Once upon a time, the Kingdom of Drangleic was a majestic land. However, mysterious events led to the exile of King Vendrick, causing the land to become desolate, with lost souls dwelling there. A lone traveler is seen near the village of Majula, searching for a cure for a terrible curse that has taken his humanity. An enigmatic woman known as the Emerald Herald tells him that collecting the Four Grand Souls is the only way to bring redemption.
Dark Souls II is a sequel to Dark Souls , sharing its dark medieval fantasy setting, but set in a different land with no direct connection to the first game's story. The gameplay mechanics are similar to its predecessor, being a third-person action role-playing game with interconnected world exploration and a focus on challenge. Combat relies on timing, precision, dodging, and blocking moves that deplete stamina.
The player character is cursed, and each death deprives him of his humanity, sending him back to the last bonfire he has visited. Leveling up can only occur at one specific bonfire; however, the player can freely teleport between all the bonfires he has accessed. Respawnable enemies are limited after several tries, making each battle unique. Magic is given more prominence, with enemies having strengths and weaknesses to various elements. Joining covenants and participating in multiplayer events like dueling and cooperative fighting add variety to the game.