Shadow of the Erdtree earns its 10/10 by making Elden Ring’s strengths feel newly concentrated: a richly layered region to explore, striking art direction, demanding boss fights and a story driven by memorable characters. It is not flawless—the expansion can hit hard, reuses some enemies, and makes a few NPC quests easy to miss—but Windows Central’s review makes a persuasive case that this is a substantial, rewarding continuation for players ready to return to the Lands Between.
Why Shadow of the Erdtree earns a 10/10
In his June 18, 2024 review for Windows Central, Brendan Lowry calls Shadow of the Erdtree an expansion that improves on Elden Ring rather than simply adding more of the same. He awards it 10/10 after playing the Windows PC version, and estimates that his playthrough took 35–40 hours. Those are the reviewer’s score and playtime estimate, not a guarantee of how long every player will take.
The central achievement is the Land of Shadow. Lowry describes it as smaller than the base game’s world but denser with discoveries, with vertical terrain and distinctive environments that make exploration feel worthwhile. That density helps the expansion stand on its own: it offers new places to investigate rather than relying only on the appeal of returning to familiar territory.
Exploration with a strong visual identity
The expansion’s environmental art gives its new region a character of its own. Its varied landscapes and verticality encourage players to look beyond the obvious route, while encounters and loot help make detours feel purposeful. The result, in Lowry’s assessment, is a world that rewards curiosity without needing to match the base game’s scale.
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![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.
Bosses, enemies and progression
Major boss encounters are among the review’s strongest points: they are challenging, visually striking and memorable. The expansion also adds enemies, weapons, spells and armor. A new Shadow Realm Blessing system uses Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes to strengthen the player and their summons in the Realm of Shadow, giving exploration a direct connection to progression.
There are tradeoffs. Lowry says incoming damage can feel overtuned, and some enemies are reused. Players who enjoy searching thoroughly and learning difficult encounters may find those demands part of the appeal; others may find the damage pressure frustrating.
A character-led story, with quests that can be easy to miss
The journey centers on pursuing Miquella, giving the expansion a character-driven focus alongside its exploration and combat. NPC quests connect to that story, but the review cautions that some are confusing to progress or easy to miss. Players who want to follow every thread should pay attention to characters and their changing circumstances rather than assuming each quest will advance clearly on its own.
Is Shadow of the Erdtree worth it?
For someone who enjoyed exploring Elden Ring, learning its combat and tackling difficult bosses, the review’s verdict is an emphatic yes. The strongest reason to play is the combination of a distinctive, tightly packed region and substantial new encounters, supported by a story with a clear character focus. The main reasons to hesitate are the reported damage intensity, some repeated enemies and quests that may take care to follow.
Lowry’s 10/10 is a critic’s judgment, not a promise that every player will enjoy the same difficulty or quest design. But the review’s praise is specific: it argues that the expansion’s exploration, art, boss fights and narrative together make it feel like a meaningful continuation rather than an add-on built from leftovers. Read Windows Central’s full review by Brendan Lowry for his complete assessment.
Do you need Elden Ring to play the DLC?
Yes. Shadow of the Erdtree is downloadable content, and Steam states that the base game is required. The Steam listing also warns that some editions of the base game may already include the expansion, so check the exact edition you own before buying. Steam’s Shadow of the Erdtree page lists both the standalone DLC and a combined edition containing Elden Ring plus the expansion.
Choose the purchase path that matches what you own
| Situation | What to check | Likely purchase path |
|---|---|---|
| You already own Elden Ring | Confirm the base game is on the same platform and storefront, and check whether your edition already includes the DLC. | Choose the standalone expansion if it is not already included. |
| You do not own Elden Ring | Confirm the combined edition is available for your platform and storefront. | Consider the edition containing both the base game and expansion. |
These are different ways to buy access, not different versions of the expansion’s gameplay. The cited Steam page confirms the options on Steam; check the corresponding storefront and edition details on other platforms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you start Shadow of the Erdtree?
You cannot enter the expansion immediately with a fresh character. According to the review, you must first defeat Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Then interact with the NPC in Mohg’s arena to enter the Realm of Shadow.
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- Defeat Starscourge Radahn in the base game.
- Defeat Mohg, Lord of Blood.
- Go to Mohg’s arena and interact with the NPC there to enter the expansion.
Platforms and release dates
The Windows Central review lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and gives June 21, 2024 as the release date for those platforms. Steam’s product page shows June 20, 2024 for its listing. These dates reflect the respective review and storefront contexts.
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