Elden Ring Blind Spot

Caroline Mae

2 min read

·

06-01-2025

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FromSoftware's Elden Ring captivated gamers worldwide with its sprawling open world, challenging combat, and cryptic lore. However, beneath the surface of this masterpiece lies a significant blind spot: accessibility. While the game offers some accessibility options, they fall short of truly embracing a wider player base. This isn't a criticism of the game's core design – the difficulty is integral to its identity – but rather a discussion of where improvements could significantly broaden its appeal without compromising its essence.

The High Wall of Difficulty

The Soulslike formula, of which Elden Ring is a prime example, hinges on deliberate difficulty. Players are expected to learn enemy attack patterns, strategically manage resources, and overcome challenging boss encounters through careful planning and skillful execution. This inherent difficulty acts as a significant barrier for many players, particularly those with disabilities.

Where Elden Ring Falls Short

While Elden Ring includes some accessibility features like customizable controller layouts and subtitles, it lacks more crucial options. For example, the absence of robust difficulty settings beyond the already challenging base level excludes players who might otherwise enjoy the world and story but struggle with the demanding combat. Features like adjustable attack speeds, damage reduction options, or even a "story mode" could dramatically improve accessibility without fundamentally changing the game's experience.

Balancing Difficulty and Inclusivity

The challenge lies in finding the right balance. FromSoftware shouldn't necessarily dumb down the game to the point where it loses its identity. Instead, focusing on features that help players overcome specific challenges, rather than altering the core difficulty curve, would be a more effective approach.

Potential Solutions

Implementing options like adjustable camera sensitivity, auto-targeting enhancements, or even alternative control schemes could cater to a broader range of player needs and abilities. Furthermore, providing more detailed in-game tutorials and hints without explicitly hand-holding could make the learning curve less steep.

The Future of Accessibility in Soulslike Games

The success of Elden Ring showcases the enduring appeal of challenging gameplay. However, ignoring the needs of players with disabilities limits the game's potential reach. Future iterations of the Soulslike genre, and even potential updates to Elden Ring, should prioritize accessible design as a core development principle, ensuring that the beauty and challenge of these worlds are available to everyone. The beauty of Elden Ring's intricate world shouldn't be hidden behind a wall that's too high for some to climb. Broadening accessibility is not about lowering the quality of the game but about opening its doors to a larger and more diverse audience.