Is Elden Ring Worth a Second Playthrough? A Deep Dive into The Lands Between, Revisited

Absolutely. For most players, venturing back into The Lands Between for a second, third, or even seventh playthrough of Elden Ring is not only worth it, but highly recommended. The sheer depth and breadth of the game’s content, combined with the opportunity to experience it from a fresh perspective, makes each journey feel unique and rewarding. While the initial wonder of exploration might diminish slightly, the enhanced challenge, the discovery of missed secrets, and the mastery of new builds all contribute to a compelling and unforgettable experience. Prepare to dive deep as we explore the nuances of New Game Plus and beyond, making the case for returning to FromSoftware’s masterpiece.

The Allure of New Game Plus: More Than Just a Restart

The primary reason to play Elden Ring a second time is to embark on a New Game Plus (NG+) adventure. Upon completing the game, players are given the option to begin again, carrying over almost all their progress. This includes:

• Character Level and Stats: All the levels and stats you’ve painstakingly earned remain intact, allowing you to further optimize your character build.
• Weapons and Armor: Your entire arsenal, from rusted daggers to legendary swords, is at your disposal from the very beginning.
• Talismans, Spells, and Incantations: Your collection of magical abilities is carried over, opening up new strategic possibilities.
• Crafting Materials and Consumables: You can continue crafting and consuming as needed.
• Key Items (with some exceptions): Most key items, such as cookbooks and maps, are retained, streamlining your progress.

However, some key items are reset, requiring you to reacquire them:

• Great Runes: You’ll need to defeat the Shardbearers again to claim their Great Runes.
• Bell Bearings: These must be re-obtained to purchase upgrade materials from the Twin Maiden Husks.
• Story-related Items: Items crucial to progressing the main quest are reset to ensure a fresh narrative experience.
• Stonesword Keys: You’ve also got to re-earn Stonesword Keys.

The most significant change in NG+ is the increased difficulty. Enemies and bosses receive a substantial health and damage boost, forcing players to adapt their strategies and utilize their expanded toolkit to overcome the challenges. Early game enemies are typically buffed far more than late game ones. NG+2 and beyond (in this game, it caps at NG+7) is a static increase across the board. The same as prior Souls games.

Unlocking Hidden Potential: Builds, Endings, and Exploration

Beyond the increased challenge, a second playthrough offers opportunities for:

• Experimenting with New Builds: With your character already at a high level, you can respec your stats and try completely different playstyles. Focus on magic, strength, dexterity, faith, or arcane – the possibilities are endless. You may find the most fun build in Elden Ring that suites your playstyle and your current playthrough.
• Pursuing Different Endings: Elden Ring boasts multiple endings, each requiring specific quests and choices. A second playthrough allows you to experience a different conclusion to the story and uncover more of the game’s lore. Remember: You only get to see one ending per playthrough, so even if you have all four endings available to you, you can only see the one you pick.
• Discovering Missed Content: It’s virtually impossible to see everything Elden Ring has to offer in a single playthrough. A second journey allows you to explore areas you might have overlooked, complete unfinished quests, and find hidden items.
• Mastering Combat: By the second playthrough, you’ll be far more familiar with the game’s combat mechanics, enemy patterns, and optimal strategies. This allows you to approach encounters with greater confidence and skill.

Addressing the Harsh Realities: Is NG+ Right for You?

While NG+ offers many benefits, it’s essential to consider the potential drawbacks:

• Repetition: The initial areas of the game can feel repetitive, especially if you remember the enemy placements and item locations.
• Difficulty Spike: The increased difficulty can be overwhelming for some players, particularly in the early stages of NG+.
• Burnout: Playing through a lengthy game like Elden Ring multiple times can lead to burnout, especially if you’re not enjoying the experience.

To mitigate these issues:

• Take Breaks: Don’t feel pressured to rush through NG+. Take breaks when needed to avoid burnout.
• Focus on New Content: Prioritize exploring new areas, completing unfinished quests, and experimenting with new builds.
• Adjust Your Expectations: Remember that NG+ is about enhancing the existing experience, not recreating it.

Is a Fresh Start Necessary? The Case for a New Character

While NG+ is the most common way to replay Elden Ring, starting a completely new character also has its advantages:

• Fresh Perspective: Starting from scratch allows you to experience the game’s early stages with a new appreciation, discovering nuances you might have missed the first time.
• Roleplaying Opportunities: Creating a new character allows you to experiment with different backstories, motivations, and playstyles, enhancing your immersion in the game world.
• Challenge Run Potential: A new character opens the door to challenge runs, such as starting with a specific class or restricting your weapon choices.

Understanding the Endgame: How Many Playthroughs are Enough?

Elden Ring’s difficulty caps at NG+7, meaning that enemies will not become any stronger beyond that point. Some players enjoy pushing their characters to their limits, while others prefer to stop at NG+2 or NG+3. Ultimately, the optimal number of playthroughs depends on your personal preferences and goals. You can repeatedly play the game over and over again for seven playthroughs, meaning Journey 7 will be your last. How many times through will you play Elden Ring?

Exploring Beyond the Game: The Games Learning Society

The immersive world of Elden Ring can spark a deep interest in game design, storytelling, and the psychological impact of games. Organizations like the Games Learning Society offer valuable resources and insights for those who wish to explore these topics further. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about their work.

Final Verdict: A Second Journey is Highly Recommended

Whether you choose to embark on a NG+ adventure or start a new character, replaying Elden Ring is a rewarding experience for most players. The enhanced challenge, the opportunity to experiment with new builds, and the discovery of missed content all contribute to a compelling and unforgettable journey. Don’t be afraid to return to The Lands Between and forge your own legend once more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Elden Ring harder the second time around?

Yes, Elden Ring is significantly harder in NG+ due to increased enemy health and damage. Early game enemies are typically buffed far more than late game ones. NG+2 and beyond (in this game, it caps at NG+7) is a static increase across the board. The same as prior Souls games.

2. Is it better to start a new game or NG+ in Elden Ring?

It depends on your goals. If you primarily want a more significant challenge or wish to continue growing more powerful with your existing character, NG+ is the better choice. If you desire a fresh start and the opportunity to roleplay a new character, start a new game.

3. What happens when you start Elden Ring again?

Once you’ve completed your initial playthrough, you can start a NG+ run. This allows you to restart the game with your existing character, retaining most of your levels, gear, and spells while facing tougher enemies.

4. How many hours worth of gameplay is Elden Ring?

When focusing on the main objectives, Elden Ring is about 58 hours in length. If you’re a completionist, you can expect to spend around 133 hours to achieve 100% completion.

5. How many people have 100% Elden Ring?

Around 7.9% of Elden Ring players on PlayStation have achieved 100% completion and earned the Platinum trophy. While that doesn’t sound like a particularly huge number, it’s actually one of the highest percentages for a AAA game on PlayStation.

6. What should I do after beating Elden Ring twice?

If you’re still enjoying the game, consider trying new builds, exploring areas you might have missed, completing NPC questlines, or delving into PvP and co-op multiplayer.

7. What happens if you refuse Melina in Elden Ring?

You cannot level up or acquire your horse without accepting Melina’s accord. Refusing her will severely limit your progress.

8. How many times can you play Elden Ring?

You can repeatedly play the game over and over again for seven playthroughs, meaning Journey 7 will be your last.

9. Does Elden Ring get harder after every new game?

Yes, enemies become stronger in each NG+ cycle until NG+7, where the difficulty caps.

10. What is the most fun build in Elden Ring?

The most fun build is subjective and depends on your preferences. However, some popular and enjoyable builds include:

• Ninja Turtle Build (Cold-Infused Twinblade + Turtle Shell)
• Dragon Mode Build (Double Dragon)
• Swift Swordsman Build (Katanas)

11. Do enemies get stronger in Elden Ring New Game Plus?

Yes, enemies and bosses receive a buff to their health and damage output in NG+. In New Game +7 even the Godrick Soldier in the tutorial area can take out the player.

12. What is the level cap in Elden Ring?

The highest level players can get in Elden Ring is 713.

13. What is the most difficult level in Elden Ring?

Many players consider Malenia, Blade of Miquella, to be the most challenging boss in Elden Ring.

14. What happens if Melina dies when you summon her?

Melina will reappear after this point as if nothing happened and can still be summoned during the Morgott fight.

15. Does summoning Ranni end the game?

Yes, summoning Ranni after defeating the final boss triggers the Age of Stars ending, concluding your playthrough.