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Choose The Old Hunters if you want a concentrated Bloodborne nightmare with new areas, weapons and hunter encounters. Choose The Ringed City if you want the concluding expansion to Dark Souls III. They are not competing add-ons for the same game: each requires its own base game, uses a different platform ecosystem and delivers a different kind of payoff. If you already own one of those games, that ownership should decide your purchase before review scores or release dates do.
This comparison explains the practical differences, the Old Hunters access requirements, the available complete editions, platform compatibility and what the available storefront ratings can—and cannot—tell you. It does not claim a universal quality winner; the better DLC is the one that matches the game you want to continue.
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodborne: The Old Hunters | A self-contained Bloodborne nightmare, additional areas, weapons and hunter encounters | Announced for November 24, 2015; PlayStation identifies Ludwig among the hunters | PlayStation (requires Bloodborne) | Oct 2026 |
| Dark Souls III: The Ringed City | The final Dark Souls III journey and an extension for players invested in that ending | Publisher-described final expansion; Steam PC release dated March 27, 2017 | PlayStation and Steam PC (requires Dark Souls III) | Oct 2026 |
Which DLC is better: The Old Hunters or The Ringed City?
The Old Hunters is the stronger pick for a reader who wants Bloodborne at its most concentrated and nightmarish, while The Ringed City is the stronger pick for someone who wants Dark Souls III’s closing chapter. Neither can be judged as a neutral, interchangeable expansion because the underlying games differ in combat, setting, progression and tone.
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- Identify the base game you own. If you own only Bloodborne, Old Hunters is the relevant expansion. If you own only Dark Souls III, Ringed City is the relevant expansion.
- Match the desired payoff. Pick Old Hunters for new Bloodborne locations, equipment, weapons and hunter-focused encounters. Pick Ringed City for the journey Bandai Namco positions as Dark Souls III’s conclusion.
- Check your platform and edition. Old Hunters follows Bloodborne’s PlayStation route. Ringed City has PlayStation and Steam listings, so it is the practical option for a Dark Souls III player on PC.
- Compare the right package. Existing owners should compare the standalone add-on for their game. Newcomers should compare complete editions rather than buying an expansion that cannot run by itself.
Those criteria produce a useful answer without pretending that a 0.01-point storefront-rating difference proves one expansion is objectively superior.
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What are The Old Hunters and The Ringed City?
They are expansions for different action role-playing games, released in different years and aimed at players who already have the corresponding base title. You cannot substitute one for the other: buying Old Hunters does not provide Dark Souls III, and buying Ringed City does not provide Bloodborne.
What does The Old Hunters add to Bloodborne?
PlayStation’s announcement describes additional areas, equipment and weapons and names Ludwig among the hunters encountered. The expansion was announced for November 24, 2015. Its appeal is therefore easy to define without an inflated checklist: it extends Bloodborne with a new nightmare setting and a broader hunter arsenal while retaining the game’s existing identity.
The wording matters. “A new nightmare” is promotional language from PlayStation’s 2015 announcement, not an independent claim that every encounter or area is better than the base game. It does, however, accurately signal the expansion’s purpose: a focused Bloodborne continuation rather than a detached side product.
What does The Ringed City add to Dark Souls III?
Bandai Namco presents The Ringed City as Dark Souls III’s final expansion, using the line “A New World. One Last Journey.” Steam lists its PC release as March 27, 2017. That positioning makes it the natural choice for a player who wants the Dark Souls III arc to have its intended expansion-era endpoint.
The publisher’s “final expansion” description is a statement about role and release position, not a promise that it contains a particular number of bosses, zones or hours. No common-methodology playtime figure or consistently defined boss count for both expansions is established here, so those familiar but unverified numbers should not drive your purchase.
Do you need Bloodborne or Dark Souls III to play the DLC?
Yes. Each expansion requires its matching base game, and the purchase route does not turn the DLC into a standalone game.
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| If you own | Relevant add-on | What to verify before checkout |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodborne | The Old Hunters | PlayStation account, compatible Bloodborne edition and the in-game access conditions |
| Dark Souls III | The Ringed City | Matching PlayStation or Steam platform, region and Dark Souls III edition |
| Neither game | A complete edition or base game plus its expansion | That the package includes the base game; a DLC-only listing is not enough |
For a digital purchase, read the product title and included-content panel carefully. A listing that says “expansion” or “add-on” is not a substitute for the full game. For a disc, inspect the package description and the actual contents, because edition names and regional releases are not always identical.
How do you unlock The Old Hunters in Bloodborne?
Buying the expansion is not the same as unlocking its entrance. The official access sequence requires progress in the base game and a specific item.
- Defeat Vicar Amelia in Bloodborne.
- Interact with the altar after that victory.
- Obtain the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter from the Hunter’s Dream.
- Travel to the designated spot outside Oedon Chapel. The item and location trigger the route into the Old Hunters content.
If the entrance does not appear, check those conditions in order before reinstalling or buying the DLC again. The expansion’s official entry requirements mean that an immediate post-checkout shortcut should not be expected.
How does access to The Ringed City differ?
The Ringed City also presumes ownership and progress in Dark Souls III, but the supplied official material does not establish a single access sequence that can safely be reproduced here for every edition and platform. Treat it as an expansion attached to your Dark Souls III installation, then confirm the access instructions shown for your current game version.
Before troubleshooting, verify three things: the DLC is installed on the same account that owns Dark Souls III, both products are for the same platform, and your edition is not a base-game package that excludes the expansion. On PC, Steam’s listing is the relevant storefront record; on PlayStation, use the matching PlayStation product family.
What is the biggest difference in the experience?
The Old Hunters is organized around a new Bloodborne nightmare and the tools used by hunters. The Ringed City is organized around closure: it is presented as Dark Souls III’s last expansion and therefore carries the weight of a final journey. Those are different design promises, so choose by mood and attachment rather than by a generic “more content” metric.
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Choose Old Hunters for a Bloodborne-first payoff
- You already enjoy Bloodborne’s faster hunter combat and want additional weapons and equipment built for that system.
- You want a self-contained nightmare that expands the setting without asking you to switch to another game’s mechanics.
- Hunter encounters and the presence of named figures such as Ludwig are more appealing than a finale framed around the Dark Souls III saga.
- Your console library and account are already centered on Bloodborne, making compatibility straightforward.
Choose Ringed City for a Dark Souls III conclusion
- You want the expansion described by its publisher as the final Dark Souls III chapter.
- You are invested in Dark Souls III’s world, build system and progression and want to continue that save rather than begin Bloodborne.
- You play Dark Souls III on PC; Ringed City has a Steam listing, while Bloodborne’s purchase route is PlayStation-based.
- You prefer buying a package that includes both Dark Souls III expansions, such as the physical Fire Fades Edition.
Neither list is a quality ranking. It is a fit test: the best match depends on which combat system and fictional world you actually want to launch.
Which DLC offers better value?
There is no responsible universal price winner without a current, region-specific storefront check. Expansion prices, discounts, bundles and physical stock can change, and the available evidence does not establish a stable price comparison for every territory.
If you already own the matching base game
Compare the standalone add-on in the same storefront where you bought the base game. This avoids paying for a second copy of Bloodborne or Dark Souls III and keeps account, region and platform compatibility clear. Read whether the listing is a single expansion or a season-style package before confirming payment.
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A complete edition is usually the cleaner comparison because it supplies the required game and the expansion in one package. For Dark Souls III, the Fire Fades Edition is identified by Bandai Namco as a physical package containing the base game and both expansions. For Bloodborne, PlayStation lists a Complete Edition Bundle digitally.
Those are package descriptions, not current price recommendations. Check the amount, included content and region on the live listing at checkout rather than relying on an old sale figure.
What are the legitimate physical and digital purchase paths?
Several formats exist, but each has a different verification task.
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Digital PlayStation options
- Old Hunters: PlayStation lists the standalone expansion and a Bloodborne Complete Edition Bundle.
- Ringed City: PlayStation lists the Dark Souls III expansion for console players.
Confirm that the account owns the corresponding base game and that the edition is sold for your console generation and region.
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Steam lists The Ringed City for PC, with the storefront date of March 27, 2017. Bloodborne does not have a corresponding Steam listing in the supplied platform information, so a PC player should not assume that buying the Old Hunters name elsewhere will create a supported PC installation.
Physical Dark Souls III option
Search for Dark Souls III The Fire Fades Edition PS4 when you want a physical package containing the base game and both expansions. Do not assume a particular retailer has stock or that a listing’s photograph proves what is on the disc; read the seller’s edition and included-content description.
Physical Bloodborne options
A European Bloodborne Game of the Year Edition was announced with the expansion. If you are considering a disc listing, inspect the seller’s stated region and disc contents before purchase, especially when importing to another market. The existence of a European announcement does not verify a current United States listing or guarantee account compatibility.
Broader trilogy package
Dark Souls Trilogy PS4 is another physical search path for readers who also want the earlier games. Verify exactly which discs and expansions are included; “trilogy” describes a broader collection, while the Fire Fades Edition specifically identifies Dark Souls III with both of its expansions.
What do the storefront ratings say?
At the 2026 snapshot, the US PlayStation Store displayed 4.82/5 from 30,086 ratings for The Old Hunters and 4.81/5 from 5,471 ratings for The Ringed City. These figures come from separate customer populations and can change as new ratings arrive.
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The 0.01-point difference is not a controlled comparison. The games are attached to different base titles, the sample sizes differ substantially, and storefront ratings do not use a common review methodology. Use the numbers as a sign that both expansions are well received on that storefront at that moment, not as proof that Old Hunters wins by one-hundredth of a point.
Which should you buy first if you want both games?
Buy the expansion for the base game you plan to play first, then let your preferred combat style and story goal decide the second purchase.
| Your situation | First purchase | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You already own Bloodborne and have reached its expansion access point | The Old Hunters | It is immediately relevant to the game and platform already in your library. |
| You already own Dark Souls III, especially on PC | The Ringed City | It extends your existing save and is listed for Steam PC as well as PlayStation. |
| You own neither and want one complete physical package | Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition or a verified Bloodborne complete package | Choose the package whose base game and platform you actually want; neither DLC runs alone. |
| You are choosing solely by “finale” versus “nightmare” | Ringed City for a conclusion; Old Hunters for a focused Bloodborne detour | Their official positioning answers different motivations. |
Do not buy both expansions first and decide on the base games later. Start with the game whose combat and platform you can use now; the expansion purchase then has a clear purpose.
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What mistakes should you avoid when buying?
- Treating the DLC as standalone: Both require their matching base game.
- Ignoring Old Hunters’ unlock sequence: Defeating Vicar Amelia, using the altar, collecting the Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter and visiting the spot outside Oedon Chapel are separate requirements.
- Mixing platforms: A PlayStation add-on cannot be used with a Steam installation, and a PC listing does not create a Bloodborne license.
- Assuming an edition name guarantees every item: Read the included-content panel for complete, trilogy and Game of the Year packages.
- Using old prices or ratings as permanent facts: Storefront totals, discounts and physical stock are volatile; verify them immediately before purchase.
- Importing a disc without checking region: The European Bloodborne edition announcement does not establish compatibility for every other market.
- Expecting a universal playtime or boss-count verdict: No common, consistently defined figures for both expansions are established, so such numbers should not be presented as a measured comparison.
How we picked the recommendation
The recommendation uses the expansions’ documented role, platform and access facts: Old Hunters is the Bloodborne add-on described with new areas, equipment, weapons and hunter encounters; Ringed City is the publisher-described final Dark Souls III expansion with a Steam PC listing. It also accounts for the base-game requirement, Old Hunters’ explicit unlock sequence, complete-edition availability and the limits of storefront ratings. No hands-on performance test or common playtime benchmark is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play The Old Hunters without owning Bloodborne?
No. The Old Hunters is an expansion tied to Bloodborne, so you need the base game on a compatible PlayStation account. Buying the add-on alone does not provide a playable standalone copy.
Is The Ringed City available on PC?
Yes. Steam lists The Ringed City for PC and dates that release to March 27, 2017. Check that your Steam account also owns a compatible Dark Souls III installation.
Does The Fire Fades Edition include both Dark Souls III expansions?
Bandai Namco identifies the physical Fire Fades Edition as including Dark Souls III and both expansions. Confirm the seller’s exact edition and region before ordering, since listings can use incomplete or inaccurate titles.
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No. The ratings come from different customer populations and different sample sizes, and they can change over time. They indicate strong storefront reception at the recorded snapshot, not a controlled head-to-head study.
Is there a reliable completion-time winner between the two expansions?
Not from a common methodology. A consistently defined playtime figure covering both expansions has not been established, so completion time should not be treated as a verified tie-breaker.
Quick Recap
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