On Friday, June 21, 2024, the first DLC for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, will be released. Many fans are eagerly awaiting the expansion, but can the new content meet the high expectations of the players? We summarize the reviews from the first testers so you know what to expect.
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Summary
- Metacritic score of 93.67 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
- Lower ratings than the main game, but currently the highest-rated game of 2024.
- Positive points: scope, map, atmosphere, bosses, weapons, and spells.
- Negative points: navigation, recycled enemies.
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Here’s how the DLC ratings look
How does the expansion perform on Metacritic? The first reviews of Shadow of the Erdtree are extremely positive. Across all three platforms – PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X – the DLC has an average score of 93.67. (As of June 18, 2024, 6:35 PM).
- PS5: 95 (48 ratings)
- Xbox Series X: 94 (7 ratings)
- PC: 92 (39 ratings)
With these scores, Shadow of the Erdtree does not quite reach the high Metacritic scores of Elden Ring’s main game, but it is still the highest-rated game of the year 2024 so far. The remaining four spots in the top five consist of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (92), Destiny 2: The Final Shape (92), Animal Well (91), and Balatro (90).
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Here’s how the testers rate it
How did various media outlets rate it? Our colleagues at GameStar and GamePro have tested Shadow of the Erdtree on various platforms.
For the English-speaking testers, the ratings looked like this:
PC
- GameSpot – 100
- IGN – 100
- PC Gamer – 95
- PCGamesN – 90
PS5
- Dexerto – 100
- GamesRadar+ – 100
- Dot Esports – 90
- The New York Times – 88
Xbox Series X
- TechRadar Gaming – 90
- GAMINGbible – 90
- digitaltrends – 90
Shadow of the Erdtree Metacritic – Here’s what the reviews say
What is well-received? Perhaps the biggest argument for Shadow of the Erdtree is the scope of the DLC. The various reviews make it clear that the expansion can hold its own against full-fledged games. This is evident not only in the new story but also in the size of the map and the number of bosses.
These remain a challenge with interesting attack mechanics – especially the final boss. The presentation of the bosses is also successful and contributes to the generally cohesive atmosphere.
You will experience this atmosphere mainly while exploring the game world. If you enjoyed this in the main game, you should have fun in the expansion as well, based on the reviews.
However, enjoyment does not only come from well-staged bosses or an atmospheric game world. The new weapons and spells are also praised, as they meaningfully expand the gameplay and offer new opportunities.
What is not well-received? The biggest criticism is the navigation. If you tend to get lost quickly or have trouble finding certain paths, Shadow of the Erdtree might pose some problems for you.
This also applies to the difficulty of the bosses. Here it is clear: it does not get easier. If the main game was too difficult for you, you will not suddenly become a pro-gamer in the DLC. For some, the high difficulty is definitely a plus, but for some of you, it could also mean frustration.
Some testers noted somewhat frustratingly that some enemies were recycled. That means you may encounter opponents whose fighting styles you already know.
If you want to play Shadow of the Erdtree, you must first defeat a specific boss: Mohg, the Bloodlord. Where to find him and how to quickly send him to the afterlife can be found on MeinMMO: Elden Ring Mohg Location: Here’s how to find and defeat the powerful Bloodlord
