After going through over 180 hours of Elden Ring, I’m replaying Bloodborne isn’t a game I’d normally play, as I tend to avoid horror games.

However, this isn’t a horror game: it’s a game about horror. Becoming fear itself and pushing forward is precisely its core, and that’s applied to its gameplay and incredible roster of trick weapons – something that has yet to be replicated or developed further upon in other souls games. A similar theme will be explored in The Duskbloods, FromSoftware’s Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive title. Even so, from its narrative to its gameplay loop, The Duskbloods isn’t Bloodborne 2, so players yearning for more tales about the Old Blood will have to wait until Sony decides to develop a sequel.

Bloodborne Lacks A Skill Respec Feature

I’d Grown Used To The Feature In Elden Ring

I generally believe that the 2015 game has aged quite well, despite some notable technical limitations, such as its lower quality graphics (compared to more recent titles, like Elden Ring and Dark Souls 3) and its notorious 30 FPS (frames per second) cap. Even with these limitations, the somber action RPG still delivers a great experience to its players, but there is something I noticed during my recent replay session that is truly annoying: Bloodborne lacks a skill respec feature. For reference, the ability to respec allows players to redistribute their stat upgrades and, essentially, alter their entire character build.

This feature is present in Elden Ring via Rebirth, unlocked after beating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, at Raya Lucaria Academy in Liurnia of the Lakes. By revisiting the fallen boss with a Larval Tear, you can ask her to respec your character. This sees her return all your invested stat points and allows you to level up the stats in a brand-new way. Technically speaking, you can change your Strength build into an Intelligence build, for example, or even start using a mixed Faith and Strength build in Elden Ring. The possibilities are many with the respec feature.

Bloodborne's Lack Of A Skill Respec Function Leads To Too Much Grinding

I Can’t Use New Weapons Without Farming Blood Echoes

Having returned to Bloodborne after so many hours spent in Elden Ring, respecing and trying out new builds and new weapons, has made an impact on me. Only now have I realized that Bloodborne lacks a respec feature. In theory, it makes it impossible for me to change builds immediately and start testing out new weapons. In my most recent playthrough, I built up Strength and Skill to use Ludwig’s Holy Blade, a safe and comfortable build that’s carried me through the majority of the game. Now, I’ve ventured into The Old Hunters DLC and just beat Ludwig in Bloodborne.

Upon doing so, I’ve obtained access to the Holy Moonlight Sword, one of my favorite weapons in the game – which appears in different forms across various FromSoftware games, such as the Dark Moon Greatsword in Elden Ring. Looking forward to using it, I found myself grossly underpowered because the weapon scales on Arcane and Strength, and I hadn’t leveled Arcane one bit. After those 180 hours of Elden Ring, my first thought was to respec my character and distribute the stats so that the newly acquired Holy Moonlight Sword would become my main weapon in Bloodborne.

Naturally, I was disappointed when I ed that the 2015 game does not have a respec feature and that I would have to grind to level up Arcane and then use the Holy Moonlight Sword the way I intend to. Surely, Bloodborne has a huge perk that allows you to grind indefinitely and essentially max out all your character’s stats. That way, I could not only be adept at the weapon I want, but also all the other trick weapons in the game. However, I see that as a poor solution for the lack of a respec feature in Bloodborne.

My second Bloodborne playthrough is actually my New Game +, so I started this run at level 120.

Leveling up in the game requires a lot of grinding, and that only intensifies as your level gets higher and the Blood Echo needs increase. Seeing that I started my second playthrough at level 120, my Blood Echo requirements were already higher than normal. Of course, enemies drop more Blood Echoes, but they don’t offset how high each level needs. I’ve found uncomfortable solace in the best Chalice Dungeon for farming in Bloodborne, which grants thousands of Blood Echoes per minute, but this isn’t the way I wanted to become adept at using the Holy Moonlight Greatsword.

What Bloodborne 2 Should Learn From Elden Ring

The Anticipated Sequel Could Elevate The Franchise’s Status

Respecing is a simple and common feature among various types of RPGs that makes a huge difference to the overall gameplay experience. It allows players to test out various builds and, subsequently, different weapons, until they find their ideal one. I took it for granted when playing Elden Ring, and now I feel the impact of its absence in my new playthrough. It’s probably too late for the game to be updated to include a respec feature at this point in time, but it is one of the lessons that the highly rumored Bloodborne 2 could learn from Elden Ring.

Even with its problems, the 2015 game is still my favorite soulslike title, but it’s undeniable that its age is starting to show. From its limited technical capabilities – worsened by the lack of a remastered version or a PC release – to the lack of a respec feature, the critically-acclaimed game is getting sured by more recent releases. After its tenth anniversary this year, the game will likely continue to be considered one of the greatest titles in its genre, but replaying it recently has shown me just how much a sequel to Bloodborne could elevate the series.