8 Settings FromSoftware Should Explore in its Next Soulsborne Title

If you are a fan of FromSoftware, you have probably played an entry in the Soulsborne series, whether it is Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or Bloodborne. FromSoft has done amazing work with these games, and one of the best parts about them is the settings.

Dark Souls has always been known for being set in a dark fantasy medieval setting, and Bloodborne changed things by adopting a more gothic-inspired aesthetic. Finally, Elden Ring went back to that more renaissance style of fantasy mixed with some gothic inspiration.

These settings help sell the world of the Soulsborne series, but FromSoftware should think about mixing things up for the foreseeable future. Here are 8 settings I believe FromSoftware should explore in its next Soulsborne title.

8 Fairytales

Many Are Dark

Disney has done a great job at making the world believe that fairytales end with a happily ever after, but the reality is that many of the original fairytales are extremely dark, making them a perfect setting for FromSoftware to use for a future Souls title.

We have already seen a Soulslike, namely Lies of P, go the route of adapting a childhood story into a gruesome masterpiece, and it was a massive success. I don't simply mean that FromSoftware could use a singular story either, but rather, the developer could create a new story, linking classic fairytales together.

Recreating many of the classic fairtale characters as Souls NPC would be fantastic, and it would fit in with the dark gothic style of Bloodborne.

7 Deep Space

Aliens

FromSoftware is no stranger to including alien-like creatures in its games. For instance, Bloodborne has alien creatures called Celestial Minions. These strange beings are a bit more cosmic horror themed, but they show what FromSoft is capable of.

For the next title, the developer could explore the idea of going into deep space. Perhaps the setting could be the discovery of a new planet, or be trapped on a spaceship that is being pulled into a black hole and distorting time.

The team could take their experience creating strange and unique enemies and use it to create horrific aliens that are terrifying to fight. There are some Soulslikes that have tried this, and some of them have succeeded, but FromSoft could perfect the setting.

6 Cosmic Horror

Go Beyond Bloodborne

There are some aspects of cosmic horror in Elden Ring, with bosses like Astel who uses gravity magic and has a star theme. Previous games like Demon's Souls have also explored the idea of cosmic horror with enemies like Mind Flayers. Don't you dare forget about the Lovecraftian nature of Bloodborne.

FromSoftware could take these aspects and expand them into a full game. Perhaps the developers could expand on how Astel reached The Lands Between, or go deeper into their being more outer gods across the universe.

A story could be told about these gods, their origins, and you could play the role of a helpless servant doing their bidding, or someone rising up against these kin to slay them.

5 Conquistadors

Spreading Religious Views

Both Dark Souls and Bloodborne have characters with religious views. In Dark Souls, you have the Church of Londor, Church of the Deep, and more. In Bloodborne, you have the Healing Church.

What if FromSoftware explored the idea of a church expanding its influence to another kingdom, bringing members of the Healing Church to a far off land, and the goal is to spread its theology as far as it can.

This is similar to a main goal of the conquistadors of the 15th and 16th centuries. The setting could be a kingdom's expansion into a new world, slaughtering tribes, and trying to spread religious doctrine.

4 The Crusades

Religious Onslaught

Going further back in history, we have The Crusades — a large period of violent religious expansion, and a great setting for a Souls title. During this time, attacks led to much bloodshed, but also fostered an exchange of ideology across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

As stated with the Conquistador idea, FromSoft has many religious NPCs, and followers of these faiths could use the excuse of religious expansion to march across neighboring kingdoms. Your role could be either to help with this expansion, leading to the downfall of kings, or be someone fighting against it, seeking to overthrow a mad king.

This era also falls directly in the middle of the medieval age, offering FromSoftware a similar time period that the developers are used to, but giving them more of a religious framework to build off.

3 Cyberpunk

Dark Sci-Fi

The realm of Cyberpunk fiction brings in corporate dystopian cities and heavy body modifications. While we haven't seen this in a FromSoft title yet, it is not outside the realm of possibility, as a darker sci-fi setting feels eerily similar to dark fantasy.

There have been some Soulslike titles that have incorporated sci-fi elements into their stories. For instance, Lies of P fits into more of a steampunk sci-fi world.

FromSoftware could explore a more futuristic setting, allowing you to equip weapons that slot into your arms, and apply body modifications that enhance your character. The devs could take it a step further by setting the game in a dystopian city similar to Night City from Cyberpunk 2077.

2 Monsters of the Deep

The Ocean Floor

The FromSoftware devs are the masters at choosing dark fantasy locations, but what if a Soulsborne title was based more on the modern day and placed on the floor of the ocean? Imagine if the world took a dark turn, and humanity shifted to living underwater.

The idea of this setting matches the darker tones of the Souls series, and allows FromSoftware to explore potential sea life that could invade underwater habitats. The devs have already used creatures like crabs, lobsters, and clams as enemies, and the Orphan of Kos from Bloodborne is a sea-dwelling monster.

This could potentially allow FromSoftware to expand more on these creatures, giving them a greater evolution.

1 Pirates

Cerulean Onslaught

Falling close to the style of Bloodborne, adapting a setting of pirates and the high seas would be perfect for FromSoftware's next Souls title. The brutal nature of these bandits matches the harsh nature of the Souls franchise, and it would give FromSoft a chance to try some sailing mechanics.

Imagine sailing from island to island in a Soulsborne title, slashing down those who dare to try to take your treasure. Meanwhile, you slaughter countless souls to obtain more wealth. It sounds almost too good to be true.

This is also the only entry on the list that has been leaked, as a game called Cerulean Onslaught was mentioned in FromSoftware leaks, meaning we could potentially see this game become a reality.