Exploring an open world filled with tough battles, players can elevate their status as the Tarnished in the board game version, Elden Ring: Realm of the Grafted King. However, we venture into the Lands Between to determine if it truly embodies the spirit of the renowned video game.
It’s likely that Elden Ring ranks among the best video games ever made. For several years, Steamforged Games has been skillfully recreating the atmosphere of video game franchises for tabletop play, such as Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and Dark Souls, which also received a board game adaptation and a card game that remains one of my all-time favorites. Dark Souls was developed by FromSoftware, who are also responsible for Elden Ring, making it logical for Steamforged Games to take up the latter. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, it’s now on its way to stores.
Opening A Monster
Upon first glance at Elden Ring the Board Game: Realm of the Grafted King, you’ll immediately notice its large size (although smaller options are available, which we will discuss later). This expansive board game, titled Realm of the Grafted King, boasts a colossal box that is not merely big due to its miniature count (a significant number at 54), but also because it houses an abundance of paper components like cards and books. Specifically, it contains 1227 cards and 6 books, including one rulebook, one scenario book, and four encounter books.
As a novice enthusiast diving into the world of Roll for the Galaxy, I found the initial apprehension of diving into such a comprehensive game was quite substantial, but it turned out to be less intimidating than it seemed. For those new to board games, there’s an easier on-ramp, which we’ll delve into later. Upon cracking open the box for the first time, you’re greeted with multiple card decks and a rulebook that requires reading. However, the setup process itself is straightforward – you merely collect the components corresponding to your chosen character among the four options in RofGL, and then you flip to the Stranded Graveyard scenario in the book and the game is underway.
Welcome To The Lands Between
Elden Ring Tabletop Adventure: Domain of the Cursed King
The game, Elden Ring Tabletop Adventure, along with its additional sets, offers 5 distinct modes of play. The adventure commences through a narrative where participants peruse the scenario book and make choices. Fans of the classic Fighting Fantasy books may experience a wave of nostalgia, as this game mimics the function of a Game Master who traditionally guides the storyline in roleplaying games. However, it also serves as an alternative to a traditional Game Master, or can be facilitated through an app, reflecting the growing trend of digital hybrid board games.
The core experience in Elden Ring: The Board Game primarily revolves around two aspects. Firstly, players gradually construct a map using hexagonal tiles, allowing them to encounter non-player characters, immerse themselves in the storyline, and find combat zones. The remaining gameplay comprises of combat encounters. These combats are distributed across dungeons, where players progressively overcome enemies until they confront a boss, as well as gauntlets, which present waves of adversaries along with challenging boss battles, where players engage in intense fights against powerful foes.
In Elden Ring: The Board Game, instead of relying on dice for combat and other tests, it utilizes cards for randomization. Attribute cards feature symbols from five different attributes, and these symbols determine the points or effects during a test. For combat, each player has their own unique deck, which is composed of cards that correspond to the weapons equipped by their Tarnished character. This enables players to customize their combat deck based on their preferred play style, using the weapons and items they acquire throughout the game.
In this game, every conflict unfolds within battlefield grids that consist of one or more encounter books. The first time I used all four books was an exhilarating experience! These grids feature combat paths, and depending on the placement of your miniature figure, you can aim at specific areas on the opponent’s grid.
The player characters have three distinct zones to position themselves in, with varying effects based on their positions. Being right up front and facing the enemy offers players the advantage of drawing two cards from their attribute deck when launching an attack, allowing them to choose which ones will result in the most powerful strike.
In the central lane, players can move their initiative card, gaining some control over when they take action during a turn. Lastly, being in the backmost lane allows you to draw two cards when performing defensive actions, enabling you to pick the one with the best attributes for protection.
Enemies’ actions, including attacks, are managed through distinct cards for each one, with these cards being different not just among enemies of diverse types but also between individuals of the same type. These cards detail how an enemy moves and strikes. For bosses, a unique deck of attack cards is employed, allowing them to strike multiple times during a single turn.
Rise Tarnished
Each Elden Ring The Board Game core set offers distinct Tarnished characters to choose from (details about each set are provided later on), and the Elden Ring the Board Game: Realm of the Grafted King includes the following components:
- Astrologer – This class likes to chain attacks together for combination bonuses
- Prophet – Has healing abilities, but also starts with the highest damage-dealing card out of the starting characters
- Samurai – An agile fighter, most cards allow them to move and strike
- Vagabond – A defensive fighter who can shove enemies to reposition them for effective attacks
In the game setup, every character is equipped with both a weapon and a shield, each possessing distinct combat and attribute decks. They also come with a specific class feature and a personal mission that serves as their initial quest for their adventure.
Throughout the game, following every stage, players have the option to acquire fresh weapons, armor, talismans, trait, and attribute cards (equipping these new items can modify the battle deck as well). Alternatively, they may choose to enhance existing weapons or affix memories to their cards, which will introduce spell cards into your combat collection.
Guiding Light
It’s clear that the Elden Ring the Board Game: Realm of the Grafted King provides a substantial playtime right out of the box. Each scenario typically lasts an hour or so, but can extend beyond this due to player decisions during exploration. This means you’re looking at around 50 hours to complete the campaign. The game also offers replayability as it features four distinct characters, various build options for each, and a changing exploration map with each playthrough.
The domain of the Fused Monarch can also be blended with other sets. There are two main sets available as well, the Weeping Peninsula and Stormveil Castle, each offering smaller campaigns yet featuring 4 distinct character options to pick from. Each of these collections brings in 2 new characters, while also incorporating 2 that are already found within the Realm of the Grafted King. These repeated characters come with exclusive statues and offer unique class quests and starting decks for a fresh gaming experience.
You have the flexibility to either combine all three primary sets or play them individually in your game. However, there are additional expansions such as Limgrave Depths, Erdtree Avatar, and Flying Dragon Agheel that introduce new rules and adversaries. Important to note is that these extra add-ons can only be incorporated into the Realm of the Grafted King set.
For newcomers to board games who are fans of the Elden Ring video game, starting with “Elden Ring: Weeping Peninsula” is a perfect choice. This can be complemented with the Realm of the Grafted King expansion, as reviewed here, and additional sets for more content. If you’re eager to dive right into the longest campaign without delay, the Realm of the Grafted King will not disappoint.
Elden Ring the Board Game: Realm of the Grafted King Final Thoughts?
As a diehard fan, I must say that the Elden Ring Board Game: Realm of the Grafted King is an absolute behemoth in terms of size and depth. Instead of leaning on digital control, it chooses to overwhelm with sheer volume of content. The way it intertwines narrative and exploration is commendable, though combat can be quite challenging (and the bosses are downright formidable). Yet, the struggle feels worthwhile, and the combat and attribute deck customization throughout the game is exceptional.
For a novice tabletop player, this boxed set, RotGK, might seem intimidating, so it’s advisable to start your Elden Ring tabletop adventure with Weeping Peninsula first.
In Elden Ring the Board Game, each character class offers a distinct experience, ensuring a unique gameplay for every player. The game can be enjoyed solo or with up to 4 players, but personally, I found playing alone, utilizing two characters (the Samurai and Astrologer), provided an optimal blend of abilities. The flexibility to navigate the campaign at my own pace made it even more enjoyable. Although the game box is quite large, there seems to be a vast world waiting to be explored in the Lands Between. We’ve merely scratched the surface when it comes to weapons, character builds, enemies, and game areas in Elden Ring the Board Game. I eagerly anticipate further expansions.
The version of Elden Ring the Board Game: Dominion of the Grafted King that I based my review on was generously supplied by Steamforged Games.
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2025-06-13 22:03