50 Hours in Elden Ring: My Honest Journey to the Erdtree – A Brutal, Beautiful, and Unforgettable RPG Adventure

Few RPGs manage to leave a permanent mark on players the way Elden Ring does. From the moment I stepped into the hauntingly beautiful Lands Between, I realized this wasn’t going to be just another fantasy adventure. It was a test of patience, curiosity, skill, and determination. After spending 50 Hours in Elden Ring: My Honest Journey to the Erdtree, I can confidently say that this game is one of the most unforgettable gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

Created by FromSoftware and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki with worldbuilding contributions from George R. R. Martin, Elden Ring blends brutal combat with deep exploration in ways that feel fresh even years after release.

This isn’t a perfect game. At times, it frustrated me beyond belief. I questioned my choices, doubted my build, and nearly quit after certain boss fights. But every victory felt earned, every discovery felt magical, and every hour pulled me deeper into its mysterious world.

The RPG genre is crowded with massive open worlds, side quests, and fantasy lore. Yet Elden Ring somehow stands apart. Instead of guiding players with endless tutorials and quest markers, the game trusts players to explore naturally.

That design philosophy changes everything.

You’re not treated like a hero destined to save the world immediately. Instead, you’re weak, vulnerable, and often completely lost. The game drops you into chaos and simply says: survive.

What makes this special is the freedom. You can:

• Ignore main objectives
• Wander into dangerous areas
• Fight optional bosses
• Discover hidden caves
• Create unique builds
• Tackle challenges in your own order

Unlike many modern RPGs that hold your hand constantly, Elden Ring rewards curiosity. Every ruin, forest, and castle hides secrets waiting to be uncovered.

The moment I exited the tutorial cave and saw the golden Erdtree towering in the distance, I understood why people called this game a masterpiece.

The world design is breathtaking.

A Sense of Scale

The Lands Between feels enormous without feeling empty. Every direction offers something interesting:

• Broken churches
• Hidden catacombs
• Giant enemies roaming fields
• Underground cities
• Dangerous swamps
• Massive castles

Instead of filling the map with meaningless activities, Elden Ring fills it with mystery.

Environmental Storytelling

One of the game’s greatest strengths is storytelling through environments. You don’t always need dialogue to understand tragedy or conflict.

Ruined battlefields, abandoned villages, and monstrous creatures all hint at a deeper history. The world feels ancient, broken, and alive at the same time.

Exploration in Elden Ring feels rewarding because discovery matters.

In many RPGs, exploration often leads to repetitive loot or generic encounters. Here, exploration can completely transform your playthrough.

Hidden Discoveries Everywhere

Some of my favorite moments came from pure curiosity:

• Finding a hidden elevator leading underground
• Opening trapped chests that teleported me
• Discovering secret bosses
• Accidentally entering high-level areas
• Finding legendary weapons

Every corner of the map feels handcrafted.

Freedom Creates Memorable Stories

One evening, I spent nearly three hours exploring caves instead of following the main story. I discovered new armor, fought terrifying enemies, and eventually unlocked an entirely new area.

That kind of freedom creates personal stories unique to every player.

Combat in Elden Ring is brutal but fair.

That phrase gets repeated often, but after 50 hours, I finally understand it.

Button Mashing Leads to Death

Unlike action games where aggression solves everything, Elden Ring punishes impatience. Every enemy can kill you if you become careless.

You must:

• Study attack patterns
• Time dodges carefully
• Manage stamina
• Choose openings wisely
• Learn enemy behavior

Combat Feels Weighty

Weapons feel powerful because attacks carry real impact. Swinging a colossal sword feels slow and devastating, while daggers feel fast but risky. Every weapon category changes combat dramatically.

Yes, I died constantly.

And strangely enough, that became part of the fun.

Failure Becomes a Teacher

At first, repeated deaths felt frustrating. But eventually, I realized every defeat taught me something:

• A boss attack timing
• Enemy weaknesses
• Better positioning
• Smarter stamina management

Progress in Elden Ring isn’t just about leveling up your character. It’s about leveling up your understanding.

The Satisfaction of Victory

Few games create adrenaline like defeating a difficult boss after multiple attempts. That emotional payoff is one of Elden Ring’s greatest strengths.

When I finally defeated certain bosses after hours of struggle, I genuinely celebrated out loud.

Facing Margit for the first time was humbling.

I entered the fight overconfident and got destroyed within seconds.

Learning Through Defeat

Margit taught me critical lessons:

• Dodging too early gets punished
• Greed leads to death
• Patience matters more than aggression

After multiple attempts, I finally won. That moment completely changed my relationship with the game. Instead of fearing difficulty, I began embracing it.

The Erdtree constantly dominates the skyline, serving as both a visual landmark and narrative symbol.

A Symbol of Power and Decay

At first glance, the Erdtree appears beautiful and divine. But as the story unfolds, you begin questioning everything tied to it.

The deeper I progressed, the more fascinating the lore became.

Lore Through Exploration

Elden Ring rarely explains its story directly. Instead, lore comes through:

• Item descriptions
• NPC dialogue
• Environmental clues
• Boss encounters

This storytelling style encourages players to think, interpret, and discuss theories.

One reason Elden Ring remains endlessly replayable is build variety.

Experimentation Feels Rewarding

Over 50 hours, I experimented with multiple builds:

• Strength build
• Dexterity build
• Magic-focused mage
• Hybrid melee caster

Each build completely changes gameplay.

Respec Options Encourage Creativity

The game allows players to reset stats later, making experimentation less punishing.

That flexibility helps players adapt if they become stuck.

This debate never ends in the Elden Ring community.

Melee Combat Feels Personal

Melee builds create intense encounters where positioning and timing matter constantly.

There’s incredible satisfaction in defeating bosses face-to-face with swords or axes.

Magic Feels Powerful and Strategic

Magic offers flashy spells and ranged safety but requires careful resource management.

Certain spells look visually stunning and can completely reshape difficult fights. Personally, I preferred a hybrid build combining melee weapons with supportive magic.

Exploration isn’t optional in Elden Ring — it’s essential.

Exploration Makes You Stronger

If a boss feels impossible, the answer often isn’t “git gud” immediately. Sometimes, the smarter move is exploring elsewhere.

Exploration provides:

• Better weapons
• Upgrade materials
• More levels
• Powerful spells
• Helpful summons

The World Rewards Curiosity

The game constantly rewards players willing to investigate strange locations.

Some of the best gear in the game hides far away from main objectives.

Many RPG side quests feel repetitive, but Elden Ring handles them differently.

NPCs Feel Mysterious

Characters rarely explain themselves fully. Their stories unfold gradually through multiple encounters.

This creates intrigue and emotional investment.

Choices Carry Consequences

Some quests lead to tragic outcomes depending on player actions. Others unlock powerful rewards or alternate endings.

The uncertainty makes every interaction matter.

Weapons define your experience in Elden Ring.

Favorite Weapons After 50 Hours

Some standout weapons included:

• Bloodhound’s Fang
• Moonveil Katana
• Greatsword
• Uchigatana
• Rivers of Blood

Each weapon offered unique abilities and combat rhythms.

Ashes of War Add Variety

The Ashes of War system lets players customize weapon skills, adding even more depth. You can transform ordinary weapons into personalized tools of destruction.

Difficulty in Elden Ring is often misunderstood.

It’s Challenging, Not Impossible

The game provides many tools to overcome obstacles:

• Spirit summons
• Multiplayer help
• Overleveling
• Alternative routes
• Different builds

Players aren’t forced into one solution.

Challenge Creates Meaning

Because success requires effort, victories feel meaningful. Modern games sometimes remove challenge entirely, reducing emotional impact.

Elden Ring embraces struggle as part of the journey.

Even after 50 hours, I constantly stopped just to admire the scenery.

Art Direction Over Realism

Elden Ring doesn’t rely solely on graphical power. Its art direction creates unforgettable visuals:

• Golden forests
• Stormy castles
• Underground starscapes
• Rot-infested swamps
• Ancient ruins

Atmosphere Drives Emotion

The atmosphere shifts beautifully between wonder and terror.

One moment you’re admiring sunsets. The next, you’re trapped in horrifying darkness.

Sound design plays a massive role in immersion.

Boss Music Elevates Encounters

Boss themes create tension and emotion perfectly. Certain fights became unforgettable partly because of the music.

Silence Is Used Brilliantly

Sometimes, Elden Ring removes music entirely, letting ambient sounds create loneliness and dread.

That restraint makes louder moments even more impactful.

The multiplayer system feels unusual but interesting.

Cooperative Play Helps New Players

Summoning other players can make difficult bosses more manageable.

It also creates memorable shared experiences.

PvP Adds Longevity

Player invasions and duels add unpredictability and replay value for competitive players.

Though frustrating occasionally, they contribute to the game’s unique identity.

My experience was mostly smooth, though not flawless.

Minor Technical Issues

I occasionally noticed:

• Frame drops
• Texture pop-ins
• Small stutters

However, none seriously damaged the experience.

Stable Gameplay Overall

Despite its massive scale, the game generally performs impressively well.

Few games create emotional swings like Elden Ring.

Moments of Triumph

Defeating difficult bosses felt euphoric.

Moments of Despair

Losing massive amounts of runes after careless mistakes felt devastating. Those emotional extremes made the experience unforgettable.

After spending so much time in the Lands Between, several lessons stood out.

Patience Matters

Rushing leads to failure.

Curiosity Is Rewarded

Exploration consistently pays off.

Persistence Wins

Many impossible challenges become manageable through practice and adaptation.

Absolutely.

Why It Still Holds Up

Even years later, Elden Ring remains one of the best RPG experiences available because of:

• Incredible world design
• Deep combat
• Strong replayability
• Rich lore
• Meaningful exploration

Who Should Play It?

You’ll likely love Elden Ring if you enjoy:

• Challenging gameplay
• Open-world exploration
• Deep RPG systems
• Dark fantasy settings
• Rewarding progression

However, players seeking casual experiences may find the difficulty overwhelming.

After 50 hours, I understand why Elden Ring became such a cultural phenomenon.

It’s not just another open-world RPG. It’s a game that trusts players, challenges them, and rewards persistence in ways few modern titles dare to attempt.

My honest journey to the Erdtree was filled with frustration, awe, excitement, fear, and triumph. Some moments nearly broke me. Others reminded me why I fell in love with gaming in the first place.

Elden Ring isn’t perfect, but its ambition, creativity, and emotional impact make it one of the greatest RPGs ever created.

If you’re willing to embrace difficulty and lose yourself in a mysterious world, the Lands Between will leave a lasting impression on you too. For more details about the game, visit Bandai Namco Entertainment Official Website.

A standard playthrough can take 50–100 hours depending on exploration and side content.

It can feel overwhelming initially, but patience and exploration make the experience manageable even for newcomers.

There’s no single best class. Samurai and Vagabond are popular beginner-friendly options.

Yes. The entire game is fully playable solo, though multiplayer assistance is available.

Absolutely. Its gameplay, world design, and replayability still outperform many newer RPGs.

Its combination of open-world freedom, challenging combat, environmental storytelling, and player-driven exploration makes it stand out.