Elden Ring drops you into the shoes of the recently-resurrected Tarnished, tasking you with the seemingly impossible mission of claiming the Elden Ring and becoming Elden Lord. While The Lands Between is certainly no cakewalk, Elden Ring offers perhaps the most accessible entry for new and returning adventurers to the Soulsborne series.
By now, you've certainly heard the hype and might be a bit put off by the task of "getting good," but luckily for you, Elden Ring isn't nearly as hostile toward new players as its predecessors. If you've had a friend badgering you to play, but keep wondering, "Is Elden Ring really worth it?" then rest assured, here's your answer.
Review
Our Lead Features Editor, Jade King, gave Elden Ring a deserved glowing review, as FromSoftware's masterpiece is certainly befitting a crown. Following the success of previous Souls titles, Bloodborne and Sekiro, Elden Ring manages to draw upon their best elements while refining the gameplay to near-perfection. Jade highlights this, saying "FromSoftware has crafted an open world adventure that somehow surpasses all conceivable expectations."
It combines Dark Souls’ natural sense of discovery with the foreboding atmosphere of Bloodborne, while perfecting this combination with a combat system that feels equal parts Sekiro and Demon’s Souls. Elden Ring is an unflinching masterpiece, and a marquee example of what this medium can achieve when it is willing to accept our investment without compromise.
It comes as no surprise that Elden Ring received five stars, setting a new bar for all future FromSoftware titles and Soulslike games to chase. Jade's only knock on this immersive experience is that it eventually comes to an end, but you can always jump into New Game+ to do it all again.
Time Expenditure
The main story of Elden Ring should run you about 42 hours to complete, provided you don't get utterly lost in the enthralling details along the way. Assuming you're going to die a few times while you get your wits about you, it's more likely it will take closer 65 hours if you detour into a few of the game's lengthy side quests. There's no shame in pulling up a guide to find your way through this massive world.
However, completionists better strap in for the long haul as completing everything in the game will stretch out the experience to about 100 hours. If you want to find all the major talismans and complete all the achievements/trophies, be prepared to spread it out over several sessions. For those who simply can't get enough Elden Ring, you can sink dozens of more hours into completing a challenge run with a themed build to test your skills.
Cost
While some secondhand sites and specific retailers may offer discounts, Elden Ring is still going strong at $59.99 for the base title on the Playstation, Steam, and Xbox stores.
The Deluxe Edition is $79.99, while the Collector's edition will set you back $189.99 if purchased directly from BandaiNamco's site.
What Players Are Saying
Yes, But With Guide – Branden Lizardi
Elden Ring has an in-depth and easy to understand combat system. There's a huge world full of creatively designed creatures and landscapes. And underneath it all lies a fascinating narrative you can uncover yourself. It also, however, likes to hide tremendously helpful items, characters, and mechanics in obtuse and hard to find places. If you want to enjoy it with minimal frustration, don't be afraid to look things up online.
The Culmination Of The Soulsborne Formula – Hilton Webster
It might sound cliché to say, but if you liked Dark Souls, you'll like Elden Ring. In many ways, it exemplifies every aspect of the Souls games, with multiple playstyles, difficult bosses, and charismatic NPCs. The open world is unlike any other, but also affords more flexibility and accessibility than previous Souls games too.
FromSoftware's Magnum Opus – Seth Parmer
Elden Ring is the culmination of FromSoftware's cryptic, challenging, and enchanting worlds, with perfect execution of open-world design that encourages exploration and experimentation. Every twist and turn will lead you to something new and surprising, and the boss encounters will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. This game seems like it should be impossible to exist, but that's just that FromSoft magic everyone has been screaming about for over a decade now taking center stage.