When Elden Ring launched back in 2022, it set the gaming world ablaze. Taking the fundamental gameplay of Dark Souls and fusing it with a vastly interconnected open world setting was a tall order but developer From Software worked magic on the formula. With the launch of Shadow of the Erdtree, From Software not only expands the world of the Lands Between but tells an excellent epic story in the process - one about power, corruption and the pursuit of godhood.

Shadow of the Erdtree transports players to the Realm of Shadow, a land separated from the Lands Between where the demigod Miquella has disappeared to. The Realm of Shadow has also been seized by a ruthless tyrant known as Messmer the Impaler. As the Tarnished destined to become Elden Lord, you must navigate the realm in pursuit of Miquella.



The biggest surprise in Shadow of the Erdtree is how well From Software is able to provide some conclusive answers to long-standing lore questions and theories. If you're familiar with the lore and narrative of Elden Ring, you're going to find a splendidly fulfilling narrative here - almost uncharacteristically of From Software - that connects dots and greatly enriches the story of the base game. You're essentially still piecing the story together by way of vague NPC dialogue and item descriptions, but the answers it provides (while raising some interesting questions, mind you) are satisfying.

The biggest surprise in Shadow of the Erdtree is how well From Software is able to provide some conclusive answers to long-standing lore questions and theories.

From Software had a big problem to contend with before Shadow of the Erdtree: How do you stop overleveled characters from just steamrolling the DLC? The developer's answer was quite ingenious, actually. Throughout the game, you're given the option of collecting Shadow Realm Blessings: Scadutree fragments that enhance your defence and attack power, and Revered Spirit Ashes that buff your Spirit Ashes. The catch is these blessings only work in the Realm of Shadow and can't be carried over to the Lands Between, meaning From Software essentially resets every player on an equal playing field when the DLC starts, regardless of base game level.



There are around 50 Scadutree fragments to find in the Realm of Shadow and it's worh going out of your way to find them since this not only gives you higher attack and defence stats, but also encourages you to explore. Some fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes are hidden in dark corners of the map, pushing you to enter these lavish regions, make new discoveries and encounter new enemies and bosses off the beaten path - of which there are plenty.

It's commendable just how much content is crammed into Shadow of the Erdtree. When director Hidetaka Miyazaki said the map would be the size of Limgrave, he might've undersold it. He might've also undersold the fact that the Realm of Shadow is essentially five Limgraves stacked on top of each other. From Software brings its vertical map design expertise from the first Dark Souls over to the DLC because the land itself is multi-layered - dungeons and catacombs hidden beneath the ground, high-rise castles that stretch into the heavens, valleys that dip far below, and mountains that pierce the sky. I was constantly surprised at how many areas were interconnected, and how many enormous areas would be straight-up inaccessible if you missed one cave or dungeon.



Shadow of the Erdtree brings back the fear and exhilaration of exploration, discovering new lands for the first time while peaking around every corner because you're uncertain what to expect. Most of all, it captures that same awe-inspiring and grandiose feeling of stepping into Limgrave for the first time, being utterly lost in the world before having to chart a journey for yourself. The same applies to the Realm of Shadow, where the map simply keeps expanding in every direction the more you discover.

When director Hidetaka Miyazaki said the map would be the size of Limgrave, he might've undersold it.

Since the DLC is harder, it also forces you to go back to basics - in the early game, regular enemies and foot soldiers can very easily one or two-shot you. Bosses can melt your health bar in a couple of swings. The environment itself is a hazardous trap since every area you stumble upon can (and probably will) house some new monstrosity that you don't expect, and leap out from the shadows to make you their lunch. Hell, there's an entire area of the map that turns the game into a terrifying survival horror experience. It made exploring the Realm of Shadow quite intense but also incredibly rewarding as well since what you find, for the most part, is almost always worth the effort.



I say "almost" because that brings me to one of my only minor problems with Shadow of the Erdtree. Most of the time, finding hidden paths or areas often rewards you with valuable items like new Talismans and gear, but in spots where From Software couldn't figure out what to put there, you'd instead find smithing stones or cookbooks. Finding smithing stones might make sense to upgrade your new weapons in the DLC but by this point in the game, you would've likely unlocked all the Bell bearings needed at the Roundtable Hold to purchase an infinite amount of smithing stones. It was a bit disappointing doing a tough platforming section only to be rewarded with yet another smithing stone 4, but luckily it doesn't hurt the DLC too much.

In terms of difficulty, Shadow of the Erdtree is just as hard as you might've expected from a From Software DLC, but it's also no harder than The Ringed City of Dark Souls 3 or The Old Hunters of Bloodborne. Thanks to the Scadutree fragments, you can quite easily collect a good majority of them and level up your character to the point where you're capable of meeting the DLC's difficulty on fair footing. The tools to curve the difficulty are available in the game and ignoring them for whatever reason wouldn't be wise, unless you intentionally ignore them and just love the pleasure of pain.



That said, the boss fights in Shadow of the Erdtree are going to test your skills to the limits. Having a solid build is crucial - you're going to have a very rough time running into the DLC with a weak or unfocused build. New, powerful Talismans are aplenty in the Realm of Shadow that will allow you to further hone and enhance your current build. When stacked up against the flagship bosses of the DLC, you're given some of the most challenging content that From Software has ever cooked up, not just for Elden Ring but in the developer's history.

In terms of difficulty, Shadow of the Erdtree is ... also no harder than The Ringed City of Dark Souls 3 or The Old Hunters of Bloodborne.

For example, a few optional bosses and the final boss are absolutely going to be huge brick walls for players, requiring almost frame-perfect dodging, precisely timed strikes during openings and a lot of endurance. It sounds intimidating but rest assured, with a little skill and a good understanding of the game's mechanics, you're likely more than capable of persevering the challenge and overcoming it - the feeling of accomplishment that follows is an euphoric adrenaline rush that very few developers can pull off as well as From Software.



From Software litters the Realm of Shadow with new gear and items to find, including new weapons that can drastically change up your playstyle. For example, the backhand blades, used by a certain enemy type in the game, are fantastic for dishing out fast, high damage in style, while Dryleaf Arts essentially unlocks martial arts for players who want to deal with problems through punching and kicking enemies to death. The Dueling Shield, part-shield and part-sword, is also great for balancing out attack and defence without expending extra slots.

On a technical level, Shadow of the Erdtree has a few hiccups that need to be ironed out. I played it on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S with minor differences, if at all, between the two consoles. However, texture pop-ins happen when you load into an area full of grass, for example, or objects in the distance will suddenly sharpen as you get closer to them.



However, the art direction and aesthetic does a lot of the heavy-lifting here making those minor technical problems ignorable. The Realm of Shadow is a stunning landscape, not just in its meticulous design but its visual splendor. Darker than the Lands Between but no less captivating, the realm is absolutely stunning and darkly menacing all at once. The voice acting work also deserves a shoutout since it's one aspect that isn't talked about enough in From Software games. Every actor brings their A-game, especially Igon, one of my favourite NPCs in the game, and the tremendous voice work for Messmer the Impaler.

When compared to other expansive DLCs, Shadow of the Erdtree is truly in a league of its own. From Software have gone above and beyond to deliver not only a content-stacked juggernaut of an expansion, but what feels like a full-fledged sequel to Elden Ring cleverly disguised as downloadable content. Minor problems aside with some of the lacklustre rewards for exploration, From Software has simply delivered more Elden Ring, and that's the best part.

*Xbox review code provided by Bandai Namco