Elden Ring is a game that needs no introduction - it's the most anticipated game since CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 , marking an evolution of the legendary developer's worn but irresistible formula From Software, with an added (though subtle rather than seemingly shoddy) contribution from Game of Thrones author George RR Martin. Unlike CD Projekt Red's dystopian role-player, however, Elden Ring lives up to the hype with a laid-back, almost contemptuous ease.


The main reason for this is that Elden Ring developer From Software wisely refused to stray too far from their comfort zone. Yes, the game has been described as "like Dark Souls meets Zelda" by some, and you can see why, given that it has a huge open-world map, around which you can gallop on the back of a steed spectral. But such claims are lazy: it's a proper, challenging, fearsomely difficult, dark-toned Soulslike game that has a few new things in common with the Zelda games .


For Elden Ring to look in any way like a Zelda game, From Software would have had to abandon its status as an uncompromising merchant. Instead, the Japanese developer's refusal to deviate from its vision of what video games should be is, on the contrary, more evident than ever in Elden Ring.


Which means, for example, you shouldn't expect it to have anything even remotely resembling a conventionally relayed storyline. Although the involvement of George RR Martin has brought some welcome diversity to the (still typically gnomic) characters, it's the delights of this game world that look a little different - noticeably less gothic and more colorful than in previous From games. Software. In terms of the feel of the game world, Elden Ring takes a small step towards the likes of Skyrim , rather than Zelda, but it still eschews conventional character-driven side missions.


Our quick review

Many may have thought it was impossible, but with Elden Ring, From Software has even outdone themselves. Not just bringing its work into an open world, but creating what might be one of the best game worlds of all time.


It's quite simply the best game From Software has ever made - an achievement considering its back catalog. This will delight fans of Soulslike games, but also hopefully attract a significant following of players who found Elden Ring's predecessors too intimidating.