Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – Review

Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: June 21, 2025

Developer: FromSoftware

Score: 9.0/10

Story

The DLC takes players beyond the Lands Between into the enigmatic Realm of Shadow, where Miquella’s tale unfolds with haunting beauty and grim finality. Environmental storytelling, dreamlike architecture, and tragic NPC arcs build a world that feels both alien and sacred. Lore enthusiasts will be rewarded with layers of symbolism and cryptic revelations.

Gameplay

Shadow of the Erdtree introduces new mechanics, traversal routes, and one of the toughest lineups of bosses in Soulsborne history. The expansion leans hard into challenge—with memorable fights like the Golden Hippopotamus and twisting multi-phase dungeons. Combat feels tighter and more aggressive, while the new Scadutree upgrades deepen RPG build variety.

Conclusion

This is FromSoftware at its most brutal and refined. Shadow of the Erdtree is less of a mere expansion and more of a culmination—wrapping character arcs, world themes, and player perseverance into a punishingly rewarding experience.

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Highlights

Explore cursed dreamscapes, wield new weapons, defeat godlike foes, and piece together Miquella’s fate through dark, poetic design. If the base game tested your patience, this DLC tests your limits.

Fan Reactions

“This isn’t just an expansion. It’s a masterclass in tension and worldbuilding. I died over 30 times on the first boss—and loved every second.”
– Morningsword, Reddit

“Harder than Malenia, deeper than the lore threads in the base game. Easily a 10/10 for Souls fans.”
– GameRant community pick

Final Thought

If *Elden Ring* was a revolution in open-world RPGs, then *Shadow of the Erdtree* is its dark epilogue. FromSoftware challenges you to rise, fail, and rise again—through death and myth. It’s beautiful, merciless, and unforgettable.