Elden Ring in 2024: Still Worth Your Time?
A Look Back at 2022
Elden Ring wasn’t just another action RPG. When it launched in 2022, it became a cultural moment in gaming. Here’s what made it stand out:
- Won Game of the Year at The Game Awards
- Garnered universal critical acclaim from players and reviewers
- Attracted millions of players globally within just weeks of launch
It redefined open-world exploration and delivered on FromSoftware’s signature style of punishing-yet-rewarding gameplay.
Post-DLC and Updates: Where Does It Stand Now?
Fast forward to today, and Elden Ring has grown far beyond its launch version.
- Several major updates have added content, rebalanced combat, and improved gameplay quality
- Its PvP mechanics have evolved with dedicated arenas and matchmaking changes
- The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expanded the lore and gave fans more of what they loved
Players who return now will find a more refined, balanced, and sometimes even more brutal version of the game.
Is It Still Worth Playing in 2024?
Despite newer releases, Elden Ring holds its ground. Here’s why:
- The open world remains one of the most immersive and mysterious in modern gaming
- New players will still experience the magic firsthand, while veterans can explore updated systems and content
- Community modding and PvP tournaments keep it alive well past its initial hype
If you missed it in 2022, now might be an even better time to dive in. And if you already explored the Lands Between? A fresh run with new builds and modes could surprise you.
Elden Ring stands tall as a landmark title—one that continues to reward time and attention with depth, challenge, and a sense of discovery that few games offer.
The Endless Allure of The Lands Between
Visual and Architectural Brilliance
Even years after release, The Lands Between remains a masterclass in environmental design. Its breathtaking vistas, haunting ruins, and interconnected landscapes continue to captivate both new players and seasoned veterans.
- Every region tells a story through architecture alone
- Visual storytelling guides exploration without hand-holding
- Dynamic weather and lighting breathe life into the world
Players often pause just to take in their surroundings — a rare feat in open-world design. From towering castles to hidden crypts, FromSoftware mixes grandeur with detail in a way few other studios achieve.
Exploration That Keeps Giving
Spending 100 or more hours in The Lands Between is not uncommon, and even then, new discoveries await. The world is layered, full of secrets, side quests, and environmental puzzles that often go unnoticed on the first (or third) pass.
- Hidden dungeons and NPC secrets tucked in remote corners
- Non-linear pathways encourage curiosity and reward persistence
- Discoveries feel earned, not marked on a map
Whether it’s stumbling upon a forgotten storyline or piecing together lore through item descriptions, players feel active in shaping their journey every time they log in.
Sustained Life Through Community Creativity
The Elden Ring community is constantly breathing new energy into the game through content that extends well beyond the original scope.
- Custom builds and challenge runs shared across forums and YouTube
- Fan-made maps, lore breakdowns, and theories that deepen the experience
- Ongoing PvP tournaments and role-play-driven invasions
This steady stream of community-created content keeps The Lands Between alive even for those who finished the main story long ago. It fosters a shared experience that turns a single-player title into an ever-evolving world.
Complexity is the charm. Games that took cues from Elden Ring aren’t dumbing things down. They’re doubling down. Deep RPG mechanics are now expected, not optional. Players want freedom to tinker with builds, experiment with wild loadouts, and break the system in delightful ways. The meta isn’t static — it’s a playground. Whether you’re rolling a glass-cannon mage or a poison-stacking rogue-brawler hybrid, the fun is in testing what works. And what breaks.
Then there are the bosses — still savage, still smart. Not just HP sponges or pattern memorizers, but real tests of player creativity. Developers are crafting encounters that ask for more than good reflexes. Timing, positioning, resource use, even build planning are all in play. Winning feels earned.
Underneath it all, you can spot Elden Ring’s fingerprints — open-ended class systems, combat flexibility, environmental storytelling. Newer titles are borrowing the formula, refining it, evolving it. But make no mistake: they’re all playing in a world that game helped shape.
Since launch, Elden Ring has seen steady, meaningful updates that have kept the game fresh without breaking what made it work in the first place. Balance patches have fine-tuned weapons and magic, NPC questlines have been expanded, and new content like Colosseum PvP gave long-term players more to chew on. The devs didn’t rush. Each update felt deliberate.
Quality-of-life tweaks have shaped the experience too. Load times are quicker, the map interface is cleaner, and enemy behavior has been adjusted to better match player progression. For new players stepping in, the curve feels smoother. Veterans with dozens of hours logged finally have smart ways to respec and revisit old builds.
Then came the much-anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. It added a new region larger than expected, full of lore, brutal bosses, and just enough mystery to reignite that early-game curiosity. Thematically rich and mechanically tight, it builds on what was already a massive world without feeling bloated.
Performance-wise, 2024 has been stable. Framerates on console are consistent and keyboard-and-mouse users on PC now report far fewer input issues. It’s not perfect, but much closer to it than before. For players who were holding out, now’s the time to jump in. For a snapshot of how Elden Ring stacks up against other evolving open-world giants, check out this Starfield deep dive.
Community-Driven Longevity in Vlogging’s Gaming Corner
PvP and co-op matchmaking are still work-in-progress beasts. Some platforms have smoothed out the rough edges, but players and creators still wrestle with long queues, unbalanced lobbies, and spotty regional access. Despite the friction, gaming vloggers keep coming back to these formats because the shared chaos and triumph make for great content. Unpredictability sparks reaction, and reaction drives engagement.
What’s really keeping the engine running is the modding scene. Fan-made expansions, custom challenges, and rule-benders aren’t just padding—they’re adding serious shelf life to games that would otherwise fade. Creators who spotlight these mods or build series around them are cashing in on the community’s craving for fresh takes.
Meanwhile, discussion hubs on Reddit, YouTube, and Twitch continue to burn hot. Reaction breakdowns, highlight reels, and speculative lore videos help transform a one-time game drop into months of conversation. For vloggers in the gaming space, tapping into these spaces isn’t extra—it’s survival.
Why This Open-World Action RPG Still Reigns Supreme
A Genre-Defining Experience
This title is still considered by many to be the pinnacle of open-world action RPGs released in the last decade. Its combination of expansive world-building, intricate combat design, and high replayability has kept it at the top of recommendation lists year after year.
- Massive, interconnected world setups
- Deep lore that rewards exploration and curiosity
- Fluid, challenging combat that grows with player skill
A Great Time to Dive Back In
Whether you’re a first-timer or someone who’s already logged hundreds of hours, there’s always a reason to return:
- Try a completely different build or combat style
- Re-experience iconic moments with fresh eyes
- Explore updates and mods that enhance or overhaul the gameplay
Even veterans often discover new secrets or strategies on a second or third run. The depth is that rich.
When to Consider Skipping
It’s not a universal fit. If you’ve never enjoyed FromSoftware’s tightly tuned, high-difficulty gameplay, this game likely won’t change your mind.
- Preference matters: If punishing difficulty or cryptic storytelling isn’t your thing, it may not resonate
- The learning curve is steep, and the game offers little hand-holding
Still, for those even slightly curious, this might be the game that finally clicks.
If you’re not into Soulslike games, this one won’t do you any favors. The difficulty is still tuned for pain, with no apologies. There’s no slider to ease the curve, no mode to take the edge off. It expects you to learn, adapt, and fail a lot. If that sounds exhausting instead of exciting, this probably isn’t your game.
Also, if you’re the kind of player who prefers structure—missions, markers, a clear sense of purpose—this open-ended design can feel frustrating fast. It gives you freedom, but that freedom often looks a lot like wandering. Don’t expect much hand-holding.
And while the world design is striking in spots, the graphics aren’t leading the charge. Performance is solid enough, but if you’re coming off a visual showcase like the latest big-budget PS5 or PC titles, this will feel a step behind. It looks good, just not groundbreaking. The charm here is in mechanics and atmosphere, not photorealism.
Elden Ring in 2024 is still a beast. It hasn’t gotten easier. If anything, returning players and curious newcomers are digging deeper than ever. The combat remains tight, the world is sprawling and weird, and the lore still invites full-blown obsession. It’s punishing, but not unfair. The game dares you to become better, then rewards you when you do.
If you’re thinking about jumping in this year, know this: it’s not something you blitz through. It’s a slow burn. You’ll die a lot. You’ll question your life choices. But every bit of progress feels earned, and every victory feels like yours alone. Whether you’re dodging dragons or piecing together side quests from cryptic whispers, it’s worth every hour—as long as you’re up for the ride.
Install it. Take your time. Die with dignity. Learn. Then do it again.