Despite being the long-awaited DLC expansion to FromSoftware's latest ARPG and magnum opus, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree surprisingly calls to mind the earlier highlights of the developer's catalog. Owing an obvious debt of gratitude to the foundational pillars of Demon's Souls and the Dark Souls trilogy, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree combines aspects of the developer's past and future, connecting Elden Ring back to the games that walked so it could run. Specifically, Shadow of the Erdtree shares much in common with the original Dark Souls in terms of how its interior spaces and overworld map connect and intertwine with one another in surprising ways.