Elden Ring Review

Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco, isn’t just another fantasy RPG—it’s a statement. A culmination of years of hard-earned design wisdom, it blends the unforgiving combat of Dark Souls, the cryptic lore-building of Bloodborne, and the freedom of an open world. But it’s more than just a greatest hits album. Elden Ring pushes the genre forward by refusing to handhold, offering one of the most immersive and challenging experiences gaming has seen in years.

A World That Doesn't Care About You—and That's the Point

The Lands Between, the game’s sprawling setting, is massive. Not just in size, but in density and mystery. From the golden fields of Limgrave to the decaying rot of Caelid, every region feels distinct—visually and atmospherically. You’re not guided by blinking map icons or quest markers. Instead, exploration is intuitive, driven by curiosity and the game’s stunning environmental design. You spot something strange in the distance, you go check it out, and more often than not, it turns out to be something worth discovering—or something that kills you instantly.

There’s a sense of danger in every direction. Even a peaceful meadow can lead to sudden death if you're not careful. It keeps you on edge but also engaged. This isn’t a theme park; it’s a hostile world that doesn’t care whether you live or die.

Storytelling Through Suggestion

George R.R. Martin’s involvement in the lore is more structural than narrative. He created the foundational myths—the world before the fall. FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki then twisted that lore into something darker and stranger. The result is a world rich in backstory, but intentionally opaque.

You’re not spoon-fed exposition. There are no long cutscenes explaining everything. Instead, story comes in fragments: cryptic item descriptions, environmental clues, scattered NPC dialogue. The narrative isn’t linear—it’s an archaeological dig. Players piece together the fall of the Golden Order and the fate of the demigods through exploration and interpretation.

This kind of storytelling isn’t for everyone. Some players may miss entire plotlines or characters. But for those willing to engage, the reward is a deep and uniquely personal understanding of the world.

Combat: Ruthless, Rewarding, Refined

At its core, Elden Ring plays like a refined Dark Souls with more tools and freedom. Combat is punishing but fair. Every enemy, from lowly soldiers to towering bosses, demands attention and respect. Button-mashing leads to death. Learning enemy patterns, timing dodges, choosing the right weapon or spell—that’s the key.

What separates Elden Ring from its predecessors is how it empowers different playstyles. You can be a sword-and-board knight, a nimble rogue, a pyromancer raining fire, or even summon spectral allies to fight for you. Builds feel flexible, and the game never locks you into a rigid class system. You adapt, experiment, and sometimes reinvent your character halfway through.

Boss fights are the highlight—dozens of them, each memorable, brutal, and beautifully animated. Some are optional, but all are worth experiencing. The best bosses aren’t just difficult—they tell stories through their design and mechanics. Fighting Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is as much a test of skill as a narrative moment, given her lore and thematic weight.

Stealth, Summons, and Spirit Ashes

Stealth mechanics—new for a FromSoft title—let you approach combat tactically. Sneaking through camps, avoiding direct conflict, or picking off enemies one by one adds a layer of strategy. You’re not forced to go loud every time.

Summoning Spirit Ashes (spectral helpers you collect throughout the game) opens another dimension. It gives solo players a chance against harder bosses and adds depth to character builds. Even with summons, though, the game doesn’t get “easy”—it just gives you more options.

Multiplayer still functions in the classic Soulsborne style: summon signs, invasions, co-op. It’s janky but functional, and it still feels like a holdover from the PS3 era. That’s one area where FromSoft still lags behind the rest of the industry.

Open World Without the Bloat

Open-world fatigue is real. Too many modern games fill their maps with repetitive tasks, shallow content, and fetch quests. Elden Ring avoids that trap. There are no quest logs. No minimaps. No towers to climb. Every discovery is organic. Every side quest is ambiguous and easy to miss—intentionally so. That’s frustrating to some, but it fits the game’s philosophy: pay attention, take notes, care about what’s happening.

There’s little to no filler. Even the smallest caves and dungeons usually have unique bosses, lore, or loot. The map isn’t just big—it’s meaningful.

Performance on PC: Rough but Improved

At launch, the PC version had issues: stuttering, frame drops, and poor optimization. While patches have improved stability, performance still varies based on system specs. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not perfect either. You’ll want a decent GPU and patience with settings to get the best experience.

Modding is another PC-specific bonus. The community has already created quality-of-life mods, visual tweaks, and even full overhauls. It’s not officially supported, but it extends the game’s life well beyond the base content.

Visuals, Audio, and Atmosphere

Technically, Elden Ring isn’t the most advanced game. Some textures are flat. Animations occasionally look dated. But artistically? It’s stunning. The world design, lighting, and environmental storytelling create constant moments of awe. Walking into Liurnia of the Lakes for the first time—or descending into Nokron—is jaw-dropping, not because of polygon count, but because of imagination.

The soundtrack is equally powerful. It’s understated during exploration, bombastic during boss fights, and always fitting. Voice acting is sparse but impactful. NPCs speak in riddles and whispers, adding to the dreamlike tone of the world.

Not for Everyone—And That’s Fine

Elden Ring isn’t accessible in the traditional sense. It doesn’t explain much. It doesn’t scale difficulty. It expects you to fail, to get lost, to look things up outside the game. That can be alienating, especially for players used to clearer direction and smoother onboarding.

But that’s also what makes Elden Ring unique. It respects the player’s intelligence. It challenges you to engage on its terms. And when it clicks, it’s unforgettable.

Final Verdict

Elden Ring is a bold evolution of open-world RPGs. It doesn’t hold your hand. It trusts you to find your way, suffer your defeats, and earn your victories. The story is hidden, but rich. The gameplay is brutal, but deeply rewarding. The world is massive, but never meaningless.

It’s not perfect. The PC version has hiccups. Multiplayer is clunky. Some mechanics are opaque to a fault. But these flaws are far outweighed by the game’s ambition, artistry, and sheer immersive power.

Rating: 9.5/10

If you're willing to meet it on its own terms, Elden Ring isn’t just a game—it’s a world worth getting lost in.