Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Review (2024)

FromSoftware returns with the perfect encore to Elden Ring to further fuel the addiction.

I was among the newcomers who propelled FromSoftware into the mainstream with the cultural revolution that was Elden Ring. I’d dabbled with Soulsbourne games before, but it never clicked. Elden Ring was different; though not immediately, so I’d encourage anyone caught up in the reinvigorated hype to give it a proper chance. Keep playing after the initial deluge of swearing, be patient, and it’ll soon take hold. The overwhelming popularity in 2022 convinced me to push through the first half-a-dozen hours. The next thing I knew, three weeks had passed, and I’d notched up 1000 Gamescore.

Shadow of the Erdtree arrives more than two years later as the perfect encore. We were always going to want more, and that’s exactly what FromSoft has delivered with Elden Ring’s one and only DLC expansion. It’s going to seriously test the status quo on expansions being awarded outright ‘game of the year’ come awards season.

Shadow of the Erdtree has consumed my full attention unlike any game since…Elden Ring. I can’t stop thinking about it while I’m not playing, pondering where to go next or fixating on how to conquer a formidable beast. But don’t be misled by the data mining and preoccupation with total number of hours or size of the expanded world – yes, it’s essentially the same size as Limgrave, the opening region of Elden Ring. Shadow of the Erdtree isn’t a sequel, and it isn’t trying to be. It’s a large expansion that builds upon one of the great games ever made by giving us another serving.

It’s an expansion that wants you to pick-up where you left off, be it two years ago or last Thursday. If you put it down back in 2022, there’s a mandatory re-learning curve, but trust me, the dormant muscle memory is ready to be awaken. You’ll be a little awkward at first, fumbling around the controller and falling to enemies meant to serve as easy fodder. But when it does click, it’s like you never left.

As an add-on, Shadow of the Erdtree does what most games can’t by bypassing a slow start. Setting off in an open world with an established and well-equipped character, you’re thrust into the thick of the action. While that means more challenging opposition from the outset, I’ve also found it more accessible than starting other Soulsbourne games, now that I’m a convert. It’s irresistibly inviting being drawn back to an old friend, rather than starting a new adventure as a beginner.

While I was beckoned back into the world of the tarnished, Shadow of the Erdtree is particular about who it’s inviting to the Shadow Realm. It’s not somewhere you’ll be welcomed with a fresh copy of Elden Ring and a new save file. At a minimum, you’ll need to have beaten Starscourage Radahn and Mohg before being permitted entry. It’s a sensible approach, as most players are unlikely to have defeated the Lord of Blood without a level high enough worthy of the Shadow Realm, but it also isn’t forcing you to finish everything. I ventured across at level 163, which I found to be tough but fair, and I was still inundated with Runes in the opening hours to level up fast.

To balance the need to have veteran players challenged by enemies who would be of little consequence in Limgrave, Shadow of the Erdtree adds an additional levelling system that only applies in the Shadow Realm through new blessings. Scadutree Fragments are scattered around the world, similar to Golden Tears used to upgrade the Crimson and Cerulean Flasks. They increase your attack power and damage negation, cleverly enough to allow FromSoft to pull the puppet strings regardless of your character’s level. These blessings are complemented by Revered Spirit Ashes, which do the same for your summons.

While the Shadow Realm is host to a range of new weapons, armaments, items and abilities, part of the joy of an expansion was returning to my established character, so I was loath to change much. Rather, it was the allure of seeking these blessing fragments that had me scouring every corner of the map for fear of missing out. Exploring at your own pace remains crucial to the Elden Ring experience in the Land of Shadow.

It’s a big world, as far as expansions go, and one that feels like it packs a little extra into each area compared to the more spacious Lands Between. It’s like revisiting a favourite holiday destination for a second time. It’s not quite as magical, as nothing can ever compare to the first adventure of a lifetime, but you’re better prepared when satisfying the burning desire to return.

It’s a world home to a legion of new enemies and perils to conquer, including a bunch of major bosses. Some with familiarities to those who came before and others who put up a unique fight. Shadow of the Erdtree’s cast of baddies are varied and diverse without deviating too far, as none would feel out of place in the original game. They present a genuine, but (mostly) fair challenge. Elden Ring remains one of the few games to keep your motivation just as high on the twenty-second attempt at a boss as the second.

Although, pub talk for a moment. I must humble brag that I didn’t have much trouble with some bosses I thought would wipe the floor with me. Perhaps it was because I quickly approached level 200 or unlocked a few too many Scadutree Blessings before strolling through the yellow mist for the first time, but I suspect Souls veterans far more skilled than I may find parts of Shadow of the Erdtree a little too easy. And you know what – that’s okay. If you want more of a challenge, consuming Scadutree fragments is optional and there are plenty of options to respec.

The story is delivered by a cast of lonely characters who are tracking Miquella across the Shadow Realm. Each has their own brief tale to tell as to how they ended up in this saga, and several can accompany you into battle as optional summons. While the lore largely escaped me in the original game, until I took the time to research it, I’ve found the travellers’ tales easier to follow this time around.

Perhaps due to a more focused goal, marked by giant Miquella’s Crosses clearly visible across the map. Located with selected Sites of Grace, these markings tend to signify a character or letter worth your attention. As in the original game, the Shadow Realm offers minimal guidance beyond the crosses. Despite an open world that likes to lead you into dead ends, sheer drops or impenetrable mountains, it does a miraculous job of guiding you to guide yourself along the right path.

Returning after so long, I’m not the same player I was when Elden Ring launched. Not only due to my considerable experience roaming the Lands Between, but also due to revisiting other Souls games since then. Elden Ring is a helluva gateway drug, and I’m well and truly hooked on everything FromSoftware now. Having most recently played Dark Souls Remastered, my initial approach was a little confused. I played that sword-and-shield in-hand, quite differently to my nimble intelligence-dexterity build in Elden Ring. I defaulted to using a shield, but soon rediscovered the faster pace of Elden Ring, and have since adopted something in-between for Shadow of the Erdtree. In a sense, Elden Ring is like riding a bike, but it’s hard not to incorporate all I learnt during the hiatus.

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. That’s exactly what we wanted, and it’s more of the same in all the right ways. There are no big surprises, and that’s only a good thing, as everything in the Shadow Realm would feel at home in the base game. It promised more Elden Ring, and as someone who rarely finds the time to revisit an old game for new DLC, I’m utterly addicted to this expansion.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree was reviewed using a promotional code on Xbox Series X, as provided by the publisher. Click here to learn more about Stevivor’s scoring scale.