When Elden Ring burst onto the scene in early 2022, it shook the gaming world like a well-placed Lightning Spear. Critics praised it. Players wept, both from joy and boss-inflicted trauma. But here we are in 2025, and the big question remains:
đ Is Elden Ring still worth playing (or buying) today?
Letâs dive into this in-depth review for those who are considering jumping into the Lands Betweenâor returning after rage-quitting Margit for the 17th time. Spoiler: it’s not just about swords, sorcery, and getting stomped by tree monsters (though, yes, thereâs plenty of that).
đź What Elden Ring Actually Is
Elden Ring is an open-world action RPG developed by FromSoftwareâthe folks famous for the Dark Souls series, aka âGames That Donât Care About Your Feelings.â It was co-created with Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who lent his lore-crafting powers to the gameâs narrative (and, we assume, didn’t delay it).
But this isnât just Dark Souls with a horse. Elden Ring redefines open-world design with an eerie, mysterious world that wants you to explore⊠and then promptly punishes you for it.
đ A World Thatâs Still Breath-Taking in 2025
Three years on, and the Lands Between remains one of the most stunning virtual environments ever created. From the golden glow of the Erdtree to the twisted horrors beneath Nokron, the gameâs art direction is timeless.
Graphics-wise, 2025 rigs can run Elden Ring at ultra settings like butter on a hot skillet. Even mid-range PCs and consoles handle it gracefully now, thanks to patches and performance updates.
Verdict: The game still looks jaw-dropping. If you thought the Erdtree was pretty in 2022, wait until you see it on a 4K OLED in 2025.
đ Combat, Exploration, and Freedom (AKA âChoose Your Painâ)
Letâs not sugarcoat it: Elden Ring is hard. Like, âwho hurt the developers?â hard.
But here’s the twistâunlike older FromSoftware games, Elden Ring gives you freedom. Stuck on a boss? Ride your trusty steed Torrent and go somewhere else. Farm runes, upgrade your weapons, cry in a cornerâwhatever works for you.
The combat system is deep and diverse:
- Want to be a spell-slinging wizard? Go full Harry Potter.
- Fancy a giant hammer the size of a refrigerator? Done.
- Want to run around with no pants and a club? Youâre weird, but sure.
The flexibility is refreshing and makes replayability sky-high.
đ§ Storytelling That Makes You Think (and Google… a Lot)
In true FromSoftware fashion, Elden Ring doesnât spoon-feed you lore. It whispers itâcrypticallyâthrough item descriptions and NPCs who sound like they swallowed a poetry book.
This might frustrate casual gamers, but for lore-hunters? Itâs a goldmine.
George R.R. Martinâs touch adds depth to the worldâs mythology, though it still feels very much like Hidetaka Miyazakiâs twisted baby. In other words, youâll understand some of whatâs going onâjust enough to get investedâbut probably not enough to explain it to your mom.
𧩠DLC & Updates: Is the Game Still Alive?
YES. If anything, 2025 is the perfect time to buy Elden Ring.
The long-awaited DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, finally arrived with all the grace of a flaming ballista boltâand itâs worth every penny. It introduces new zones, terrifying bosses, and weapons that make your old arsenal feel like pool noodles.
Also, the modding community is thriving. From Pokémon skins to 60 FPS support on older consoles, you can customize your Elden Ring experience in truly unhinged ways (hello, Thomas the Tank Engine dragon).
đ° So, Is It Worth the Price Tag in 2025?
Letâs talk value.
At around $30â$40 USD (depending on sales), Elden Ring is an absolute steal in 2025. Youâre looking at:
- 100+ hours of content (before even touching DLC)
- Near-infinite replayability
- An experience that still rivals or beats most modern releases
Compare that to games charging full price for 12 hours of fetch quests and copy-paste side missions (cough we wonât name names), and Elden Ring feels like the best bang-for-your-buck action RPG on the market.
đ Who Should Not Play Elden Ring?
Letâs be fairâitâs not for everyone. You might want to skip it if:
- You hate tough games that donât hold your hand
- You need a GPS-style quest log (the game has no minimap)
- You prefer games with lots of cutscenes and linear progression
- You’re allergic to giant crabs
In short, Elden Ring asks a lot from you. But it rewards you in spades if you stick with it.
đ„ Final Verdict: A Modern Classic That Still Reigns Supreme
â Score: 9.5/10
Three years after release, Elden Ring hasnât lost a step. If anything, time has only polished its already brilliant core. Between the sweeping landscapes, brutal boss fights, and genuinely rewarding gameplay loop, itâs clear why this game still dominates âGreatest of All Timeâ discussions.
Whether you’re a seasoned Souls veteran or someone who’s just curious why everyone keeps yelling âLet Me Solo Her,â Elden Ring in 2025 is a journey worth taking.
And hey, if you rage-quit, just remember: it’s not you. It’s Margit. Always Margit. đĄïžđ
đŹ Have You Played Elden Ring in 2025?
Are you a Tarnished still roaming the Lands Between? Or are you just now considering picking up the sword? Share your Elden Ring experience below! We promise no one will judge you (much) for using summons. đ
