Honestly DS1 and DS2 are very unfriendly entry points into the subgenre and can be quite punishing. I played the entire first DS following a guide step by step because I didn't see the appeal. DS2 I read a guide instead and did it all myself and was starting to get it but not really. DS3 is the first one that feels like a modern game, where fun is the priority and it doesn't expect you to have 20 hours to beat your head against an area or boss. DS3 you can complete entirely alone (although looking up stat soft caps is always a must for me).