... and eventually... click. There was a flow. As if a dance, a rhythm to it. By the time I beat him after feeling like it is impossible on my first try, it felt like a dance of death where I perfectly moved around the attacks, timed mine and he went down. I felt so good I felt dizzy and euphoric. I did not think such a feeling can even come from videogames. That was not the only moment like that during the game. I absolutely "get" these games now. Though I have been "afraid" of starting another journey, I recently bought Sekiro... as that is the one that interests me thematically the most. Oddly, my ... negative mind is telling me Elden Ring was a fluke and fears I can't pass any of the others. That Elden Ring was just... easier. I'm ... doing that same thing again. Wish me luck ;) ...and for everyone else struggling with what we often don't speak up about; Hang in there. Break the cycle you're in, seek something new and you'll find new thoughts and along with that, new feelings. There is always more to life, if you go seeking it.

"Sometimes trying to believe a positive thought can feel like trying to start a fire in a rainstorm." Wow man. Powerful script. You've got a way with words. Don't give up, skeleton. And, don't you dare go hollow!! Souls for LIFE!!

I can't understand how all this gave me shivers the whole time, but it's beautiful