Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Shadow of the Erdtree is more of everything you love about Elden Ring, expanding on the award-winning game with a bigger arsenal, tougher enemies, a brand-new story, and even more beautiful landscapes.

Shadow of the Erdtree marks a return to the extraordinary open world created by FromSoftware, applying all the knowledge accumulated to culminate in an even more refined version. This expansion offers an additional epic journey, full of new challenges, secrets and stunning landscapes.

Shadow of the Erdtree is another perfect culmination of everything that has come before it, which at this point seems to just be the norm for From Software. Some of the greatest moments in all of Souls are found within Shadow of the Erdtree, but it will make you work harder for them than ever before. Exploration and curiosity are the key, and you will be rewarded in ways that you cannot imagine as you delve into the Shadow Realm introduced here. I adored Shadow of the Erdtree, and cannot wait for more people to experience what has so thoroughly blown me away in my time with it.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a fantastic expansion to one of the best games ever. It slots into the overall journey well, and despite introducing a new map, it feels like a natural ramp-up to the conclusion of your Tarnished becoming Elden Lord. It’s easily 40-50 more hours of content, which is a steal at $40, and FromSoftware has once again proven that it’s the master at proving both quantity and quality that most other AAA studios struggle with.

Offering amounts and quality of content that makes previous FromSoftware DLCs pale in comparison, Shadow of the Erdtree is as challenging as it is beautiful, with a host of new characters, awesome weapons, and areas that beg you to explore and find them.

Shadows of the Erdtree does everything that Elden Ring does, but does it better. This is an amazing expansion to an already amazing game. Prepare to die, but also be prepared to be amazed and awestruck.

FromSoftware once again proves its mastery with 'Shadow of the Erdtree,' an expansion that excels in level design and boss battles, though it suffers from technical issues like performance drops and excessive popping.

Shadow of the ErdTree is an outstanding expansion that completes with brio a major game of this generation and the full experience makes it one of the best video games ever made.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an excellent follow up to the base game. Shadow of the Erdtree's focus on great level design and fantastic boss fights makes it a must play for the fans of the genre.

Shadow of the Erdree is an excellent expansion to Elden Ring. Even when I was frustrated trying to find the hidden paths toward new zones, I was still exploring and discovering completely new things instead — there is almost no wasted space, and the game never feels like it was wasting my time. It's the perfect ending for a nearly perfect game.

All that is to say that if you like Elden Ring even a little bit, even after hundreds of hours or a single playthrough, you should get Shadow of the Erdtree. It takes everything that worked about the main game, improves it, and addresses some of the main complaints players had. It’s still very much more Elden Ring, but also the best version of Elden Ring, free of much of the bloat massive open worlds require, reimagined as a focused experience with a distinct narrative throughline and plenty of smaller but no less important side stories worth enjoying. Shadow of the Erdtree is the complete package, bigger and better built than most full games, and the only way to end the story of Elden Ring is on the highest note imaginable.

FromSoftware says Shadow of the Erdtree is the only expansion Elden Ring will get, so it’s fortunate that it’s hard to imagine a better DLC than this – as long as you’re not hoping for it to do anything radically outside the box. Everything I loved about the original has been condensed into an incredibly tight package – one that’s the size of many standalone games all on its own, and can only be considered “small” in comparison to the absolutely massive world of Elden Ring itself. Erdtree’s absolutely jam-packed with secrets, valuable treasures, challenging boss battles, and horrific monstrosities to face off against, as well as cool new weapons, spells, Ashes of War, Spirit Ashes, talismans, and more to play around with and use to find even more novel ways to tackle its memorably brutal battles. Add on some very interesting lore revelations, not to mention the same spectacular visual design and stellar music that accompanies its larger-than-life bosses, and you’ve got what is certainly one of the best DLC expansions I’ve ever played.

With all that Shadow of the Erdtree offers to accompany what exists in the Lands Between, the story of Elden Ring now feels complete and its world whole, and it's a staggering achievement. It's dark fantasy done masterfully; rich in detail and intricate in its construction; a place that feels dangerous and cruel, filled with memorable characters, fascinating rules, mind-bending concepts, and competing ideologies. It's an achievement in world-building creativity that stands head-and-shoulders above the rest, with the closest comparison I can make being the late, great Kentaro Miura's Berserk. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is From Software's victory lap, an unmissable tour de force that is every bit as brilliant as the original game.

Shadow of the Erdtree doesn’t do anything particularly surprising for Elden Ring players, but it’s worth the price of admission just to see FromSoftware flex its world design expertise in a more compact playspace. It also fits perfectly into the middle of the main game, which means you can step into the Land of Shadow and return to the main world armed to the teeth with an arsenal of fun and unique new weapons, from hulking katanas to reverse grip swords, beast claws, and poison bottles. Whether you’re here for the lore, the swords, or the vibes, Shadow of the Erdtree bolsters what’s already one of the best games ever made.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is yet another masterpiece by FROMSOFTWARE. It doubles down on all of the best parts of Elden Ring and bolsters them through an inviting new world, an engaging story, and a ridiculously moreish gameplay loop. It won't change your mind on Elden Ring if it never clicked for you, but will undoubtedly wow you if it did.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is an incredible expansion and a worthy follow up to the generation's best game. In some ways, it's better than the original by providing an experience that's both tighter, but also more than double the length we expected. A sequel-sized sensation.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a sensational companion to the base game that feels remarkably fresh and a subtly progressive evolution of the Elden Ring formula.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expands the base game by offering more of what made it one of the best open-world games ever. It features a well-sized map dense with secrets to discover, new masterfully designed dungeons, and introduces new, fun tools to help the Tarnished tackle some of the most challenging enemies in the game's dark and brutal world. While the lack of new gameplay mechanics may disappoint some, don't let this deter you. Shadow of the Erdtree is every bit as good as the base game, and it is an essential purchase for all those who loved FromSoftware's amazing action role-playing game.

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is Elden Ring at its most refined, with overly formulaic elements of the base game's open world design cut away and some of the most exhilarating boss battles in the entire FromSoftware Soulsborne catalog. The result is a game-sized masterpiece of an expansion that will keep players enthralled for upwards of 40 hours, with its new map home to an enjoyable character-driven narrative, a diverse collection of treasures, and countless secrets to discover.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is everything users want and desire. A perfectly orchestrated masterpiece by FromSoftware that leaves me with the strange feeling of wondering, is this really a DLC? The added content and the new map have left me awestruck in every sense, as well as the game's duration, which will vary for each player. But I wouldn't be exaggerating if I told you that thirty hours can easily go by if you go all out. In short, although I think it's all clear, SOET is everything we could expect from a DLC and much more. The quantity and originality of the added content are insane, so the final question would be, can a DLC be the GOTY? I think it can.

There's no doubt in my mind that there's more to do still in Shadow of the Erdtree if not in this playthrough than definitely the next. If anything, all those missed connections and areas unexplored only make the prospect of returning to the Realm of Shadow on New Game+ with a bunch of new toys to play with that much more enticing.

Shadow of the Erdtree is not just the best DLC of the year so far, one of the best DLCs ever, one of the best gaming experiences of the year. It is also one of the best gaming experiences ever. It also, not for nothing, did the impossible: it returned the feeling of playing Elden Ring for the first time, for the last time.

Best game of the last 10 years returns with the best DLC pack of the last 10 years! Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was truly worth the 2-year wait.

Elden Ring: Shadow of The Erdtree is a groundbreaking experience for gamers worldwide, exemplifying what a DLC should be while continuing the legacy of the base game brilliantly. The Land of Shadow is filled with adversity and danger, but you have everything you need to overcome the challenges and emerge as a true Elden Lord.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a monumental expansion, a meticulous work that partially returns to the roots of the Souls series without betraying the spirit of the base game or abandoning the features that have endeared it to so many players. It is an impressive work, capable of astonishing with its incredible map design and the variety of new elements introduced, and its balancing issues do not diminish its value. Even after exploring the Land of Shadows so extensively and uncovering almost every secret, we seriously believe there is room for more stories, more places, and more revelations.

Shadow of the Erdtree shines as a fitting conclusion to ELDEN RING, encapsulating every element that has characterized FromSoftware. You'll encounter swampy sections, sweat-inducing combat, beautiful and melancholic locations, and challenging platform segments featuring leaps of faith, scaffolding, and chapel rooftops. Striving to deliver all the classic elements of the Souls saga, Shadow of the Erdtree stands as a love letter to everything the series represents and serves as a worthy farewell to an already legendary game.

Once again, would-be designers should take note of what the developers have accomplished here, especially in terms of world and map design. To sleep on Shadow of the Erdtree is akin to depriving oneself a potential Game of the Year contender. Can DLC be Game of the Year? If it has the size, quality, and feeling of independence the way this DLC does, I say “Why not?”

A masterfully designed expansion to one of the best action RPGs of the last decade that not only complements the base game but expands its thematic and systemic scope even further.

Do you know what is the main strength of Shadow of the Erdtree? That after over 60 hours of trials and tribulations, and all the curses screamed at the screen, I want to keep playing. The expansion to Elden Ring is a complete piece of work that leaves you wanting more.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has raised the ante from the previous gift of a game Elden Ring was and will continue to be. There was a reason Elden Ring was game of the year, and if DLC can be game of the year, I would throw this in the running because it is simply that engaging. I never wanted to put the game down or go to bed when my 5 AM sunrise shined through my window. I just wanted to see what Shadow of the Erdtree would throw next, but I have to remember we are only human, and rest is essential. The expansion is substantial and independent, conveniently adding a new experience and fresh direction to your character's development on your next playthrough.

Even though my expectations were high, Shadow of the Erdtree still managed to exceed them.

Shadow of the Erdtree offers one of the most fascinating game worlds ever and thus crowns a role-playing masterpiece.

In short, it's no surprise that Shadow of the Erdtree has received mixed reviews and I've had mixed experiences with it. Shadow of the Erd Tree is a double dose of everything that's good about Elden Ring, plus a dose of FromSoftware isn't-so-great stuff. And 25 hours of play is clearly not enough for me to form an impression of such a contrasting gaming experience. The game is interesting, exciting, but I think that we already need something new.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is an outstanding addition to one of the greatest games of all time.

In addition to being the best and biggest add-on from From Software, it underpins its scale even better than the main game.

Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that offers more for those who weren't satisfied with Elden Ring. More than a complement to the base game, it's an extension of what the base game offers, a kind of new endgame, built in a compact world, absurdly dense and unbelievably, better than the original. Robust and incredibly solid, it's an essential expansion for anyone who wanders the Lands Between in search of a new challenge.

Shadow of the ErdTree is a video game in itself that carries with it all the qualities of the original title. It’s true, we can note some imperfections. The plot would have deserved a bit more spotlight. In the same way, a more readable map would not have been lacking. Negative points that are crushed by a mastered level design, a journey that constantly renews curiosity and always epic fights. If the Occult Tree of Shadow of the ErdTree is in the shadow of its namesake from Between the Earth, the DLC has everything to shine in the same spotlight as the original video game. Shadow of the ErdTree is much more than the additional content of Elden Ring: it is an exceptional adventure in its own right.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a gigantic cherry on top of Elden Ring’s magnificent cake, and while it reuses a bit too much from the base game, the superb new world is the best From Software has ever made.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree sits proudly among the best videogame expansions of all time thanks to its sense of adventure, epic boss battles, and ambitious new additions.

Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that perfectly complements Elden Ring, adding new things, but at the same time sticking to the good old developed recipe. For fans of the genre, there is a great reason to return to the game, just to explore the beautifully created world and face the biggest challenge yet.

When compared to Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree doesn’t quite live up to its lofty expectations. As a standalone experience, though, Shadow of the Erdtree is an absolute treasure that only helps to enhance the enjoyment of Elden Ring as a whole.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a majestic and profound experience, essentially adding an entirely new game in a vast, detailed, and artistically stunning world. It's the most ambitious and rich DLC created by FromSoftware, an essential expansion for those who loved Elden Ring and want substantial, challenging, and fresh endgame content.

Shadow of the Erdtree might have some flaws – reusing certain enemies, inconsistent boss balance, patchwork world design – but even so, it’s still Elden Ring at its core and it’s still leagues ahead of most other high-profile open world games. Definitely a worthwhile addition, and for a fair price, for any fan of the base game. Just make sure you look up how to get to Mohg first.

Shadow of the Erdtree represents a new area that is both huge and dense with content. The exploration of Miquella's journey is intriguing, and the variety of new weaponry is excellent.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a great, challenging add-on to an excellent game. It’s filled with surprising lore, chock-full of new content and, above all, well thought out. Distilling what’s best in the base game worked great and we can only regret that this first Elden Ring DLC is also the last one. I want more!

Shadow of the Erdtree adds more Elden Ring to Elden Ring. And even though the empty and sometimes confusing world disoriented me and the wonky camera added an unnecessary layer of difficulty to almost every boss fight, I was completely captivated by the game again. Those 20 hours of playtime are definitely worth the 40 Euros price-tag.

With some forty hours of content, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is indeed a massive expansion, rich in challenging combat and spectacular landscapes to explore. The new weapons may also offer new ways of playing for the more invested. Despite its price and development time, this is still a DLC, so don't expect to see any major changes to the game's mechanics. If you liked Elden Ring, you'll probably love Shadow of the Erdtree, and if not, it's unlikely to change your mind. We can't help thinking that the studio shines more brightly on more compact games, which allow their level designs to really shine, and spare us the outrageous recycling of certain enemies.

While it took some time to find its footing, it emerged not just as a great expansion, but as a great entry in the studio’s catalogue, period. It’s a shame that the barrier for entry is so high, because I’m already looking forward to revisiting it.

Shadow of the Erdtree feels like the moment where FromSoftware has to interrogate what it wants its games to be, and how the studio moves forward. Does the studio integrate more options for players, making the games more approachable to a wide array of players? Or do they stick to a core philosophy of being abrasive and unrelenting? More than anything, I’m interested to see how Shadow of the Erdtree lands with players, especially those who played Elden Ring as their first Souls games.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a great DLC that works really well as an epilogue to our story in Elden Ring. The RPG elements get lost since it's thought of as an endgame expansion but it still has everything that makes a great Fromsoftware experience. You will surely enjoy your time with this DLC.

In Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the developers went a little overboard with bold ideas. And yet the story of Miquella is smoothly integrated into the monumental epic of Elden Ring.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree adds loads of cool new weapons, armors, spells and summons to the game. The new areas are breath-taking, the new bosses are presented in spectacular fashion. On the other hand, there is too many overused, recycled content, a difficulty level that's even tougher than the base game, outdated technology and an upgrade system for player characters, which makes thorough exploration of the open world absolutely mandatory.

I find myself wishing Shadow of the Erdtree had a continuation from one of the endings of Elden Ring, or ventured back to explore the Shattering itself. Instead, it feels like a filler episode in Naruto. Sure, the fights are cool, and there's a new progression system to work through, but what is the point if nobody is going to acknowledge it again for the rest of the series. But hey, at least the Convergence Mod team will have a field day with all of this new stuff to play with.

Shadow of the Erdtree is more Elden Ring, just with a much better performance. However, I was underwhelmed by some of the locations and felt as though the boss fights weren't challenging in a way that felt rewarding when I did manage to beat them.