The Elden Ring Reforged mod might help me get through FromSoft’s open-world epic

Whisper it, but I’ve still not finished Elden Ring. It’s not through lack of trying – I love the world FromSoft has created, its mysterious characters, and its harrowing boss fights.

I’ve tried the game with multiple classes, though, and nothing sticks. I find myself reaching Liurnia of the Lakes and just sort of petering out a little, but the Elden Ring Reforged mod might change that.

Now in version 2.0, Reforged is Elden Ring rebuilt with additional options and the kind of optional co-op many in the Soulslike fanbase would probably prefer over, say, Nightreign.

Elden Ring Reforged is a mind-blowing mod

On the Nexus Mods page, there’s a “Reforged is for you if…” section which includes the following statement:

You wish to experience ELDEN RING without the pressure of following “the best strategy” or rushing for “the best weapon”.

I almost fell back in my chair at the prospect of seeing all that The Lands Between has to offer without needing to necessarily make a beeline for character builds. This is achieved through a series of difficulty options, and while I want to strip it down just a tad, you can also have fun cranking the difficulty up higher if you’d prefer.

So, what else does the mod change? In many ways, just about everything. Elden Ring Reforged adds a Sekiro-like Perfect Deflect mechanic, adds additional dodges like ducking and sliding, and reworks the FP system with generative attacks that build it up to be used on bigger ones.

There are subclasses dubbed Fortunes, new weapons and gear, and a new maximum level of RL200. There are even new locations and bosses, and a dedicated server for multiplayer and matchmaking.

Honestly, it sounds perfect for my winter, so I’m excited to get started. There’s even native support for Steam Deck, which could make the usual Christmas travel a little more bearable.