At a Glance
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- Genre: Action RPG
- Single/Multiplayer: Primarily single-player with optional online co-op/invasion
- Average Playtime: ~60-120 hours (depending on exploration depth)
- Original Release Year: 2022
- Developer/Publisher: FromSoftware / Bandai Namco Entertainment
Table of Contents
Elden Ring – Overview
I went into Elden Ring cautiously optimistic. I had heard so much about its punishing difficulty and vague storytelling, and I honestly wasn’t sure it would be for me. But after diving in, I found myself completely hooked. It’s a sprawling, mysterious world that both amazed and overwhelmed me.
There’s a kind of magic in how Elden Ring refuses to hold your hand. It rewards curiosity and punishes recklessness—and somehow, I kept coming back for more. Even when I wasn’t playing, I was thinking about where I wanted to go next.
🛍️ Ready to check it out? Elden Ring is available on Humble Bundle.
Elden Ring – Official Launch Trailer
Gameplay Experience
This game redefined what open world design means to me. The freedom to go practically anywhere at any time was incredible—and the fact that enemy levels weren’t scaled to mine made that freedom feel real. I could stumble into an area clearly meant for later and either run for my life or stubbornly push forward until I overcame it.
The combat felt great—smooth, responsive, and highly customizable. There were so many different builds and playstyles I wanted to try, and each one offered a new experience. Whether I went in sword-swinging, relied on ranged magic, or even experimented with summons, it felt satisfying.
That said, the lack of a built-in quest log was a major drawback for me. I often found myself totally unsure of what actions had triggered what events. I’d start a side quest, and mid-way through, get pulled into three other paths. Without a way to track it all in-game, I either had to take notes or just give up on some of them entirely. I love connecting the dots in RPGs, but Elden Ring made that nearly impossible without Googling things. That aspect definitely impacted how immersed I felt in the storylines.
Image credit: Image from Elden Ring, © Bandai Namco Entertainment / FromSoftware
Story and World Design
The lore is deep—really deep—but also incredibly fragmented. I respect that FromSoftware wants players to piece things together, but I personally found it hard to stay grounded in the story. Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because it was too easy to lose the thread.
Still, the world itself is breathtaking. From haunting swamps to crumbling castles to glowing underground cities, every region felt handcrafted and unique. I was constantly in awe of how massive and detailed everything was.
The sense of exploration was one of the best I’ve ever experienced in a game. But with that came a level of choice paralysis. There were times I’d sit there and wonder: “What should I be doing next?” And even when I picked a direction, I’d often uncover so many detours that I’d lose track of my original goal. It was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time.
Visuals and Audio
The graphics blew me away. The environments are jaw-droppingly beautiful and sometimes even unsettling. Cutscenes were cinematic and often surreal in the best way.
The music was subtle when it needed to be, and thunderous when it mattered. Sound design was solid throughout—especially during boss fights, where everything felt tense and heavy.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Enormous and beautifully crafted open world
- Deep build customization and smooth combat
- Freedom to explore however you want
- Incredible visuals and cutscenes
Cons
- No in-game quest log makes story tracking difficult
- Choice paralysis from overwhelming amount of content
- Some bosses require many, many tries, which can frustrate
Final Thoughts
I didn’t think I’d enjoy Elden Ring as much as I did. I thought I’d bounce off the difficulty or the vagueness. But it turns out, dying is just part of the journey—and once I accepted that, I appreciated the game so much more.
Still, the lack of clarity around quests and storylines kept it from being a perfect experience for me. I constantly felt like I was missing out on deeper connections between characters and events. But the fact that I still couldn’t stop playing (or thinking about it) says a lot.
It’s a game I won’t forget anytime soon. And maybe one day, I’ll even start it again—this time with a spreadsheet open on the side.