As discussed previously, Dark Souls is a game that takes place in the fantasy world of Lordran, where you, as the chosen undead, must rekindle the first flame as it was prophesied by the lords before you.
"Only in the ancient legends it is stated, that one day an Undead shall be chosen to leave the Undead Asylum, in pilgrimage, to the land of the ancient lords, Lordran."
- Oscar, Knight of Astora
One of the main themes in Dark Souls is ecohorror and the rampant idea of environmental degradation. The world of Lordran is depicted as a dying world, with decaying ruins, desolate landscapes, and a sense of entropy and lifelessness, further supported by the hollowing aspect of Dark Souls. The game's lore suggests that the world of Lordran was once a vibrant and flourishing place, but has been corrupted and consumed by darkness and hollows.
"The past is a distant mirage... The future holds only death."
- Griggs of Vinheim
This theme of environmental degradation is also linked to the game's depiction of climate change. The player encounters several areas in the game that have been affected by climate change, such as Blighttown, a polluted and toxic swamp, and the Kiln of the First Flame, a desolate and scorched wasteland surrounded completely by ash. The scary part about the latter is that the ash represents all of those in the past who have given themselves to the first flame in sacrifice. Their bodies are now nothing more than ash. These areas suggest that the world of Lordran is experiencing severe climate change, with devastating consequences for its inhabitants.
Lost Izalith... home of the Witch of Izalith... the bed of chaos. We pilgrims of the Great Lord are keenly aware. Terrible beasts, dragons, and the like, all perish in the name of Lord Gwyn."
- Knight Kirk
Furthermore, the game's storyline revolves around the idea of the cycle of fire and darkness. The First Flame, a source of light and warmth in the world, is gradually fading away, threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness. This storyline can be seen as a metaphor for the impact of climate change on the world, with the fading flame representing the depletion of natural resources and the looming threat of ecological collapse. It harkens back to the idea of pragmatism in the sense that we must take action now instead of later. The cycle is constantly looming, and instead of finding a legitimate solution, the inhabitants of the universe prolong the inevitable.
The game's depiction of environmental degradation, climate change, and the cycle of fire and darkness all suggest a world in crisis, where the natural balance has been disrupted and the future is uncertain. It is very reminiscent of what we see in our own world. We try to prolong the inevitable climate change that will happen with new technology but no lifestyle changes.
