It’s understandable if you have high expectations for Shadow of the Erdtree. I did too. FromSoftware’s monumental action-RPGs continue to amaze, and Elden Ring made a crushing impact on the gaming industry when it launched in 2022, winning Game of the Year and becoming an instant favorite for many gamers, myself included.

So I hope you can imagine my excitement when I was among the lucky few invited to play Shadow of the Erdtree at Bandai Namco’s preview event in Paris. Now, after three hours with Elden Ring’s first and only expansion, I’m confident that it will not only live up to our expectations, but raise the bar for post-launch content and proudly claim the top spot as FromSoftware’s best expansion yet.

After touching Miquella’s withered hand, I wake up in the Land of Shadow, a hauntingly beautiful dreamscape that feels delightfully fresh yet comfortably familiar. The new region of Shadow of the Erdtree is easily one of the most visually stunning landscapes ever created. It’s strange to be setting foot in a new Elden Ring region for the first time in nearly two and a half years, but it feels good to be back.

Moments later, I’m treated to a magnificent view: a twisted, tainted Erdtree towering above me, while countless upcoming sights loom tantalizingly on the horizon. The longer I stare, the more I see: castles and settlements, encampments and ruins, mountains and valleys. The bleak horizon of the Land of Shadow rivals the Lands Between in spectacle and scale, and you can be sure you’ll be visiting all of these distant lands later.