Review of Elden Ring: The Board Game

In the last ten years, few games have captured the public’s imagination quite like FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. With the growing trend of video games transitioning into board games, it was inevitable that this colossal hit would make its way onto the tabletop scene. Steamforged Games, the team behind notable video game adaptations like Resident Evil, Monster Hunter World, and FromSoftware’s own Dark Souls, accepted the challenge. Following a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022, Elden Ring: The Board Game is now on the verge of reaching its backers and is available for preorder. So, prepare yourself, fellow Tarnished—it’s time to rejoin the battle.

Elden Ring: The Board Game is designed as a campaign-style experience. You and your friends progress through a series of scenarios, enhancing your characters as the storyline unfolds. Steamforged Games crafted three specific “campaigns” for players to dive into: Realm of the Grafted King, The Weeping Peninsula, and Stormveil Castle. Each campaign offers a distinct adventure, with Grafted King serving as the primary game, while the other two function as standalone expansions. Whether you choose to tackle these expansions on their own or follow up the Grafted King, each path allows you to transfer characters and build on their abilities. Depending on the set you choose, you’ll have various classes at your disposal. The Grafted King base game includes the Vagabond, Samurai, Astrologer, and Prophet, while the Weeping Peninsula provides the Hero, Prophet, Astrologer, and Bandit. In Stormveil Castle, you can play as the Confessor, Prisoner, Samurai, and Vagabond.

The game itself is quite an impressive sight, packaged in large boxes brimming with intricate monster miniatures, an abundance of cards, cardboard counters, tiles, and a wealth of books filled with rules, combat diagrams, and scenario instructions. Owning just one of the campaigns already makes it an intimidating addition to any collection. If you decide to pick up additional campaigns or bonus boss sets, you’d better make room on your shelf. Steamforged hit the mark with Elden Ring’s production quality, showcasing some of the most detailed miniatures I’ve come across, along with cards that feel satisfying and durable.

The game’s scenarios vary enough to keep everything fresh, ensuring you’re not repeating the same activity continuously. However, not every scenario strikes a chord equally. Narrative scenarios require players to delve into paragraphs of story, choose actions, potentially test skills, and draw cards to see outcomes unfold. These are intriguing and incorporate skill checks effectively, but they didn’t quite resonate with me. If I were looking for extensive storytelling, I’d reach for a good book or dive into a Dungeons & Dragons session.

Among all the scenarios, the Exploration ones are my standout favorite. They capture the essence of adventure and uncertainty that defines the original game. During these scenarios, players explore parts of the map, revealing random tiles that could contain enemies, treasures, Sites of Grace, or unexpected surprises. This “grow as you go” style of map development mirrors similar mechanics in games like Betrayal at House on the Hill or Clank! Catacombs, enhancing both suspense and replay value thanks to the unpredictability of tile placement. Exploration scenarios integrate combat, story, and exploration harmoniously without feeling overbearing.

In addition to exploration, the game features three more combat-centric scenarios: Gauntlet, Dungeon, and Boss. Gauntlets challenge you with intense battles against waves of foes with added conditions. Dungeons are similar but culminate in a tough boss fight. Lastly, Boss scenarios pit you and your comrades against formidable dangers, testing your character builds and teamwork to the maximum. Whether you’re in a scenario or an unexpected skirmish, Elden Ring remains a combat-heavy game, which, given the solid mechanics, works well.

Combat happens on grids created from bound notebooks included with the game. Some battles require several pages laid out, forming a larger battlefield for strategic maneuvering. Spells and weapon attacks depend on range, and being positioned in certain rows can offer bonuses like extra damage, changed turn orders, or better defense. My friends and I often engaged in lengthy discussions about positioning tactics to survive the barrage from enemies. However, our best strategies sometimes led to failure—these adversaries are relentless.

Each basic enemy comes with a card outlining its actions, with symbols detailing attack points, movement, and more. Although it takes time to learn, the system is accessible. After completing its actions or skipping if it can’t proceed, the enemy’s turn ends, making it straightforward to handle. Bosses, however, up the ante significantly. They’re backed by entire decks of actions set on the initiative track. Sometimes you’re fortunate, and their moves hit last; other times, they strike aggressively before you can react. Though daunting, the fights are fair, adjusting health pools based on the number of players. Every boss encounter is thrilling, punctuated by intense moments where we anxiously hoped for a stagger or a perfect dodge. Even with miniatures on a grid, the combat depth and strategy stand out.

One surprising feature is Elden Ring’s absence of dice, opting instead for a card-based deck-building system. Players use decks dictated by their weapons, skills, and items, while damage and special effects like Bleed rely on a separate Attribute deck. Different Attribute cards reflect stats such as Strength and Dexterity, with attack and defense decks prioritizing certain symbols.

Character growth, a vital aspect of campaign games, is central to Elden Ring. Much like in the video game, you can not only advance your class but also refine your character by switching weapons, armor, accessories, and Attribute cards, along with enhancing stats with Trait cards. This is managed through the Rune system, acting as a limit on equipment load, which increases with campaign progress. However, tracking Runes is cumbersome, as the provided cards are scarce and contribute to clutter. A simple, practical tracker would have been ideal. Until a community-driven solution surfaces, tracking on paper, though awkward, is the best option.

Despite its many strengths, my first few encounters with Elden Ring were frustrating due to starting with Stormveil Castle, which, while technically standalone, seems designed for players who have completed prior quests and offers altered gear, runes, and decks. It was overwhelming to set up for newcomers. My advice? Start with Realm of the Grafted King to ensure a smoother experience.

If you’re eager to jump in, there’s a range of board games derived from video games to explore alongside Elden Ring.