Elden Ring has captured the free time of gamers since its release in February 2022. The latest entry in the FromSoftware library from director Hidetaka Miyazaki continues his tradition of difficult master, difficult to put down gameplay.

Elden Ring boasts many excellent game design elements from a rich and powerful story, created with the help of George RR Martin, stunning visuals and vistas, memorable locations and enemies, and a highly detailed combat system that is customizable through an array of weapons, armor, and equipment that one can find when exploring the world of Elden Ring.

But the popularity of Elden Ring and why it strikes a certain chord with gamers has less to do with all of the amazing game design and more to do with one game design choice….the decision to give players the opportunity to fail.

Failure is what sets Elden Ring apart from other modern era video game masterpieces. Elden Ring is punishing and at times unforgivable. But this design choice of letting players fail presents the opportunity to learn, adapt, and ultimately become Elden Lord once a player proves themselves worthy.

Join me as I explore why failure is an integral part of the Elden Ring experience and why the power of failure is what makes the Elden Ring journey unforgettable.