Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

This DLC does not aim to win over new fans, because Shadow of the Erdtree is in essence - and we say this with the utmost respect - just more Elden Ring. Somehow that was the expectation, but no one saw an expansion on this scale coming. It is getting a bit ridiculous with these superlatives that keep falling short. It's simple: all those who enjoyed Elden Ring should play this right now.

Shadow of the Erdtree lives up to expectations. The Shadow Lands are built with the same care as the Lands Between and are filled with new experiences. This DLC is FromSoftware demonstrating their undisputed talent in videogame making.

FromSoftware hasn't reinvented itself with the expansion, but I think they've created their best piece of content yet, both from an aesthetic and, more importantly, a design standpoint.

In total, Shadow of the Erdtree is up there with the best add-ons FromSoftware has released (yes, including Bloodborne: The Old Hunters). A must play for hardcore fans and new players who (wisely) waited for the full package, and highly recommended overall.

Shadow of the Erdtree feels like 75 percent the size of “Elden Ring,” a game that’s already bigger than most games. Developer FromSoftware basically made a sequel.

Shadow of the Erdtree is more than an expansion; it's robust, solid, and high-quality content. Elden Ring's DLC brings new enchanting exploratory areas, epic and memorable boss battles, new equipment and spells, while expanding the RPG lore with a rich narrative. More than just a masterpiece from FromSoftware, this expansion enters the pantheon of the best additional content in the video game industry.

Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree is far more out of an expansion than I ever thought it would be, and my expectations were already a little high. While I have personal gripes with what I see to be missed chances, that doesn't stop it from being spectacular on the whole. This expansion feels like it fully completes Elden Ring, a game that already felt like a whole project, in a way I didn't even know it needed to be completed. I can no longer imagine Elden Ring being without Shadow Of The Erdtree, almost like the Realm Of Shadow was there the whole time.

Like Elden Ring, Shadow of the World Tree is a masterpiece. A DLC, an extremely generous expansion, capable of competing with certain big productions on its own. Not only is there the opportunity to explore a new and gigantic region, but you will also discover an astronomical amount of new spells and equipment. New gameplay surprises are added to the already very long list of possibilities. This new kingdom is also an opportunity to cross swords against even more titanic bosses than in the original game, epic battles and for some downright memorable. Everything is not always rosy, the technique is still not perfect on console, the encounters with the "small" bosses are irregular and there is a bit of redundancy in the construction of certain secondary dungeons or in the bestiary at the beginning. beginning in particular. Nevertheless, there is once again a real feeling of exploration and testing. A feeling of discovery and permanent danger that grips the guts, and the gameplay remains as formidable. Everything is wrapped in velvet for the eyes. Artistically, it’s just sublime, everywhere and all the time. We will be amazed by the fact that the soundtrack is once again incredible as well. A real concentrate of thrills at all levels, a real lesson.

Shadow of the Erdtree perfectly accomplishes everything it sets out to do. It makes the story of Elden Ring more complete and breathes new life into this addictive masterpiece. Shadow of the Erdtree can also remind Tarnished why they embarked on their journey to the Lands Between in the first place. So, even though the guidance has been shattered, please enjoy this final adventure of the Elden Lord.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is absolutely worth the cost of its significantly difficult entry point. When exploring the vast reaches of the Shadow Realm, it is impossible to deny how FromSoftware managed to capitalize on Elden Ring‘s immense thrill of discovery and challenge. Shadow of the Erdtree is a full expansion of the masterful vision that represents the culmination of the developer’s work, one that raises the standard even higher, one that feels unimaginable to best. But if there’s studio that can do it, it’s the one who made Elden Ring.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a fitting tribute to Elden Ring and a stunning finale that manages to surprise and shock us all over again. Those who enjoyed the base game will find much more to get their teeth into. This signs off the Elden Ring chapter of FromSoftware’s journey so conclusively and impressively, that it invokes questions about how they will ever top it again.

While the start of Shadow of the Erdtree can come off as a regression, really, the DLC as a whole is FromSoftware flexing all of its creative muscles - including some it hasn’t used in a while and others it might be building up for the future. The depth of storytelling in the Lands of Shadow, as well as the new weapons, spells and items (all of which add to the lore themselves, of course), only better your experience of the Lands Between, and make for a worthy upgrade to what is already an unforgettable adventure.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the best expansion ever made. From Software pushes the open world concept with a new twist full of secrets to discover.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a full game that happens to be sold as DLC for Elden Ring. With its incredibly layered and interconnected game world, you'll be engrossed for forty to fifty hours. During that time, you'll repeatedly find yourself pondering what you've just encountered. A bizarre weapon, yet another new area, a secret even more hidden than the last. With this expansion, FromSoftware fulfills the promise of Elden Ring: a free world to explore without losing the brilliant direction of its creators.

The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree expansion had a lot to live up to, but gorgeous vistas, superb boss fights, and a range of fun new gear sweep you through a massive expansion that feels half as long as it is. At this point, it's almost getting boring praising FromSoftware every time.

When thinking of Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree as a complete package, it's hard not to consider that many of the game's best moments appear within the DLC. It's a staggering achievement that was more than worth the two-year wait, as it reignited the wonders of playing the base game for the first time, while simultaneously building upon and enhancing so much of what I've experienced already.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a wonderfully crafted expansion that enriches the original experience that exploring the Lands Between provided.

Elden Ring was already one of the best games of all time, and Shadow of the Erdtree takes it even further, with a complex but captivating world that constantly challenges you with its secrets, tough bosses, and beautiful vistas. After over 40 hours of gameplay, I've seen all the areas and defeated all the bosses, but I'm far from done with this perfect expansion to an already perfect game.

You’ll find myriad callbacks to past From games I won’t spoil here, but it’s clear that the team looked back at everything that brought them to this point, a Game of the Year winner more successful than any of their past work, eager to celebrate the journey. This is their linking the flame moment, a chance to be reborn and usher in a new age, capped off by what can only be described as their magnum opus.

Elden Ring was a massive endeavor and success, and instead of coasting on that success, they turned Shadow of the Erdtree into a thrilling final adventure with its own identity.

Shadow of the Tree is a real game in its own right, generous, powerful, with almost perfect execution. It manages to completely separate itself from Elden Ring, with an identity of its own and an extremely careful atmosphere. Despite a somewhat "light" ending and a slight imbalance in terms of bosses, we emerge from this adventure with a feeling of exhilaration specific to great journeys. Yet another monument to be added to the long list of From Software masterpieces, a delight of incredible violence, a definitely enchanting journey. Masterful!

Shadow of the Erdtree not only expands upon Elden Ring’s lore and gameplay mechanics but also enriches the experience with its atmospheric storytelling and intricate world design. It beckons players to embrace the daunting journey through the Shadow Realm, promising a gripping adventure that resonates with the hallmark blend of challenge and discovery. What’s on offer is one of the best FromSoftware experiences to date, capturing everything that made Elden Ring special and more.

Shadow of the Erdtree is probably the best DLC for any video game ever made. It is hindered by the lackluster optimization of its PC port, but it offers such an enormous amount of content and probably the best world design we have seen so far, not only from From Software but gaming in general. It provides nerve-wracking bosses and stellar enemy and gameplay mechanics.

The boring but ultimately correct shorthand to summarize Shadow of the Erdtree is that it’s more Elden Ring. The incredible sense of discovery, fantastic dungeon design, entertainingly deep combat, and intriguing lore and characters that defined From Software’s 2022 masterpiece all apply to this expansion. From Software didn’t drop the ball and make Elden Ring worse, nor do I believe it wholly topped what it had achieved before. Shadow of the Erdtree maintains a sky-high status quo, even if it loses a little magic from being a known quantity this time instead of a complete surprise. Still, Shadow of the Erdtree is one hell of a mic drop that further cements this adventure as one of the finest ever crafted.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a masterful expansion that exceeds expectations, adding a vast new realm teeming with secrets, formidable bosses, and intricate world design. One of the best game expansions this generation and a must-have for Elden Ring fans.

Terms like 'DLC' or even 'expansion' fall short and are even insulting when used to talk about Shadow of the Erdtree. As you play, you realize that what FromSoftware has done is closer to being Elden Ring 1.5 than a mere downloadable content. It seemed impossible, but they've done it again.

The star here is the Shadow Realm. The way this map is built plays very well with its limitations, creating a layered world that takes exploration to a new level for the series. Traveling through this open world is extremely satisfying and gives us so many options that it can even be overwhelming for some people, but at the same time it gives rise to an experience that only Tears of the Kingdom had achieved in recent years. Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that no one should miss, and a solid candidate for the best of the year.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is on par with the main game and even surpasses it in some respects, even if it can't shake off its flaws. This is the DLC fans have been waiting for.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is everything one could want from an Elden Ring DLC: a huge new area to explore, new bosses to fight, new weapons to try, and new lore to unravel. It is a genuine joy to play and easily one of my favorite DLCs of all time. Its quality is high enough to even justify the $40 price tag. If you like Elden Ring, then Shadow of the Erdtree will give you everything you could want. If you're a newcomer, it's probably best to play through the game first before taking on the DLC. After all, Mohg, Lord of Blood is only the beginning.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree elevates the already stellar base game to new and challenging heights, adding a wellspring of content that cannot be missed, making it an essential must-play for all Elden Lords.

Hidetaka Miyazaki gets it right once again by masterfully expanding the world of Elden Ring. Some defects such as the repetition of enemies return in this DLC, but they are not enough to overshadow the excellence that surrounds the Realm of Shadows. Unfortunately, some questions regarding the narrative of the Lands Between remain unanswered, but following in Miquella's footsteps is incredible. The boss battles are more exciting than ever and the new map is gigantic, providing many hours of exploration and, of course, many deaths.

An expansion as complex as Shadow of the Erdtree has no real right to be labeled as a traditional DLC. Two-year long development cycle has spawned another story rich soulslike adventure across the Lands Between, or rather its shadowy counterpart. It is a world truly deprived of grace that unfortunately suffers from a few technical issues too, but it never fails to just simply awe. Prepare to face the hardest From Software bosses to date, explore the most vertically varied biodiverse world and prepare yourself to feel through the sounds of the Shadow Realm.

Beware a big bump in difficulty, but Shadow of the Erdtree is a must-play for Elden Ring-fans. It improves on the base game in every way. The new Lands of Shadow are beautiful and a joy to explore, there are a lot of exciting new weapons and spells to find, and the new boss fights are absolutely epic.

The world of Elden Ring is fascinating, and while there are a few interesting side quests (mainly involving Needle Knight Leda and her entourage), the DLC’s ending is underwhelming and there was a missed opportunity to weave it into the main game. I do hope we will receive additional DLC in the future, and Shadow of the Erdtree is a must play for anyone who enjoyed Elden Ring.

The subdued Realm of Shadow is reminiscent of Dark Souls and is wonderfully atmospheric, with beautiful visuals and compelling music. The new weapons are exciting to try, the enemies, bosses and other NPCs breathe character and the enemies are wonderfully ruthless. Above all, the Escherian level design shines in this smaller world, and you will enjoy getting lost in it. An unforgettable DLC for an equally unforgettable base game.

Shadow of the Erdtree is exactly the great expansion that the open world masterpiece deserves.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree inspires above all with its memorable boss battles, which are as relentless as they are graceful, and its superb art direction. Those who already loved FromSoftware's open-world epic will fall in love with the action RPG all over again with this DLC.

Even with its slight shortcomings, ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree is the best expansion that I've ever played thanks to its unique-feeling world that behaves more like a 1.5 sequel than a mere extension of what players have come to expect.

FromSoftware continues to rule the genre it invented. If you didn’t care for Elden Ring, run away screaming. Otherwise, come on in and scream with frustration. [Issue#43, p.92]

Expanding on Elden Ring’s already impeccable legacy in meaningful and spectacular ways, Shadow of the Erdtree is another triumph from FromSoftware. Some of the series’ best boss battles, visually stunning vistas and a leaner yet equally deep narrative lend this expansion the right to be considered one of the best pieces of DLC money can buy.

This is a jewel of a response, one that catches the firelight in different ways depending on how you approach it, but always dazzles. [Issue#400, p.102]

Shadow of the Edrtree expansion transported me back to Elden Ring in a surprising and nostalgic way. Two years later the game is still fresh as it's ever been - with unique pacing, artistic style and sense of progression. And if you ever stumble upon some annoying sections, you can always count on your fellow Mimic Tear friend.

Despite the lacking performance, it’s impossible to call Shadow of the Erdtree anything other than a masterpiece and perhaps one of the most generous slices of DLC I’ve ever encountered. In doubling down on what made the base game such a triumph and wrapping it up in an irresistible new map that begs to be explored, FromSoftware has created something truly special that ramps up the difficulty in a way that never feels unfair as a result of well thought out progression systems. Between new regions, enough new weapons to arm a small army, and an unrivaled enemy roster that trumps everything that has come before both in terms of design and difficulty, Shadow of the Erdtree is FromSoftware firing on all cylinders. We don’t know at this stage if the intent is to release any further expansions for Miyazaki’s masterpiece, but if Shadow of the Erdtree is to be it, then it’s as close to a perfect way to bow out as possible.

Another large portion of the same thing isn't necessarily a bad thing, if all the most important elements are made with respect for the base material and that's exactly the case with the first and only Elden Ring expansion.

An already near-perfect game gets a 30-hour expansion with this DLC. Adding a wealth of new stories within its mysterious world, 'Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree' will also challenge you with its formidable difficulty. The newly added equipment further enhances the enjoyment of the base game.

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.

An excellent expansion for an outstanding game. It offers a massive amount of new content, a brilliantly designed game world full of secrets to uncover, and a conclusion to the story that this legend truly deserved.

Shadow of the Erdtree will be available from June 21st and whether you are an experienced Senzaluce or an aspiring god exterminator, you can't miss this appointment. The relationship between vastness of the experience and density of content makes this expansion a very valid product that literally kept us glued to the screen for dozens and dozens of hours. The new weapons, spells and sorceries also greatly enrich the already vast list of tools at your disposal and, in any new game plus, it will be impossible for you to do without them. The level we would recommend to face this experience with relative peace of mind is 150, which should allow you to fight against Mohg, the Lord of Blood without suffering too much.

Exactly as engrossing and meticulously designed as you’d expect of FromSoftware but even by their standards this is an enthralling slice of DLC that underlines and enhances the achievements of the original.

Shadow of the Erdtree is the perfect Swan Song to Elden Ring. It gives you all the challenge, the loot, and the lore of the base game in a smaller chunk. Prepare to lose yourself to its siren call yet again.

This expansion is consistent with what we've come to expect from FromSoftware. This is the biggest studio DLC to date; it does not disappoint and delivers everything we imagined. It includes new enemies, new ways to play, and, most importantly, extremely challenging bosses who will make our journey through the Shadow Lands difficult.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is FromSoftware's biggest and most ambitious expansion yet. However, it could have been flawless if it weren't for the over-recycling of enemies. Still, the challenging boss fights and great sense of exploration with the addition of new map layouts make Shadow of the Erdtree an excellent conclusion to the Elden Ring journey.

Shadow Of The Erdtree Is FromSoftware's Victory Lap.

Shadow of the Erdtree is more about adding a bit of spice to a perfect recipe than a different main course, though the portions will sure have players fooled, as they tack another few dozen hours onto Elden Ring’s already enormous playtime.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree fully lives up to its expansion name by giving us more of what we loved from the base game but with gameplay, world, and content innovations. It truly makes you feel like the first time you explored the Lands Between while introducing new and daunting challenges. However, I must warn you that it is more challenging than expected. Even those with hundreds of hours will feel a lot of pressure.

Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has more meat on the bones than many full releases, and if you miss the beauty and punishment of the base game then the Shadow Realm beckons.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is impressively expansive, packed to the brim with secrets, and hauntingly beautiful. From the moment I set foot in the Land of Shadow, I was stunned by its gorgeous scenery and captivated by its world, but the most impressive thing of all is the sheer scale of what’s on offer.

Expansions to FromSoftware games tend to be steep-walled gauntlets, meant to provide a heightened challenge for experienced players. Shadow of the Erdtree is no different. You will be tested. Your faith in your abilities, your belief in yourself, will be stretched to its limit.

FromSoftware has indeed injected Sekiro into its Elden Ring, and it is no longer the same twist at all. Of course, with perseverance, you will succeed, but it will be through pain, rarely through pleasure. Some like it when the wounds are open, others much less. Fortunately, the title has other arguments that militate in its favor, such as these new territories to explore, its hundred weapons to test, its new adversaries with whom to cross fire, and others that we have already seen a ten times in the Japanese studio's previous productions. Let's agree, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree remains a very good game and a high quality DLC, but for its overall imbalance, it is necessarily less interesting than the original game.

I’m both happy and sad that Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and last expansion for Elden Ring. On one hand, it’s a masterfully woven experience that expands on the contents of the base game, whereas on the other it leaves much more to be desired with its disappointing final boss. That being said, it’s still very much worth your time if you’re craving some more Elden Ring.

Not just the wide range of new weapons and magic, but also challenging yet well-designed boss battles make Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree an experience well worth your time. However, the lack in variety of new regular enemies and an open world that feels too big for its own good make this DLC feel less polished than the original game.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree manages to compliment the base game in some good ways. The sense of scale is otherworldly and the levelling system does allow all players to have a place at the table. It does seem lacking in proper dungeons but the wealth of new gear makes the price justifiable. At times, the map can feel barren but the new bosses provide a stern challenge with plenty of flamboyance. It definitely feels quantity over quality but there was enough here for me to really enjoy.