Elden Ring presents a significant challenge for newcomers, making it arguably not the ideal first souls game due to its open world complexity and lack of clear guidance.
So, you’re curious about plunging into the Lands Between, but you’re new to the Souls-like genre? The question of whether is elden ring a good first souls game is one many players face. Its massive scope and demanding combat make it a daunting prospect for a beginner.
The open world, while beautiful, can be overwhelming without a linear path. This can easily lead to frustration. While others might disagree, it does present a steep initial learning curve.
Is Elden Ring a Good First Souls Game?
So, you’re thinking about jumping into the Lands Between for the first time? You’ve heard whispers of a challenging, yet rewarding game called Elden Ring. Maybe your friends are talking about it, or you’ve seen some cool videos online. But here’s the big question: is Elden Ring a good place to start if you’ve never played a Souls-like game before? This is a super important question because these types of games, made by FromSoftware, have a reputation for being pretty tough. We’re going to break down exactly what makes Elden Ring different from other Souls games, and help you figure out if it’s the right fit for your first adventure into this style of gameplay.
What Makes a Souls Game, a Souls Game?
Before we get into Elden Ring specifically, let’s talk about what makes a game a “Souls-like.” These games usually share a few key features that can feel very different from other action games. Knowing these features will help you understand if Elden Ring is something you’ll enjoy.
The Challenge Factor
First, these games are known for being difficult. You will die. A lot. It’s just part of the experience. Enemies can hit hard, and figuring out their attack patterns is a big part of the gameplay. But don’t get scared off! The challenge is meant to be fair. When you die, it’s usually because you made a mistake, not because the game is cheating. You learn from each death, and slowly but surely, you improve.
Intricate Combat
Combat in Souls-like games isn’t about button-mashing. It’s much more deliberate. You need to pay close attention to your stamina bar, which limits how many actions you can take. Every attack, block, and dodge costs stamina. You have to manage it carefully. You have to consider your opponent’s movement, time your attacks correctly, and learn to roll away at the right time. Patience and planning are more important than just swinging your weapon wildly.
Exploration and Discovery
Instead of holding your hand every step of the way, Souls games often throw you into the world and let you explore. You’ll find hidden paths, secret areas, and powerful items if you’re willing to take the time to look around. The story is often told through items and environment, rather than long cutscenes. These worlds are filled with lore to piece together if you wish, and a lot of these elements make the world feel more alive and rewarding.
Character Progression
You earn experience points (called “Runes” in Elden Ring) by defeating enemies. You use these runes to level up your character and improve your stats like strength, dexterity, or vigor. This lets you customize your character to match your play style. You can become a powerful warrior, a sneaky rogue, or a powerful mage, depending on how you choose to grow your character.
Learning Through Trial and Error
Souls games do not clearly state how everything works. You are required to explore, test items, and experiment. Sometimes, you will fail hard. However, from this failure, you can learn and adapt your strategy.
Elden Ring: A Different Kind of Souls Experience
Now that we know what makes a Souls-like game, let’s talk about how Elden Ring changes things up. While it keeps the core elements that make these games special, it adds a lot of new features that can make it a slightly easier starting point for newcomers.
The Open World Difference
The biggest change in Elden Ring is the open world. Previous Souls games were more linear. You progressed through connected areas. Elden Ring gives you a vast map to explore from the get-go. This is significant because:
- Freedom of Exploration: If you get stuck on a particular boss or area, you can go somewhere else. This is huge for new players who might feel trapped in a traditional Souls game. You don’t have to bang your head against a wall if you are not feeling it.
- Variety of Challenges: The open world is full of optional dungeons, mini-bosses, and side quests. These can help you level up and get stronger before facing the main challenges. You can pick and choose the content you are ready for.
- More Places to Farm Runes: There are lots of places in the open world to farm runes and level up. This can help you get over a level of difficulty curve that you are facing.
Summoning Help
Elden Ring has a robust summoning system. You can call on other players online to help you with tough bosses. You can also use spirit ashes, which are like summonable NPC helpers that can take some of the heat off you during battles. Using summons makes boss fights more manageable. You are never alone in the Lands Between, you can always find someone to play with.
New Character Builds
Elden Ring offers a lot of freedom when building your character. You can choose from a wide array of weapons, spells, and stats to create a character that is unique to you. Many early game options are effective, which can make the beginning of the game much smoother compared to older titles. You can also respec your character later in the game if you want to change your build. This is a really helpful mechanic, especially if you are not sure what play style is right for you.
A More Approachable Difficulty Curve
While Elden Ring is still a challenging game, the open world structure and the variety of resources available make the initial difficulty curve slightly smoother than in past games. You are not forced to go against the first boss with starter weapons. If you find it too hard, you can find better items or level up your character. However, don’t take this as the game is easy. The difficulty is still there, it has just been redistributed to make it a more approachable experience.
What Makes Elden Ring Challenging for New Players?
Even with all the ways Elden Ring is more accessible than other Souls games, it still has elements that can be tough for a beginner. It is important to understand these potential challenges so that you are aware and prepared.
The Sheer Size and Lack of Direction
While the open world gives you freedom, it can also be overwhelming. The game doesn’t hold your hand or tell you exactly where to go. It’s very easy to feel lost, especially at the start. The world might feel too big for players used to linear gameplay. You need to explore and experiment which might not be ideal for every player.
The Difficulty of Bosses
Bosses in Elden Ring can be very challenging, especially for new players. They have complicated attack patterns that need to be learned. They can often kill you very quickly if you are not careful. And while you can summon other players or spirit ashes, even with help, they can still be difficult. You have to have basic understanding of game mechanics to survive these challenges.
The Learning Curve
Even with a more approachable difficulty curve, Elden Ring still has a steep learning curve. You need to understand things like how stats work, how to upgrade your equipment, and how to use different types of magic. The game doesn’t teach everything to you directly. You need to learn by reading item descriptions, watching tutorials or through trial and error. You are expected to learn a lot yourself.
The Potential for Frustration
Dying in Elden Ring can be frustrating, especially when you are just starting out. It can be annoying to lose your runes and have to start over. However, it is important to remember that failure is part of the experience, and every death is a learning opportunity. If you are not patient and can’t handle losing, you might not enjoy the experience.
Is Elden Ring a Good First Souls Game? The Verdict
So, is Elden Ring a good first Souls game? The answer is nuanced, and it depends on you. It isn’t the easiest of FromSoftware’s offerings, but is more accessible than games like Dark Souls.
Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Elden Ring might be a good first Souls game if:
- You are willing to learn and adapt.
- You are okay with dying and failing a lot.
- You enjoy exploring open world environments.
- You enjoy a challenging game.
- You are patient.
- You are not afraid to ask for help from other players online.
- You appreciate well-made combat systems.
- You are curious about the lore and story.
Elden Ring might not be a good first Souls game if:
- You expect to be able to finish the game without much effort.
- You get frustrated easily by repeated deaths.
- You don’t like feeling lost in games.
- You hate open world settings.
- You expect the game to guide you directly.
Tips for Starting Elden Ring as a Newcomer
If you decide to give Elden Ring a try, here are some tips to help you get started on the right foot:
- Choose a good starting class: The Vagabond class is often recommended for beginners because it starts with good strength and health.
- Explore and collect items: The open world has many hidden items that can be very useful. Don’t rush the main story.
- Pay attention to your stamina: Managing stamina is crucial for combat. Don’t swing wildly.
- Experiment with different weapons and spells: Find something that fits your play style.
- Don’t be afraid to summon help: If you are struggling with a boss, summon other players or use spirit ashes.
- Level up your Vigor early: Vigor is your health stat. It’s important to have more health at the beginning.
- Learn the enemy attack patterns: Observe your enemies before attacking.
- Don’t be afraid to run away and try another route: It is okay to be overwhelmed and not win some battles on your first try.
- Most importantly, be patient: Elden Ring is a challenging game. Be prepared to die a lot and learn from your mistakes.
Ultimately, whether Elden Ring is a good starting point for you depends on your own preferences and attitude towards video games. If you’re up for a challenge, and you’re willing to learn, it can be a very rewarding experience. The game has a lot of things going for it, and these changes make the game more approachable to new players. But, if you are not okay with dying, learning through trial and error, and sometimes feeling frustrated, then you might have a hard time adjusting to this game.
Is Elden Ring a good "first" Souls game?
Final Thoughts
Elden Ring presents a vast world and offers freedom to explore. This can be both a positive and negative experience for newcomers. The open world structure does offer more approachable difficulty.
However, the game still retains the core Souls-like difficulty. Many will find it challenging to grasp the gameplay. Is Elden Ring a good first souls game? Perhaps not the ideal starting point due to its overwhelming scope. Newcomers must brace themselves for demanding combat.
