Dark Souls 3 is FromSoftware's hyper-challenging, open-world action RPG with a vague, if not an outright baffling, story. Because of this, it can be a little tricky to find the endings. After all, if you don't know what's going on, how do you figure out where to go or what to do? Well, we're here to help (sort of).

RELATED: Every Single Dark Souls 3 Boss (In Order)

Actually, what we're really here to do is judge the endings and rank them based solely on our personal opinion of how interesting they are. In total, there are 4 endings, with 2 that are nearly identical. Think you can stop praising the sun long enough to read four entries? Cool. Hey, there are SPOILERS ahead. You've been warned.

Spoiler Warning

Updated April 17, 2022 by Cameron Roy Hall: FromSoftware's newest masterpiece, Elden Ring, released just a few short weeks ago. With the world and lore created in collaboration with George R. R. Martin, it's no wonder that fans and critics alike have fallen under its spell. For the insane few that have somehow managed to conquer all that Elden Ring has to offer, we've brought back some of our Dark Souls articles with a fresh coat of paint to help fulfill that insatiable From Software fix. Without further ado, here's an updated ranking of all Dark Souls 3's endings.

4 Linking The Flame

Player links the first flame in Dark Souls 3

This is considered to be the standard ending, where you fulfill the primary mission. You defeat the Soul of Cinder, sacrifice your soul to link the First Flame, and you keep the Fire Age burning. Accomplishing this is no small feat, and yet it is quite literally the least you can do in terms of beating the game, so it comes in last place for us.

RELATED: Dark Souls 3: Every Greatsword, Ranked

Also, and perhaps we're reading into this more than it deserves, the rejuvenated flames feel somehow less grand than they should. Some fans have speculated that this means the Linking no longer carries the same effect as it did before and that the Fire Age is collapsing no matter what you do. If that's the case, and it's a very FromSoftware thing to imply, then cool... love that for us, but until that's confirmed, this ending still comes in fourth.

3 Ending The Flame

Fire Keeper in Dark Souls 3

This is considered to be the True Ending of the game, where you give the Fire Keeper a set of eyes and summon her to handle the flame. You still have to face the Soul of Cinder, but your companion handles what comes next. After the fight ends (hopefully in your favor), the Fire Keeper takes the flame into her hands and lets it fade out.

RELATED: Every Class In Dark Souls 3, Ranked

And that's it. The screen fades to black as the flame dies. Some fans have speculated that the Fire Keeper doomed the Fire Age with false visions, while others have hopefully clung to the Fire Keeper's assurances that a new "tiny flame" will burst into life in the darkness. Considering this is Dark Souls that we're talking about, the less cheerful possibility is infinitely more likely.

2 Unkindled (Ending The Flame Variation)

Unkindling the flame in Dark Souls 3

This ending is almost the exact same as the last one, where you provide the Fire Keeper with the eyes and summon her to the final battle, with one notable difference. Instead of passively watching the Fire Keeper kill the flame, you stab her in the back. Hilariously, the narrator condemns you, saying, "ash seeketh ember," suggesting that you're not worthy — or even capable — of wielding the mighty flame.

RELATED: Dark Souls 3: Coolest Boss Arenas

It's extremely rare for Dark Souls to expend any effort in order to guide your path, so the fact that the game literally calls you out means that FromSoftware can't believe you fumbled the bag so hard at the final choice. Sure, it's too late for you to go back and fix it, but that just makes the verbal burn even funnier. 10/10.

1 The Usurpation Of Fire

Lord of Hollows in Dark Souls 3

This is it: the last possible ending, and the hardest one to achieve. If you spend the entire game as one of the Hollowed, go out of your way to be the worst kind of person, and also follow an arduous list of easily mistakable tasks, then you can replace the Soul of Cinder after you defeat him. This ending sees you claiming the power of the First Flame for yourself. Doing so imbues you with great power and grants you an arm of dutiful, worshipful Hollows.

Becoming the Lord of Hollows is by far the darkest ending. Even if you're technically still continuing the Fire Age by channeling the First Flame, you're not exactly implied to be doing the realm of Londor any favors. That being said, its complexity is compelling (if not frustrating), and it bears the coolest name of them all, thus making this the best ending in all of Dark Souls 3.

NEXT: Elden Ring: Locations Similar To Areas In Other Soulsborne Games