Dark Souls III (2016): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Gamicality score 91 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 4.5

Runs today5 / 5
Design today3.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Very Positive

413,775 reviews94% positive
Steam store page

Released: 2016
Developer: FromSoftware, Inc.
Genre: Action
Runs on: Windows, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Dark Souls III run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	Expected to work. It is sold for Windows today and no problem is on record. SourceNo player reports yet
Mac (Apple Silicon)	No Mac version is sold.No player reports yet
Linux	Through Proton: ProtonDB rates it Platinum (runs perfectly out of the box). SourceNo player reports yet
Steam Deck	Verified by Valve: it works great on Steam Deck. SourceNo player reports yet

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Synopsis

A dark fantasy action RPG set in the fading kingdom of Lothric, where an undead warrior rises to return the Lords of Cinder to their thrones. Players fight through interconnected castles, swamps and cathedrals, learn enemy patterns through repeated deaths, and take on large, demanding bosses, with optional online co-op and invasions.

What people say

Critics in 2016 praised its faster combat, boss design and art direction, though some felt it leaned too heavily on callbacks to the first game. Players today still rate it among FromSoftware's best and say its combat feels quick and precise. Common criticisms are a more linear world than the original Dark Souls, a 60 FPS cap with occasional stutter on PC, and storytelling so indirect that many players miss quests and lore. Some also report input delay and inconsistent hitboxes, and PvP suffers from lag.

Playability today

Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.

Runs today: 5 / 5

✓Sold today from an official store
✓Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
–Single-player works without an internet connection
–All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
–Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
✓Full controller support or remappable controls
✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
–No known game-breaking bugs in the current version

Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.

Design today: 3.5 / 5

✓Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardPlayers widely describe the combat as quick, smooth and precise on a controller, though a minority mention slight input delay. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensThe menus are dense with stats but readable, and no widespread complaint about the interface turned up; evidence is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressThe game autosaves constantly and bonfires act as frequent checkpoints, so death costs a walk back and dropped souls rather than real progress. Source: vaporlens.app.
✗It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressStory, NPC questlines and many systems are explained only indirectly, and players warn that those wanting guidance will struggle or miss content without a wiki. Source: vaporlens.app.
✓Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingPlayers call the progression well paced with rewarding optional areas; the main criticism is that some levels feel linear rather than padded. Source: vaporlens.app.
✗Camera and movement never fight the playerThe lock-on camera struggles with large and flying bosses, with the Nameless King fight a long-running source of complaints. Source: steamcommunity.com.

Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.