Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
True, it’s only an expansion. Yes, you have to play dozens of hours and beat tons of hard bosses just to access it. And yet there’s no denying that Shadow of the Erdtree is way more of one of the best games of 2022 without being just more Elden Ring. “Shadow of the Erdtree is nothing short of magnificent,” wrote former senior editor Alyssa Mercante. “It is both an expansion to and a distillation of what makes the original game so special, offering you a chance to try out new weapons and builds while learning far more about the Lands Between than you might have expected. It will delight you in one breath and devastate you the next, forcing you to question your approach, to fortify your spirit.” — Ethan Gach
