Once in the Shadow Realm, a host of new characters greet you with elaborate storylines. Central are the followers of Miquella, a diverse group bound by an enchantment of amity placed upon them by Miquella himself. This enchantment ensures their cooperation and loyalty, providing players with essential aid and information. These followers each have unique roles to play, often intertwining with the main quest.

Needle Knight Leda’s devotion to Miquella drives pivotal story beats and guidance through crucial battles. Redmane Freyja, once a loyal soldier under General Radahn, also offers combat support and a nuanced perspective on the realm’s inner conflicts. The English voice acting and writing are terrific, providing charming faces throughout the depths of the Shadow Realm, along with many other new NPCs.

The storytelling in Shadow of the Erdtree is as puzzling and absorbing as the main game. It is loaded with lore, mystery, and interconnected stories. The new characters are well-developed, each with backstories, motivations, and quests adding depth to the overall journey. The expansion does an excellent job of weaving into the already intricate tapestry of the Lands Between—a seamless continuation of the Elden Ring universe.

Exploration is further enriched by a wealth of new equipment, spells, and skills, offering expanded tactical options and customisation. Among them, the Beast Claws and the reverse-hand swords stand out with their aggressive, exaggerated attacks tailored for dexterity builds. Great Katanas offer a blend of swift katana finesse with increased power, incorporating bleed to appeal to both quality and strength builds. Meanwhile, Light Greatswords emphasise agility and speed without sacrificing reach, offering a nuanced alternative to heavier weapons.

Other more creative options include hand-to-hand arts focused on combos and kicks, appealing to players seeking a high-skill, monk-like approach. Throwing weapons and perfume bottles add versatility with longer-ranged items that are status-inflicting weapons. Finally, Thrusting shields combine defensive capability with offensive thrust attacks, balancing defence and offence. The new weapon types add plenty of combat variety for builds, previously dominated by Eleonora’s Poleblade.

From arcane artifacts to armaments, these additions not only diversify combat strategies but also cater to aesthetic preferences, ensuring both substance and style in gameplay progression. Whether you’re a huge fan of optimising builds or a bit of a fashionista, there’s plenty of fun and powerful gear to play with.

The expansion’s Legacy Dungeons, like Belurat and Shadow Keep, are sprawling citadels ripe with treacherous paths, hidden traps, and strong enemies. Each dungeon demands careful exploration and thoughtful engagement to come out unscarred on the other side with newfound gear, secrets, and conquered bosses. Our initial review of Elden Ring touched on some repetition in dungeons as one of its only critiques, but Shadow of the Erdtree certainly offers a fresh variety of environments to fight through.

The Divine Beast Dancing Lion is the first major boss and unleashes a storm of lightning and ice, testing players with its fast movements and abrupt elemental shifts mid-battle. Its dynamic behaviour ensures no encounter feels static and no one strategy alone is viable. The way this thing charges at the start of the battle and swiftly moves around the Belurat arena is not only an animated marvel but also horrifying to deal with, resulting in an energetic battle.

Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, is another one of the initial bosses of the DLC. Her dual-phase combat mechanics and resistance to magic require quick and creative thinking. Defeating her after mastering her complex attack patterns is as rewarding as the loot itself. The clever boss design is not only consistent but evolves as you progress. Every major fight proved to be a contest, requiring me to rethink my gear and tactics, take many breaks to recollect myself, and try again. Shadow of the Erdtree is for masochists like me.

The artistic brilliance extends to its character and enemy models, each reflecting the expansion’s diverse environments and themes. Moore is one of my favourites, depicted with a stoic, almost stonelike presence. His earnest personality is mirrored in his look, embodying strength and resilience. The Furnace Golem is a towering testament to the game’s creative enemy designs with its flaming form and mechanical parts making it visually stunning.

Complementing the visual, the music in Shadow of the Erdtree is integral to its atmospheric depth, with each area accompanied by distinct scores. The soundtrack is filled with haunting melodies that underscore the game’s darker themes. These brooding scores build tension and anticipation. Especially when enemies are near, each encounter feels more dramatic and urgent. Each zone within the DLC has a unique musical identity, adding to its character.