It's easy enough to see that FromSoftware's Elden Ring is, without a doubt, one of the most eagerly awaited games of all time. But why is that? What makes Elden Ring worth all this hubbub? If you've been on the fence all this time, odds are that you just don't see why Elden Ring would be any more interesting than any other modern RPG.

Well, today we aim to explain in immense detail why this game is as important as it is.

Indeed, this article is purpose-built to drive home the reason Elden Ring is such a monumental game in 2022. And - of course - why we believe everyone should be excited to see how it does, at the very least. There's simply nothing else on the market to fit this niche right now, and the project has a lot of moving parts.

Pre-Order Elden Ring on PC via 2Game and enjoy the included Digital Adventure Guide!

Elden Ring on PC: What Makes it So Exciting?

#10: It's a New FromSoftware Game

Few other game developers have had such a stellar track record as FromSoftware. Hidetaka Miyazaki's game studio has, as of late, only worked on smash-hit titles. These include - but are not limited to - Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring.

While From has had a few potential stumbles before the release of Demon's Souls, the studio is now practically on a Call of Duty Killstreak. Not only has FromSoftware found its specific niche, but it's also looking to move it forward in a way no one else has managed before.

#9: Elden Ring Combines Classic Dark Souls Mechanics with Open-World Gameplay

In more ways than not, Elden Ring is a Dark Souls game set in a wide-open world. That's not a bad thing, mind! FromSoftware knows what it does best, and the studio is scaling up its efforts in a way that makes perfect sense.

Movement, combat, exploration, interaction - most of Elden Ring's moving parts will simply be an upscaled and updated version of what a Dark Souls title would have. The difference, though, lies in the fact that players can now make their own way through Elden Ring's massive overworld.

#8: It's Positively Loaded With Content

You know how many open-world titles simply plop down their players in the midst of a massive overworld map, where there's mostly nothing to do in-between points of interest? Yeah, that's not the case with Elden Ring, we can happily confirm.

This information comes from the game's closed network test, where people could run around in Elden Ring's starting area to see what it's all about. It's not a major overstatement to say that it was absolutely chock-full of stuff to do and secrets to unravel, and we're all but sure that the rest of the game follows this same concept.

#7: George R. R. Martin Assisted With Lore

One of the first things we learned about Elden Ring, back before we know about its title, was the fact that George R. R. Martin was coming in to assist Miyazaki with the game's lore. While there were plenty of theories as to just how involved Martin ended up being with the game, the truth is that he built up the lore.

According to reliable sources, Martin's job was to construct the background lore and mythology, and little else. This is the best of both worlds, however. Players will now get to enjoy an incredible combination of classic Souls narrative progression and an A-tier novelist's lore!

#6: It's The Next Step Forward for FromSoftware

Judging by everything we've seen of Elden Ring so far, this is the big step forward that FromSoftware had been preparing for. A leap forward, even. Namely, the game seems to unify all the important elements from the studio's previous output, and then adds the open-world features into the mix for good measure.

Up until now, all of Miyazaki's output has been akin to a 3D Metroidvania. Moving into the open-world docket was a natural evolution, and the studio seems to have pulled it off incredibly well. A careful and calculated leap forward, then. The best kind.

#5: Elden Ring is The Biggest RPG We've Had in Some Time

When you really think about it, we're in a bit of a lull in regard to major RPG releases. Sure, there's Starfield coming out later in 2022, but that's still really far out. To say nothing of the fact that we know almost nothing about how the game plays. Not so with Elden Ring, however.

For fans of RPGs and RPGs alone, this is the game to be on the lookout for. With more character customization features and stat-speccing functionality than almost any other non-From title on the market, this will be a buildcrafting paradise.

#4: There Are More Secrets Than You Could Shake a Stick At

Secrets are the bread and butter of any FromSoftware game, that much is clear to anyone and everyone. As the network testing session has shown, Elden Ring has no shortage of those in tow.

Even a relatively small section of the map had over a dozen hours' worth of stuff to do, chase, and figure out, and judging by the studio's previous output, that's precisely what we're getting in the rest of the game, too! So, if you want a game that's going to keep giving you arcane and weird stuff to do, well...

#3: It's a Different Kind of Open-World

Everyone keeps repeating how Elden Ring is this or that kind of open-world RPG, but the simple truth is that it's quite unlike anything else. Virtually every other mainline AAA open-world game follows the same old progression concept.

To be fair, we do believe that there's room on the market for a classic Ubisoft-style open-world RPG, but Elden Ring ain't that. Instead, this is a thickly-constructed and multi-layered overworld that's going to keep unraveling as we move from one region to the next. That, alone, is enough to warrant excitement in our book!

#2: The Dark Souls Launch Day Zeitgeist is a Joy

There's surprisingly little discussion about the release day zeitgeist that comes with every major FromSoftware release. While most players will have a Wiki page or a big old guide open as they play Elden Ring, we'd like to invite everyone to join the community on launch day and see how the puzzles get solved from the frontlines.

Most players don't need to actually leap headfirst into online discussions and whatnot, but the sheer sense of adventure and mystery that comes with a new FromSoftware release is downright astonishing. Trust us on this one - go in on day one, and go in blind. You can thank us later.

#1: Everyone Who Played It, Loved it

Finally, the crux of the matter: everyone who played Elden Ring up until now has absolutely loved it. To be sure, the game has only been available in short, curated sections via its many network testing sessions, but if everyone liked it, there's 100% something special about it.

Of course, there will be people who just don't jive with a Souls title, let alone one that's set in an open-world map. However, if there's one game that you can be absolutely sure is a quality title even before release, then it's Elden Ring. Quite a tall order, isn't it? Exciting times ahead!

Why Elden Ring is the Game of 2022

By now, it should be plenty obvious why Elden Ring has so much hype behind it. While it hasn't quite reached the Cyberpunk 2077 levels of excitement, there's also literally no way for the game to flunk as hard as CP did, so there's a fine balance between the two extremes.

If you'd like to learn more about the game, let us highlight a few related articles featured right here at 2Game:

• Top Soulslikes to Play While Waiting for Elden Ring!
• Elden Ring PC Features and System Requirements: Low-Spec PCs Beware
• What We Know About The Content & Longevity of Elden Ring

Finally, if you're looking for a practical look at how Elden Ring plays, we did a piece on the game's beta playtesting session. Without spoiling much of anything, the general consensus is that it was phenomenal.

So, everything's pointing to one simple fact: this is a special game. One that we'll have a chance to play come February 25th. Are you prepared? In the end, whatever Elden Ring ends up being, one thing's for sure: it will have made its mark in 2022 and the years before.

Pre-Order Elden Ring on PC via 2Game and enjoy the included Digital Adventure Guide!