Elden: Path of the Forgotten

About

"Elden: Path of the Forgotten - Director's Cut" is a metroidvania-style game featuring intense combat and dark exploration. The updated version includes doubled weapons, cooldown-based status effect runes, merchant NPC, improved levels, enemies, bosses, and sound design. Elden's journey is inspired by the director's own experience of being thrust into a confusing world at a young age, creating a personal and emotional narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a unique environment with beautiful visuals and a mysterious atmosphere that encourages exploration.
Combat is challenging and satisfying, requiring players to learn through trial and error, which adds to the overall enjoyment.
The soundtrack is calming yet creepy, enhancing the immersive experience of the game.

Controls are clunky and movement feels lagged, making combat frustrating at times.
The game lacks a clear narrative and direction, leaving players confused about the story and objectives.
There are several bugs and issues with enemy AI, which detract from the overall gameplay experience.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and clarity, with some players finding it frustratingly vague and non-existent. While it attempts to utilize environmental storytelling, many feel it falls short, leaving them wanting more narrative substance and guidance. Overall, the storytelling approach may appeal to those who enjoy minimalistic narratives, but it risks alienating players who prefer more traditional story elements.
- “What I love best about this game is that it doesn't hold your hand in relation to both the combat and the story.”
- “It's a concise and fascinating story, leaving you thinking about it long after it's over.”
- “The premise is good: make an indie soulslike-type game which uses visual and environmental storytelling only, with (originally, at least) all text in a fictional language.”
- “There's not even a story.”
- “It's hard to put into words; I get what the devs are going for with the story, but it's so vague and non-existent that it frustrates me when an unreadable language appears on the screen.”
- “Unfortunately, most players do not appreciate these kinds of elements, and the storytelling in the end product is incredibly basic.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay is characterized by open-ended storytelling reminiscent of La Mulana, but it lacks guidance, making it less suitable for players who prefer structured experiences with quest markers and maps. While there are some interesting combat mechanics that improve over time, the limited weapon variety and the overpowering lifesteal rune can disrupt the game's intended difficulty balance.
- “The actual gameplay has some good ideas and I found myself warming up to the combat towards the end; however, the weapon variety is limited and the lifesteal rune you can find (which is an item usable on a cooldown) completely breaks the game's difficulty.”
- “This is a game with the open-ended storytelling mechanic of La-Mulana and the gameplay and value proposition of slamming your hand in a car door.”
- “It matches the gameplay, which is trying to figure out what's going on and what to do.”
- “It's probably not for you if you like quest markers, maps, dialogue, or a generally more guided mechanical discovery experience.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is noted for its calming and relaxing qualities, while also maintaining a subtly creepy atmosphere. Many players find it captivating enough to enhance their overall experience, often drawing them in alongside the game's art style.
- “The soundtrack is so calming and relaxing, yet it has a very creepy vibe to it.”
- “I'm mostly attracted to the art style, but I stayed for the music and the bird.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for their beautiful and mysterious visuals, complemented by an appealing art style. Players find the combat engaging, and excitement is building for upcoming updates that promise to enhance the visual experience further.
- “I love how mysterious everything is; the visuals are beautiful, combat is fun, and with the huge update the dev just announced, it's going to get even better.”
- “I'm mostly attracted to the art style, but I stayed for the music and the bird.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, reminiscent of classic titles like Diablo 2. Players find the environment captivating, evoking strong feelings of nostalgia that enhance their overall experience.
- “The environment and atmosphere are amazing; it gives me that nostalgic feeling of playing Diablo 2 for the first time.”
- “Something about the atmosphere in the game makes me feel really nostalgic, but I can't put my finger on why.”
- “The atmosphere in the game feels oddly nostalgic, but I can't quite pinpoint why.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the experience.”
- “Despite the visuals, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”