Role-Playing Games · 2020s
Elden Ring
FromSoftware's open-world take on its demanding action-RPG formula, built with a world framework by George R. R. Martin. Discovery is unprompted: bosses, dungeons, and whole underground regions sit where curiosity happens to lead.
| First released | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Developer | FromSoftware |
| Original platform | PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series |
Why it matters
It fused uncompromising combat design with genuine open-world freedom and became one of the best-selling games of its decade. Its success moved 'trust the player' from indie virtue to blockbuster strategy.
Play it today
Widely available on PC and both current console families, plus a major expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.
Start here
Expect to lose often — that is the contract. If a boss walls you, leave, explore elsewhere, and return stronger; the open design makes patience a strategy rather than a grind.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elden_Ring — release date, developers, reception
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1245620/ELDEN_RING/ — current PC edition
Sources for this page were checked 2026-09-21.