Dark Souls III offers four different endings, each revealing varying fates for the Ashen One. The Usurpation of Fire, Link the First Flame, End of Fire, and Betrayal endings provide players with impactful choices that affect the game's outcome and the protagonist's story arc.
Dark Souls III Endings
Dark Souls III is known for its intricate and complex storytelling, with multiple endings that are determined by the player's choices throughout the game. The game offers four different endings, each leading to different outcomes for the player character and the world of Dark Souls. These endings provide a sense of agency and impact on the game's narrative, making player decisions feel significant and meaningful in this dark, challenging world.
Link the First Flame Ending
One of the endings in Dark Souls III is the "Link the First Flame" ending. This ending involves the player character sacrificing themselves to rekindle the First Flame, which preserves the current age and prolongs the Age of Fire. By linking the flame, the player character continues the cycle of light and dark in the world of Dark Souls, buying more time for the Age of Fire but eventually dooming the world to repeat the cycle of decay and rebirth. This ending has been a recurring theme in the Dark Souls series, reflecting the struggle between maintaining the status quo and embracing change.
Usurpation of Fire Ending
Another ending in Dark Souls III is the "Usurpation of Fire" ending. This ending involves a more subversive approach to the cycle of light and dark, as the player character seeks to seize power for themselves and become the Lord of Hollows. By following the steps of the "Usurpation of Fire" questline, the player character can manipulate the game's factions and ultimately claim the First Flame for their own, establishing a new order in the world of Dark Souls and potentially breaking the cycle of Fire and Dark once and for all.
End of Fire Ending
The "End of Fire" ending in Dark Souls III offers players a more ambiguous and enigmatic conclusion to their journey. In this ending, the player character chooses to let the First Flame fade and bring about the Age of Dark, embracing the natural cycle of light and dark in the world. By rejecting the temptation to prolong the Age of Fire or usurp its power, the player character allows the world of Dark Souls to enter a new era, free from the constraints of the old gods and their legacies.
Hollow Lord Ending
The "Hollow Lord" ending in Dark Souls III represents a more tragic and nihilistic conclusion to the player's journey. In this ending, the player character succumbs to the curse of the Undead and becomes a mindless Hollow, forsaking their humanity and agency in exchange for eternal life. By embracing their Hollow nature, the player character loses themselves to the darkness, symbolizing the ultimate futility of their struggles and the transient nature of power and glory in the world of Dark Souls.
In conclusion, Dark Souls III offers players a rich tapestry of endings that reflect different themes and philosophical viewpoints on the nature of power, sacrifice, and legacy. These endings provide players with agency and impact in shaping the world of Dark Souls, giving weight to their choices and allowing for multiple interpretations of the game's narrative. Whether players choose to prolong the Age of Fire, embrace the Age of Dark, or forge a new path as the Lord of Hollows, the endings in Dark Souls III offer a diverse range of conclusions that resonate with the game's dark and melancholic tone.