Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
I can still recall the moment I stepped out of that initial subterranean tutorial cave into the radiant fields of Limgrave, faced by a wide expanse of rolling hills, distant fortresses, and haunting spectral trees. Elden Ring is an ambitious creation from FromSoftware—a studio famed for twisting the fantasy action-RPG formula into an art form of deliberate challenge and evocative world-building.
But this time, their hallmarks of grim wonder and cunning difficulty were unleashed on an open world. The result felt both exhilarating and daunting. Having played and completed Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Dark Souls 3, I thought I knew what to expect. Elden Ring’s scope, however, far surpassed my expectations more thank any other Souls game did.
In these pages, I’ll dissect the aspects that define the Elden Ring experience: its open-world design, distinctive approach to difficulty, variety of builds and magic, boss encounters (including the notorious Starscourge Radahn), performance, visuals, and how it compares to prior Soulslike titles. My time in the Lands Between taught me that Elden Ring, for all its familiarity, truly charted new territory in the realm of punishing yet deeply rewarding action RPGs.
A Vast World Unfolds
When discussing Elden Ring, the most noticeable shift from earlier FromSoftware efforts is the shift to a vast open world. Referred to as the Lands Between, this sprawling domain features a huge variety of interconnected zones—each with hidden dungeons, mini-boss lairs, catacombs, and sometimes entire subterranean realms that might stretch on for miles. Unlike Dark Souls 3’s more linear progression or Sekiro’s branching but compact paths, Elden Ring invites you to set your own direction. If you find a particular boss or region too punishing, you can literally ride away and explore a different corner of the map, returning only when you feel better prepared.
That concept alone changes the dynamic of a typical “Soulslike.” In previous games, if you hit a roadblock boss, your only recourse was to keep trying, maybe farm souls or consult a strategy guide. In Elden Ring, you can roam outward in search of runes, better weapons, or wholly different questlines. This freedom fosters an exhilarating sense of discovery—and at times, can also feel overwhelming. There’s so much to see and do that you might easily lose track of time in a random catacomb or get sidetracked investigating a suspicious ruin, only to emerge hours later having tackled an entirely optional storyline.
Guiding Grace?
To help guide the player, Elden Ring occasionally directs you with subtle beams of light emanating from Sites of Grace (the equivalent of Dark Souls’ bonfires). But it never forces a strictly linear route. Early on, the main path suggests you head to Stormveil Castle, but you can skirt around it entirely, venturing off toward distant swamps or hidden beaches. The Lands Between often reward curiosity with fascinating secrets: entire subterranean lakes lit by false stars overhead, hidden NPC quest chains that unravel surprising bits of lore, or locked towers that reveal special enchantments. The map feels alive with possibility.
That breadth also means you might encounter colossal bosses far above your level. Instead of banging your head against an impossibly strong foe, you can elect to retreat, gather more runes, or try an alternate path. For me, that sense of freedom was both a relief and a challenge: relief because it mitigates the infamous Soulslike “wall,” but a challenge because the game seldom funnels you with explicit directions.
A Feast of Builds and Playstyles
Stat Allocation and Variety
One of Elden Ring’s greatest strengths is the sheer range of builds it accommodates. While Sekiro locks you into a single sword and deflection style, Elden Ring brings back the robust stat-based character system akin to Dark Souls. Vigor, Endurance, Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane—each stat ties into different weapons, spells, and incantations, forming the backbone of the game’s extensive role-playing element.
I started with a more standard “quality” build, favoring Strength and Dexterity for big swords and reliable melee combos. But over time, I found the allure of sorcery irresistible. Elden Ring offers an abundance of spells: from classic glintstone projectiles to monstrous gravity-based magics, and even comedic cosmic lasers that fill the screen.
Alternatively, you can focus on Faith for incantations that range from healing miracles to draconic transformations. The synergy between weapon arts and stats is staggering, letting you shape a character with near-limitless potential. If you want to dual-wield colossal swords, toss lightning spears, or dabble in necromancy, you can—given enough runes and the right gear.
Weapon Arts (Ashes of War)
Dark Souls 3 introduced “Weapon Arts,” unique skills tied to each weapon, but Elden Ring evolves that concept with “Ashes of War.” These special items allow you to swap skills across weapons, effectively letting you customize your armaments’ abilities. For instance, you might attach a powerful AoE shockwave skill to a greatsword, or imbue a rapier with a blood-based lunge that piles on bleed damage. Some Ashes scale with particular stats, so a faith-infused blade might also cast a brief holy enchantment.
This system fosters creativity and synergy. You can refine your weapon’s “affinity,” shifting its damage scaling to Strength, Dexterity, or even Intelligence. I found a particularly deadly synergy by combining a frost-based Ash with a heavy strength-scaling sword, applying frost buildup while dealing huge raw damage. Moments like that reminded me how Elden Ring’s design encourages experimentation—no single correct path or ultimate weapon, just endless ways to shape your approach.
Summons and Spirit Ashes
In previous Souls games, you could summon friendly phantoms if you needed help. Elden Ring not only retains multiplayer co-op, but also introduces the concept of “Spirit Ashes”—NPC-like specters you can call on to aid you in boss fights or tough areas. Each Spirit Ash has unique attributes: a band of weak skeletons that resurrect themselves, a single powerful mimic that replicates your exact build, or even a pack of agile wolves that can swarm foes. For some battles, a well-chosen spirit can drastically alter the encounter. Meanwhile, you can still rely on the old-fashioned approach of single combat if you seek a more traditional challenge. This extra dimension of summoning fits snugly within the open-world setting and further alleviates potential frustration.
Boss Encounters: Awe and Punishment
Radahn: The Titan That Stopped Me in My Tracks
Boss battles remain a central pillar of FromSoftware design, and Elden Ring doesn’t skimp on the spectacle. The roster includes monstrous dragons, corrupted demigods, and cunning knights with unique move sets. One boss, in particular, left a massive impression: Starscourge Radahn. Encountered relatively early (or mid-game, depending on your exploration), Radahn is a mountainous warrior commanding gravitational powers. He rules over a desolate wasteland known as Redmane Castle, awaiting challengers in an arena of swirling sand.
Unprepared for his onslaught, I found myself battered by colossal meteor-like projectiles, battered again by his monstrous melee combos, and repeatedly shot out of the sky. Attempt after attempt ended in my defeat. Elden Ring’s open-world structure typically means you can walk away and return later, but my stubbornness wouldn’t let me. I spent multiple days bashing my head against Radahn, reading patterns, summoning ephemeral allies, adjusting gear. Victory eventually arrived on the third real-life day of attempts, and the catharsis was immense.
Variety and Progression in Boss Fights
Beyond Radahn, the game features a wide selection of major and minor bosses, each with distinct quirks. Some are singled out in grand arenas, while others lurk in corners of the open world, offering dynamic encounters if you stumble upon them. This variety is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, the sense of wonder is unmatched, as you never know if that looming silhouette might be a mid-tier boss or a top-tier threat. On the other hand, some boss encounters feel repeated or re-skinned, especially among optional sub-bosses in the game’s many dungeons. The sheer scale of Elden Ring inevitably leads to some repetition.
However, the main storyline bosses generally shine with creative movesets and memorable set pieces. Some notable examples include Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon—fought amid a giant library’s swirling cosmic illusions—and Malenia, Blade of Miquella, an encounter that is widely considered among the hardest in the entire game. The variety of ways to approach these bosses (co-op, summoning spirits, employing specialized builds) keeps even repeated encounters fresh.
Magic, Faith, and Arcane Freedoms
Spellcasting and Incantations
Having experienced a narrower skillset in Sekiro, I loved Elden Ring’s emphasis on magical diversity. Sorceries scale with Intelligence, and incantations primarily with Faith (though Arcane influences certain blood-based spells). The sheer quantity of spells is staggering—ranging from quick glintstone shards to massive cosmic lasers that can decimate bosses in seconds, if you manage to cast them uninterrupted.
There’s a certain delight in discovering and collecting these spells from hidden towers or fallen mages. Sometimes, reading the item descriptions reveals bits of lore that tie to demigods or ancient academies. Indeed, it’s reminiscent of the old Dark Souls style of storytelling, but with enough novelty to avoid feeling recycled.
Switching Builds Mid-Run
Elden Ring also provides the Larval Tear system, letting you “respec” your stats if you find yourself wanting a new build or if you’re stuck against a particular challenge. In older Souls titles, respec was typically quite limited or locked behind specific items. Elden Ring’s more generous approach helped me adapt on the fly. I started as a Strength/Dex warrior, but eventually retooled to an Intelligence-based spellsword after I found some jaw-dropping staff and crystal spells. For those who relish the variety of experimentation, this system is a dream.
Performance, Graphics, and Art Direction
World Design and Artistic Flair
Graphically, Elden Ring embraces a style that merges Dark Souls’ gothic medieval tone with vibrant fantasy elements. The Erdtree—an immense, luminous tree at the center of the Lands Between—serves as a beacon visible from nearly every zone. The first time I gazed upon it, I marveled at the detail. Yet, in an open-world setting, the developers had to distribute resources carefully. Certain interior areas and dungeons exhibit incredible detail, while some open expanses appear simpler, though never unimpressive. The overall art direction is consistently strong, maintaining a balance between bleak ruin and ethereal splendor.
Performance can vary based on platform. On a powerful PC rig, Elden Ring generally runs well at high settings, although occasional stutters or framerate drops can appear in open areas. On older consoles, the game is scaled down, though still playable. The sense of scale—looking out from a high plateau and seeing distant stormy skies or glimpsing an entire region’s architecture far below—remains breathtaking.
Soundscapes and Atmosphere
The soundtrack underscores Elden Ring’s grandiosity. Gentle ambient pieces float through the quieter exploration segments, while epic choral arrangements erupt during boss battles. The approach is reminiscent of Dark Souls but with more variety, befitting the expansive nature of the Lands Between. Meanwhile, environmental audio excels at situational cues. You may hear a faint howling wind that leads you to a hidden cliff, or the ominous chanting near a boss chamber. The interplay of visuals and audio fosters a sense of immersion that remains one of FromSoftware’s strong suits.
Progression: Leveling, Runes, and Exploration Incentives
Runes Instead of Souls
In typical Soulslike fashion, you gather “runes” by defeating enemies and exploring dungeons. Dying causes you to drop them where you fall, and failing to retrieve them results in permanent loss. This system is a familiar risk-reward loop. But in Elden Ring, runes serve an even greater role by fueling your progression. At any Site of Grace, you can increase your character’s attributes, eventually steering yourself toward your chosen build.
Enduring the Grind—or Skipping It
Due to the open-world nature, you can opt to “farm” runes in specific zones, or simply roam until you accumulate enough from side dungeons. Some players find that the flexibility to explore and gather runes naturally reduces the sense of grinding. Unlike older Souls games, which sometimes forced repeated runs of a single corridor for souls, Elden Ring encourages traveling the map to find fresh challenges. If a certain boss proves too tough, you can do a circuit of catacombs or fight optional dragons to level up. Or, if you’re more confident, skip the grind entirely and rely purely on skill to push forward.
Additional Incentives: Quests and NPCs
Elden Ring further motivates exploration with a wide array of NPC questlines. Some are fairly straightforward, while others unfold in cryptic steps reminiscent of older Souls titles. These NPCs might reward powerful gear, unique spells, or entire alternative endings. Their stories weave through the fabric of the Lands Between, contributing to an overarching sense of a living, if fractured, realm. You might find an odd warrior mourning the state of Limgrave one minute, then discover them waging war against a hidden cult in a remote corner of the map the next. The sense of mystery that FromSoftware fans love is still intact, but in an open-world setting, it feels bigger—and at times, more scattered.
Comparisons to Dark Souls 3 and Sekiro
Evolving the Souls Formula
Dark Souls 3 was lauded for refining the Souls formula to near perfection: fast yet weighty combat, interconnected levels, and iconic bosses. Elden Ring takes that DNA and expands it onto a truly open stage. Certain mini-dungeons call back to that classic labyrinthian design, but the overworld fosters more spontaneity. If Dark Souls 3 was a meticulously carved labyrinth, Elden Ring is an entire continent.
Difficulty Differences
Sekiro’s emphasis on parrying and singular combat style stands in stark contrast to Elden Ring’s smorgasbord of approaches. While Sekiro might present a narrower path with extremely high demands on reaction and timing, Elden Ring spreads out its challenges, letting you pick your battles and refine your character. There’s no question that certain Elden Ring bosses—like Malenia or Radahn—rival or exceed Sekiro’s hardest fights in raw difficulty. Yet the open-world format means you can typically walk away and come back stronger, which was never an option in Sekiro. For some, that reduces frustration; for others, it might lessen the sense of intense progression found in more linear titles.
Summation
Elden Ring essentially merges the best aspects of the Souls series with Breath of the Wild-style open-world freedom. It keeps that signature dread, intricately designed boss fights, and cryptic lore while adding layers of exploration and variety. If you want the punishing mastery of older titles, you can ignore many of the game’s helpful features (summoning, spirit ashes, heavy grinding) and tackle the hardest roads head-on. If you prefer a gentler experience, the game provides multiple ways to mitigate difficulty. It’s a masterclass in letting the player define their own pace.
Final Reflections
Elden Ring is huge—probably the biggest leap forward in scope for any FromSoftware game. Whether that scope will be your delight or your downfall depends on your tolerance for open-ended exploration. Some players might yearn for the more curated, condensed approach of Dark Souls 3 or the refined singular gameplay of Sekiro. But if you crave a large, cohesive world where secrets lurk under every rock, or if you love weaving unique builds that decimate horrifying demigods, Elden Ring stands as a monumental achievement.
I vividly remember the final stretch: after conquering various lords, forging alliances with strange NPCs, and discovering entire hidden zones that dwarfed the main path, I stepped up to the ultimate challenge. My character, shaped by countless detours, felt thoroughly mine, an expression of hundreds of decisions and discoveries. That sense of ownership—of forging my own path through labyrinthine catacombs, cosmic revelations, and unspeakable bosses—remains my most cherished memory of Elden Ring.
Major Heroes
- The Tarnished (Your created protagonist)
- Queen Marika (Ruler tied to the Elden Ring)
- Godrick the Grafted (Demigod tyrant)
- Ranni the Witch (Mysterious sorceress)
Notable Locations
- Limgrave
- Stormveil Castle
- Caelid
- Leyndell, Royal Capital
About the Game
Title: Elden Ring
Type of Game: Action RPG, Open-World, Soulslike
Developer: FromSoftware
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release Date: February 25, 2022
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Where to Purchase
- PC: Purchase Elden Ring on Steam
- PlayStation: Elden Ring is available for PS4 and PS5 on the PlayStation Store.
- Xbox: Buy Elden Ring for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on the Microsoft Store.
