Elden Ring is an action RPG that redefined open-world gaming when it launched in February 2022. Developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco, the game combines punishing combat with vast exploration. It also features a story crafted in collaboration with fantasy author George R.R. Martin. Players take on the role of a Tarnished, an exile who returns to the Lands Between to restore the shattered Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord. The game sold over 25 million copies within its first year, making it one of the best-selling titles of all time. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022. This article explains what Elden Ring is, how it plays, and why it captured the attention of millions worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Elden Ring is an open-world action RPG developed by FromSoftware, featuring a dark fantasy story co-created with George R.R. Martin.
- The game sold over 25 million copies in its first year and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2022.
- Combat requires patience and strategy, with dozens of weapons, spells, and playstyles available to suit different players.
- The Lands Between offers six major regions filled with hidden dungeons, secrets, and rewarding exploration.
- Shadow of the Erdtree, the 2024 expansion, nearly doubles the game’s content with a new region, weapons, and bosses.
- Elden Ring is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, making it accessible across all major gaming platforms.
Overview of the Game
Elden Ring is an action role-playing game set in a dark fantasy world called the Lands Between. FromSoftware, the studio behind Dark Souls and Bloodborne, developed the game. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki led the project and brought his signature design philosophy to every aspect of the experience.
The game drops players into a massive open world filled with danger, secrets, and powerful enemies. Unlike previous FromSoftware titles, Elden Ring gives players freedom to explore at their own pace. They can tackle challenges in almost any order they choose.
George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire, wrote the game’s mythos and backstory. His contribution shaped the history and major characters of the Lands Between. FromSoftware then built the in-game narrative around this foundation.
Elden Ring appeals to both newcomers and veterans of difficult action games. The open-world structure lets struggling players leave tough areas and return later with better gear. This flexibility made Elden Ring more accessible than previous FromSoftware games while keeping the challenge intact.
Gameplay and Combat Mechanics
Combat in Elden Ring demands patience, timing, and strategy. Players must learn enemy attack patterns and find openings to strike. Button mashing leads to quick deaths. Careful observation leads to victory.
The game offers dozens of weapons, spells, and abilities. Players can wield massive greatswords, cast powerful sorceries, or use stealth to bypass enemies entirely. Elden Ring supports many playstyles, from aggressive melee builds to cautious ranged approaches.
Character Building
Players create custom characters and choose from several starting classes. Each class begins with different stats and equipment. But, any character can eventually learn any skill or use any weapon. The class choice simply determines the starting point.
Leveling up requires runes, which players earn by defeating enemies. They spend these runes at Sites of Grace, rest points scattered across the map. Death causes players to drop their runes, and they must retrieve them before dying again or lose them permanently.
Spirit Ashes and Summoning
Elden Ring introduces Spirit Ashes, a new mechanic for the series. Players can summon spectral allies to assist in battles. These range from packs of wolves to powerful warriors. Spirit Ashes give solo players backup during difficult encounters.
The game also supports cooperative multiplayer. Players can summon other human players into their world for help. This system works similarly to previous FromSoftware titles but benefits from the larger world design.
The Open World and Exploration
The Lands Between is one of the largest and most detailed open worlds in gaming. It contains six major regions, each with distinct environments, enemies, and bosses. Players travel on foot or horseback using Torrent, a spectral steed.
Elden Ring rewards curiosity. Hidden caves, catacombs, and ruins dot the landscape. These optional dungeons contain valuable loot, unique weapons, and challenging bosses. Some of the game’s best content exists off the beaten path.
Legacy Dungeons
Legacy Dungeons are massive, hand-crafted areas similar to levels in previous FromSoftware games. These include locations like Stormveil Castle, Raya Lucaria Academy, and Leyndell, Royal Capital. They feature intricate layouts, deadly traps, and memorable boss fights.
The contrast between open-world exploration and focused dungeon design keeps Elden Ring fresh. Players can spend hours roaming fields and forests, then jump into intense, linear challenges.
Secrets and Discovery
Elden Ring hides many of its best moments. Entire questlines, areas, and endings require careful exploration to find. The game rarely tells players where to go. Maps reveal geography but not objectives. This design encourages experimentation and creates a strong sense of discovery.
Story and Lore
The story of Elden Ring centers on the shattering of the Elden Ring, a source of power maintained by Queen Marika. When the Ring broke, its pieces, called Great Runes, scattered among Marika’s demigod children. War followed. The Lands Between fell into ruin.
Players arrive as a Tarnished, one of many exiles who lost the grace of the Erdtree. Their goal is to collect Great Runes, defeat the demigods, and restore the Elden Ring. But the path to becoming Elden Lord holds many surprises.
Elden Ring tells its story through environmental details, item descriptions, and cryptic NPC dialogue. The game never delivers exposition dumps. Players must piece together the narrative themselves. This approach creates debate and discussion within the community.
Multiple endings exist based on player choices and completed questlines. Some endings restore order. Others bring destruction or change the fundamental nature of the world. Elden Ring encourages multiple playthroughs to see all outcomes.
Platforms and Expansions
Elden Ring launched on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game runs well on all platforms, though performance varies. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions offer the smoothest experience with faster load times.
FromSoftware released regular patches after launch. These updates fixed bugs, balanced weapons, and improved performance. The studio also added new features like better co-op functionality.
Shadow of the Erdtree
In June 2024, FromSoftware released Shadow of the Erdtree, the game’s first and only expansion. This DLC adds a new region called the Land of Shadow, dozens of new weapons, fresh spells, and challenging bosses. Critics praised the expansion for matching the quality of the base game.
Shadow of the Erdtree requires players to defeat specific bosses in the main game before accessing the new content. The expansion roughly doubles the amount of content available in Elden Ring. It became one of the highest-rated DLCs in gaming history.
