The WhatsNext verdict
If you enjoy wandering into surprising discoveries and reshaping your character through experimentation, Elden Ring delivers a vast, flexible adventure. Play it if opaque quests and uneven, sometimes repetitive bosses will not outweigh that freedom.
What it does best
A vast world that rewards curiosity with real discoveries
A world built for unforgettable places and reveals
An enormous combat sandbox with room for mastery
Buildcrafting that makes experimentation feel transformative
What might put you off
Uneven and sometimes repetitive boss encounters
Opaque storytelling and quest design
The setup
What you are walking into
Elden Ring is an action RPG developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, released in February 2022. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, with world-building contributions from novelist George R. R. Martin, the game features an expansive open world called the Lands Between. Players assume the role of a customisable character known as the Tarnished, who must explore this world, battle formidable enemies, and seek to restore the Elden Ring to become the Elden Lord. The game builds on the challenging gameplay mechanics familiar from the Dark Souls series but introduces a more open-ended structure with vast exploration, dynamic weather, and a day-night cycle. It offers deep lore, complex characters, and an interconnected world filled with secrets, dungeons, and powerful bosses.
Where it lives
Genre
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