10 Best RPGs Of 2024
4. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
In the webcomic Order of the Stick, the villainous Emperor Tarquin expounds on how he deals with the fact that, being an evil authority figure in a D&D universe, his reign will likely end on the sharp end of a righteous hero's sword. As he puts it, before that happens, "...he got to live like a God for three decades! Sure, the last ten minutes sucked, but you can't have everything".
Which brings us to Shadow of the Erdtree. Yes, the final boss was about as much fun as sitting on a toilet made of hot knives during a bout of food poisoning, but the 30 hours preceding it showed why FromSoftware are still the best at what they do. And what they do best, is creating hugely atmospheric fantasy worlds with genre-defining combat and finely crafted lore (admittedly, the original quote is a tad catchier).
Shadow of the Erdtree is the Elden Ring experience refined into an all-killer no-filler heavy metal album. While the base game had its peaks and valleys (hello, Lake of Rot), Erdtree's dizzying blend of gothic fortresses, haunted forests and volcanic hellscapes provided some of 2024's most thrilling exploration, as well as its most satisfying battles. (Farewell, Messmer, you snake-headed sod. You were worth the two-year wait to fight).
Expansion pack it may be, but Shadow of the Erdtree fully deserved its GOTY nomination at The Game Awards. The upcoming Nightreign expansion has a lot to live up to,.,,