The Verdict

Elden Ring is an easy recommendation — it's a stunning, deep, and endlessly rewarding open-world action RPG that even newcomers to the genre can enjoy thanks to its flexible difficulty options like spirit summons and open exploration. Just be aware that the challenge is real and the game will test your patience, so if you're completely averse to tough-but-fair combat, it may not be for you — but for almost everyone else, it's worth every penny at full price.