
Ranking every core Elden Ring release, including Shadow of the Erdtree and the base game, with strengths, weaknesses, and best play order.

Let us address the obvious thing first: this is a franchise where the core lineup is short and the suffering is long.
Still, ranking Elden Ring releases is worth doing, because each entry delivers a different flavor of pain, exploration, and "I should sleep, but one more boss attempt."
This guide ranks every core Elden Ring release by overall impact, replay value, and how hard it rewired action RPG standards.

For this ranking, each release was judged on:
So no, this is not "which one made me cry less."
That metric would fail instantly.

Shadow of the Erdtree is one of the strongest expansions FromSoftware has ever shipped.
What it does best:
Why it is #2: it is incredible, but it still depends on the base game for full context, progression foundation, and emotional payoff.
Think of it as a masterpiece add-on, not a standalone throne holder.

The base game takes #1 because it is the foundation that changed the genre conversation.
Why it stays on top:
It is not perfect. No game this big is.
But its highs are so high they made "open-world soulslike" a permanent design category.

Clean order:
Do not start with the DLC unless your hobby is academic-level frustration.

Short answer: no.
Long answer: one is a genre-defining base game, the other is a top-tier expansion. The ranking gap is about scope and dependency, not quality collapse.
This is basically a "gold medal vs slightly shinier gold medal" situation.

Final ranking:
If you want the full Elden Ring experience, you need both.
If you are forced to pick one, pick the base game first.
Then return for the DLC when you are emotionally prepared to be humbled again.
Staff Writer, Console Pulse
Images Credit
Official artwork, promotional assets, and in-game screenshots are credited to Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., FromSoftware, Inc., and associated Elden Ring rights holders. Images are used for editorial coverage.



