Elden Ring review

Elden Ring is second because its world rewards curiosity as much as any game sold today. The Steam page describes the Lands Between as a vast continent where open fields and huge, three-dimensional dungeons connect, and where knowing the terrain helps you beat bosses or trap invading players. You build a character from weapons, armor, items and magic, so a stealthy spellcaster and a heavy brawler play very differently. George R. R. Martin wrote the founding mythology, and events can unfold in several ways depending on what you do. Steam lists online co-op, online PvP, full controller support and Steam Cloud, and its store data shows a Metascore of 94. At $59.99 it matches most big releases here. The cost is difficulty: combat is simple to learn but hard to master, which pulls its ease score below Breath of the Wild. If you like earning every step forward, this is the deepest world on the list.

Who it is for

Players who want a huge world full of hidden threats and are happy to retry hard boss fights.

Price

$59.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between. $59.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Open fields and three-dimensional dungeons connected across one continent
• Weapons, spells and summons for many play styles
• Character builds from weapons, armor, items and magic
• Founding mythology written by George R. R. Martin
• Online co-op and online PvP

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Metascore of 94 in Steam's store data
• Strength: Exploring off the path regularly turns up secrets and new threats
• Strength: Full controller support and Steam Cloud saves
• Weakness: Boss fights punish mistakes, so the start is steep
• Weakness: Windows only on Steam
• Weakness: DLC costs extra

Key facts

• Developer: FromSoftware
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
• Released on Steam: February 24, 2022
• Metascore (Steam data): 94
• Steam achievements: 42

Where it ranks

Elden Ring is No. 2 in our Best Open-World Games verdict and No. 2 in Best Video Games of All Time.