A goal for network TV has always been to create the thing colleagues would discuss while standing around the office water cooler. Shows like Friends, Cheers, and Seinfeld were all major hits at the time, with modern smash-hits like Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, and Squid Game all showcasing that the 'water cooler' effect is still there, even if the discussion has moved to online platforms like Twitter. This 'water cooler' effect isn't limited to TV, and Elden Ring looks like it might just be the next 'water cooler' game.