Summary
2024 could be a huge year forElden Ringfans. Just a year afterElden Ring’s huge launch in February 2022, FromSoftware announced that the RPG was getting a large-scale DLC expansion titled Shadow of the Erdtree. Despite a recent leak claiming thatElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLCwould drop as early as this month, there have been no trailers for the DLC yet, and the only official updates from the developer have simply stated that it’s still hard at work on the expansion.
But whileElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC might still be a ways off, that doesn’t mean thatElden Ringfans are left without anything to scratch that itch. Steam has plenty of Soulslikes just waiting forElden Ringfans to try them out, and of them all,Dungeonbornemight be among the most promising. Set to release soon,Dungeonborneis a first-person dungeon crawler that evokes some bigSoulsvibes, andElden Ringfans will want to pay close attention.
Elden Ring Fans Should Keep a Close Eye on Dungeonborne
Dungeonborne Captures the Gritty Atmosphere of Elden Ring
Even from just looking at a few screenshots from the game, it’s clear thatDungeonborneandElden Ringshare some vibes. A major contributing factor to this isDungeonborne’s art style. Though its perspective differs fromElden Ring, the games share very similar environmental designs, with many ofDungeonborne’s underground caverns feeling just as claustrophobic and dank asElden Ring’s dungeonsorDark Souls 3’s catacombs. Then, above ground,Dungeonborne’s castles will immediately remind players ofElden Ring’s own Gothic structures.
Dungeonborne’s Gameplay Offers a Fresh Twist on Elden Ring’s Dungeons
WhileElden RingandDungeonborneshare very similar atmospheres, their gameplay loops differ quite a bit, which may not giveElden Ringfans exactly what they want, but it will give them something new to experience.Dungeonborne’s initial gameplay loop will see players pick from a sizable line-up of classicRPG class archetypes, such as a Rogue, Fighter, or Pyromancer. From there, players will head into a dungeon, either alone or with a group of friends. As they progress through the dungeon, they’ll face off against a horde of fantasy enemies, earning various forms of loot along the way.
Here is whereDungeonborne’s biggest twist comes into play. Not just an average dungeon-crawler,Dungeonbornehas anextraction-shootertwist that sees players only keep their loot if they can escape the dungeon alive. Adding a major sense of risk and reward to the game, these extraction mechanics are sure to bring about some intense moments of gameplay, evoking a similar feeling toElden Ring’s own Rune system, whereby players drop their currency upon death.
Dungeonborne Is Making Waves at Steam Next Fest
While many eager fans have already had their eye onDungeonbornefor a few weeks now, it’s gained a lot of attention in the last few days thanks to Steam Next Fest. Quickly becoming one of the most important annual events forIndie developers, Steam Next Festallows all users to get a sneak peek of a wealth of upcoming Indie games via livestreams and playable demos, andDungeonborneis leading the charge this year.
Currently,Dungeonborneis sitting at the number one spot on Steam Next Fest’s daily active demo players tab, appearing right at the top of the page. According to Steam itself, there are currently 15,059 players currently enjoyingDungeonborne’s demo at the time of writing, which is very impressive considering the sheer number of demos available during Steam Next Fest. And with the event running until February 12, there’s still time forElden Ringfans to giveDungeonbornea go.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
