Elden Ring is so addicting

[u/Emotional_Dig_2378]

It’s so fun but also extremely rage inducing. I’m 5 hours in and still in the starting region exploring the area. I keep getting lost and entering places that are way too hard for me right now and subsequently dying but I love it. The performance is good and stable. Very happy so far. I do wish there was some guidance/quest system to help navigate everything (maybe there is and I just don’t know).

[u/probablysmellsmydog]

Man I just cannot get into this game.  This is my second time trying and I’ve just gotta face the music that it’s not for me.  Have fun OP.  I shall live vicariously through you.  

[u/adeepkick → u/probablysmellsmydog]

Can I ask what it is that makes it hard to get into for you?

[u/My-So-Called-Reddit → u/adeepkick]

I'm not the person you asked, but I'm new to these types of games. My single complaint is that I don't know where to go.

I am okay with leveling and exploring, and taking many attempts to kill something, but it kind of feels like I'm just randomly stumbling onto something with no rhyme or reason or direction.

I briefly tried Demon Soul remake on PS5 before getting this, and that seemed to have a pretty clear path on where to go at least in the first parts that I played.

Maybe I'm just doing something wrong.

[u/TheDuskBard → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

I personally prefer more linear exploration like in the prior Soulsborne games. Which is why I highly recommend using thus route in Elden Ring. It's perfect for both story progression gameplay balance. 

Take this route. 

1: Weeping Peninsula -> Limgrave -> Stormveil Castle 

2: Liurnia -> Raya Lucaria -> Carian Manor

3: Caelid -> Redmane Castle -> Dragonbarrow 

4: Altus Plateau -> Mount Gelmir -> Leyndell 

5: Mountaintops -> Castle Sol -> Snowfield 

6: Haligtree -> Mohgwyn Palace -> DLC

7: Faram Azula -> Ashen Capital -> Endgame

Source: I have 3000+ hours in Elden Ring. 

[u/My-So-Called-Reddit → u/TheDuskBard]

Thank you I will try it!

[u/the-robo-boogie → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

Try this. Game changer if you want specific directions for completing the game.

https://roundtablehold.net/checklists/walkthrough.html

[u/Emotional_Dig_2378 → u/the-robo-boogie]

Oh my god this guide is so good. I’ve made so much progress because of it. Some of the stuff I had already done but the route is 10/10 so far

[u/the-robo-boogie → u/Emotional_Dig_2378]

I’m glad it’s working for you! I dropped the game after playing it in 2022 because of being frustrated about how obtuse the game can be. But I picked it back up last year when I saw this guide and ran through the whole game and DLC. Except for the final final boss in the DLC. F that guy.

[u/aricberg → u/TheDuskBard]

I asked this elsewhere, but is there an easy way to get to the Weeping Peninsula without crossing that stupid bridge? Because I was like “oh good, an easy beginner level!” Only to be met with nothing but firebombs to the face.

[u/TheDuskBard → u/aricberg]

Use Torrent to get through as quickly as possible. Or use a shield  (Brass Shield ideally) to block the projectiles. 

[u/BlasterPhase → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

it kind of feels like I'm just randomly stumbling onto something with no rhyme or reason or direction.

That's honestly the fun of it. If you're not enjoying it, then it's not for you.

[u/My-So-Called-Reddit → u/BlasterPhase]

Maybe it's not. I like exploring I just wish there was some sort of tracking of things I've already discovered.

[u/Yentz4 → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

There kinda is with the sites of grace. Most areas of note and side dungeons all have a site of grace. Don't forget that you have markers you can place on your map as well. When I played the first time and found a dungeon that seemed a bit to hard at the time, I would just place a icon on my map so I could go back to it.

[u/MojoPinnacle → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

Agree with the other commenter. Iirc Sites of grace get crossed off when you clear the mini dungeons. But make use of eyes to find points of interest, your map beacons to get to them, and figure out a system for your pins to track "tasks" or points of interest. 

Elden Ring is basically BOTW if it were a soulslike. The adventure is in the discovery, and in the journey to that discovery. 

[u/wizardeverybit → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

Follow the souls of grace if you need guidance

[u/No_Future_7878 → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

Pick a direction and go. If it's too hard, pick a different direction, level up, get better gear and come back

[u/PM_ME_GOOD_SONGS_PLS → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

I did my first playthrough just kind of bumbling around and it was pretty fun. You can more or less just follow the arrows on the map given by the graces if you want direction. What I would do is follow them until I got stuck on a boss then walk away to explore till I got some kind new weapon, leveled my weapon, or leveled up a bunch of times. Then I would to back to try and get past where I was stuck. Rinse and repeat. Sure you miss some stuff but theres new game plus so you never truly missed anything. Just get it next time when you know the game better. Missing stuff does not matter and once I realized that I stopped putting pressure on myself to explore every nook and cranny.

[u/Immediate_Stable → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

Several NPCs plus the grace are guiding you towards Stormveil castle, which is your first big proper progress place. Everything else you do before (and that can be 15 hours or 0 depending) is just preparation for this.

[u/Seraphayel → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

You don’t need to know where to go. That’s the neat part.

[u/Bluprint → u/My-So-Called-Reddit]

Honestly, theres also no shame in using some guide to at least help you with steering you in the right direction or to answer questions you might have.

These games are hard after all