Elden Ring has a Metacritic score of 96 from 86 critic reviews on the base game listing, while its separate 2024 expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, has a score of 94 from 64 critic reviews. These are live aggregate snapshots accessed October 8, 2026—not permanent scores or user ratings.
What is Elden Ring’s critic review score?
The 2022 base game is listed at 96 on Metacritic, based on 86 critic reviews. The page lists PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms and gives February 25, 2022 as the release date. The aggregate was accessed October 8, 2026, and may change as Metacritic updates its catalog. Metacritic’s Elden Ring reviews provides the current listing. GameSpot also displays a Metacritic score of 96 and identifies February 25, 2022 as the game’s first-release date. GameSpot’s Elden Ring page.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Elden Ring (PS5) (European Version) | $34.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Elden Ring, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $73.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Demon's Souls - PlayStation 5 | $39.45 | Buy on Amazon |
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A Metascore summarizes indexed critic reviews; it does not mean every critic assigned a 96, and it is not a user rating. Nor does the number guarantee that the game will suit every player.
How does Shadow of the Erdtree score?
Shadow of the Erdtree is a separate 2024 expansion, not another edition of the base game. Its Metacritic listing reports a 94 from 64 critic reviews, accessed October 8, 2026, and gives June 21, 2024 as its release date. The cited critic-review view is for PlayStation 5; the page offers other platform filters, and its count should not be treated as a universal count across platforms. See Metacritic’s Shadow of the Erdtree reviews.
#1 Best Overall
- Collaborating with George R.R. Martin to create the ELDEN RING mythos has been a genuinely delightful experience and a source of wonderful inspiration. The team is working hard to ensure that the world of ELDEN RING will be a fascinating place for players to explore, filled with peril and wonder from its furthest reaches to its lowest depths. This is a FromSoftware title through and through, rich in fantasy and RPG action. We sincerely hope you look forward to it.
- Building the world of ELDEN RING with Miyazaki-san and his team was a treat! The graphics, mythos, and action-RPG gameplay will deliver an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait for people to see what ELDEN RING has in store for them.” Said George R.R. Martin.
| Review subject | Metascore and critic count | Release date | Platform context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elden Ring (base game) | 96 from 86 critic reviews | February 25, 2022 | Metacritic listing identifies PC, PlayStation, and Xbox; the aggregate is a dated snapshot. |
| Shadow of the Erdtree (expansion) | 94 from 64 critic reviews | June 21, 2024 | The cited critic-review view is PlayStation 5; counts can vary by platform view. |
The two-point difference is not a controlled head-to-head result or proof of a meaningful quality gap. Each aggregate reflects its own set of indexed reviews, and the expansion’s cited view has platform-specific context.
What critics praised about the base game
In 2022, PCGamesN’s review roundup described strong critical enthusiasm for FromSoftware’s move into an open world, with praise focused on the density of the Lands Between and the rewards of exploration. The article is useful for historical critical context, not for today’s changing review totals. Its roundup reported a 10/10 score from its own critic, Jordan; that is PCGamesN’s outlet score, not a score shared by all critics. Read the PCGamesN review roundup.
What critics praise—and qualify—in the expansion
Metacritic’s critic excerpts for Shadow of the Erdtree highlight its layered, interconnected world, atmosphere, lore, mechanics, challenge, discoveries, new areas, and gear. The same set includes individual reservations: one excerpt describes a light ending and some boss imbalance, while another argues that the expansion leans on familiar content rather than offering new ways to engage. These are views from particular critics, not a measured consensus about every player’s experience. See the expansion’s critic reviews.
Rank #3
- Discover where the journey began - Experience the original brutal challenge, completely remade from the ground up. All presented in stunning visual quality with enhanced performance, this is the world of Boletaria as you have never seen it before.
- Become the Slayer of Demons - Venture to the northern kingdom of Boletaria – a once prosperous land of knights, now beset with unspeakable creatures and ravenous demons. Meet strange characters, unhinged and twisted by the world around them, and unravel the unsettling story of Demon’s Souls.
- Face the world’s greatest warriors in ferocious PVP combat - With online invasions adding to the danger of your quest. Or play cooperatively by summoning allies to aid in your fight against the demons. Active PS Plus subscription required for online multiplayer.
What the scores can—and cannot—tell you
The aggregates indicate exceptionally positive critical reception for both the base game and its expansion, but a high critic score is not a prediction of personal enjoyment. Combat difficulty and tolerance for challenge matter: the same demanding encounters that critics may value can frustrate players who prefer a gentler pace. Consider whether exploration, learning difficult fights, and discovering solutions through repeated attempts appeal to you rather than treating the aggregate as a recommendation that fits everyone.
For an accurate comparison, check whether a score refers to the full game or the expansion, which platform view is selected, how many critic reviews are counted, and when the listing was accessed. Metacritic can add reviews, and platform-specific pages may report different counts.
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