Pik-Sen Lim, Voice of Dark Souls’ Haunting Intro, Passes Away at 80

Image: Pik-Sen Lim, Voice of Dark Souls 3

Malaysian-born British actress Pik-Sen Lim, best known to many gamers as the voice behind the iconic openings of Dark Souls (2011) and Dark Souls III (2014), has passed away at the age of 80. She died on Monday, June 9, leaving behind a long and varied career in British television, film, and theatre.

While her voice role in the Dark Souls franchise totals just a few minutes across both games, Lim's narration played a pivotal role in shaping the dark and mysterious tone that fans have come to associate with the series. Her delivery in those haunting prologues helped set the stage for the cryptic world and themes of despair and fading glory, giving players a chilling introduction before they stepped into the bleak landscapes of Lordran and Lothric. One particular line—“And the Furtive Pygmy, so easily forgotten”—has remained a key point of speculation among lore enthusiasts for years.

According to Malay Mail (via PC Gamer), Lim was born in Penang, Malaysia, in 1944, during the final years of World War II, while the region was still under Japanese occupation. In a 1978 interview with The Straits Times, she shared that she moved to the United Kingdom in 1961 to pursue acting, despite her family's disapproval. It was a bold move, especially at a time when opportunities for Asian actors in the West were even more limited than they are today.

Over the decades, Lim built a strong résumé across media, appearing in numerous TV series and movies, including Doctor Who, Coronation Street, The Avengers, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and more recent ones, such as The Nevers and Vampire Academy in 2023. She was also active in stage productions.

Her passing marks a significant loss not just to fans of Dark Souls but to British entertainment as a whole. Whether through her powerful narration in gaming or her presence on stage and screen, Pik-Sen Lim leaves behind a legacy defined by talent, courage, and an unyielding passion for storytelling.

R.I.P. Pik-Sen Lim!