Why You Should Play Elden Ring — By Brandon Sanderson

Brandon rolling into the Theodrix boss fight with near base vigor and carrying 2.7 million runes, the mad lad. For those on the fence about this game's difficulty and seeing Brandon get two-shot by this dragon, he would have had a MUCH easier time if he'd used those runes (the game's equivalent of experience points) to level up and get more health, defense, etc. It's clear that he calibrated his experience to his own difficulty preferences, though, and had a great time with it. All power to you, Brandon!

2.7 million runes? Are you saving up to directly purchase the Elden Ring from Radagon himself?

This is the closest we’ve ever gotten to hearing Sanderson’s opinion on Guts from Berserk.

One aspect I adore about these games is the sudden quiet after the boss is defeated. Often the music is incredibly intense and epic, and the adrenaline rush toward the end when victory is within grasp adds up, so when you pull it off, the boss dies and your left standing in the now empty arena... Victory.

All I could think while playing this was how amazing a FromSoft mistborn or Stormlight game would be

Dual wielding ultra greatswords like everyone expected him to, what a legend.

So glad you loved this game. Been watching your lectures from a while back. I can imagine someone who crafts worlds like you do can find much more to appreciate beyond the surface

Maan as a huge fan of souls since the first one way back when, it really makes me proud to see the reach elden ring has. It isn’t my favorite soulsborne as I’m not really a fan of huge open world games, but it is still a fantastic experience.

I've been a fan of the "franchise" since Demon Souls, and it's been super surreal and amazing seeing FromSoftware games getting more and more popular. Brandon, hopefully we'll get to see you collaborate with FromSoftware in the future. Also, you need to show us your fight against Malenia, the Blade of Miquella! :)

My favorite fantasy author talking about how much he loves my favorite fantasy game was a pleasant surprise to receive while waiting for my car’s breaks to be fixed. I love you Brandon and your insanely low vigor bar.

If you're not luring Theodorix out to be aggro'd by the ginormous land octopus nearby you are absolutely missing out on one of the great Elden Ring 'moments'. It's King Kong vs. Godzilla goodness.

gigachad brando doing a zero vigour challenge run, respect

Oh man, I'd love to see Brandon do these for the whole series. Sekiro is still my favorite. The greatest rhythm game ever made.

There is something wonderfully bizarre about seeing Brandon Sanderson play a game where a cosmic world-defining entity has been shattered, resulting in singular named shards of reality being taken ahold of by shardbearers, in a world dominated by eternal storms, carapace-covered semi-aquatic crustacean life, featuring interplanetary conflict, an internarrative trickster character (in the form of Patches), magic horses, spirits that embody forces of nature, alternate planes of reality, gravity-based magic, illusions, a corruptive red essence that can unmake entire regions, a thrill of battle that brings a red haze to the eyes, characters with (admittedly cartoonishly portrayed in Elden Ring) mental instability, summonable magic swords, a cosmic power called Ruin, inanimate objects that have been imbued with power to carry out specific tasks, gemstones that house cosmic magic, and a comparatively hard magic system involving things being imbued and invested with Color (that can be drained).... ...written by George Martin. I've been laughing my head off about this for months.

Also from a story perspective, essentially everything you fight has story implications. There's very little in terms of filler enemies in Elden Ring, the existence of enemies in certain places gives environmental storytelling. The Great Wyrm here is actually a former troll who consumed so many dragon hearts and became so powerful in Dragon Communion that they have turned into a dragon themselves.

Brandon Is truly based. I love this man

Nothing better than seeing one of your favorite writers playing one of your favorite games. This was awesome.

I just love how passionate he is talking about the game. Actually a gamer. Truly can't wait to see Mistborn or Stormlight video games. Or perhaps an entirely new Saga in the Cosmere to sink our grubby little paws into.

I have never seen a game recommended by such a diverse roster of gaming YouTubers. Arlo, The Act Man, and now Brandon Sanderson. I didn't think we would get game of the generation this early on.

How do you feel about the game's lore? It'd be really interesting to hear your take as a fantasy writer, and there is a lot to unpack in this game.