As I summon the ever-trusty horned steed Torrent, I see a spectral graveyard in front of me. Hundreds upon hundreds of ghostly graves glow in the night. Gargoyle-esque carrion birds peer through the dark, perched on top of crumbling mausoleums. Corpses hung from a nearby tree swing in the wind. A burning colossus strides across the field, lighting up the sky like an unholy effigy of some forgotten dark god.
So opens Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, the massive expansion to developer FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco's 2022 hit action role-playing game. At a recent preview event, I was invited to play an early build of Shadow of the Erdtree, exploring the starting area and learning how this expansion builds on Elden Ring. After over three hours hands-on, I'm confident this won't just be a highlight for 2024's gaming slate, but for the entire history of game expansions, with new enemies to fight, bosses to overcome, and secrets to discover.
