Elden Ring enters Metacritic’s top-rated games with fanfare.
The gaming world rarely agrees. Not even about whether a good story is important or not. But sometimes a masterpiece shines so brightly that it convinces all testers – and Elden Ring succeeds in doing just that. From Software’s first foray into the open world is showered with praise and top ratings from the international press. You can get a full overview in our press review.
Our test team also blew Elden Ring off their feet, especially with the ingenious design of the open world and the elegant way of storytelling:
Elden Ring put to the test
The second highest rating in GameStar history
Currently the Metascore for the PC version at 95, out of a total of 36 tests, all of which are positive. The PS5 version is rated even better, with Metacritic showing a 97 out of 45 reviews. Of course you will find the right one among the colleagues at GamePro Console version test.
Since Elden Ring will not be released until February 25, 2022, most users have not yet been able to play and rate it themselves. This function will only be activated after the release – Metacritic wants to curb review bombing, among other things.
But why exactly do all the tests sing hymns of praise? What makes Elden Ring a masterpiece? And are there also points of criticism with all the jubilation?
Elden Ring – View screenshots from the PC version
Elden Ring: The international ratings at a glance
Here you can see the ratings of the most important portals for the PC version of Elden Ring. We then go into praise and criticism of the tests below.
| publication | rating |
| IGN | 10/10 |
| VG247 | 5/5 |
| Game Informer | 10/10 |
| PCGamesN | 10/10 |
| GameSpot | 10/10 |
| Hardcore Gamer | 5/5 |
| Wccftech | 10/10 |
| GameStar | 91/100 |
| IGN Portugal | 9/10 |
| PCGamer | 90/100 |
| Digital Trends | 4/5 |
What do the international tests say?
As you can see from the overview above, everyone agrees that Elden Ring has turned out to be a damn good game. 15 out of 36 tests even pull out the highest ratingincluding IGN, Game Informer, GameSpot and VG247.
Mitchell Saltzman of IGN would like to marry the game and demands: »Put a ring on it«. He goes on to write in his test:
In the 87 hours it took me to play through Elden Ring, I was thrown through a roller-coaster ride of emotions: anger when I was crushed by his toughest challenges, excitement when I finally got over them, and heartache about the mountains of experience points I lost in the hardest boss fights in From Software history. But more than anything, I experienced a constant state of awe (…).
Tester Sherif Saed is just as enthusiastic VG247 and also gives the best possible rating. For him, Elden Ring rewrites playful freedom:
Elden Ring is an open-world game, but maybe not in the way you think of when you hear those words. It’s not about waypoints that take you to distant places or a map packed with icons. Instead, it’s pure, unrestricted exploration. Think of the way previous Souls games trust players and give free rein to character progression and storytelling. Combine that philosophy with the open country and you have the backbone of a game that’s a masterpiece in its own right.
2:35
Elden Ring: The launch trailer is here and get ready for the masterpiece
The test of PCGamer belongs to the »more critical« reviews, but please imagine the quotation marks twice as big. Tyler Colp gives it a 90/100 and only criticizes that Elden Ring feels a bit too familiar – but that’s not a big deal:
From Software’s open-world action RPG is brilliant, but a little too familiar. (…) Elden Ring is so similar to Dark Souls that it’s distracting at times: there’s a woman to level you up, there’s a throne to conquer, and many of the same types of monsters found in Souls games , some of which are almost identical. Scattering these elements in an open world doesn’t make them any better and robs them of the importance they had in other games.
The Souls games are excellent, so it still works despite reusing a lot of what we already know. Where Elden Ring repeats the past, it feels like a new remastered version of a Souls game.
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What the tests particularly praise
All (or almost all) international tests agree on a few points:
- The open world of Elden Ring is great and gives players a lot of freedom
- The comparison with genre milestones like Breath of the Wild or Skyrim is often drawn, Elden Ring plays in the same league
- From Software masterfully combines the best elements and lessons from the previous Souls games
- Anyone who liked the Souls games will love Elden Ring. But it should also be a little more accessible for newcomers
What the tests criticize
Basically, it’s almost just that Technology that stands out negatively in some reviews. We too have experienced stutters and bugs that spoil the joy of playing a bit. That’s why we decided to downgrade it, of course you can find out more about it in the test.
18:17
From Software outdoes itself with Elden Ring – Test/Review
Of course, once Elden Ring is out, we’re dying to hear your thoughts on the game. It won’t be long until you can get started yourself! In the meantime, feel free to read our tips before you start the game.
Given the overwhelmingly positive reviews, are you excited for Elden Ring even more? Or do you remain skeptical despite everything and because of the few points of criticism? Write your opinion in the comments!
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