It's True. 'Elden Ring' Is a Masterpiece.

I am 50 hours into Elden Ring. While I was writing this review, all I wanted to do was play more Elden Ring. By now, you’ve already heard that FromSoftware's ultra-anticipated, open-world fantasy epic—with a story by Game of Thrones scribe George R. R. Martin, no less—is a masterpiece. And it is. Mark my words: Elden Ring will join games such as Smash Bros., Breath of the Wild, Grand Theft Auto, and Dark Souls as points of comparison for every one of its imitators over the next decade. But you wont understand just how stunning Elden Ring is until you play it. So if you’re still reading this (instead of going to play the game by whatever means necessary), read on for a spoiler-free review of Elden Ring. Just know every moment you waste reading my silly little review is a moment you could be memorizing spells, or finding treasure, or getting your ass handed to you by one of the most horrific monstrosities you'll ever see. [View in Browser]( [Alternate text] [SHOP]( EXCLUSIVE [SUBSCRIBE]( [It's True. 'Elden Ring' is a Masterpiece.]( [It's True. 'Elden Ring' is a Masterpiece.]( I am 50 hours into Elden Ring. While I was writing this review, all I wanted to do was play more Elden Ring. By now, you’ve already heard that FromSoftware's ultra-anticipated, open-world fantasy epic—with a story by Game of Thrones scribe George R. R. Martin, no less—is a masterpiece. And it is. Mark my words: Elden Ring will join games such as Smash Bros., Breath of the Wild, Grand Theft Auto, and Dark Souls as points of comparison for every one of its imitators over the next decade. But you wont understand just how stunning Elden Ring is until you play it. So if you’re still reading this (instead of going to play the game by whatever means necessary), read on for a spoiler-free review of Elden Ring. Just know every moment you waste reading my silly little review is a moment you could be memorizing spells, or finding treasure, or getting your ass handed to you by one of the most horrific monstrosities you'll ever see. [Read More]( [Rarely Seen Photos From Lollapalooza in the '90s Show Its Wilder Side]( [Rarely Seen Photos From Lollapalooza in the '90s Show Its Wilder Side]( The festival, started more than 30 years ago now, was a bizarre touring circus in the '90s. [Read More]( [Power: The Definitive Story of Vladimir Putin]( [Power: The Definitive Story of Vladimir Putin]( His influence is outsized and everywhere. But fresh insights into him are rare. See how Putin became Putin with this authoritative profile. [Read More]( [Russia's Assault on Ukraine Has a Crusader Element]( [Russia's Assault on Ukraine Has a Crusader Element]( In her Substack shebeen, religious historian Diana Butler Bass takes a deep dive into how Christian ethno-nationalism has joined hands across the globe with reactionary Catholicism and, most importantly, with hyper-conservative Russian Orthodoxy to add a little old-time religious filigree to Vladimir Putin’s current depredations. Butler Bass recounts the historic role that Ukraine played in the formation both of the Russian state and the effect that the split between Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox churches have played in that history. And this is not ancient history, either. [Read More]( [The 15 Best Two-Player Board Games]( [The 15 Best Two-Player Board Games]( From building your own civilization to testing your brain, these games make any night of the week more fun. [Read More]( [Todd Snyder's New Sneaker Collab Feels Familiar in the Best Way Possible]( [Todd Snyder's New Sneaker Collab Feels Familiar in the Best Way Possible]( The team-up with Victory Sportswear is such a natural fit. [Read More]( [The Best Books of 2022 (So Far)]( [The Best Books of 2022 (So Far)]( Congratulations, dear reader: we’ve made it to another year in books. Whether you read like the wind in 2021 or fell short of your goals, 2022 marks a new year, a new you, and a whole new slate of releases to devour. Whether you’re looking to understand our current moment through rigorous nonfiction or escape it through otherworldly plots, 2022’s first crop of new titles offer something for readers of every persuasion. Our favorite books of the year so far run the gamut of genres, from epic fantasy to literary fiction, and tackle a constellation of subjects. If you want to read about spaceships, talking pigs, or supervillains, you’ve come to the right place. A warning: Not all of these books have hit shelves yet, so if you see something you like, pre-order it now as a gift to your future self. When it shows up in your mailbox, you’ll be thanking Past You—and diving between the covers in no time. And check back here throughout the year—we'll be updating our list as 2022 rolls on. [Read More]( [Join Esquire The Select for $40/Year. Learn More!]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( esquire.com ©2022 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019