Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Reviews

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is ranked in the 100th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
10 / 10.0
Jun 24, 2024

Shadow of the Erdtree is more of everything you love about Elden Ring, expanding on the award-winning game with a bigger arsenal, tougher enemies, a brand-new story, and even more beautiful landscapes.

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10 / 10.0
Jul 8, 2024

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is an excellent DLC expansion that manages to freshen up the brilliance of the base game with its dazzling locales, gripping enemy encounters, and focus on collecting Scudatree Fragments. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tough as nails and can be a little frustrating early on, but it brings with it a difficulty curve that’s as rewarding as that found in the base game, with those who take the time to explore their surrounding the most likely to survive its dastardly challenges. Add to that the thrilling boss encounters, the abundance of new gear to find, and the fact that it just so happens to be massive in design, and it’ll be hard not to find yourself in awe of what’s on offer in Shadow of the Erdtree.

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5 / 5.0
Jun 24, 2024

Whether you’re a seasoned Soulsborne veteran or a newcomer to FromSoftware’s brand of challenging yet rewarding gameplay, Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that should not be missed. It really expands upon Lands Between established while preserving the sense of wonder and discovery that feels so important in Elden Ring. Shadow of the Erdtree sets a new standard for what a DLC can achieve and I believe this is FromSoftware’s greatest work yet.

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9.8 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

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97 / 100
Jun 18, 2024

It’s a continuation of what made the Elden Ring fantastic in the first place. An epic adventure!

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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.

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96 / 100
Jun 18, 2024

The best game of recent years is back with the best expansion pack in recent years

Review in Turkish | Read full review

PC Gamer
Top Critic
95 / 100
Jun 18, 2024

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.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

I think that’s the biggest point here, is that even though my expectations were high, Shadow of the Erdtree still managed to exceed them. From Software probably could have just added more Elden Ring and that would have been solid enough, but instead, Shadow of the Erdtree is yet another innovative iteration of the genre.

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95 / 100
Jun 18, 2024

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

95 / 100
Jun 18, 2024

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 is a solid candidate for the best game of the year.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

95%
Jun 18, 2024

An exemplary addition to Elden Ring.

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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.

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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.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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 alas 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 get ready to feel through the sounds and designs of the Shadow Realm.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

Shadow of the Erdtree shines as a fitting conclusion to ELDEN RING, encapsulating every element that has characterized FromSoftware. You'll encounter swampy sections, sweat-inducing combat, beautiful and melancholic locations, and challenging platform segments featuring leaps of faith, scaffolding, and chapel rooftops. Striving to deliver all the classic elements of the Souls saga, Shadow of the Erdtree stands as a love letter to everything the series represents and serves as a worthy farewell to an already legendary game.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

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.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2024

This massive expansion makes an all-time great game even better and is a must-purchase for those who have finished the original.

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9.5 / 10.0
Jun 19, 2024

Shadow of the Erdtree maintains the high standards set by the base game. It introduces the challenging Realm of Shadow, offering new boss fights, weapons, and progression without excessive grinding. The expansion revitalizes the sense of discovery with secrets, mini-bosses, and unique NPCs.

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