Review of Elden Ring: The Board Game

Few games in recent memory have captured the gaming world’s imagination quite like FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. With the rising trend of video games transforming into board games, it seemed only natural for this blockbuster to make the leap to the tabletop. Leading this ambitious project is Steamforged Games, the creators known for bringing video game titles like Resident Evil, Monster Hunter World, and Dark Souls to board game enthusiasts. Following a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022, Elden Ring: The Board Game is finally nearing distribution to eagerly waiting backers, with preorders open for everyone else. It’s time once again to rally, Tarnished, and prepare for battle.

Elden Ring presents itself as a campaign board game, inviting players to journey through various scenarios, enhancing their skills and characters as the story progresses. Steamforged has attentively crafted three campaign narratives for players to explore: Realm of the Grafted King, The Weeping Peninsula, and Stormveil Castle. The Grafted King acts as the comprehensive base game, while the other two serve as standalone expansions. Players can start with any of these expansions or continue their adventure after completing the Grafted King, carrying forward their characters and amplifying their abilities. Depending on your chosen box, different classes are available: the Grafted King includes Vagabond, Samurai, Astrologer, and Prophet; Weeping Peninsula offers Hero, Prophet, Astrologer, and Bandit; and Stormveil Castle features Confessor, Prisoner, Samurai, and Vagabond.

The game arrives in impressive, hefty boxes filled to the brim with intimidating monster miniatures, a vast array of cards, cardboard tokens, tiles, and extensive rule books, combat maps, and scenario guides. Despite owning only one campaign so far, the game’s grand scale is clear, not to mention the bonus boss sets that further enhance gameplay. The production quality is top-notch, with meticulously detailed miniatures and durable components like cards and tokens, showcasing Steamforged’s commitment to excellence.

Elden Ring maintains variety in its scenarios to prevent monotony, though not all formats resonate equally. Narrative scenarios, for one, require players to read through detailed story segments, make decisions, and perform skill checks, then draw corresponding cards to see the outcomes. While these scenarios are well-crafted, they might not appeal to those who prefer active gameplay over extensive reading – in such cases, a good book or a session of Dungeons & Dragons might be more fitting.

My favorites are, unquestionably, the Exploration scenarios, which truly capture the thrill of discovery akin to the original video game. Here, players venture through the map’s regions, revealing new tiles and completing quests. Each tile could host enemies, hidden items, or the grace of a Site of Grace, among other surprises. This tile-flipping mechanic, reminiscent of games like Betrayal at House on the Hill or Clank! Catacombs, boosts both excitement and replay value. These scenarios seamlessly integrate elements of combat, story, and exploration without overwhelming the players.

Combat enthusiasts will find the remaining three scenario types – Gauntlet, Dungeon, and Boss scenarios – heavily focused on battles. Gauntlets throw players into challenging skirmishes filled with unique rules, while Dungeons end with climactic boss fights. Boss scenarios are where teamwork and strategic builds face their toughest tests, delivering a challenging and rewarding experience. With its robust combat system, Elden Ring’s relentless battles are a highlight.

The battles take place on grids, strategically designed with ring-bound maps. Sometimes, multiple books are spread out to form expansive battlegrounds, where players and foes maneuver through intense combat. There are no dice here; instead, strategic card play fuels the encounters. Players equip their characters with weapons and skills, using specific cards to execute attacks and defenses. This card system manages elements like damage, special effects, and character progression, ensuring a deeply strategic experience.

Character growth plays a pivotal role in the game. Much like its digital counterpart, players can level up characters for new abilities and personalize them by changing equipment, using Attribute and Trait cards, and modifying stats. This is governed by the Rune system, serving as a gear restriction that expands as you progress. However, the current Rune tracking method – using small cards – is cumbersome and inadequate, and a simpler system would benefit players significantly.

Though I faced initial challenges when I started with the Stormveil Castle expansion, designed for more seasoned characters, this didn’t dampen the overall appeal of the game. For newcomers, beginning with The Grafted King is advisable to ensure a more seamless introduction.

In conclusion, Elden Ring offers a meticulously crafted and engaging campaign board game that captures the essence of its legendary video game predecessor, enriched by strategic combat and exploration. Fans of the franchise and strategic board gamers alike will find much to enjoy in this sprawling and immersive adventure.