10 Years of Bloodborne — Still the Best FromSoftware Game?

Exactly ten years ago, Bloodborne launched for PlayStation 4 — one of the most paradoxical games in recent memory. On one hand, Bloodborne enjoys undeniable cult status: it frequently appears in top game lists, often in the top ten. Fans call it not just the ultimate PlayStation exclusive but even the most important game of all time. On the other hand, despite this widespread love, Sony stubbornly ignores Bloodborne’s existence, refusing to release even a basic performance patch for PS5, let alone a remaster. That, along with the game itself, is the subject of today’s article.

It’s not just thousands of gamers who profess deep love for Bloodborne — the project’s director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has done so as well. On multiple occasions, the renowned game designer has stated that of all his works, Bloodborne was the most enjoyable to develop. That said, the original idea to create a PlayStation 4 exclusive didn’t come from him or anyone at FromSoftware — it came from Sony.

Following the unexpected success of Demon's Souls — a surprise even to its own creators — Sony representatives, including Shuhei Yoshida, wanted to continue working with FromSoftware. They proposed a new game for the upcoming PlayStation 4, in collaboration with Japan Studio, one of Sony’s internal teams. The plan was for Japan Studio to help adapt the Demon’s Souls engine for next-gen hardware.

Miyazaki and his team agreed to the deal and began working on the concept for a new project, codenamed Project Beast. Hidetaka Miyazaki infused the game with themes and ideas that had been haunting him for years. The result was a game that perfectly embodied his vision of dark fantasy.

Ask any Bloodborne fan why they love the game, and chances are the first answer will be: “the atmosphere.” It makes sense — Bloodborne is an action RPG with a one-of-a-kind vibe, largely shaped by its unusual setting.

The game draws equal inspiration from Gothic horror — think Bram Stoker’s Dracula or the French film Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte des Loups) — and cosmic horror, particularly the works of H. P. Lovecraft and Kentaro Miura’s manga Berserk.

Bloodborne begins as a Victorian horror tale. A sharply dressed protagonist hunts werewolves in the fictional city of Yharnam, which strongly resembles Edinburgh or Prague. Beyond werewolves, the first half of the game features other Gothic nightmares — witches, gargoyles, and vampires. But as the player progresses, the experience becomes increasingly surreal.

By the second half, Bloodborne drops the mask entirely. It turns out the player is in a Lovecraftian tale of cosmic gods whose motives defy human comprehension. Now you’re fighting literal aliens and traveling through alternate dimensions. The Insight stat becomes especially important — once it’s high enough, the character begins to see the world as it truly is. That’s when you realize the terrifying Great Ones have been watching from rooftops all along — you just didn’t have the perception to notice.

The sudden shift from Stoker to Lovecraft is both brilliant and unexpected. It especially stunned those who played Bloodborne at launch, as none of the promotional material hinted at the cosmic horror elements.

Bloodborne captivates not just as a game, but as an intricate narrative. The story is packed with symbolism, subtext, and abstract themes — so much so that no one can say for sure what’s really happening in Yharnam. While this ambiguity might frustrate some, many fans find immense joy in dissecting the game’s complex lore. Online, you’ll find everything from multi-hour videos to hundreds-page dissertations analyzing it.

Delving into Bloodborne often leads you down fascinating rabbit holes — from 19th-century medical practices to the concept of r/K selection theory, which helps explain the motives of the cosmic gods.

Aside from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Bloodborne is the most fast-paced soulslike in FromSoftware’s catalog. The game’s theme of bestial rage is reflected directly in its gameplay.

Unlike the studio’s earlier titles, Bloodborne forces players to abandon shields (yes, they exist, but are nearly useless in melee combat) and passive defense. Instead, it encourages relying on reflexes — dodging at the right time and parrying attacks with firearms. The game even rewards aggression: take damage and strike back quickly, and you’ll recover some lost health.

Transforming weapons not only fit the game’s theme perfectly but also reinvent the combat mechanics. It’s incredibly fun to slay monsters using bizarre contraptions — like a sword that turns into a greatbow or a blade that splits into dual daggers. Every weapon also has a special transformation attack — not just a flashy animation, but a useful move in its own right.

In terms of atmosphere, setting, lore, level design, and core mechanics, Bloodborne still holds its own against FromSoftware’s newer titles. However, that doesn’t mean a modern gamer — especially someone who played Elden Ring — won’t notice the game’s age. Unfortunately, there are plenty of rough edges.

The biggest issue is technical performance. Even on PS5, the game runs at no more than 1080p and 30 FPS — a tragedy for such a fast-paced action game.

Bloodborne also suffers from design quirks that newer FromSoftware games have since fixed. For example, fast travel is only possible through the hub, adding unnecessary loading screens. Healing items and bullets don’t auto-refill, so you need to farm or manage them manually. And why is there still no dedicated jump button?

All of these problems could be solved by a remake or remaster. Heck, even a simple patch could improve resolution and FPS. But ever since the first and only DLC was released, Sony has ignored Bloodborne entirely.

Why? No one knows. You can read various theories and Sony’s supposed plans in this separate article. For now, it’s worth noting that there’s no sign of a PS5 remaster or official PC port on the horizon.

***

Despite its technical shortcomings, Bloodborne remains unmissable. Is it FromSoftware’s best game? That depends on personal taste, but the game is undeniably one of a kind.

If you own a PS4 or PS5 and still haven’t played Miyazaki’s cult classic, now’s the perfect time to catch up. The “Return to Yharnam” event is starting — an annual tradition where players revisit Bloodborne and the game’s servers come alive again.

What about you? Have you played Bloodborne? Share your thoughts in the comments.