Elden RingandBloodbornewere both steps in a new direction forFromSoftware. As a developer famous for creating the souls-like genre, both of the mentioned titles brought large changes to the formula. While Bloodborne introduced you to the fast-paced ferocity of Yharnam, Elden Ring took you to the open world of the Lands Between.
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Both games feature great soundtracks,challenging combat,and diverse character-building. Certain aspects, such as combat pacing, are a matter of preference over fact. Bloodborne appeals to aggressive playstyles, while Elden Ring is more methodical. However, despite their similarities, the two games do have their particular strengths.
7Weapon Variety: Elden Ring
While it’s true that Bloodborne has a deceptively large weapon pool thanks to its dual-purpose Trick Weapons, Elden Ring still takes the cake for its huge roster of weaponry. There are over 30 different weapon categories in Elden Ring, with each category housing a goodvariety of choices.The “Straight Sword” category alone has over 15 different swords to work with. Thanks to this variety, you have a ton of options when it comes to finding your favorite weapon.
This doesn’t even factor in the equally impressive amount of spell options available. While spells aren’t strictly speaking weapons, they are still a viable choice for combat.
6Atmosphere: Bloodborne
The bleak gothic atmosphere of Bloodborne bleeds through every set piece you step through. From the tall steeples of Central Yharnam to the eerie fog in the Forbidden Woods, every area comes together to create one cohesive atmosphere. While Elden Ring certainly has a beautiful world with a variety of locations, it doesn’t come together quite as well as Bloodborne.
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Part of this is due to the perpetual darkness that befalls Yharnam. Advancing through the story and uncovering the true horror that has befallen the city will slowly advance the night cycle. However, you will never see daylight playing through the game, and this frozen point in time helps maintain the foreboding atmosphere.
5Exploration: Elden Ring
Exploring the world of Bloodborne can certainly feel rewarding, but compared to the massive and diverseworld of Elden Ring, it falls behind. Fighting your way to Liurnia for the first time or stepping foot on the snowcapped peaks of the Mountaintops of the Giants feels so rewarding. Everything you see in the distance can eventually be discovered, and it creates a great exploration loop that pushes you forward.
The variety of locations also helps to keep things fresh. The terrifying rot-infested lands of Caelid, or the pristine white and gold capital of Leyndell. There is always something new to discover that makes exploration so engaging.
4Difficulty: Bloodborne
Bloodborne is undoubtedly a difficult game, partly due to the change in combat speed from its predecessors. Aggression, which was usually punished in past Souls games, became necessary. Ripping through beasts, men, and eldritch horrors depends entirely on your ability to adapt to this change.
Elden Ring is more lenient and offers youchoices for mitigating difficulty. You can use the Spirit Bell to summon ghostly aid, or most importantly; youcan just walk away. The open-world design means that any boss that feels too challenging can be fought when you’re more prepared. Take a trip to the other side of the world and see what it has to offer, then come back after you’ve gained some levels and gear.
3Graphics: Elden Ring
This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering that Elden Ring is a much newer game than its predecessor. The Lands Between are undeniably beautiful, and the golden rays of the Erdtree look great as you make your way forward. Magic is notable mention when it comes to the graphics, as each spell looks eye-catching when cast.
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Bloodborne is by no means an unattractive game, and the look of its dark victorian streets has stood the test of time. But in a head-to-head comparison, Elden Ring clearly comes out ahead.
2Story: Bloodborne
Bloodborne has an amazing story that you slowly uncover as the night progresses. What starts as a straightforward monster extermination job turns into so much more after an eldritch revelation. This twist changes everything you thought you understood about the story up to that point.
It leads you to question why you’re really there and whether the work you’re doing is leading you down a path of no return. The three different endings leave a lot up to interpretation, and the fact that they are still being discussed so many years after release is a testament to the strength of the narrative.
1Worldbuilding: Elden Ring
Despite Bloodborne having a better narrative, Elden Ring holds the crown for worldbuilding. When creating the setting of the world, author George R.R. Martin was essentially tasked with writing an entire history before the events of the game. The rise of Marika, the Shattering, and the machinations of various demigods all occur before you even arrive.
Your playthrough in Elden Ring is about dealing with the aftermath of a world that has already fallen apart. With a setting as huge as the Lands Between, it’s impressive how each section comes together to create a world that desperately clings to prosperity that has long passed.
