Is it as hard as Dark Souls?

You have more tools: summons, stealth, overleveling. It is still a FromSoftware game.

40–80 hours for a first ending, more if you 100% and DLC.

Summon signs, passwords, and invasions. It is session-based, not a shared world MMO.

The one whose weapon you want to swing. Stats get remapped; the early kit does not.

#50 · Action RPG

ELDEN RING Wiki

If a boss is unfair, the map probably hid a level-up

FromSoftware · Bandai Namco Entertainment

Beginner guide All guides Steam store →

The loop

Elden Ring is FromSoftware's open-world action RPG. You can cheese, summon, or git gud — but most walls are a missing weapon upgrade, a skipped dungeon, or a fight you took at the wrong time.

Explore a region, grab Sites of Grace, upgrade the weapon you like, then retry the shardbearer when the fight is readable.

First moves

1.Pick a class for the weapon fantasy, not a min-max sheet. Vagabond and Samurai are honest.
2.Level Vigor. This is not optional for a first playthrough.
3.Explore south Limgrave and Weeping Peninsula before you stubborn-headbutt Stormveil for three hours.
4.Use Spirit Ashes if you want. They are in the game on purpose.