Summary
TheElden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC is now the highest-rated DLC ever made. TheElden Ringbase game is already one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time, and so expectations have always been high forShadow of the Erdtree. If the reviews are any indication, it seems as thoughShadow of the Erdtreenot only meets expectations, but exceeds them.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC reviewshave praised the game for its tough-as-nails difficulty, gorgeous new locales to explore, and haunting new enemy designs. It seems as though the DLC gives players an average of 25 to 30 hours of additional playtime, so it’s an incredibly meaty expansion, which has certainly helped it impress critics. And while there are a couple of reviews that awardedShadow of the Erdtreea lower score, most have been in the 9/10 and 10/10 range, firmly establishing it as the highest-rated DLC ever made.
According to review aggregate site OpenCritic,Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreecurrently has a 94 overall rating. The closest DLC in terms of review score isDead Cells’The Queen & the Seaexpansion, which earned a 93 overall rating. A couple ofFinal Fantasy 14expansions made the top 10, as did the twoWitcher 3DLCs,Blood and WineandHearts of Stone.
Best Video Game DLC
Interestingly, the top 10 mostly consists of relatively recent releases. BesidesShadow of the Erdtree,the critically-acclaimedDestiny 2: The Final Shapeis also in the top 10, sitting comfortably in the number five spot. Last year’sCyberpunk 2077: Phantom Libertyalso managed to hit the top 10 with its 89 overall rating.
There are plenty of great DLC and expansions out there, but it seems unlikely that any will manage to knockElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeoff its top spot any time soon. One possibility is thatthe upcomingDawntrailexpansionforFinal Fantasy 14will get the job done, considering two otherFF14expansions are in the top 10, but it will have to be groundbreaking, to say the least.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
