FromSoftware, at this point, is perhaps best known for its renowned Dark Souls franchise. Branded as one of the hardest, most unforgiving trilogies of all-time, the Dark Souls series requires fast reaction times, strategic techniques, and a ton of fortitude from its players. Some regard it, therefore, as one of the most well-designed and rewarding franchises of all-time, while others cast it aside yet respect it at the same time.
When FromSoftware's Bloodborne released in 2015, it was met with high praise for a multitude of qualities that it set it apart from the Souls series and featured mechanics that many prefer over those of the Dark Souls trilogy.
Bloodborne: One Of The Best Of This Era
Simply put, Bloodborne remains one of the best releases of this generation. It has the tough-as-nails quality of Dark Souls but exchanges the chess-style gameplay for a dodgeball-like approach, requiring even quicker reaction times and placing a greater emphasis on ranged combat. Its Victorian and Lovecraftian atmosphere is both familiar and eery, keeping the player on their toes at all-time. It maintains a constant sense of tension that many other games lack in their design.
Bloodborne is also often preferred over the Souls series for its self-contained nature. Unlike the Souls games, whose story is told over a trilogy, Bloodborne's narrative is told throughout its very long, very torturous adventure. The narrative is held together expertly by FromSoftware and tells of a game that had a great deal of passion behind its writing. Its excellent design and succinct story combined to make the ultimate Souls experience.
Is A Sequel Necessary?
Regardless, fans have been clamoring for a sequel, to which Bloodborne game director Hidetaki Miyazaki responded that it isn't his decision to make. Rather, it appears that publisher Sony decides whether a Bloodborne 2 will get a release on the PlayStation 5, though it likely wouldn't happen any time soon, given FromSoftware's upcoming Elden Ring.
Instead of developing a Bloodborne sequel, it would be worth remaking FromSoftware original Demon's Souls, which spawned the Dark Souls series. This is currently rumored to be in development for the PlayStation 5, but any confirmation of this would be more worth being excited over than a Bloodborne sequel. This would give the game a second chance at honing its ideas that developed with the Dark Souls series and would allow the developer behind the remake to improve its design. Demon's Souls was not an immediate hit, but remaking it altogether would be a likely success with Dark Souls fans. Even beyond this, however, the Elden Ring appears more exciting due to its introduction of what could be a new series.
No, It Isn't
Bloodborne is a fantastic game–there's no doubt about that. However, this doesn't mean it needs a sequel. The game was a well-designed adventure with a fascinating plot on its own and doesn't necessarily need expansion like the Dark Souls series. Rather, FromSoftware fans should look forward to new content from the developer, in the style of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, to experience what else the talented developer is capable of. Bloodborne is great, but like many other games, it doesn't require a sequel.