The WhatsNext verdict
For Action RPG fans and open-world explorers who relish challenging combat, deep character customization, and discovering vast, cryptic landscapes at their own pace.: The Lands Between turns exploration into constant epiphany, seamlessly blending vast open geography with intricately designed legacy dungeons. An immense sandbox of weapons, spells, and ashes of war rewards experimentation, while demanding combat ensures triumphs feel hard-earned. Tradeoff: Its refusal to provide quest markers or handholding can make objectives bewildering without external guides, and late-game encounters feature steep difficulty spikes alongside repeated boss encounters that may test patience.
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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