Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant Reviews
As most DLCs go, Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant is recommended for the more hardcore fans of the original. It does a decent job expanding the lore of Valandis and even dropping hints of a potential sequel. But if you're looking for answers to the base game's unresolved questions, you'll be disappointed. The gameplay loop is essentially the same, and the only variation is the addition of a new party member and the Talent board. If you're not that keen on learning more about Chained Echoes' mythology, maybe you should give this DLC a pass.
Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant may have its flaws with its execution, but if you liked the combat and the characters, then it is worth a look.
Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant might not have the cohesion or vision of the base game, but even lesser Chained Echoes is still a blast to play.
DLCs are often targeted at those wanting to expand the core game. Ashes of Elrant, though, is largely more of the same. Problems in Chained Echoes' main quest, like the grind of battle, lack of player progression or questionable ending, are not addressed in the slightest. Those looking for a story-adjacent experience will be interested, but anyone after something new is going to want to pass.
Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant is a DLC made for fans of the game, especially for those who enjoyed the gameplay. It mostly expands on certain characters’ backstories and builds on top of its existing gameplay systems, which is what the game is known for. That being said, the DLC feels like it's a few years too late, as it solves issues that exist within the base game. The additions are welcome, but most of them don’t feel as impactful or as massive as initially advertised. Also, don’t expect any resolutions to many of the story’s plot holes here, as it mainly serves to support the worldbuilding and add context rather than answer many of the questions.
If you finished the main campaign with that "wanting more" feeling, Ashes of Elrant delivers exactly that: more of what was already good. The expansion respects the original's identity, cleverly deepens the lore, and invites the player to re-immerse themselves in a world that still has stories to tell.
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Chained Echoes: Ashes of Elrant is a bit uneven, but it introduces a great new character and allows the lore of this world to blossom. It is pretty clear that this was made for fans of Chained Echoes thirsting for more and does a decent job at filling in the gaps of the base game's unresolved plot threads.
I had a lot of high hopes going into Ashes of Elrant, given I adored Chained Echoes. However, I simply didn't find much here to satiate my desire for a new adventure with this cast. The roster is wildly underused and the threat had zero stakes, given it takes place before the final battle. It's implementation via the main menu was also a sign it wasn't going to be impactful to the overall adventure. It's more Chained Echoes, so I can't be too disappointed, but I simply wanted much more for a self-touted “massive” DLC that didn't amount to much at all.
Ashes of Elrant is a rich and rewarding expansion to Chained Echoes, offering fans a time-traveling narrative that deepens the lore and delivers challenging, strategically satisfying combat, even if its pacing and character focus occasionally stumble.