Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Sure, Shadow of the Erdtree doesn't turn Elden Ring into a new game, and if you were expecting big new impulses in terms gameplay, you were mistaken. From Software has been improving their thing for 20 years, and they did so in leaps and bounds. But it's not like they're straying from their path. Just as well, if you love their concept for what it is: the best game in the world.

In the end, FromSoftware works spectacularly, Shadow of the Erdtree is everything the community wanted it to be and now we can enjoy it again and again. This is, without a doubt, one of the best expansions that any Souls has had and will remain a nice addition to an excellent game.

Shadow of the Erdtree delves even more into the amazing world of Elden Ring casting magnificent boss fights, new stunning places to explore and interesting questlines. One of the best videogame experiences of the year.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is my favorite expansion ever. Supplanting the twins of The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine, and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, there is more to do here than most games twice over. Outside of an over-tuned final boss, I have zero major gripes and dozens of things I adore. It’s not easy, it’s not meant to be, but it is amazing.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree is the perfect encore to one of the greatest games of all time. It knows it’s already delivered an astonishing performance, and after leaving us hanging, returns asking if we want more. That’s exactly what we wanted, and it’s more of the same in all the right ways. There are no big surprises, and that’s only a good thing, as everything in the Shadow Realm would feel at home in the base game. It promised more Elden Ring, and as someone who rarely finds the time to revisit an old game for new DLC, I’m utterly addicted to this expansion.

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.

All in all, Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree is a fitting conclusion to FromSoftware’s biggest, and most-successful title to date. It guides the player by the hand into a brand-new world of mystery and intrigue, treats them to some of the most memorable fights in the series, and rounds things off the only way FromSoftware knows how, leaving you wondering what the hell just happened.

Even if it isn’t an overhaul of Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree is a massive achievement in both open-world and DLC design. It’s a daunting task to provide new content for one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, especially with the expectations surrounding it. However, the over two-year wait was well worth it as there’s a staggering amount of content to play with here. Those who love Elden Ring will experience the same sense of awe and surprise that they felt on their first playthrough. The massive world, challenging bosses, and game-changing equipment make this expansion feel like an unofficial sequel.