Elden Ring, released in 2022 by Bandai Namco Games and developed by FromSoftware, is an action RPG that has been attracting a legion of players for over a year and continues to enjoy enduring popularity.
This title belongs to the distinctive genre known as “Soulslikes”, created by the FromSoftware studio and represented by hits such as the Dark Souls series and Bloodborne. It sets high demands on players, immersing them in gloomy and foreboding, dark fantasy worlds. What makes Elden Ring so special? Why does it receive such high ratings? Well… for several reasons, at least 6. Let’s explore them all!
- The Collaboration of Legends
- Unparalleled World Building
- Embracing Player Freedom
- A Seamless Blend of Dark Fantasy and Lore
- Combat System: An Evolution of Souls-like Mechanics
- Graphics and Artistry: Painting a Living World
- Elden Ring Impact on Future RPGs
- DLCs and Expansions: Keeping the Adventure Fresh
- Comparing Elden Ring to its RPG Contemporaries
- Summary
The Collaboration of Legends
The first reason Elden Ring is at the top of many players’ lists is its incredibly rich and intriguing world, which combines various elements of mythology and legends. It draws influences from the ancient Celtic, Norse, Greek, Slavic, and even Japanese cultures. Notably, it also bears some inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien’s world of The Lord of the Rings. The cooperation between the main director of FromSoftware, Hidetaka Miyazaki, and the world-renowned fantasy author George R.R. Martin, known for “A Song of Ice and Fire” (Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon), had a significant impact on the game’s world and storyline.
Unparalleled World Building
Another aspect that makes Elden Ring highly rated is its world-building. Unlike previous titles, FromSoftware decided to depart from paralleled, enclosed maps and opted for a large, expansive, and above all, open world. This means that players can explore in any direction, at their own pace and playstyle, discovering different regions of the world and uncovering secrets on the surface, in underworld areas, and mysterious locations.
Embracing Player Freedom
The game’s story is deep and carefully directed, but it doesn’t immediately reveal all its cards to players, unlike many other action or RPG games. This generates nearly unlimited possibilities for gameplay. Players must uncover the secrets of the world and their own destiny, which adds depth to the gameplay. While the narrative framework is set, the path players take and the decisions they make influence the story’s development, leading to multiple endings.
A Seamless Blend of Dark Fantasy and Lore
As mentioned earlier, Soulslikes games are known for their gloomy, foreboding atmosphere set in dark fantasy realms. This is one of the hallmarks of FromSoftware’s productions. In Elden Ring, this grim atmosphere complements perfectly the highly developed, mythically inspired lore, creating a cohesive and immersive experience that absorbs players completely. If you’ve played and remember the worlds of The Witcher series, The Elder Scrolls, or the more recent Zelda titles, Elden Ring combines elements from all of them, shrouded in darkness and deep immersion.
Combat System: An Evolution of Souls-like Mechanics
Another reason Elden Ring enjoys such popularity, even among die-hard Soulslikes fans, is its improved and enriched gameplay mechanics. Of course, the game is based on FromSoftware’s established patterns, such as challenging duels, unique bosses, and the need for strategic approaches to combat, as well as the inevitability of setbacks being an integral part of gameplay. In Elden Ring, however, the creators decided to give players a bit more leeway, allowing features like mounted combat (which provides an advantage against some foes) and the ability to recover lost runes after death, reducing the need to start over from scratch. This maintains a high level of difficulty and challenge while making the game more balanced and fair, providing players with greater enjoyment.
Graphics and Artistry: Painting a Living World
Even if you haven’t had the chance to play yet, just looking at concept art or even screenshots from the game will give you a clear idea of what we mean. Although the game doesn’t aim for photorealism, its graphics are a feast for the eyes. All locations, both on the surface and in dungeons or underground, are meticulously crafted. Furthermore, the game world feels very alive. In addition to the characters found on the map (also finely detailed), players can observe and experience various weather conditions, changes in the time of day, and lighting effects that make the game even more realistic and immersive. The well-chosen soundtrack also plays a crucial role, seamlessly fitting the atmosphere of each location or encounter.
Elden Ring Impact on Future RPGs
Elden Ring has received a staggering 331 awards across various categories since 2020, reflecting its high acclaim. It has won awards for most anticipated title, outstanding story, graphics, sound design, and gameplay, as well as multiple Game of the Year awards in 2022. It’s often referred to as a masterpiece. Furthermore, it’s undeniable that FromSoftware has set a very high bar with this title, and other RPG creators will have to work hard to match Elden Ring’s standards and success.
DLCs and Expansions: Keeping the Adventure Fresh
Due to the immense interest and dedication of players, FromSoftware couldn’t escape the inevitable need for expansions and DLCs. So far, we’ve seen the free Colosseum update in 2022, which introduced new cosmetic items and mechanics for multiplayer battles. Another significant story expansion called Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has been announced for late 2023 or early 2024.
Comparing Elden Ring to its RPG Contemporaries
As mentioned earlier, Elden Ring shares some elements with other popular action and RPG games. However, thanks to its unique mechanics and elements, it introduces something entirely new to the gaming world. It stands out not only as a Western-style game but also incorporates Eastern RPG elements, evident in character design, narrative style, and the complexity of the world. If you’re a fan of Elden Ring, you should definitely try your hand at the following titles:
| Game | Release | Developer | Features | Why It's Similar to Elden Ring | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bloodborne | 2015-03-24 | FromSoftware | Fast-paced combat, horror elements, intricate story, unique art style | Shared developer, challenging gameplay, deep lore |
 | Dark Souls Series | 2011-2016 | FromSoftware | Gritty world, challenging gameplay, deep lore, innovative multiplayer aspects | Shared developer, similar gameplay mechanics, lore depth |
 | Demon’s Souls | 2011-2016 | FromSoftware | The precursor to Dark Souls, challenging combat, complex world-building | Shared developer, the foundation of Souls-like mechanics |
 | Nioh Series | 2017-2020 | FromSoftware | Fast-paced action, deep RPG elements, historical fantasy setting, challenging combat | Challenging combat, RPG elements, historical settings |
 | The Middle Earth Series | 2014-2017 | FromSoftware | Open-world exploration, innovative nemesis system, action-packed combat, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe | Open-world exploration, deep lore |
 | Ghost of Tsushima | 2020 | Sucker Punch Productions | Open-world exploration, samurai combat, historical setting, strong narrative | Open-world exploration, emphasis on narrative and combat |
Summary
In summary, Elden Ring is a game that is so good, and complex, that it must be on your list of titles to play. It has everything a successful action RPG should have: challenging fights, a vast world, mysterious locations, interesting and well-developed characters, numerous character development options, and phenomenal audiovisual presentation.
So, will you succumb to the temptation and make the purchase?