Review of Elden Ring: The Board Game

Over the past decade, few games have caused as much of a stir in the cultural landscape as FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. It’s no surprise, then, that as video games continue to inspire board games, Elden Ring has joined the ranks. Steamforged Games, renowned for adapting video games such as Resident Evil, Monster Hunter World, and Dark Souls, has taken on the challenge. Following a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022, Elden Ring: The Board Game is now almost ready to be shipped to backers and can be preordered by anyone eagerly waiting. Get ready, Tarnished. The battle awaits once more.

Elden Ring is not just any board game—it’s a campaign-driven journey. Players venture through different scenarios, improving their characters and leveling up as they experience the story. Steamforged Games presents three riveting campaigns to choose from: Realm of the Grafted King, The Weeping Peninsula, and Stormveil Castle. The Grafted King serves as the expansive “base game,” while the other two are standalone expansions. Whether you dive into these expansions independently or take them on post-Grafted King, your characters continue their evolution, becoming ever more formidable. Each box offers unique classes: in the Grafted King, there are the Vagabond, Samurai, Astrologer, and Prophet; the Weeping Peninsula features the Hero, Prophet, Astrologer, and Bandit; and Stormveil Castle includes the Confessor, Prisoner, Samurai, and Vagabond.

This imposing game comes in large boxes bursting with intricately designed monster miniatures, countless cards, cardboard tokens, tiles, and a wealth of rulebooks, combat maps, and scenario guides. It’s one of the most daunting yet striking games I own, and I’ve yet to collect the additional campaigns or bonus boss sets. Steamforged Games has truly outdone itself in terms of production quality. Between the finely detailed miniatures and the robust cards and components, it’s a sight to behold.

The game’s scenarios come in different styles, which helps keep the play fresh and dynamic, though not all hit the mark equally. Narrative scenarios involve reading story paragraphs, making decisions, and potentially conducting skill checks—a format that, while well-crafted, didn’t quite resonate with me. I’d rather read a book or play Dungeons & Dragons for storytelling experiences.

On the other hand, Exploration scenarios captivated me. They embody the essence of discovery and the uncertainty of what awaits beyond the horizon, much like the video game itself. Players traverse a region, flipping tiles and uncovering the unknown, with surprises ranging from enemies to items. The randomness of tile placement ensures that the game remains engaging and replayable, offering a well-rounded blend of combat, storytelling, and exploration without overwhelming the players.

Three additional scenario types focus solely on combat: Gauntlet, Dungeon, and Boss scenarios. Gauntlets pit you against tough enemy mobs with special rules, Dungeons culminate in epic boss fights, and Boss scenarios are where teamwork and character builds are truly tested. Given that Elden Ring is action-packed, the solid combat mechanics ensure it’s an exhilarating experience.

Combat unfolds on grids created from ring-bound notebooks, occasionally requiring multiple pages for more extensive battles. Strategic movement is key, as positioning affects outcomes such as damage dealt or received. My friends and I debated our next moves extensively, yet even the best strategies often led to defeat, as enemies here are truly challenging.

Regular foes follow predictable patterns with action cards, making their turns manageable. Bosses, however, operate with their own decks, creating dynamic and unpredictable encounters. Scalable health pools ensure battles are fair, providing thrilling moments of tension and surprise. Despite the miniatures’ simplicity, the strategic depth of the combat stands out brilliantly.

In an unexpected twist, dice are absent from Elden Ring. Instead, it relies on a card-driven deck-building system, where plays depend on one’s equipped weapons and skills. Character progression involves not only leveling up but also customizing through weapons, armor, accessories, and adjusting Attribute and Trait cards.

Despite the game’s standout features, my first impression was daunting, due to mistakenly beginning with the Stormveil Castle campaign. As a standalone expansion, it assumes familiarity with earlier content, complicating things for new players. For a smoother experience, I recommend starting with the Realm of the Grafted King. The game is available for enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in this epic tabletop adaptation.