Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Reviews
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.
Like the base game did before it, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree raises the bar for single-player DLC expansions. It takes everything that made the base game such a landmark RPG, condenses it into a relatively compact 20-25 hour campaign, and provides fantastic new challenges for heavily invested fans to chew on.
Much of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is more of the same gruelling beauty - but a shift to explict storytelling and signposting means its essence as a living, evolving shared text is lost.
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.
Perhaps more interesting than the bosses are the moments where FromSoftware stretches the limitations of its mechanics and nearly reaches whole new genres.
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's expansion for Elden Ring offers an entire new game's worth of content, all of which is exceptionally executed.
Even 40-plus hours in, I’m still figuring out how to tackle a particularly nasty dragon. And despite cursing all the bosses I’ve felled so far, as they’ve beaten me into submission dozens of times, I’m looking forward to going back and starting it all over at some point, ready to take on the challenge again.
FromSoftware’s highly anticipated DLC could be a standalone game, it's just that good
So, 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.
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.
A knotty, dense expansion that's home to some of the best moments in Elden Ring, but also some of its most frustrating.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is a wonderfully crafted expansion that enriches the original experience that exploring the Lands Between provided.
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.
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Are you left wanting more Elden Ring? Well, here you are going to have two cups because the added content in Shadow of the Erdtree is much more than just a DLC, it is an ode to what should be considered quality added content that is worth paying for.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Terms like 'DLC' or even 'expansion' fall far short and are even insulting when used to talk about Shadow of the Erdtree. Because as you play, you realize that what FromSoftware has done is closer to being Elden Ring 1.5 than mere downloadable content. It seemed impossible, but they have been overcome again.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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.