An fantasy open world Souls-like RPG

Elden Ring is an open-world role-playing game created by FromSoftware. The highly-anticipated video game was the result of a collaboration between Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin, the Game of Thrones author. This game takes cues both from Martin’s rich, realized fantasy world and from Miyazaki’s beautifully terrifying art design and scope.

Also playable on Playstation and Xbox consoles, Elden Ring on Windows is a challenging experience that rewards patience and skill. Most similar to Dark Souls games, Elden Ring is an immersive adventure that will take players through with jaw-dropping vistas, grotesque enemy design, and deep RPG customization.

Survive the harshness of the Lands Between

Since it was first announced at E3 back in 2019, Elden Ring generated substantial hype and hope, particularly among Dark Souls fans. Combat in this game is similar to what you’d find in a Souls games, Bloodborne, or Sekiro: Constant evasive rolls, carefully timed attacks, and frequent use of potions are your best defense against the game’s many devastating creatures. 

This particularly applies to grueling boss fights, which can feel unforgiving and frustrating to less patient players. Some will take dozens of tries to defeat, but with each failed attempt the player will be better equipped for another bout. At its core, Elden Ring is a refined action RPG. As such, there are many ways to build your character to craft a different combat experience.

You can define your play style with a wide variety of weapons: Axes and swords, magic staves, deadly bows, and weighty hammers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and some cannot be even equipped without meeting the requisite attributes. Mounted combat allows for attacks from horseback, and various magical abilities and stealth skills can also be unlocked and employed throughout your journey.

More social players will also enjoy Elden Ring’s various multiplayer modes. Some items can be placed on the ground and designated as your summon sign. This sign will appear in other players’ games. If they interact with it, it brings you into cooperative gameplay. You can remain there until one of you dies or you defeat the regional boss.

For the more competitive player, Elden Ring also offers a PvP option for multiplayer. Here you can duke it out with other players to see who has the stronger build, the more experience, and/or the higher skill. Dark Souls veterans may find Elden Ring to be their new favorite game, as it adds new quality of life features to an already successful formula. For this same reason, people who dislike the Soulsborne genre should still give Elden Ring a try.

Elden Ring vs. Dark Souls

A dark, high-fantasy action RPG full of challenging boss fights and foreboding landscapes, Elden Ring is similar to its FromSoftware predecessors. The lore behind the world is completely different, however, and the gameplay has marked differences. Elden Ring is fully open-world, just like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Venture to any place that catches your eye, but be prepared for tougher fights.

Combat is similar to Dark Souls 3, favoring well-timed dodges to avoid crippling strikes from enemies. Even the slower, weaker enemies in Elden Ring can unleash devastating chains of attacks if you find yourself caught in their clutches. There is a new parry and counter mechanic that is more similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. 

Using a shield allows for a riposte, leaving weaker enemies in a vulnerable state. New jump attacks can stun enemies, setting them up for critical strikes. While there is magic in Dark Souls, it takes on a much more prominent role in Elden Ring. Spellcasting lends flexibility to your combat approach. Summons can distract and flank your opponent, or ashes can be attached to gear, imbuing your weapons with powerful new attacks.

An expansion that gives excitement

Elden Ring has a DLC expansion called Shadow of the Erdtree. Its concept art depicts a haunted plain from the Lands Between, surrounded by the remains of dead soldiers. A lone blond figure, heavily implied to be Miquella, can be seen riding across the bleak landscape toward a dying Erdtree. Of the numerous Empyreans and demigods belonging to the messy family tree at the center of the game’s drama, only Miquella of the Haligtree cannot be met by the player character in the main game.

Miquella is most well-known by players as the elder twin brother of Malenia, Blade of Miquella—the most challenging but optional endgame boss. You can encounter her at the bottom of Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree. Miquella is also connected to Mohg, Lord of Blood—another optional boss you can fight at Mohgwyn Palace. The DLC is expected to showcase more about this mysterious Empyrean. The expansion will be on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Dodge your way to becoming Elden Lord

There is no one path to victory in Elden Ring. It is just as viable to charge into battle on your summonable steed as it is to hurl magic from a distance or to quietly pick off enemies with silent strikes from the shadows. Still, your mettle will be tested time and again in long dungeons, against gargantuan creatures, and navigating treacherous terrain.

Elden Ring sets the new standard for open-world game design, showcasing a wanderlust-inspiring open-world and several disparate biomes to explore. Curiosity is rewarded at every turn, and combat is every bit as challenging as in other FromSoftware titles. A landmark accomplishment for the genre, players with grit, patience, and resolve will thoroughly enjoy Elden Ring on Windows.

Elden Ring Update 1.09 Introduces Ray Tracing

Elden Ring now supports ray tracing on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC with its latest Update 1.09. Bandai Namco’s patch notes reveal that players can expect enhanced graphics and lighting in the Lands Between. However, the company warns that ray tracing may affect frame rate and resolution due to its high demands on the system. 

The update also brings bug fixes, adjustments to weapons, Ashes of War, and PvP balance. Bandai Namco has also confirmed more updates in the future, including the upcoming expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.