Critics received Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree very positively. In a snapshot accessed October 8, 2026, Metacritic listed a 94 Metascore from 64 critic reviews and classified all 64 as positive. OpenCritic separately reported 133 critic reviews and a 100th-percentile ranking, but its accessible result did not show an aggregate score. Those are different services and review pools, not directly interchangeable measurements.
What the review scores say
Metacritic’s review page showed a 94 Metascore from 64 critic reviews when accessed on October 8, 2026, with all 64 classified as positive. Scores and review counts can change, so treat these as a dated snapshot rather than a permanent rating.
OpenCritic’s critic-review listing reported 133 critic reviews and ranked the expansion in the 100th percentile. The accessible result did not expose an average score, so no OpenCritic score should be inferred from that ranking.
What critics praised
Exploration and world design
Review excerpts highlight the Realm of Shadow’s landscapes, characters, and goals, while Victor Moisan’s French-language review for Le Monde describes a tortuous, double-layered world whose concealed connections and vertical layout reward exploration. The review’s short summary frames the expansion as a sophisticated synthesis of the qualities that made Elden Ring successful.
#1 Best Overall
![ELDEN RING - Shadow of the Erdtree - Xbox [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oWZz2OeeL._SL160_.jpg)
- Playable on 21st June 2024.
- Pre-order now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture
- Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace.
- The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment.
- Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy.
Bandai Namco describes the expansion as a new adventure in the Realm of Shadow, following Miquella through new mysteries, fields, and dungeons. The publisher’s 2024 launch announcement also lists new bosses, gear, abilities, weapons, and armor.
Bosses, weapons, and abilities
One review excerpt praises the new weapons and magic alongside challenging boss battles. The official product information likewise describes new threats, weapons, and skills. These features fit the expansion’s central appeal for players who want more of the base game’s exploration and demanding combat.
What reservations appear in the reviews
The captured excerpts also point to trade-offs. One critic argues that the expansion offers more of the familiar content style rather than fundamentally new ways to engage with the game. Another notes limited variety among regular enemies and says some portions of the open world can feel too large. These are examples from particular review excerpts, not a count of how frequently each criticism appears across all reviews.
Difficulty is part of the experience critics describe: the excerpts praise demanding boss fights, while the publisher’s product information characterizes the intended progression as intense battles. Bandai Namco’s line that players will feel “an overwhelming sense of accomplishment” after the battles is publisher copy, not a critic’s assessment.
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Is the expansion worth playing?
The critical consensus points toward a strong recommendation for players who want a substantial continuation of Elden Ring: exploration, intricate world design, new combat options, and difficult bosses are the main draws. The most relevant caveat is that this is an expansion built on the base game’s style, not a reinvention of it. Players who already find that style too demanding, or who want a very different kind of game, may not be persuaded by the high scores alone.
Release and access requirements
Shadow of the Erdtree released on June 21, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Steam, according to Bandai Namco’s product information. It is additional content: the Elden Ring base game is required, and players must progress through that game to a certain extent before they can access the expansion. The publisher’s 2024 announcement mentions multiple versions, including a Collector’s Edition and bundles; it does not establish current availability or what any edition currently includes.
Bandai Namco reported that the expansion sold more than 5 million units worldwide within three days of release. That is the publisher’s three-day sales milestone, not a current lifetime sales total.
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