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{{short description|2016 action role playing video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Lead too short|date=June 2019}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Dark Souls III
| image = Dark souls 3 cover art.jpg
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'''''Dark Souls III'''''{{efn|{{Nihongo|ダークソウルIII|Dāku Sōru Surī|lead=yes}}}} is an [[action role-playing video game]] developed by [[FromSoftware]] and published by [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]] for [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Microsoft Windows]]. The fourth installment of the [[Souls (series)|''Souls'' series]] and the final installment of the ''Dark Souls'' trilogy, the game was released in Japan in March 2016 and worldwide a month later. Two [[downloadable content]] (DLC) expansions, ''Ashes of Ariandel'' and ''[[Dark Souls III: The Ringed City|The Ringed City]]'', were also made for the game.
''Dark Souls III'' was critically and commercially successful, with critics calling it a worthy and fitting conclusion to the series. It was the fastest-selling game in Bandai Namco's history, shipping over three million copies within its first two months and over 10 million by 2020
It is an [[action role-playing game]] played in a [[third-person perspective]]. Players have access to a variety of weapons, armor, magic, and [[consumables]] that they can use to fight their enemies. [[Bonfire (Dark Souls)|Bonfires]] serve as checkpoints. The Estus Flask is the consumable used for healing in ''Dark Souls III''. Ashen Estus Flasks restore focus points (FP), which can be used for magic or weapon arts. [[Hidetaka Miyazaki]], the creator of the series, returned to direct the game after handing development duties of ''Dark Souls II'' to others in FromSoftware.▼
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▲''Dark Souls III'' was critically and commercially successful, with critics calling it a worthy and fitting conclusion to the series. It was the fastest-selling game in Bandai Namco's history, shipping over three million copies within its first two months and over 10 million by 2020. Two [[downloadable content]] (DLC) expansions, ''Ashes of Ariandel'' and ''[[Dark Souls III: The Ringed City|The Ringed City]]'', were also made for the game. A complete version containing the base game and both expansions, ''Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades'', was released in April 2017.
''Dark Souls III'' takes place in the Kingdom of Lothric. By the time ''Dark Souls III'' takes place, the First Flame, the flame responsible for keeping the Age of Fire alive, is fading. In order to keep the flame from fading, heroes and lords must sacrifice themselves to link the fire. Prince Lothric refused to sacrifice himself to link the fire. Causing four ancient lords who previously linked the fire to be awoken. These four lords were supposed to link the flame again, however all but one of them shirked their duties. Finally, undead who failed to link the fire, called Unkindled ones were awoken to link the flame. The player plays as one of these Unkindled ones, they must kill the three lords and Prince Lothric and his brother Lorian. After doing so, the player can chose to link the flame and keep the Age of Fire alive, let the flame die out and bring about the Age of Dark, or usurp the flame.
In the Ashes of Ariandel [[Downloadable content|dlc]] the player must enter a painting that is also a dying world and set fire to the painting in order to burn away the rot and allow the painter to create a new world. In the Ringed City expansion the player enters a city made of the remnants of ancient fallen kingdoms. From there the player will enter the Ringed City. In the Ringed City they will find a knight called Gael who has been corrupted by the Dark Soul. Gael will try to take some of the player's dark soul and the player must kill him.
''Dark Souls III'' received generally favorable reviews according to [[Metacritic]]. [[IGN]] gave the game a 9.5 out of 10. [[Polygon]] rated the game 7 out of 10. The Guardian rated the game 5 stars out of 5 stars. [[Eurogamer]] called the game "fabulous." [[Ars Technica]] said the game was "smooth and impressive rendering of the series' signature style" and some of "the best boss fights in any ''Souls'' game"
The version of ''Dark Souls III'' on the [[PlayStation 4]] sold 200,000 copies in [[Japan]]. In total ''Dark Souls III'' sold 500,000 copies in Asia, 1.5 million in North America, and 1,000,000 in Europe. Totaling 3,000,000 copies. By May 2020, the game sold 10 million copies.
== Gameplay ==
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