Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- Mastery in Soulslike games like Elden Ring may not always be achievable, even after extensive practice and resource investment.
- Enjoyment of challenging games can persist beyond the pursuit of mastery, with some players finding satisfaction in other aspects such as exploration or relaxation.
- The players journey with Elden Ring, despite frustrations and stalled progress, has led to a unique appreciation for the game, akin to a complex relationship.
- Sharing personal gaming experiences can provide an engaging and relatable content for various social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram.
Our favorite Goodies
Mastery Elusive: Over 1000 Hours in Elden Ring Without Improvement
The “git gud” mentality is common among Soulslike game enthusiasts, who believe that practice overcomes any challenge in games like Sekiro, Demon’s Souls, or Elden Ring. However, one player’s experience suggests that it’s possible to enjoy a flawed game for hundreds of hours without ever truly mastering it. Though not typically a fan of FromSoftware games, this player has spent over 1,000 hours with Elden Ring. Despite the frequent frustration, this player keeps returning to Elden Ring. Their in-game stats show 1,030 hours logged—equivalent to 43 full days—yet they haven’t earned a single gold trophy. While many players complete Elden Ring in 70 to 100 hours, often beginning multiple playthroughs, this individual has also spent an estimated 500 hours watching Fextralife tutorials and build guides. Even with this significant investment, they feel their skills haven’t improved significantly, suggesting that enjoyment doesn’t always require mastery. Around 300 hours into the game, the player’s progress stalled and even regressed. Initial practice led to improvement, but they eventually reached a point where they struggled against early bosses like the Grafted Scion. Experimenting with various character builds—strength, dexterity, magic, and arcane—failed to yield better results.
Elden Ring’s Tough Love: A Player’s Ongoing Journey on Multiple Platforms
Now, the player has accepted their limitations in Elden Ring, comparing the experience to a challenging but rewarding relationship. They now play while listening to podcasts, finding an odd sense of relaxation in FromSoftware’s demanding world. Discover more about this player’s ongoing journey with Elden Ring on The Game PlayersForLife channels on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram, where they share their love-hate relationship with the game.
In Case You Missed It
In our ongoing journey through the gaming universe, we often overlook that progress doesn’t always follow a straight path. Sophie Laurent invites us to reflect on this in her thought-provoking piece, “OPINION: Over 1000 Hours in Elden Ring and I Haven’t Learned a Thing”, published on November 12th. Despite not conquering every challenge in Elden Ring, Laurent discovers joy and relaxation in casual exploration during downtime, reminding us that gaming enjoyment isn’t exclusively tied to our skill level OPINION: Over 1000 Hours in Elden Ring and I Haven’t Learned a Thing. Meanwhile, Carlos Mendoza has shared an exciting rundown of the November 2025 PlayStation State of Play on his blog. Published on the same day, this post is a must-read for gaming enthusiasts, previewing upcoming titles like BlazBlue Entropy Effect X and Damon and Baby set to release in early 2026 November 2025 PlayStation State of Play: All Announcements Recap. In other news, Mendoza also reveals Elden Ring’s upcoming DLC expansion, Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows. Slated for release on December 4th, this thrilling addition introduces two formidable Nightfarers and a dynamic Shifting Earth feature. Get an early glimpse of the action-packed gameplay in the official trailer – you won’t want to miss it! Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows Announced.
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Elden Ring |
| Brief Summary | Elden Ring takes place in the Lands Between, a fictional realm over which several demigods rule. It was previously ruled over by the immortal Queen Marika, who acted as keeper of the Elden Ring, a powerful force that manifested itself as the physical concept of order. When Marika shattered the Elden Ring and disappeared, her demigod children began fighting over pieces of the Ring in an event called The Shattering. Each demigod has a shard of the Ring called a Great Rune, which corrupts them with power. In the game, the player character is a Tarnished, one of a group of exiles from the Lands Between who are summoned back after the Shattering. The player must traverse the realm to repair the Elden Ring and become the Elden Lord.
Elden Ring is an action RPG developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, released in February 2022. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, with world-building contributions from novelist George R. R. Martin, the game features an expansive open world called the Lands Between. Players assume the role of a customisable character known as the Tarnished, who must explore this world, battle formidable enemies, and seek to restore the Elden Ring to become the Elden Lord. The game builds on the challenging gameplay mechanics familiar from the Dark Souls series but introduces a more open-ended structure with vast exploration, dynamic weather, and a day-night cycle. It offers deep lore, complex characters, and an interconnected world filled with secrets, dungeons, and powerful bosses. |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One |
| Released | February 25, 2022 |
| Genre | Role-playing (RPG), Adventure |
| Play Modes | Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative |
| Content Rating | 19+ |
| Languages | Chinese (Simplified), English, French, Japanese, Korean |
| Genre | FromSoftware |
| Genre | Bandai Namco Entertainment, FromSoftware |
| Ratings | 96/100 (1760 reviews) |