A very serious discussion about a very serious game. Thanks for watching and subscribe for more! ------------------------------------------- #eldenring #darksouls #cozygaming
This was exactly how I felt about the game. It was jaw dropping and awe inspiring, but I feel relaxed when I ride my spectral steed across the Lands Between. Sometimes I’ll sit by merchants for hours just to hear them play music. It’s a game I’d play while snuggled in a blanket. It’s a game rich with lore and scenery, but I’m always so cozy when I play it.
@@brady_6692I got a toddler man. The amount of times that I found a nice cliff and my character has just sat there for 3 and 1/2 hours why I had to take care and do dad stuff is countless.
@@brady_6692 I legit love the sound of the merchants. I sat down next to one playing his eru and then I just sat back and listened, meditated, snacked, and pondered. I also would read up on the lore of the game while letting my character sit still.
Me too, I remember a year ago, I sat with the imprisoned merchant playing his instrument deep under leyndell (just before the three fingers). The said merchant was playing a calm but depressing melody, signifying the hopelessness of being abandoned in an inescapable catacombs. It's as if he's giving a warning to players "abandon all hope, ye who enter here".
the world is serene and beautiful at times, and the horror and struggle only serves to highlight the calm when you sit down and look down over a quiet valley.
I feel like the reason I enjoy elden ring a lot more than previous games is that the world actually feels like a living breathing world and allows you to savour and explore all its landscapes. The fact you can finish a heart pounding encounter after several hours and then counteract that build up tension by galloping on your horse across scenic landscapes, providing a much needed breather. Previous games was just you jumping from encounter to encounter to encounter in claustrophobic environments.The cycle of adrenaline filled battles and then the mysterious yet cosy exploration through the open world in elden ring compliment each other perfectly and really allows it stand out among similar games.
@@vongolamistowl No, its in this order: Godskin duo -> Draconic tree sentinel -> Maliketh -> Gideon Ofnir -> Godfrey -> Radagon -> Elden beast Just compare the story given downtime between these bosses and the first ones like Godrick -> Rennala -> Radahn. It is a huge difference.
Elden Ring is my first FromSoft game. The metaphorical *pull* you feel from this game, teasing you with the promise that after most boss fights, you'll find staggering vistas and haunting soundtracks... I'll be completely honest, this game feels like the promise of the video game medium fulfilled. A fantasy adventure all your own, taken at your own pace, with suitable challenges, stunning sights, and a darkly mysterious history to unravel. Every ambitious game in the decades before this just feels like a step towards this grand reveal.
I always tell people this game makes me feel how I did gaming as a kid on my dads N64, not really knowing what or why I’m doing what I’m doing but getting lost and having fun and still enjoying every second of it.
I feel this, I actually watched this today after playing some of the DLC offline during the afternoon when my internet was down due to a storm. I have 200 hours in the game and rarely played offline before. Your comparison to watching a scary movie alone vs. with a bunch of friends is right on. Exploring unknown areas without the notes, bloodstains and player ghosts made the spooky environments seem so much more bleak and lonely. I felt cut off from my fellow tarnished and had to figure out everything on my own. Excellent video, slowly exploring Fromsoft's worlds and gathering lore like a dark fantasy archaeologist is definitely a cozy feeling for me.
you put in words exactly what i was feeling, thanks, happy im not the only one feeling cozy playing this for me, some of the coziest areas of the game are: nighttime limgrave, liurnia, daytime altus plateau (the autumny vibe is amazing) and the consacrated snowfield (especially the ordina liturgical town), not to mention the cerulean coast in the dlc and also the red flower meadow just above cerulean coast
I have one really weird nitpicky. My very first complaint for Elden Ring was the lack of "moments of silence" and not just the constant BGM which drove crazy too. But how we get to Stormhill just after past that ambush, the wind gets heavy, some graves at right and an evergaol at left, not much going on, the ambience is top-notch and then reaching Roderika's Shack wolves comically appear off thin air to attack ruining the moment. Or how in Liurnia comically large lobsters start to sniper us. And that are just two examples. It's almost like From was insecure about leaving emptied places and leaving room to breath, and I do get it's the main loop gameplay to have combat while exploring. There are so many places and areas that I just wished it was emptied because I do think From could totally nail THAT Shadow of the Colossus vibe more and reach greatness beyond. Gladly, I got what I wanted in the DLC when arriving to the Shaman Village, which got to be my favorite moment.
@@ashleymcmillan3379 Yeah. I thought about it a little and my conclusion is not even about density but placement. Spreading out certain enemies on open fields more I think would do it. On the other hand, I do think places like Caelid should have even more on certain areas.
Elden ring and dark souls 1 make me feel this way the most. In Elden ring it was stormvale castle and all the underground regions too with the singing shaman.
I always stop to admire an area if I see something worth admiring, like the nighttime view of the Erdtree and Raya Lucaria from the Revenger’s shack. I like to play around with the fashion souls aspect of the game. I look down at fallen foes to study their models because they are worth studying and speculating on. The bats are quite beautiful, having eye-like patterns on their wings. Eyespots are used in the real world to scare away predators. I wonder who the bats’ eyespots are meant to scare. I took an entire month to beat Elden Ring for the first time because I was so caught up in exploring. Yet every new game, I find things I have never seen before, and I still do even with over 1000 hours in the game. There’s always a new little nook to be explored. Even the boss fights are works of art. The Ulcerated Tree Spirit feels like fighting water with its fluid movements. All the massive boss arenas feel like a beautiful stage fit for the demigod we’re fighting. I am glad I’m not the only one who finds Elden Ring oddly relaxing. I still look back on bosses I’ve defeated and remember the euphoria. It makes me smile. This is the best game, and you can’t change my mind. Sorry for the wall of text. I’m just passionate.
I relate so much omg!! I think another aspect of coziness to me is learning all the patterns of combat. It’s why the dragons and Erdtree avatars are some of my favorite fights! Not to mention, my PS5 controller is like a giant stim toy that keeps my fingers always moving when I play Elden Ring haha 💕
Put over 1000 hours in this game so far. The contrast between the intense action of the bosses vs standard exploration is what makes it so pleasant. You can go so long without fighting a single boss so you can really stretch out how long the calm lasts. The original Dark Souls felt like this to me after I got better at it back when I first played it on 360 in 2012. Sadly these are the only 2 games from Fromsoft that I feel are actually like this. Although all the games they have made since Demon's Souls are great. (I have not played anything older than that one)
100%. I feel that way about most of the Souls games honestly. I could never explain it, but sometimes I’d just boot up DS3 to do some casual farming or give myself a little mission to grab an armor piece or something. And that game isn’t pretty in comparison to Elden Ring. They definitely capture a certain kind of magic with these games.
all the aspects of the game that are open ended and up for discussion is because as a kid Miyazaki would read books beyond his age, when he came to a point he couldn't understand he would skip ahead to a part he could understand and use his imagination to fill in the gap between the two points and that's what he wants us to do
Elden Ring is my comfort game. I always seem to find either something new I haven't seen, something I've seen but with new insight, something breathtaking, and if I feel like it I can go for the next boss. I love looking for lore, and trying different builds, and challenge runs. there is a sense of discovery and fantasy, and also after so much time, over 400 hours, The Lands Between feel almost like a second home. A never land fantasy without any significant consequences. Once you figure out that losing your runes means absolutely nothing, the game becomes pretty relaxing. Every nook and cranny of this world is filled with something interesting, there is storytelling in the world design. I don't think I've ever been as invested in just exploring the world, and trying to piece what it all means in my head like some sort of archeologist before. My favorite game, of all the games I've played.
Damn maybe the youtube algorithm is good again. Awesome video and a concept I had never really thought about before but it really is how i felt playing the game. The moments of respite between bosses specifically after beating Melenia just going back and riding torrent through Limgrave to really take in the achievement was truly a cozy feeling
If you like the ambiance it's worth turning on ray tracing. I really like the atmosphere it adds, especially in human-sized structures and areas with lots of foliage. I turned down other settings to accommodate it.
I played Sekiro to wind down before bed for two years. FromSoftware games are definitely a cozy blanket You nailed it with the difference between jump scares and environmental horror
I started a 2nd playthrough to prep for Shadow of the Erdtree & played almost all of it offline. I was realy surprised at how relaxing the game was outside of boss fights. Good video!
I have been jump scared by so many DOGS in this game… by other enemies too but the worst is getting got by a random dog or rat. I’ve jumped so hard I pulled a back muscle and I was afraid to play the game for months because I simply didn’t want another pulled muscle lol
Yeah, understandable. It is a cozy atmosphere, and if you're like this, I'm sure you also can't put the controller down. For me, a cozy game is one where I feel at home, like this one or... Bloodborne. Home is where you feel safe, and I feel safe (weirdly enough) in Bloodborne
Small lore comment but the implications of the Windmill Village are even worse. Notice that there's no men in the whole village? They weren't luring in outsiders =)
Algorithm is king, I've already beaten ER like 5 or 6 times but not getting EVERY grace of the game, now little by little I play 3 or 4 hours a day and it's really cozy, fun gameplay discovering new things because I was careless roaming the lands between, nice video.
I'm glad to have found a subset of the community that also finds ER relaxing (for the most part...) This video is going to blow up - and it deserves to, great job on this
hey man glad i found your video. and honestly just the massive map, the beautiful scenery, even if its full of life it feels empty, hostile and yet inviting your sense of adventure(Except caelid😅). your curiosity drives you forward to find out how this amazing world ended up the way it is. and between the exiting and sometimes frustrating fights you look at the horizon and just admire the world in front of you. the last game that did this for me was shadow of the colossus. anyway honestly I really liked your video. good editing and really good narration. you have a good voice for this tipe of thing. Really hope you find success in this platform.
I try to play relaxingly with a friend, but frustratingly when i invite him so we can play and he can show me the ropes (cuz im new at elden ring) we get invaded by player who dont let us enjoy the game... he enjoys it and loves the pvp rush. But i hate it cuz we get invaded by people sooooo much further in level and equipment then i. So i get creamed instantly. Its so fucking frustrating, i hate it. I dont know what cozyness you are talking about, but imma watch the rest of the video to see. (Im still in the beginning part). But yeah, that's my mini rant on my experience in the elden ring. I wish there was a way i could play with my best friend and block out invaders, make it purely co op. Is there a mod for that? Edit: oh i see now, in the story sense, i completely agree 100%.
There is a mod just for this, of course only for PC. It's called seamless co-op and can be found on the mod site Nexus. You will however need to create a new character for the mod.
@0la_N0rdman yep i talked to my friend about it and he said the same thing. Atm i found a trainer thats helping play but it doesnt have seemless co op. But imma check out nexus and find the mod, i dont like getting invaded, even when my friend takes care of the i vaders for me, i never have liked pvp in videogames
I’ve been saying I play Fromsoft games to relax for over a decade. I never get stressed out or angry while playing them. If I die I simply try again. Sometimes I’ll listen to a video while I run around and explore, or farm the last few Runes I need from those poor Albinaurics.
If I was the tarnished irl I would just set up a home in the Renna’s rise area & start a small village there. It’s protected by a castle & just feels so cozy & safe (after the dragons gone). Imagine just vibing & enjoying life with all your friends there
Completely agree. Across the harrowing spectacles and grueling, dark moments, my all time favorite part of Elden Ring is stopping at an amazing view, and just sitting
The dynamics of ER are spectacular. Ot can go from 0 to 100 in seconds, forcing you to remain aware and alert, and focused on the beauty of the world as you traverse it.
Spoiler alert for the Elden Ring DLC incase you aint that far in it. I also like to add the fact that the coziest and warmest place in the DLC, is built upon the most gruesome and tragic event that pretty much kickstarted every single genocidal tragedy that happened in both the DLC and the base game. The Shaman Village.
Nice vid. I'd say half my time in Elden Ring was spent reading item descriptions or daydreaming while I wait to be summoned. I just love bring in the world and helping others experience it.
I grew up on games like animal crossing and pokemon, but Elden Ring has risen to the top of my list of favorite games. Everything from the details in each of the bosses remembrances to random NPC dialogue makes this game feel so oddly comforting. Loved the video! Came here from the comment you left on my channel and wanted to reciprocate the support! 🥳🫶
I always thought that true solace is achieved when you have a respite from scary/difficult/horrific areas of games (often with very peaceful music playing, like firelink shrine in DS1, the menu music you have playing here, or the safe/save rooms in Resident Evil games etc.). To go from tension/apprehension/stress to relaxing and peaceful calm, that's quite a poignant feeling imho. Dichotomy of emotion, idk. Also wanted to say I like your style of content man. It too is quite cozy imho.
That's kind of how i feel about the world of Dark Souls. The world is ending, the fire is fading and nothing really matters anymore. Glorious places of the past are nothing but empty with the remnants of knights and monsters. it's like a nice change of pace out of this chaotic and busy world.
2:50 Been a fan since ‘09. I find comfort in From Soft’s Souls games. Not other Souls-likes. The art and world design teams at FS are just incredible. They create the most incredible environments and experiences I’ve ever come across in video game history. I could lose myself in their games forever. Nothing will top them.
I saw some people criticise the emptiness of DLC areas and they're right, there is a lot of empty space, but that's a good thing from my perspective. It's a welcome respite from the more intense moments of combat. I don't know how many are familiar with the 40 second rule (I think it was 40)... it basically says that points of interest should be 40 seconds max apart to draw the players' attention. But I'm ok with a 60, maybe even 80 second rule with more space to just walk and relax, in a forest, on a beach, etc., just admiring the vistas, taking in the atmosphere. Many times, when I'd find a beautiful place, I'd just stop and admire the view. I'd even have my character just sit down. I thought I was the only one doing this or who feels like this.
Been thinking about this recently after doing a fresh play through into the dlc. I think the fleeting nature of the cosy moments, like sharing a vista with Millicent, makes them hit harder. That said the tension the game induces in me during boss fights and dungeons feels borderline unhealthy at times. It's a strange brew but I do love it.
I became a fan of abstract and environmental storytelling because of the Silent Hill series. It's no wonder I find a great comfort in the souls games, especially Elden Ring.
Personally, it was the scenery and the melancholy/sorrow that permeates throughout the land and lore. I find comfort in sadness, it also amplifies the happiness I'd feel when I encounter an upbeat NPC like Alexander, or when I first found Jarburg and Jarbairn. With regular 'cozy' games, I always get tired of them. ACNH for example, once I'd gotten my dreamies, decorated the island/house, and gotten most of the items, I lost interest. My mom took over the island after. 😂
Yeah, I think a lot of "cozy" games try so hard to be relaxing that they just end up being boring. Elden Ring's difficulty is balanced out by its somber atmosphere and lore to me!
They call it banging my head against the wall with the last boss of the dlc for over 400 attempts without summons and npcs- he calls it compassion of a 1000 year voyage - I call it my daily meditation
I believe one of the reasons for Souls games being "peaceful" or cozy is due to one reason - we decide the rules AND timing for engagement (of combat). Let me explain. In many other games, the game constantly throws things at us to keep us occupied. Be it gear treadmill for Diablo like or endless onslaught that is CoD/BF like. The rhythm of these games are constantly pushing us forward, always leading us to the next big thing. The pacing is rarely set by us, it's by Devs and often times well engineered psychological manipulation. But Souls games allow us to choose our own timing and pacing. Want more action? Go in and just fight. Want to be slower? Take time to look around and pull mibs one by one. Want to take a break and just go roam? Do that and nothing can stop you. Or just want to play around with fashion? Yeah do that too. And when we are already, we go fight bosses. And even then, there is no ranking system, no timer, no dos race for the boss fights. Just us doing what we can. This level of almost sandbox like immersion isn't that common in this type of action oriented games. Mainly we see these in open world rpg games like TES or Fallout, but for those games the level design isn't always good. The best way I can put it is Souls games, especially for ER, is like meshing Skyrim together with Hitman but with a combat system that lets the players to customise however they want.
I completely agree! I like having the freedom to choose how I want to play the game. If I'm having trouble with a boss, I can go back to exploring for a bit to level up some more and try again later. With a game as big as ER, you can make of it what you want.
So when you get teleported into a cave in Caelid by an unpredictable trap, you're choosing the rules and timing? What about when some bullshit snipes you from offscreen which happens in a lot of these games? You can't even AFK without something walking over and killing you have the game which is quite literally the definition of "the game constantly throwing things at us to keep us occupied." Are we playing the same game? Fromsoft meatriders are some of the most delusional people in gaming. You're describing it like it's Minecraft.
That game was way more colorful than DS1 and 3, with much better vistas. Part of why I revisit that one more than 1 or 3. Jank aside, I just find it more comforting to actually play and explore. Majula is still my favorite souls hub world to this day.
Souls games have always felt strangely beautiful, and at times comfortably familiar in a primal way. The very first game felt like something pulled out of my dreams in its vague tone, the foggy atmosphere, and lonesome places. Meanwhile akin to the W40K series, there's so much darkness oozing out of the more direct tone, that the community around it almost has nothing else to do but to go up, and spread positivity, memes, and make jokes about things hitting them on the adventures. Its almost like one big Solaire effect, being found resting parallel next to a zombie-infested bridge with a flame-spewing death drake talking about the sky and "Jolly cooperation". However back to even just the aesthetics... its often just so extremely comforting in the oddest way. Foggy, earthy, enchanted, but alien and strange enough to be great escapist media. It was never the "so hard, bro" that made me want to buy this game, but the amazing worlds and aesthetics, then the fables and tragedies the community was piecing together like great mythology professors working from a book with missing pages. Even in your video, you spoke of ruins and hanging dudes in that entry field, my brain sees a huge sweeping field, fascinating ruins with a friend inside, and a massive enchanted tree. Continue to heights, or find the right points at the shore, and you can gaze onto your adventure and just wonder for a moment. that great big death knight on horse? Kinda majestic. That broken building? A friend dressed like Santa awaits by a cozy fire. Love these games for their feeling and vibe. That said, stuff like Caelid and sewage levels are still blatant screw-off hostile places, but that just tickles the gamer brain more while the wanderlust takes a break.
This was exactly how I felt about the game. It was jaw dropping and awe inspiring, but I feel relaxed when I ride my spectral steed across the Lands Between. Sometimes I’ll sit by merchants for hours just to hear them play music. It’s a game I’d play while snuggled in a blanket. It’s a game rich with lore and scenery, but I’m always so cozy when I play it.
There is no way you sit and do nothing for hours 😂😂
@@brady_6692I got a toddler man. The amount of times that I found a nice cliff and my character has just sat there for 3 and 1/2 hours why I had to take care and do dad stuff is countless.
@@brady_6692 I legit love the sound of the merchants. I sat down next to one playing his eru and then I just sat back and listened, meditated, snacked, and pondered. I also would read up on the lore of the game while letting my character sit still.
You're not alone. That song they play is beautiful. Apparently Midras boss music in the DLC is based on that song.
Me too, I remember a year ago, I sat with the imprisoned merchant playing his instrument deep under leyndell (just before the three fingers). The said merchant was playing a calm but depressing melody, signifying the hopelessness of being abandoned in an inescapable catacombs. It's as if he's giving a warning to players "abandon all hope, ye who enter here".
I agree. And what’s funny is that after over 1000 hours in the game, the boss fights don’t even interrupt the cozy feeling.
You're dancing away with old friends... who occasionally insult you.
@@TheOneWithNoFNnick Any good friend insults you from time to time lol
the world is serene and beautiful at times, and the horror and struggle only serves to highlight the calm when you sit down and look down over a quiet valley.
I feel like the reason I enjoy elden ring a lot more than previous games is that the world actually feels like a living breathing world and allows you to savour and explore all its landscapes. The fact you can finish a heart pounding encounter after several hours and then counteract that build up tension by galloping on your horse across scenic landscapes, providing a much needed breather. Previous games was just you jumping from encounter to encounter to encounter in claustrophobic environments.The cycle of adrenaline filled battles and then the mysterious yet cosy exploration through the open world in elden ring compliment each other perfectly and really allows it stand out among similar games.
except for the bossrush in the end.
@@clusterfeld8192 Gideon is hardly boss material so really it’s just two bosses with godfrey and radabeast
@@vongolamistowl No, its in this order:
Godskin duo -> Draconic tree sentinel -> Maliketh -> Gideon Ofnir -> Godfrey -> Radagon -> Elden beast
Just compare the story given downtime between these bosses and the first ones like Godrick -> Rennala -> Radahn. It is a huge difference.
Elden Ring is my first FromSoft game. The metaphorical *pull* you feel from this game, teasing you with the promise that after most boss fights, you'll find staggering vistas and haunting soundtracks... I'll be completely honest, this game feels like the promise of the video game medium fulfilled. A fantasy adventure all your own, taken at your own pace, with suitable challenges, stunning sights, and a darkly mysterious history to unravel. Every ambitious game in the decades before this just feels like a step towards this grand reveal.
I always tell people this game makes me feel how I did gaming as a kid on my dads N64, not really knowing what or why I’m doing what I’m doing but getting lost and having fun and still enjoying every second of it.
I feel this, I actually watched this today after playing some of the DLC offline during the afternoon when my internet was down due to a storm. I have 200 hours in the game and rarely played offline before. Your comparison to watching a scary movie alone vs. with a bunch of friends is right on. Exploring unknown areas without the notes, bloodstains and player ghosts made the spooky environments seem so much more bleak and lonely. I felt cut off from my fellow tarnished and had to figure out everything on my own. Excellent video, slowly exploring Fromsoft's worlds and gathering lore like a dark fantasy archaeologist is definitely a cozy feeling for me.
you put in words exactly what i was feeling, thanks, happy im not the only one feeling cozy playing this
for me, some of the coziest areas of the game are: nighttime limgrave, liurnia, daytime altus plateau (the autumny vibe is amazing) and the consacrated snowfield (especially the ordina liturgical town), not to mention the cerulean coast in the dlc and also the red flower meadow just above cerulean coast
The rauh ruins is like a vacation to a jungle island, such beautiful scenery
Also the Shaman Village. Beautiful place, with great lore. It's where the story of ER began.
Yes, morning hours in Liurnia are without competetition. The friendliness of Jarburg...
Hello, I am the algorithm and I have found your video!
Blessing your great video.
keep up to good work.
I have one really weird nitpicky. My very first complaint for Elden Ring was the lack of "moments of silence" and not just the constant BGM which drove crazy too.
But how we get to Stormhill just after past that ambush, the wind gets heavy, some graves at right and an evergaol at left, not much going on, the ambience is top-notch and then reaching Roderika's Shack wolves comically appear off thin air to attack ruining the moment. Or how in Liurnia comically large lobsters start to sniper us. And that are just two examples. It's almost like From was insecure about leaving emptied places and leaving room to breath, and I do get it's the main loop gameplay to have combat while exploring.
There are so many places and areas that I just wished it was emptied because I do think From could totally nail THAT Shadow of the Colossus vibe more and reach greatness beyond. Gladly, I got what I wanted in the DLC when arriving to the Shaman Village, which got to be my favorite moment.
The wolves raining from the sky are indeed stupid but definitely feels like something Miyazaki's games would do. becuase F you thats why! 🤣
If it was more empty it would make Melinas pleas awkward.
@@ashleymcmillan3379 Yeah. I thought about it a little and my conclusion is not even about density but placement. Spreading out certain enemies on open fields more I think would do it. On the other hand, I do think places like Caelid should have even more on certain areas.
i love sitting next to a merchant playing his violin and smoking a bowl
I love just picking a spot on the map, sitting down, and just enjoying the scenery randomly, especially since I'm preparing to ng+ soon
Elden ring and dark souls 1 make me feel this way the most. In Elden ring it was stormvale castle and all the underground regions too with the singing shaman.
I do my best not to fast travel in ER so I can enjoy the cross country cozy vibe of travelling on foot
I always stop to admire an area if I see something worth admiring, like the nighttime view of the Erdtree and Raya Lucaria from the Revenger’s shack. I like to play around with the fashion souls aspect of the game. I look down at fallen foes to study their models because they are worth studying and speculating on. The bats are quite beautiful, having eye-like patterns on their wings. Eyespots are used in the real world to scare away predators. I wonder who the bats’ eyespots are meant to scare. I took an entire month to beat Elden Ring for the first time because I was so caught up in exploring. Yet every new game, I find things I have never seen before, and I still do even with over 1000 hours in the game. There’s always a new little nook to be explored. Even the boss fights are works of art. The Ulcerated Tree Spirit feels like fighting water with its fluid movements. All the massive boss arenas feel like a beautiful stage fit for the demigod we’re fighting.
I am glad I’m not the only one who finds Elden Ring oddly relaxing. I still look back on bosses I’ve defeated and remember the euphoria. It makes me smile. This is the best game, and you can’t change my mind.
Sorry for the wall of text. I’m just passionate.
I relate so much omg!! I think another aspect of coziness to me is learning all the patterns of combat. It’s why the dragons and Erdtree avatars are some of my favorite fights! Not to mention, my PS5 controller is like a giant stim toy that keeps my fingers always moving when I play Elden Ring haha 💕
Put over 1000 hours in this game so far. The contrast between the intense action of the bosses vs standard exploration is what makes it so pleasant. You can go so long without fighting a single boss so you can really stretch out how long the calm lasts. The original Dark Souls felt like this to me after I got better at it back when I first played it on 360 in 2012. Sadly these are the only 2 games from Fromsoft that I feel are actually like this. Although all the games they have made since Demon's Souls are great. (I have not played anything older than that one)
100%. I feel that way about most of the Souls games honestly. I could never explain it, but sometimes I’d just boot up DS3 to do some casual farming or give myself a little mission to grab an armor piece or something. And that game isn’t pretty in comparison to Elden Ring. They definitely capture a certain kind of magic with these games.
all the aspects of the game that are open ended and up for discussion is because as a kid Miyazaki would read books beyond his age, when he came to a point he couldn't understand he would skip ahead to a part he could understand and use his imagination to fill in the gap between the two points and that's what he wants us to do
Elden Ring is my comfort game. I always seem to find either something new I haven't seen, something I've seen but with new insight, something breathtaking, and if I feel like it I can go for the next boss. I love looking for lore, and trying different builds, and challenge runs. there is a sense of discovery and fantasy, and also after so much time, over 400 hours, The Lands Between feel almost like a second home. A never land fantasy without any significant consequences. Once you figure out that losing your runes means absolutely nothing, the game becomes pretty relaxing. Every nook and cranny of this world is filled with something interesting, there is storytelling in the world design. I don't think I've ever been as invested in just exploring the world, and trying to piece what it all means in my head like some sort of archeologist before. My favorite game, of all the games I've played.
Damn maybe the youtube algorithm is good again. Awesome video and a concept I had never really thought about before but it really is how i felt playing the game. The moments of respite between bosses specifically after beating Melenia just going back and riding torrent through Limgrave to really take in the achievement was truly a cozy feeling
I enjoy Elden-Ring-induced dreams in my sleep. Thanks, St. Trina.
If you like the ambiance it's worth turning on ray tracing. I really like the atmosphere it adds, especially in human-sized structures and areas with lots of foliage. I turned down other settings to accommodate it.
It would definitely make it prettier! I play on PS5 though so it's not really worth the FPS drops to me.
I played Sekiro to wind down before bed for two years. FromSoftware games are definitely a cozy blanket
You nailed it with the difference between jump scares and environmental horror
I clicked on this video because I agree with the premise. This is my cozy game.
I started a 2nd playthrough to prep for Shadow of the Erdtree & played almost all of it offline. I was realy surprised at how relaxing the game was outside of boss fights. Good video!
Hope you continue to make some banger videos!
Thank you, that's the plan!
I have been jump scared by so many DOGS in this game… by other enemies too but the worst is getting got by a random dog or rat. I’ve jumped so hard I pulled a back muscle and I was afraid to play the game for months because I simply didn’t want another pulled muscle lol
"It sort of feels like watching a scary movie with friends, except the friends are not with you.. and are actually strangers."
It be like that.
Very well made video. I love when people talk about a particular aspect of a game that isn't talked about enough.
Yeah, understandable. It is a cozy atmosphere, and if you're like this, I'm sure you also can't put the controller down. For me, a cozy game is one where I feel at home, like this one or... Bloodborne. Home is where you feel safe, and I feel safe (weirdly enough) in Bloodborne
Small lore comment but the implications of the Windmill Village are even worse.
Notice that there's no men in the whole village?
They weren't luring in outsiders =)
Algorithm is king, I've already beaten ER like 5 or 6 times but not getting EVERY grace of the game, now little by little I play 3 or 4 hours a day and it's really cozy, fun gameplay discovering new things because I was careless roaming the lands between, nice video.
I'm glad to have found a subset of the community that also finds ER relaxing (for the most part...)
This video is going to blow up - and it deserves to, great job on this
Algorithm highway brought me here, good work! Earned a sub
As a sl1 runner, I still feel cozy at lvl1
hey man glad i found your video. and honestly just the massive map, the beautiful scenery, even if its full of life it feels empty, hostile and yet inviting your sense of adventure(Except caelid😅). your curiosity drives you forward to find out how this amazing world ended up the way it is. and between the exiting and sometimes frustrating fights you look at the horizon and just admire the world in front of you.
the last game that did this for me was shadow of the colossus.
anyway honestly I really liked your video. good editing and really good narration. you have a good voice for this tipe of thing.
Really hope you find success in this platform.
Thank you! I really appreciate that :)
I try to play relaxingly with a friend, but frustratingly when i invite him so we can play and he can show me the ropes (cuz im new at elden ring) we get invaded by player who dont let us enjoy the game... he enjoys it and loves the pvp rush. But i hate it cuz we get invaded by people sooooo much further in level and equipment then i. So i get creamed instantly. Its so fucking frustrating, i hate it. I dont know what cozyness you are talking about, but imma watch the rest of the video to see. (Im still in the beginning part). But yeah, that's my mini rant on my experience in the elden ring. I wish there was a way i could play with my best friend and block out invaders, make it purely co op. Is there a mod for that?
Edit: oh i see now, in the story sense, i completely agree 100%.
There is a mod just for this, of course only for PC.
It's called seamless co-op and can be found on the mod site Nexus.
You will however need to create a new character for the mod.
@0la_N0rdman yep i talked to my friend about it and he said the same thing. Atm i found a trainer thats helping play but it doesnt have seemless co op. But imma check out nexus and find the mod, i dont like getting invaded, even when my friend takes care of the i vaders for me, i never have liked pvp in videogames
I enjoyed your video ❤
Cozy video. Liked and subbed.
I’ve been saying I play Fromsoft games to relax for over a decade. I never get stressed out or angry while playing them. If I die I simply try again. Sometimes I’ll listen to a video while I run around and explore, or farm the last few Runes I need from those poor Albinaurics.
"Elden Ring Is a Cozy Game" is a cozy video
If I was the tarnished irl I would just set up a home in the Renna’s rise area & start a small village there. It’s protected by a castle & just feels so cozy & safe (after the dragons gone). Imagine just vibing & enjoying life with all your friends there
Completely agree. Across the harrowing spectacles and grueling, dark moments, my all time favorite part of Elden Ring is stopping at an amazing view, and just sitting
The dynamics of ER are spectacular. Ot can go from 0 to 100 in seconds, forcing you to remain aware and alert, and focused on the beauty of the world as you traverse it.
Spoiler alert for the Elden Ring DLC incase you aint that far in it.
I also like to add the fact that the coziest and warmest place in the DLC, is built upon the most gruesome and tragic event that pretty much kickstarted every single genocidal tragedy that happened in both the DLC and the base game. The Shaman Village.
The coziness of Elden Ring struck me very recently when I arrived in the Rauh Ancient Ruins. The music is incredibly soothing there, too.
Nice vid. I'd say half my time in Elden Ring was spent reading item descriptions or daydreaming while I wait to be summoned. I just love bring in the world and helping others experience it.
Well, this was an unexpected treat. Great stuff!
The kind of game you want to play every winter
I grew up on games like animal crossing and pokemon, but Elden Ring has risen to the top of my list of favorite games. Everything from the details in each of the bosses remembrances to random NPC dialogue makes this game feel so oddly comforting.
Loved the video! Came here from the comment you left on my channel and wanted to reciprocate the support! 🥳🫶
agreed. outside of boss battles and stressful catacombs, most of the exploration is very relaxing and can be played with a cup of tea on hand.
This has been my exact thought since I played the network test in 2021
Great video!!
I always thought that true solace is achieved when you have a respite from scary/difficult/horrific areas of games (often with very peaceful music playing, like firelink shrine in DS1, the menu music you have playing here, or the safe/save rooms in Resident Evil games etc.). To go from tension/apprehension/stress to relaxing and peaceful calm, that's quite a poignant feeling imho. Dichotomy of emotion, idk.
Also wanted to say I like your style of content man. It too is quite cozy imho.
That's kind of how i feel about the world of Dark Souls. The world is ending, the fire is fading and nothing really matters anymore. Glorious places of the past are nothing but empty with the remnants of knights and monsters. it's like a nice change of pace out of this chaotic and busy world.
2:50 Been a fan since ‘09. I find comfort in From Soft’s Souls games. Not other Souls-likes. The art and world design teams at FS are just incredible. They create the most incredible environments and experiences I’ve ever come across in video game history. I could lose myself in their games forever. Nothing will top them.
I like your voice
I saw some people criticise the emptiness of DLC areas and they're right, there is a lot of empty space, but that's a good thing from my perspective. It's a welcome respite from the more intense moments of combat. I don't know how many are familiar with the 40 second rule (I think it was 40)... it basically says that points of interest should be 40 seconds max apart to draw the players' attention. But I'm ok with a 60, maybe even 80 second rule with more space to just walk and relax, in a forest, on a beach, etc., just admiring the vistas, taking in the atmosphere. Many times, when I'd find a beautiful place, I'd just stop and admire the view. I'd even have my character just sit down. I thought I was the only one doing this or who feels like this.
Been thinking about this recently after doing a fresh play through into the dlc. I think the fleeting nature of the cosy moments, like sharing a vista with Millicent, makes them hit harder. That said the tension the game induces in me during boss fights and dungeons feels borderline unhealthy at times. It's a strange brew but I do love it.
I became a fan of abstract and environmental storytelling because of the Silent Hill series. It's no wonder I find a great comfort in the souls games, especially Elden Ring.
Totally agree ❤
This game is just straight up Timeless.
Personally, it was the scenery and the melancholy/sorrow that permeates throughout the land and lore. I find comfort in sadness, it also amplifies the happiness I'd feel when I encounter an upbeat NPC like Alexander, or when I first found Jarburg and Jarbairn. With regular 'cozy' games, I always get tired of them. ACNH for example, once I'd gotten my dreamies, decorated the island/house, and gotten most of the items, I lost interest. My mom took over the island after. 😂
Yeah, I think a lot of "cozy" games try so hard to be relaxing that they just end up being boring. Elden Ring's difficulty is balanced out by its somber atmosphere and lore to me!
They call it banging my head against the wall with the last boss of the dlc for over 400 attempts without summons and npcs- he calls it compassion of a 1000 year voyage - I call it my daily meditation
I believe one of the reasons for Souls games being "peaceful" or cozy is due to one reason - we decide the rules AND timing for engagement (of combat). Let me explain.
In many other games, the game constantly throws things at us to keep us occupied. Be it gear treadmill for Diablo like or endless onslaught that is CoD/BF like. The rhythm of these games are constantly pushing us forward, always leading us to the next big thing. The pacing is rarely set by us, it's by Devs and often times well engineered psychological manipulation.
But Souls games allow us to choose our own timing and pacing. Want more action? Go in and just fight. Want to be slower? Take time to look around and pull mibs one by one. Want to take a break and just go roam? Do that and nothing can stop you. Or just want to play around with fashion? Yeah do that too. And when we are already, we go fight bosses. And even then, there is no ranking system, no timer, no dos race for the boss fights. Just us doing what we can.
This level of almost sandbox like immersion isn't that common in this type of action oriented games. Mainly we see these in open world rpg games like TES or Fallout, but for those games the level design isn't always good. The best way I can put it is Souls games, especially for ER, is like meshing Skyrim together with Hitman but with a combat system that lets the players to customise however they want.
I completely agree! I like having the freedom to choose how I want to play the game. If I'm having trouble with a boss, I can go back to exploring for a bit to level up some more and try again later. With a game as big as ER, you can make of it what you want.
So when you get teleported into a cave in Caelid by an unpredictable trap, you're choosing the rules and timing? What about when some bullshit snipes you from offscreen which happens in a lot of these games? You can't even AFK without something walking over and killing you have the game which is quite literally the definition of "the game constantly throwing things at us to keep us occupied." Are we playing the same game? Fromsoft meatriders are some of the most delusional people in gaming. You're describing it like it's Minecraft.
Finally someone gets it. Dark souls 2 is my favorite comfort game. I play fromsoft games to de-stress after a long work day
That game was way more colorful than DS1 and 3, with much better vistas. Part of why I revisit that one more than 1 or 3. Jank aside, I just find it more comforting to actually play and explore.
Majula is still my favorite souls hub world to this day.
I can listen to anyone that plays the dark souls ost in the background while they talk.
Dark souls character creation theme
🤝
Resident evil save room theme
Yes!!!.. it's such a relaxing game for me 😅
I agree wholeheartedly
I liked your video, so here is a comment.
Elden Ring is a masterpiece
100% agree
Came here to see who disagrees so my cup can runeth over with their tears. But my cup is empty instead.
Souls games have always felt strangely beautiful, and at times comfortably familiar in a primal way. The very first game felt like something pulled out of my dreams in its vague tone, the foggy atmosphere, and lonesome places. Meanwhile akin to the W40K series, there's so much darkness oozing out of the more direct tone, that the community around it almost has nothing else to do but to go up, and spread positivity, memes, and make jokes about things hitting them on the adventures. Its almost like one big Solaire effect, being found resting parallel next to a zombie-infested bridge with a flame-spewing death drake talking about the sky and "Jolly cooperation". However back to even just the aesthetics... its often just so extremely comforting in the oddest way. Foggy, earthy, enchanted, but alien and strange enough to be great escapist media. It was never the "so hard, bro" that made me want to buy this game, but the amazing worlds and aesthetics, then the fables and tragedies the community was piecing together like great mythology professors working from a book with missing pages.
Even in your video, you spoke of ruins and hanging dudes in that entry field, my brain sees a huge sweeping field, fascinating ruins with a friend inside, and a massive enchanted tree. Continue to heights, or find the right points at the shore, and you can gaze onto your adventure and just wonder for a moment. that great big death knight on horse? Kinda majestic. That broken building? A friend dressed like Santa awaits by a cozy fire. Love these games for their feeling and vibe.
That said, stuff like Caelid and sewage levels are still blatant screw-off hostile places, but that just tickles the gamer brain more while the wanderlust takes a break.
I agree. I love the challenge of the games and the lore and horror of the game. But the worldbuilding itself? Is probably better than even skyrim
Never before have I felt more cozy than when I was being ripped 30 new assholes fighting endgame elden ring bosses!
This video is Cozy.
Nah, I get it. I don't know how to feel about that.
minecraft is much more stressing than elden ring.
Until you explore the catacombs and discover the horror side of the game
YESS!!! I thought I was the only one who felt this way about the game. Cozy 🏕️ 🔥