FollowingElden RingandDemon’s Souls Remake, my journey throughFromSoft’s catalog invariably led me toBloodborne, a game still considered one of the most iconic by the studio, partly since it remains exclusive to the PS4, and partly due to its singular Victorian-Lovecraftian story and setting. Experiencing Bloodborne for the first time nearly a decade after its release might not fully capture its essence, yet it’s still a remarkable game, with refined combat mechanics, gorgeous exploration, really cool transforming weapons, stylish attire, and captivating boss battles.
While I personally found the dark and gothic landscapes of Bloodborne less exciting to explore compared to the vibrant and diverse locales of Elden Ring,there’s no denying the allure of its unique setting. But let’s talk about the game’s most controversial feature: The Chalice Dungeons.
Chalice Dungeons: Crash Course
To this day, Chalice Dungeons remain one of the most divisive aspects of the package, and perhaps in all FromSoft games. A quick online search reveals a split opinion among players, with some struggling to engage with them while others hail them as the game’s standout feature. I fall very much into that first camp.
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But before we begin: what exactlyareChalice Dungeons? Well, it’s optional content (almost akin to a separate game mode) that unlocks around the midpoint of the story. Initially, the system can be a bit confusing, so a beginner’s guide is recommended to understand how it all works. Essentially, within the Hunter’s Dream (Bloodborne’s hub for trading, leveling up, and upgrading weapons), players can conduct rituals and utilize special materials to access the labyrinthine catacombs beneath Yharnam.
You can select whether to access a fixed dungeon with a pre-designed layout, or a completely random, procedurally-generated one. While there aren’t many distinctions between the two, it’s believed that the random dungeons offer a higher chance of discovering unique loot.
Chalice Dungeons can span up to five levels in depth, determining the area’s difficulty. Additionally, each dungeon can have up to four layers (floors), with each layer culminating in a boss battle. Sounds intriguing so far, so why the heck am I not excited?
I’m Tired, Boss
The main reason why I struggled to appreciate Chalice Dungeons lies in their utter blandness, even in their fixed variants. The layout typically consists of monotonous gray rooms connected by narrow gray corridors, some ladders and stairs here and there, and, if you’re lucky, at times there will be poisonous puddles under your feet.
Sure, we’re exploring catacombs, so what else should I expect? However, the lack of diverse environments makes it all feel extremely limited. You end up traversing the same handful of rooms repeatedly, layer after layer, and it quickly becomes old and unbearable.
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The game’s limited color palette, consisting mainly of black and dark gray tones, contributes to a homogeneous visual style reminiscent of brownish military shooters from the Xbox 360 era. In Chalice Dungeons, where the environment is repetitive, this issue becomes more pronounced, causing eye strain after just a couple of hours.
Is there anything that could potentially redeem the Chalice Dungeons? Look no further thanRemnant 2’s Adventure Mode.
What I love most about FromSoft titles are the hand-crafted, rich, diverse locations, full of secrets, unique foes, and valuable treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether it’s a new weapon, an armor set, or powerful accessories, these discoveries always feel rewarding. Chalice Dungeons strip away all of that, replacing it with predictable, repetitive catacombs populated by identical enemies, the same rooms, and the same uninspiring rewards, like materials for additional Chalice rituals. There’s no music to set the tone there. No unexpected obstacles—just a few traps placed exactly where you’d expect them to be. These dreary depths hold no surprises.
Even the bosses, which could be the main attraction of these dungeons, often disappoint, with nearly half being recycled from the story campaign. Facing bosses like Rom, the Vacuous Spider, or the Blood-Starved Beast with exactly zero variation in how you defeat them feels rather cheap, further diminishing my motivation to carry on.
It felt like an unnecessary grindfest at its worst, detracting from Bloodborne’s otherwise brilliant campaign. The only valuables I gained from such endeavors were a few powerful gemstones to upgrade my weapons, hardly worth the suffering I endured. I assume clearing them in co-op could be much more fun. However, just because something is more fun with friends doesn’t necessarily make it a good feature, y’know?
Dungeons Done Right
The thing is, I get the feeling that even FromSoft themselves considered the experiment unsuccessful, given their decision not to revisit such a format in their subsequent soulslikes. Instead, they opted for more hand-crafted tombs and caves in Elden Ring,even if the issue with recycled bosses remains. Despite the game’s flaws, Bloodborne’s campaign alone makes it worth playing, serving as a nostalgic nod to FromSoft’s earlier days. But is there anything that could potentially redeem the Chalice Dungeons?
I already have an answer to that — look no further thanRemnant 2’s Adventure Mode. By blending procedurally-generated environments with new questlines, unique bosses, secrets, and valuable loot,Remnant 2’s endgame perfectly embodieswhat Chalice Dungeons should have been all along. Perhaps one day, FromSoft could revisit this formula, learning from its competitors (and descendants), and finally deliver Chalice Dungeon content that’s truly worthwhile.
Until then, I’ll stick to enjoying the intricate, hand-crafted environments in other FromSoft games while eagerlyawaiting Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Now, should I tryDark Souls 3next?
