Before Dark Souls, FromSoftware’s Forgotten PS1 Horror Game Was a Haunting Exercise in Empathy
FromSoftware’s current reputation rests on unforgiving action RPGs like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, but the studio’s creative roots run far deeper into the horror genre. Before becoming known for challenging boss battles and intricate level design, the Japanese developer crafted games soaked in an unsettling, fever-dream quality distinctly rooted in Japanese folklore and survival horror sensibilities.
The studio’s early horror experiments include Kuon, a masterclass in atmospheric dread that prioritizes exploration of folklore over action, and Shadow Tower, a claustrophobic dungeon crawler where every dark alcove presents a deadly threat. Eternal Ring similarly carries that signature FromSoftware unease, distinct from its later blockbuster sibling Elden Ring. These games established the oppressive world-building and atmospheric tension that would define the studio’s most celebrated works.
Yet nearly three decades after FromSoftware’s debut, one of the developer’s most compelling horror experiments remains criminally overlooked by players and industry discourse. The forgotten PS1 title exemplifies FromSoftware’s mastery of empathy and terror—crafting nightmarish worlds that unsettle while inviting deeper engagement. This retrospective underscores how the studio’s early horror legacy directly informed their later successes, with world-building techniques, atmospheric design, and focus on unease forming the foundation of Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Understanding this lineage provides crucial context for appreciating FromSoftware’s distinctive creative vision and their design philosophy’s evolution from pure survival horror to action-RPG territory.