10/10

a masterpiece, 4 playthroughs later and i can firmly say its my new favorite game of all time

June '25 update: now that Ive just finished my 15th playthrough on the 4th platform, I thought I would circle back to this review and add some more thoughts.. I continue to revisit this world multiple times throughout the years and it continues to blow me away. Ive since had a handful of people pick it up and try it themselves, as well as booting up the coop mod with my girlfriend. It has really become my comfort game. The world, the music, the lore, the art, the many many builds that you can tinker with. It has entered the highest tier of games I will always label as lifetime favorites. Joining the likes of Diablo 2, Breath of the Wild and Final Fantasy 6. Ive played souls games since the original Demon's Souls on ps3 and I own every single one that has come out since.. and while the genre is surely one of my favorites.. Elden Ring is really at the pinnacle and gives me everything i want out of a video game. Souls like gameplay but with the freedom to tackle the game in any way I want. I have the Art books, the Lore books, the Collector's Strategy Guides. I have the soundtrack ready to go at any time. I find myself humming the battle music for the Night Cavalry and Radagon all the time. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is a great add on that I admittedly have only gone through once. Nightreign isnt exactly what I wanted it to be, but still have plans of picking it up sooner than later. Oh the things I'd do to be able to drop into The Lands Between for the very first time again. That was a 2 week whirlwind of video gaming zen. I really hope we get to go back to this world one more time, and I have high hopes for the upcoming film!

Ah, Diablo 2. So many hours after school. So many hours up all night with friends. So many hours playing with family. And now so many hours after work. I will never forget the day I was gifted Lord of Destruction. So much time was spent in Sanctuary throughout both my childhood and adulthood that it simply has to be the game ive spent the most playing. Even now, im alt tabbed typing this in the middle of a magic find run. So damn happy that Blizzard put out D2 Resurrected and now choosing to add to the game's legacy by adding both content and quality of life updates. This really is the definition of the action rpg genre. And as the minions of hell continuously grow stronger, you can count on me always being there to meet them