Do you want to start playing Elden Ring, but are unsure whether to commit? You may wonder: "Is Elden Ring good?" "How to play Elden Ring?". Regardless of what everyone has told you, one thing is for sure—this is a long journey that will push your limits to the extreme. You can read about all the rest in our Elden Ring review.

In this article

What Is Elden Ring?

For the uninitiated fans of video games and those attracted to this art form's epic magnetism, Elden Ring is a 2022 action and fantasy RPG (role-playing) game developed by FromSoftware. It comes from a line of impressive titles, including Sekiro, BloodBorne, and Dark Souls.

Elden Ring was created by the incredible artist Hidetaka Miyazaki and written by one of the most beloved fantasy authors of our time—A Song of Ice and Fire's own G. R. R. Martin. As expected, it's a world full of enchanted objects, spells, non-deads, and ghostly creatures.

elden ring overview

The most notable characteristic of Elden Ring is its dizzying scale. The world of this game is so vast and unpredictable that the real story begins days after you commence on a journey. If you enjoy taking your time with a game, you'll need some 140 hours to complete it.

Elden Ring can be played on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. There's also an online multiplayer mode with co-op and PVP combat. This guide covers the review on Elden Ring Xbox One, PS 4, Windows PC and other devices mentioned here.

Game's Lore of Elden Ring

Somewhat formulaically, Elden Ring takes place in the ashes of a dark fantasy world called the Lands Between. Once upon a time, this world was ruled by Queen Marika and bound together by a ring of power. At the beginning of the game, both the queen and the ring are gone.

Players start their journey as the exiled undead called the Tarnished. The mission is clear—the one who finds all the pieces of the shattered ring and rebuilds it will become the new Elden Lord. That takes the player on a dangerous quest filled with evil ghouls and monsters.

elden ring review on the lore

Is there any good left in the Lands Between? All along the way, you will meet charming and mystical NPCs that will tell you bits of lore and help you return to your quest.

Elden Ring: Adventure & Open World

Everything you've heard is true: Elden Ring is HUGE. As far as we know, FromSoftware's original idea was to create a game that would feel like Dark Souls but be infinitely big. The result is an open-world behemoth that keeps expanding and sprawling across an entire continent.

You won't get the feeling of how exactly vast this world is until you start to progress. There is a spirit horse you can summon that can help you get around and out of trouble.

But it's not only the sheer size of this world that makes Elden Ring such a memorable masterpiece. The amount of things to do and see is mind-boggling, too. Players can explore and roam aimlessly, following their quests independently from a particular storyline.

You can let this world consume you and take your time with everything it has to offer. You can slay dragons, invade castles, and help maidens in distress. They will offer you a tragic story in exchange for a favor or adventurous quest.

elden ring map

Difficulty & Challenging Nature of Elden Ring

One of the questions on everyone's mind is—is Elden Ring difficult to play? Sorry to disappoint you, but there's no straightforward answer to this. Yes, the gameplay will punish you for bad timing or a wrong move. It will be frustrating, but you'll love it every step of the way.

At times, this game can be ridiculously challenging. And we're not only talking about the combat mechanics and big boss battles. If you're a Dark Souls veteran and you've mastered precision, you might even think that fighting monsters in Elden Ring is easy in comparison.

We say that because, as opposed to other FromSoftware games, Elden Ring gives players a lot of checkpoints and ample health positions every time you get slayed mid-battle.

FromSoftware is known for its crazy combat difficulty, and this game is no exception. But there's another aspect of Elden Ring that's challenging even for experienced players - problem-solving. So, don't be surprised if you spend hours solving a mystery involving a talking tree.

elden ring review regarding difficulty

Elden Ring: Tense & Rewarding Combat

You'll encounter all kinds of enemies in Elden Ring, each befitting of the game's weird and massive world. You'll fight giant crabs that get progressively stronger. You'll cross swords with a disfigured swordsman and his scorpion-like tail. You'll be attacked by lots of skeletons.

If you enjoy an epic boss fight, this game will not disappoint you. Killing a big boss, especially at the end of a story dungeon, feels as satisfying as it is terrifying. The bosses are impressive in scale and uniquely designed, while fights are unnerving and monumental.

If you have them, your Dark Souls skills will definitely come in handy. Elden Ring requires copious amounts of dodging, blocking, and swinging. In case this is your first FromSoftware game, don't worry. Their games are very good at helping players develop the necessary skills.

elden ring review regarding combat

As a little treat for Dark Souls fans, the developer has created additional combat moves to spice things up. For example, Ashes of War are special new moves that can be used with existing weapons to amplify their impact, make your strike bloodier, and cause more damage.

And it's so insanely rewarding! Another FromSoftware trademark is that players are rewarded for their struggles and achievements, so the more combats you win, the more weapons you get. Other rewards include armor, talismans, and access to locked areas on the map.

Does Elden Ring Have Any Replay Value?

elden ring replay value

Elden Ring doesn't have a quest log because the developer didn't want to restrict players' freedom with a list of tasks. And that was the right decision—the last thing you want is to rush through this game. You want to be able to enjoy every side story and random encounter.

At the same time, the infinite world of Elden Ring gives this game an enormous replay value. If you're impatient to see how it ends, you can focus on your main mission and then start again from scratch. Or you can always save progress and return to a specific point in your journey.

We know some players who've had the terrible misfortune of losing save files. We wouldn't wish it on our worst enemies. But just in case that ever happens to you, here's a quick tip.

You can recover deleted or lost save files from a PC with a tool like Wondershare Recoverit.

Free Download
Free Download

It's a simple and very successful process, so there's no need to panic:

  1. Download Wondershare Recoverit and install it on your PC.
  2. Select the location where you keep your Elden Ring save files.
    select a location to start recovery with recoverit
  3. Recoverit will initiate a comprehensive scan of this location.
    scan your pc for elden ring save files with recoverit
  4. Use filters or keyword search to find your Elden Ring save files.
    browse recoverable files using recoverit filters
  5. Select the files you want to keep and click the Recover button.
  6. Choose a safe location to store them and hit Recover again.
    recover elden ring save files with recoverit

Recoverit has a 98% recovery rate, so it should locate and retrieve your save files with ease. It's also one of the rare professional recovery tools that supports game save files.

Most Notable Elden Ring Ratings and Reviews

ign elden ring review

Elden Ring has been called a "masterpiece" by both players and critics. Forbes has called it the "game of the generation," while Game Informer has described it as an "absolutely astonishing adventure." The game has garnered raving reviews, with occasional criticism.

Not many titles get 10/10 ratings from both IGN and GameSpot, but Elden Ring is not just any game. Another 10-star rating comes from Xbox Tavern, with Push Square and XboxEra giving it 9 out of 10 stars. GamesRadar+ has also awarded it with the highest grade (5/5 stars).

Now, have a look at what some of the players had to say about Elden Ring:

"Bought this game only a few months ago, and it's still fantastic. I'll admit, insanely rage inducing, but when you manage to beat the bosses, there is nothing quite like it. For first time players, strength is recommended, but keep your endurance high for quicker rolls."—SirToastyIII on Metacritic
"Elden Ring is one of the best RPGs ever created, right next to The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt and Elder Scrolls Skyrim. The freedom and weapons, magic spells, incantations, and armor shields are huge. The maps are endless, there are 165 bosses to fight through the world, and there are plenty of enemies throughout the world. This game is a genuine masterpiece. (...) They all 10/10 and worth the purchase time and effort with rewards for accomplishment. "—Ronald Di Carlo on Amazon

Despite all its qualities, some players have found Elden Ring to be a letdown:

"I just don't get the hype. The graphics are beyond bad. There are PS3/360 games that look significantly better. The lack of QoL features like a journal/log or quest markers is insane, and the fact people praise that as if it's a good thing is unreal. No, I don't need my hand held everywhere in a game, but I also don't want a game so convoluted and hard to follow that it basically requires following YouTube guides to complete quests. And don't even get me started on how ridiculously repetitive the open world is. Every mini-dungeon or cave is a carbon copy. The whole world uses more copy/paste than FFXIV 1.0 did. It is appalling that this game won GOTY. It's a dated, janky mess."—NachoProblem on Metacritic
"Game really hard to play. The monologue at the start of the game was overwhelming. Too many characters are presented at once. Wouldn't recommend for a middle schooler."—MarcellaR on Best Buy

Final Verdict: Is Elden Ring Good

Elden Ring is every bit as good as people say it is. It has all the elements of a masterful game—the thrills and excitement of epic combats, mystical lore that becomes deeper and more immersive as you progress through the story, and a world that will keep you busy for days.

Whether you're in it for the blood or the story, Elden Ring is set to make your heart pound and your palms sweat. It's a one-of-a-kind adventure that seems to never end and keeps on giving, unlike any other you've ever experienced. Cherish it while it lasts, and then play it again. And if you lose your progress and can't find the save files, Recoverit can help you get them back.

Try Wondershare Recoverit to Recover Your Elden Ring Save Files

article-safe-itemSecurity Verified. Over 7,302,189 people have downloaded it.

FAQ

  • Is Elden Ring really worth playing?
    This is one of the top-rated games of all time—and for a good reason. It's a prime example of what video game artists can accomplish by combining engaging lore with open-world mechanics. If you enjoy fantasy games with challenging combats and endless possibilities for side quests and NPC encounters, Elden Ring is worth your time.
  • Is Elden Ring so difficult?
    The game borrows a lot of survival and combat skills from other FromSoftware games, especially Dark Souls. If you've played some of these titles before, you'll feel right at home. However, if Elden Ring is your first FromSoftware game, it might take a while to develop the necessary skills and get comfortable with the controls.
  • Why is Elden Ring so good?
    This game has many qualities going in its favor. Some praise the massiveness of the game's world and its ability to put the player in control. Others love it for its tense and rewarding battles. G. R. R. Martin, a master of the fantasy genre, wrote the game's story.
    On top of all that, Elden Ring has a great replay value that will keep fans returning to the Lands Between for many years to come.
  • Is Elden Ring really a masterpiece?
    It isn't an easy experience to shake off and forget. Whether you think it is perfect or not, Elden Ring is a true masterpiece in all of its aspects.
  • How should you play Elden Ring?
    Elden Ring is an open-world game with no quest log, which gives players absolute freedom. In this game, you are the master of your journey. You can follow the main narrative thread and stay focused on rebuilding the Ring, or you can roam about the Lands Between in pursuit of your own quests.
  • Is Elden Ring OK for beginners?
    Players with little or no experience with FromSoftware titles might take some time to master the game mechanics of Elden Ring. If you are a casual player, you should know that Elden Ring bosses could be extremely difficult to kill. But if you're passionate about gaming, this masterpiece is the best possible introduction to the fantasy genre.
Amy Dennis
Amy Dennis Dec 06, 24
Share article: