Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Reviews

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is ranked in the 100th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is the lore and gameplay continuation that we all needed. The new challenges and a feeling of nostalgia help propel this DLC into the stratosphere.

Read full review

95%
Jun 18, 2024

An exemplary addition to Elden Ring.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Review in Polish | Read full review

9 / 10
Sep 13, 2024

Shadow of the Erdtree is more Elden Ring, with added Dark Souls flavouring. It's hard to look past the brilliance of it all, really.

Read full review

9.1 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

It’s large enough to create moments of surprise but has a more hand-crafted scope that moves you through novel locales and largely engaging boss fights at an impressive clip, finding a middle ground between the scale of FromSoft’s past work and Elden Ring. Here, there is a sense of falling down rabbit holes, as one obscure discovery leads to another until you’re deep beneath the surface or in the middle of a strange ritual ground you can’t comprehend. This studio deeply understands how to wring the divine out of this world where deities and mortals mingle, resulting in the same type of awe-inspiring ambiance and unforgettable backdrops that put Elden Ring in a league of its own. While I wish it solved more of the base game’s issues so there weren’t such steep valleys here, particularly around some of its slash-happy big bads, overall, Shadow of the Erdtree not only reaches the peaks of the of its predecessor but, in many ways, surpasses them.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jun 19, 2024

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.

Read full review

CGMagazine
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Read full review

Ben Salter
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Read full review

Jun 18, 2024

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree was worth the wait and then some. While I said this was FromSoftware’s most ambitious DLC yet, and that’s not hyperbole. If you enjoyed Elden Ring, you’ll love everything about this DLC. Savor it since Hidetaka Miyazaki has said there won’t be more content after this.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Read full review

GameSpace
Brau3er
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jul 3, 2024

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.

Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Review in Chinese | Read full review

Fextralife
Fexelea
Top Critic
9.6 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

Shadow of the Erdtree is an incredible expansion that no gamer should miss out on, adding even more value to an already outstanding game. With only minor performance issues and a few misses on the landscape, the expansion is challenging but rewarding, and full of secrets to discover. This is the kind of DLC every studio should aim to deliver, and very few can claim to do.

Read full review

5 / 5.0
Jun 19, 2024

A must-play DLC expansion with an impressively hand-crafted new region filled with fun new quests, characters, and lore.

Read full review

Unscored
Jun 18, 2024

Shadow of the Erdtree is far more than a simple DLC. It's a huge expansion that looks like a brand new game, with new hard challenges, a remarkable map design and more than 30 hours of marvellous discovery and brutal boss fights.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 19, 2024

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.

Read full review

gameranx
Top Critic
Unscored
Jun 18, 2024
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree - Before You Buy video thumbnail
3DNews
Мила Пономарева
Top Critic
10 / 10.0
Jul 6, 2024

Instead of challenging players' reflexes and muscle memory, the expansion tests their spirit, will, and humility. And with this approach, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree turned out to be almost the best Souls game in general!

Review in Russian | Read full review