Here lately, it seems like the term "Soulslike" has been losing its flavor due to how many modern titles are now claiming the genre without truly honoring its traditions. More than ever, the genre's characteristics have been stretched to the point that if a game simply offers a great challenge, it might be considered a Soulslike. Thankfully, that's not the case with Elden Ring and its new Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, primarily due to it being developed by the team who invented the Soulslike genre and therefore keeping its traditions to the utmost. Shadow of the Erdtree does pose a significant challenge, even for Elden Ring veterans, but it qualifies as a Soulslike for more than its difficulty.