FromSoftware revealed a deeper look into its upcoming open-world gameElden Ringduring E3 2021 earlier this year. What it showed revealed some interesting similarities to the plot ofDragon Age:Inquisition.
The synopsis of both games is that the player takes the role of a hero reborn to rid the world of a state of darkness. Both games are set in a Tolkien-esque fantasy setting, and both have ties to folklore as inspiration for in-game settings and events. Their similarities may also reveal the overall plot structure ofElden Ring.
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Not the First Time, Not the Last Time
The hero’s journey is a literary pattern for the overarching plot beats in a story, and was a term first coined by Joseph Campbell. This is the loose kind of story arc structure that can be seen in many epic tales, influencing literature, movies, and the narrative structure of video games, includingDragon AgeandSoulsbornefranchises. Not all stories need to follow the same exact beats to a tee in order to fit the mold, yet the two share enough in common to be reminiscent of the classic fairytale genre.
In fact,Dragon Ageleans into its Tolkein influences, and as forElden Ring, authorGeorge R.R. Martin says Tolkeininspires the world of the upcoming game. From the looks of the E3 gameplay trailer, game director Hidetaka Miyazaki has added his artistic flair to Martin’s input, creating a much darker interpretation of Tolkein’s Middle-earth. That said,Dragon Agemay be much brighter, but shares that darker element of folklore fiction.
The Tarnished and The Inquisitor
Fans of FromSoftware games are aware of how the games open: a cinematic cutscene plays, and then the player is given control. The opening ofElden Ringseems to be no different, with its playable character being The Tarnished.The Tarnished are charactersthat have been cast away as “useless.” The goal ofElden Ringis to repair and shape the game’s world via its titular Elden Ring, therefore it would be a respectable task to make it whole for something previously tossed aside.
Dragon Age: Inquisitionstarts its protagonist in a similar situation to give the player a sense of newness in the world. The game starts after finishing character creation where a mysterious dream sequence plays out, then the playable character wakes up with their memories missing while under persecution for the deaths of many innocents. The player character has a unique mark on their hand,the mark of The Inquisitor, making the one who leads the charge against the forces of darkness and achieving the same victory as many other heroes in their journeys.
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What This Means For Elden Ring’s Story
Elden Ring’s story seems more straightforward, like FromSoftware’smost recent titleSekiro.It will most likely be more streamlined for new fans to become invested who have yet to play any previous titles. The similarities betweenElden RingandDragon Age: Inquisitiondon’t seem to stop with their similar synopses, as they have the Tolkein fantasy connection, meaning they may have more in common than what can be gauged at first glance.
However, the line between the two games blurs because they are two different kinds of heroes' journeys. Wish fulfillment is a large part of video games andDragon Ageis meant to fulfillthe more story-driven itch. The player becomes a leader while working through the main quest, whileElden Ring’s plot will follow the Soulsborne format of a lone wolf in a hostile world.
The Tarnished will likely havea similar journey to the other playable characters from the Soulsborne franchise, yet their objective may be more upfront and clear than previous titles. FromSoftware has a history of keeping players guessing what the main objective of their games is upon the first playthrough, theSoulsbornecommunity even says it is necessary to use the respective Wiki because of how turned around players may get. The franchise has used many of the same tropes sinceDemon Souls,such as giving the players multiple endings to access.
Soulsborne Tropes to Expect in Elden Ring
Soulsbornestory tropes are similar to many other game tropes surrounding playable characters. For maximum immersion, FromSoftware has opted to make all of their playable characters speechless - with the exception of Wolf fromSekiro. This seems to bea trope that will return inElden Ring. This is one thing that is completely different from the more dialogue-driven plot ofDragon Age.
Another returning feature from the Soulsborne franchise is the NPC-driven side quests, asFromSoftware NPCsare known for spitting dialogue usually followed by sinister laughter. There may be a difference in how the player may interact with the NPCs, yet it seems that they will be killable like in all other entries. FromSoftware’s storytelling is more subtle, and even in streamlined titles likeSekiroplayers can become confused based on a lack of context.
With all of that being said, it is no coincidence that all of the Soulsborne titles have something in common withDragon Age. Tales of an underdog hero rising up to seemingly insurmountable tasks go as far back asThe Epic ofGilgamesh. This is what makes games special, stories that have been told over generations can be experienced first-hand by players. Even if the story is as cryptic as theSoulsfranchise, the story can be found just in the adventure along the way.
Elden Ringis releasing August 05, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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